Zions Lutheran Cemetery-Womelsdorf PA

 

Today I completed the preliminary research for the 33 Civil War Soldiers of Zions Lutheran Cemetery in Womelsdorf. 

There were three units represented more than others in this cemetery. The 14th Pennsylvania Infantry, a unit organized in April 1861, immediately after Abraham Lincolns first call for 75,000 men for 3 months of service. The 42nd Emergency Militia, a unit organized for a little under two months to try to stop the Confederates from attacking Pennsylvania. And lastly, the 55th Pennsylvania Infantry, a regiment that spent time in South Carolina before joining General Grant in the Overland campaign at the end of the war.

You can find the full list in the cemetery section of this site.

The stand-out soldier of this cemetery for me was the tragic story of Private Henry Rittenhouse. 

Henry was 23 when he joined company C of  the 149th Pennsylvania Infantry in August of 1862. From its organization in Harrisburg the 149th moved to Belle Plains Virginia in the beginning of 1863 and hen joined with the Army of the Potomac in its ill-fated Chancellorsville Campaign.

After the loss at Chancellorsville it was hurried north to try to stop the Confederates incursion into Pennsylvania. In the beginning of July they reached Gettysburg where they participated in the first days battle along Chambersburg Pike and the famed "railway cut".

At Gettysburg they lost 66 men killed 159 wounded including Henry who was wounded in the nose and sent to the hospital.

After leaving the hospital he rejoined his unit as they chased after General Lee back into Virginia. In 1864 they joined General Grant and his Overland campaign as he maneuvered to attack Richmond. 

Unfortunately for Henry during the North Anna battle he was captured on May 23rd 1864. From there he was sent to the horrors of infamous Andersonville Prison in Georgia. 

Andersonville Prison, stands as a haunting symbol of the human cost of the American Civil War. Located in southwest Georgia, this Confederate military prison became notorious for its overcrowded conditions, inadequate supplies, and high mortality rate.

Originally covering about 16.5 acres, the prison was enclosed by a 15-foot-high stockade. Its rectangular shape, measuring 1,620 feet by 779 feet, allowed for a cramped space of about 5 feet by 6 feet per prisoner.

Confederate Captain Henry Wirz commanded the site, which suffered from inadequate water supply, insufficient food, and unsanitary conditions. Of the approximately 45,000 Union prisoners held at Camp Sumter during the war, nearly 13,000 (28%) died, primarily due to scurvy, diarrhea, and dysentery

When Henry was paroled in November he was sickly and suffering greatly from scurvy and other diseases and was sent to the hospital in Washington DC

After he was well enough to travel he headed home. Unfortunately the ravages of Andersonville would follow him for the rest of his life. He would never truly recover from the diseases he contracted and therefore could not work.

He received a measly 6$ a month pension and repeatedly petitioned the government for an increase because of his disabilities, which were subsequently denied.

In his 50s his health continued to fail him and his self-perceived uselessness caused great depression. Soon his eyesight began to fail him and on June 22nd 1896 he took his own life. 

Many took to the papers talking about what a horrible tragedy it was for a soldier to be treated this way.

The Civil War tends to be romanticized and this story is a stark reminder of the trauma that followed these soldiers for the rest of their lives.

Soldier Highlight: The Holland brothers

Dennis and Henry Holland were born in Adams County Pennsylvania to David and Mary (Shuyett) Holland. They came from a large family with five brothers (James, David, Dennis, Henry and Alexander) and two sisters (Mary and Sarah). 

When they were young their family moved from Adams County to a farm in Upper Tulpehocken Township. 

On February 27th 1864, when he was 20, Dennis Holland travelled to Reading and enlisted in the 32nd US Colored Regiment. From there he was sent to Camp William Penn near Philadelphia where he would be trained and the rest of the regiment would be organized. 

 From Philadelphia the regiment travelled to Hilton Head South Carolina and attached to the Department of the South. Here they participated in a number of movements and skirmishes.

Near Beach Creek, Statesburg South Carolina Dennis would be wounded and subsequently sent to the hospital in Charleston South Carolina. At some point he would leave the hospital and head home. He would be marked absent in September of 1865. 

On February 15th 1865, at 19, Henry Holland would sign up as a substitute for an Ezra Miller of Cumru Township. In other words Ezra Miller paid Henry to take his place as a draftee in the Civil War. 

