Results tagged “Battle of Gettysburg” from York Town Square

Mount Wolf's Ciara Coombes danced to kick off the York County Heritage Trust's Civil War Celebrity Tea, part of Patriot Days activities in 2006. Patriot Days 2009, last weekend, kicked off this year's Civil War observances. Numerous such events today-Sunday are part of observances of the 146th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Background posts: Site places readers in the footsteps of the Civil War in York County and beyond and Poster highlights the life of a Civil War soldier and Hanover Civil War story stop: 'Mother Loses Two Sons to War'.

The calendar this year - the 146th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg - coincides exactly with the calendar in 1863.

That means that July 1 this year is a Wednesday, and that is the day fighting began. On Saturday, July 4, 1863 - Independence Day - a defeated Confederate army retreated toward the Potomac.

So, a particularly packed lineup of events in both York and Adams counties is scheduled this weekend.

Here's the list, courtesy of the York Daily Record/Sunday News:

Vandalism at the Peace Light Memorial, one of Gettysburg's most honored landmarks. Background: Donations help to repair damaged Gettysburg statues and Headline: 'Beards on Parade at Gettysburg (Battle) Field' and York County historical war deaths top 1,000.

In a letter to the editor, C. Earl Witmer of Spring Garden Township tied together recent vandalism on Gettysburg's Eternal Peace Light Memorial and the special memories held by many local residents toward the landmark.

Many senior citizens were children or teens when they witnessed the dedication ceremony on the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Many remember meeting vets of the conflict, which suggests how young our country really is. People today have actually shaken hands with Civil War veterans.

Here are Earl Witmer's memories:

Tourists visited the rehabbed Cyclorama on the weekend of its grand opening.

Background posts: Half dozen groups probe acquisition of Gettysburg's retired Electric Map, York newspaper about Gettysburg Address: 'Mr. Lincoln made a joke or two ...' and New visitors center gets buzz, but court to rule on old Cyclorama site

The Cyclorama painting is open for a much-anticipated public viewing at the Gettysburg National Military Park.

But early visitors received a special treat in addition to the revamped, round painting.

The visitors center charged $7.50 to see a 22-minute orientation firm and to view the Cyclorama, according to the York Daily Record/Sunday News... .

Scott L. Mingus Sr. has produced another book in a series capturing little-known or unknown stories surrounding famous battles.

His "Human Interest Stories from Antietam" Antietam book is now available, complementing his work on the Battle of Gettysburg.

Here are two examples from his Antietam work, including the story about a Confederate cow:

Was Lt. William Daniel, the rebel officer slain at Gettysburg whose tooth made the news recently, ever in York County? See soldier's tooth found.

Scott Mingus, author of a soon-to-be-published "The Gordon Expedition, Flames Beyond Gettysburg," says no. See human interest stories.

But the man who came up with the tooth, William T. King, was here... .

When he was growing up, a longtime student of York County history said recently, he never heard about York's embarrassment after the town's fathers surrendered to the Confederates before the Battle of Gettysburg in late-June 1863.

He kind of scoffed at the debate about the pros and cons of the surrender going on now in the community.

I told him he was proving my point, that the unpleasantness some felt about the surrender was simply not discussed. York celebrated other kinder and gentler moments. As in many communities, we have a tendency to sublimate unpopular historical moments. But now it's part of community discourse along with the attendant topic of race.

That's healthy... .