Henry would join the 2nd Regiment US Colored Cavalry. He would head south where he and the rest of the regiment would serve at Petersburg until its fall in April of 1865. After which they would be sent to Texas and attached to the department of the Gulf. 

In October of 1865 as they were travelling from New Orleans to Brazos Santiago Texas Henry would desert from the ship and return home.

After the war (according to the 1880 census) Henry, Dennis and their brother Alexander would live and work together on a farm in Upper Bern. Dennis would be listed as a preacher the other two farm laborers.

In 1910 Henry would be living with Dennis and wife Lucy (Ary) Holland on a farm together in Tilden Township. 

The next year Dennis would die of Tuberculosis on May 14th 1911. His brother Henry would follow him in death on December 10th 1818 dying of kidney disease. 

As far as I can tell they are the only two Civil War Soldiers buried at Salem-Berne Methodist Church in Tilden Township Berks County. 

Their story fascinates me and I plan on digging deeper to see what else I can learn about the "Holland Boys" in rural Berks County Pennsylvania. 

Cemetery Update: Fairview Cemetery Kutztown

 

One of the things I like to do after my first pass at a list is to visit the cemetery. So this morning I visited Fairview Cemetery in Kutztown to take a walkthrough and compare the list that I had with the headstones of the soldiers there. 

After my first run-through I had 29 soldiers with one red-letter and after this mornings walk I had found 5 more which I added to the list.

Including Titus Geehr who joined the 74th Pennsylvania infantry in February of 1865 with his father Jacob also buried at Fairview

Please check them out in the Berks County Cemetery section at the top right of the page and if you have any updates or changes please let me know!

Orwigsburg Historical Society talk on the 48th

    (Photo Credit RON DEVLIN – REPUBLICAN-HERALD)

      Article in the Reading Eagle

    I just recently gave my second talk on the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry to a enthusiastic audience at the Orwigsburg Historical Society. 

    I think one of my favorite things about doing these presentations is telling these brave soldiers stories having relatives of those who served in the unit come up to me and sharing their own personal research of their family member. Or watching their faces light up when they learn something new about the experiences of their relative in the war. 

    The purpose of this project has always been to try to get the information out on these soldiers so that families can share their stories and their memories can live on for generations. 

    Its no secret that the generation of "History Lovers" is an older group, but I feel like family is the tie that binds us all. I would encourage you to learn the stories of your relatives and teach them to your children. Even if they weren't Veteran's, take your kids to where they lived, where they are buried, find out stories about them and try to share those with your kids. 

Walking in their shoes, stepping on the same ground, breathing the same air makes the experience even more real. I feel that is the thing that is going to get/keep the younger generation interested in history.

I encourage you to contact/join your local historical society and go out and see some of these presentations they give. 

Both the Hamburg and Orwigsburg society's have a treasure trove of artifacts books and pictures remembering the histories of their communities. If you need help with family heritage from your community reach out to them for help.

Orwigsburg Historical Society Facebook Page

Hamburg Historical Society Facebook Page

As always if your organization or group would like a presentation on regiments or general area civil war knowledge feel free to contact us at WITSCivilWar@gmail.com

Soldier Highlight: Lieutenant Henry Rothenberger, 48th Pennsylvania Infantry

Henry Rothenberger was born February 10th, 1844, to William and Christiann Rothenberger in Hamburg Pennsylvania. He was employed as a Brickmaker when the Civil War broke out and he enlisted as a Private in Company D of the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry. He fought throughout the war rising to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. 

At Petersburg he was shot in the face, losing his left eye. According to his obituary it was at the hospital that he got to meet and shake the hands with President Lincoln. After he was discharged, he kept his eye in a jar at his home until the day he died. Later on in life he would become the Postmaster for Hamburg. 

Lieutenant Rothenberger pass from this world on  August 16th, 1925 and be buried in St. Johns Cemetery in Hamburg.

 The 48th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment holds a distinguished place in the annals of the American Civil War. Comprised primarily of coal miners from Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, the regiment was mustered into service in 1861, under the command of Colonel (then General) James Nagle

The 48th Pennsylvania Infantry was not just a military unit, but a band of brothers who stood shoulder to shoulder in the face of the nation’s greatest crisis. They fought in some of the war’s most brutal battles, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Wilderness, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, demonstrating their bravery and commitment to the Union cause.

Perhaps the most notable contribution of the 48th  was during the Siege of Petersburg in 1864. Using their mining skills, they dug a tunnel under the Confederate lines and filled it with explosives, leading to the Battle of the Crater. This innovative tactic, although not ultimately successful in breaking the siege, showcased the ingenuity and resourcefulness of these men.

Throughout the war, the 48th  exemplified the spirit of duty and sacrifice. They endured harsh conditions, faced formidable enemies, and suffered heavy casualties. Yet, they remained undeterred, their resolve only strengthening with each challenge.

By the time the regiment was mustered out in July 1865, it had left an indelible mark on the Civil War. The legacy of the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry serves as a testament to the courage, resilience, and dedication of the men who fought for the preservation of the Union. Their story is a vital part of our nation’s history, a reminder of the cost of freedom and the enduring strength of the American spirit.

Memorial Day Flag Placing List Campaign

 I often get asked how I get started identifying the soldiers in the cemetaries that I have worked on. It all starts with help from the folks that take care of their final resting places.

As memorial day approaches men, women and organizations are going out to these cemeteries and placing flags on the graves of these fallen soldiers. We would like to get ahold of these lists. They will provide a valuable starting place for us to do our work.

If you know anyone who has these lists, or you yourself has a copy please email it to witscivilwar@gmail.com

If you look at the top right of this site you will see the cemeteries we are working on 

If your cemetery isnt listed we are definately looking for your help!

Even though Berks and Schuylkill are the primary locations that I am working on, we have other folks working on Carbon, Allegheny and Lebanon Counties and we will gladly take any lists from any of those or any other county in Pennsylvania!

Thank you for helping us with our project, without you we couldnt keep these soldiers stories alive!

Soldier Highlight: The Curious Case of Captain Samuel Becker

 

On Christmas Eve of 1942 the oldest living Civil War Veteran in Berks County shuffled off this mortal coil.

Samuel B Becker was a native of Reading and a longtime resident of Strausstown PA where he taught school, worked at a hotel, sold farm machinery, and worked as a blacksmith.

In 1861 when the war broke out at the age of 14, he enlisted as a drummer boy in Philadelphia. He would serve through two enlistments with Company B of the 107^th Pennsylvania Infantry and the 53rd Pennsylvania infantry. He would transfer from a musician to a fighting roll and fight at Gettysburg and a few other engagements in Virginia eventually rising in the ranks to a Company Captain. 

He would attend the Gettysburg reunion.

He would fight at the famed “Devils Den” in Gettysburg and was cited many times for bravery once saving his regimental colors from capture. During this action he would be wounded numerous times, once in the leg where he would carry the bullet for 15 days before getting treatment.

Later in life he would procure a “Canon de 75 model 1897” WW1 artillery piece for a Veterans memorial at the end of town in Strausstown. His great-granddaughter would unveil the piece.

He was well liked and well respected, the story of his service was amazing…

                                 

                                                           If it were true…

 

You see, there was a problem with “Captain” Becker's story. When researching Zions Blue Mountain cemetery for my project I began to pull up information on him and things didn’t match.

First off let’s look at the regiments. He claimed to be in the 53^rd Pennsylvania Infantry and the 107^th (not specifying which one first). However, he also claimed to be at Gettysburg and fought at Devils Den which ruled out the 107^th which on the first day fought at Oak Ridge on the Northern side of the battlefield and spend the second day in a position near the “Bryan” house near the old location of the Cyclorama (near Meades Headquarters)

The 53^rd Pennsylvania showed up to the Gettysburg battlefield on the afternoon of July 2^nd and immediately moved to the position of the Wheatfield. Not Devils Den but close enough.

So, I dug into the 53^rd Pennsylvania. First, I looked at their muster rolls from 1865. I went to Company B and scanned down the list for Samuel Becker or anything that could be close (sometimes they spelled their names incorrectly).

 I searched the names and found no Becker present at all, weird but not unexpected. The closest was a John Baker who was 32 which didn’t fit. Throughout the course of my project there had been many names that were left off the muster rolls for one reason or another, so it was nothing new.

I went through the other company rolls just in case his company was misrepresented and found nothing.

Next, I turned to Samuel Bate’s “History of Pennsylvania Volunteers” considered to be the “Bible” of Pennsylvania Regiments. Nothing in there for a Samuel Becker in the 53^rd. So, then I did an OCR search for “Samuel Becker”.

The first hit that came up was for a Samuel B Becker….

that’s a match.

in the 53^rd Pennsylvania…

yup that’s a match too

Company B…

match again

emergency militia…

not a match

 Then I go to the official muster rolls of the 53^rd Pennsylvania Emergency Militia Company B

 

If he is claiming to have joined at 14 in 1861 this age would be close to correct (depending on his birthday)

 

In 1863 General Robert E Lee was working his way north to attack Pennsylvania after an immense victory at Chancellorsville to try to win a battle on Northern Soil and turn the tide of the war. On June 12^th 1863 Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin quickly calling for the men of Pennsylvania to enlist in an emergency militia to protect their homes from Southern invasion. Thousands of men enlisted from all over the state but luckily didn’t see action because of the Union forces stopping General Lee at Gettysburg.

The 53^rd Pennsylvania Emergency Militia served from July 2^nd, 1863, to August 18^th 1863, a little over one month, and never set foot in Gettysburg.

Then I turn to his second claim, to be enlisted in the 107^th Pennsylvania Infantry which would have been the regiment that he rose to the rank of “Captain.”

First, I turn to the muster rolls for the 107^th Pennsylvania Company B where I find an 18-year-old Samuel “Baker”

Again, not uncommon for names to be misspelled on muster rolls and everything else matches. This is a Muster OUT roll from 1865 and shows his rank to be “Private.”

Then I turn to the Soldier and Sailors national database to double check

Rank in Private…Rank out…Private.

The other point found in the muster rolls was the description of his enrollment.

 

It seems mister Becker was DRAFTED into the 107^th Pennsylvania.

 

The final nail in the coffin for “Captain” Samuel Becker's story came from the 1890 census. In 1890 the US Pension Office requested this special enumeration to help veterans with pension claims and determine the number of survivors and widows for legislation.

This would be from Samuel Becker's own words to the person collecting the census.

 

Samuel Becker served in the 53^rd Emergency militia as a Private for one month (the numbers were reversed on the census), then was drafted, and served as an orderly in the 107^th Pennsylvania. Even though he claims to have served in the 107^th from June of 1863 (maybe to reinforce his claim that he was at Gettysburg) all other records show that he served from June 3^rd 1864 to July 13^th 1865 at the end of the war. This matches with the draft of the time. He participated in the Petersburg siege campaign until the end of the war one year later.

As far as any records show he was never promoted, never wounded, and never received any citations for bravery.

Private Samuel Becker would be honored as a hero in the little town of Strausstown. He would tell his tale of “heroism” to anyone that would listen and even travelled to join the soldier’s reunion of Gettysburg, a battle that he never participated in.

My goal here is not to smear the life of Samuel Becker. He undoubtedly should be remembered for his record of service. In fact, I am sure if he had shared his stories of Petersburg and his time there, I’m sure he would have received the same amount of respect from his fellow citizens.

This is a cautionary tale that in history sometimes you shouldn’t take things at face value and stresses the importance of trying to get the information right for future generations which is what I hope my project will do.

Cut from website not sure what newspaper this is from

                                                        Harrisburg Telegraph  December 1942

Soldier Highlight- James L. Baum - Hamburg PA

James L. Baum, a 19 year old molder from Hamburg enlisted in the 128th Pennsylvania Infantry, a 9 month unit, on August 9th 1862. 

After being mustered in in Harrisburg the James and the rest of the 128th headed to Washington DC. There they would work on fortifications around the capitol until the 6th of September where they were ordered north to Maryland to stop an invasion by Robert E Lee.

The 128th moved their way northward reaching South Mountain just after the battle there, then moved over the mountain and down into the valley crossing the Antietam Creek the evening of the 16th. The Confederates had drawn back and built up their defenses around the town of Sharpsburg.

Battle of Antietam

At 2am the 128th moved forward to a plowed field at the north end of town close enough to the enemy lines that they could hear the rattle of gear and muffled talking.

At Sunrise the next day the brigade was moved forward and the battle kicked off. The 128th was pushed to the edge of the "Cornfield" where it hurried to get into battle lines under fire. However since the regiment had only been in existence for five weeks they were disorganized and slow. This allowed the Confederates hiding in the corn to open fire on them which caused more confusion and panic. Both of their commanders Colonel Croasdale and Lt Colonel Hamersly were wounded and killed which added the the chaos.

Soon General Williams, division commander ordered them forward and they charged rebels in the cornfield. Just as the corn that surrounded them however they were quickly hewn down and retreated. In that short 10 minute fight 34 were killed and 85 were wounded and the regiment was sent to reserve.

After the Battle of Antietam they were sent to Sandy Hook and Maryland Heights with 12th Corps here they stayed until January of 1863 where they went into winter camp at Stafford Heights

On the 1st of May James and the rest of the 128th were involved in General Joe Hookers Chancellorsville Campaign. Their orders were to entrench on the Plank Road near Wilderness. The next day they moved out to United States Ford to open the way over the Rappahannock. That evening they returned to their entrenchments.

The next evening General Jacksons troops smashed the left wing of the Union army, in the darkness the regiment was surrounded and 225 men were captured. Corporal Baum was listed as missing when the regiment mustered out, because his end of enlistment was so close to the time when the majority of the regiment was captured he may have just went home.

48th Pennsylvania

In February of 1864 James joined the 48th Pennsylvania Infantry when they were home on furlough filling their ranks.

From this point James would join the 48th on General Grants Overland Campaign through Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Anna River, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. He would assist them in constructing the mine used to destroy the Confederate works in Petersburg known as the "Battle of the Crater" and participate in the final destruction of the Confederacy and capture of the Capitol of Richmond. He would be mustered out with the rest of the regiment in July of 1865 at the end of the war.

After the War

After the war James would join the 4th Regiment Company E of the National Guard Post of Hamburg as a Second Lieutenant. 

He opened a goods store on the Corner of Main and State Streets in Hamburg (this was according to a newspaper article not sure what they are considering Main Street?)

He was a well known businessman and well liked. 

Suffering from bouts of "Sadness" (depression?) James took his own life at the home of his niece, Mrs John Baer where he lived on May 12th 1901.

He was buried with full military honors at Greenwood Cemetery in Hamburg. 

A Soldiers Letter

    I think its because I grew up in the Atari Generation, the generation that I appreciate the technology of today. I got to experience the transition of playing games that were just a block with an arrow for a sword moving around the screen ( Atari's Adventure) and watch it grow into photorealistic games and movies of today. 

    The on thing that still blows my mind to this day is just our sheer access to things. I think the kids of the youngest generations take this for granted. If you wanted to research the Civil War in the 80's and 90s you had to wait until you saw a documentary on TV or go to a library to find a book and most of the time they didn't have the exact thing you were looking for. 

    

    Today however you can order the exact book on Amazon or browse E library's for old and ancient books. You could even read them on your watch "Dick Tracy" style. (The older folks will explain that one to you kids). The sheer amount of information at your fingertips is unbelievable.

    Because of this unprecedented access I get to peruse publications, speeches and documents about the Civil War era that the past day researcher may have taken years to acquire if ever. I've been reading the "Rebellion Record, A Diary of American Event" written in 1861 and "Harpers Weekly" and "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspapers" for years and they have helped immensely with my research. They give you a good snapshot of the times and the attitudes of the citizens back then. 

    One thing that was extremely present in all these old publications was Poetry. You couldn't look at a newspaper or any other sort of publication without poetry being front and center.

    Faith Barret in her book "To Fight Aloud is Very Brave" said that 19th Century writers used poetry to navigate a hotbed of political and social pitfall's and argues that the poetry and writing of the day was destabilizing and influential (ala Uncle Toms Cabin)

    The 19th Century spawned such writers as Walt Whitman, Emily Dickenson, Frances Harper, Herman Melville and Ralph Waldo Emmerson among others.

    That being said when I was coming up with some of my presentations for this project I wanted to feature a bit of period poetry to end the night on.

    The first that came to mind was a poem called "A Soldiers Letter" some versions of it were called "The Boy Who Wore the Blue" which has been attributed to a few different authors including Joseph Pagett

    This poem was recited by heart by 104 year old Daisy Turner poet and story teller and daughter of an enslaved father on Ken Burns "Civil War" series

 

    Of all the poems I've read from that period I feel this one reflected the American soldier the best and paints a picture of the hardships and heartaches that so many of those brave men had to endure so I added it to my presentation. 

I have added Mary C Hovey's version from the Rebellion Record Volume 8 here

Dear madam, I'm a soldier, and my speech is rough and plain;

I'm not much used to writing, and I hate to give you pain;

But I promised that I'd do it-he thought it might be so,

If it came from one who loved him, perhaps 'twould ease the blow--

By this time you must surely guess the truth I fain would hide,

And you'll pardon a rough soldier's words, while I tell you how he died.

'Twas the night before the battle, and in our crowded tent

More than one brave boy was sobbing, and many a knee was bent;

For we knew not, when the morrow, with its bloody work, was done,

How many that were seated there, should see its setting sun.

'Twas not so much for self they cared, as for the loved at home;

And it's always worse to think of than to hear the cannon boom.

'Twas then we left the crowded tent, your soldier-boy and I,

And we both breathed freer, standing underneath the clear blue sky.

I was more than ten years older, but he seemed to take to me,

And oftener than the younger ones, he sought my company.

He seemed to want to talk of home and those he held most dear;

And though I'd none to talk of, yet I always loved to hear.

So then he told me, on that night, of the time he came away,

And how you sorely grieved for him, but would not let him stay;

And how his one fond hope had been, that when this war was through,

He might go back with honor to his friends at home and you.

He named his sisters one by one, and then a deep flush came,

While he told me of another, but did not speak her name.

And then he said: “Dear Robert, it may be that I shall fall,

And will you write to them at home how I loved and spoke of all?”

So I promised, but I did not think the time would come so soon.

The fight was just three days ago — he died to-day at noon.

It seems so sad that one so loved should reach the fatal bourn,

While I should still be living here, who had no friends to mourn.

It was in the morrow's battle. Fast rained the shot and shell;

He was fighting close beside me, and I saw him when he fell.

So then I took him in my arms, and laid him on the grass.--

'Twas going against orders, but I think they'll let it pass.

'Twas a Minie ball that struck him; it entered at the side,

And they did not think it fatal till the morning that he died.

So when he found that he must go, he called me to his bed,

And said: ”You'll not forget to write when you hear that I am dead?

And you'll tell them how I loved them and bid them all good-by?

Say I tried to do the best I could, and did not fear to die;

And underneath my pillow there's a curl of golden hair;

There's a name upon the paper; send it to my mother's care.

”Last night I wanted so to live; I seemed so young to go;

Last week I passed my birthday — I was but nineteen, you know--

When I thought of all I'd planned to do, it seemed so hard to die;

But then I prayed to God for grace, and my cares are all gone by.“

And here his voice grew weaker, and he partly raised his head,

And whispered, “Good-by, mother!” and so your boy was dead!

I wrapped his cloak around him, and we bore him out to-night,

And laid him by a clump of trees, where the moon was shining bright,

And we carved him out a headboard as skilful as we could;

If you should wish to find it, I can tell you where it stood.

I send you back his hymn-book, and the cap he used to wear,

And a lock, I cut the night before, of his bright, curling hair.

I send you back his Bible. The night before he died,

We turned its leaves together, as I read it by his side.

I've kept the belt he always wore; he told me so to do;

It has a hole upon the side--'tis where the ball went through.

So now I've done his bidding; there's nothing more to tell;

But I shall always mourn with you the boy we loved so well.

When I finally "got" the Civil War

I stared up at the giant metal structure that towered before me. A 393 foot latticed spiderwebbed monstrosity of steel beams and tubing. They called it a “hyperboloid” tower, a tower that curves inward instead of stretching outward or being straight up and down. Perched precariously at the top of this tower sat a white cylindrical room, ringed by windows, dark and ominous in the misty morning rain shower that covered the area.  

My father pointed to its apex. “We’re going up there” 

When he had first told me that we were going to a Civil War battlefield, this wasn’t what I had imagined. My pre-teen mind was doing jumping jacks thinking about having to go up that height. The “National Tower” was my first experience in Gettysburg, and it obviously traumatized me since I so vividly remember it at 44.  

A USA Today editorial called the privately-owned tower the “ugliest commercial structure ever to intrude on the sanctity of a national park” and if you do a quick Google image search for the now absent “National Tower Gettysburg” you will probably most hardily agree.  

We paid the fee and hopped in the elevator that lifted us to the top. Since I didn’t remember that the elevator had a glass wall until I saw a recent picture, I'm pretty sure I either closed my eyes or hid behind my parents as it raised us up. 

We stepped out into a musty cylindrical room, which had a multi-tiered carpeted floor and floor to ceiling windows running along the outer wall.  A panoramic view of the battlefield spread out before us as a tinny mettalic voices emanated from crackly speakers instructing the viewers of what was laid out just beyond the glass walls.  

From that height the rolling Pennsylvania countryside stretched out in front of us. You could see the fields around the Klingle, Sherfy, Codori and Trostle farms fanning out in all directions. Below us tiny white dots traced rows and half circles on the green blanket of the National Cemetary. 

My young mind didn’t grasp what I was looking at though. I saw landscape that was very similar to Berks County where we lived. The only difference was that this landscape was dotted with cannons and monuments with men carved or standing on them with lots of words and weird symbols on them. I don’t think my feelings that first visit was a unique experience for someone my age. I knew this place had an air of reverence to it the way that my parents talked about it, but I couldn’t comprehend why that was.  

Since then, I’ve become a father, foster dad and Boy Scout leader.  I have taken quite a few kids to Gettysburg over the years, and I can see that same experience playing out on many of them.   When it came to my kids most of the time the after-action reports given to their mother, (who also feels like it’s a field with rocks in it) relayed the "fun” parts of their day. The cool observation towers, climbing the Pennsylvania monument, playing on Devils' Den, and the shops and stores downtown. I am fairly certain that if you are reading this, and you have been to Gettysburg with your own children your experiences are pretty much the same.  

The epiphany came to me on a subsequent trip to the battlefield. I was a little bit older but only by a couple years. Before they built the new visitor center building that houses the museum and cyclorama, they used to be in two separate buildings off Taneytown Road. The Cyclorama building which housed the beautiful 360-degree painting of the battle, always reminded me of a giant tuna can. It was a large metal gray cylindrical building set back closer to Hancock Avenue.  

In front of the Cyclorama building directly across from the National cemetery was the old Gettysburg visitor center. (where the parking lot is today). It was a large brick building with four large white columns straddling the entrance. Inside this building was the museum with its thousands of artifacts, a gift shop.... 

...and the electric map.  

The electric map was a 30-foot by 30-foot topographic map of the battlefield. It was the rolling hills, forests and farmers' fields laid out and miniaturized. Here and there in this landscape were dime sized lightbulbs embedded in strategic locations.  

 The room’s lights dimmed, and John O'Gradys sage-like voice boomed from every direction. First, he oriented you to the map. Tiny white lights illuminated to show the viewer the position of the town of Gettysburg and your current location on cemetery hill. Soon he was showing you troop movements and locations. The tiny multicolored lights danced across the landscape. 

Sitting in a dark room and watching these lights move around I was transfixed. I imagined tiny little soldiers moving back and forth across the landscape playing out the story in my mind. I saw the soldiers marching in columns, a great blue wave pushing against a great gray one. I saw the blue wave retreating through Gettysburg and forming the now famous fishhook on Cemetary ridge. I saw General Sickles move his men without orders from the base of Little Round top to the peach orchard mere yards from the enemy lines.  

It was these stories that sparked something in me. I started to “get” the story of Gettysburg and what happened there in the hot summer sun of 1863. I soon became obsessed with it. I found books at the school and public library and dove into them. I learned the nuances, the men, the strategy and the drama. Around that time the movie “Gettysburg” came out which only reinvigorated me. Here those men of the past in those pages I read came alive across the screen. 

From Gettysburg It branched out, Antietam, Manassas, Petersburg, Fredericksburg, I read them all. As I got older my interest changed a bit. I moved from the high level “This army went here and did this” to a more nuanced study in the politics of the time. I wanted to try to understand what caused brothers, cousins, neighbors and friends to pick up arms and try to kill each other. 

But all of that came from an ugly old tower and a map with tiny lightbulbs on it.