Would you fight a friend?

"The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity."

Ulysses S. Grant

What do you do when you are leading up to a big game and you notice that you have a friend on the opposing team? Is it okay for you to go over and say hello or should you just ignore your “enemy” on the other side? What would you do? I’m sure that General Armistead and General Hancock asked these questions and more when they looked across the battlefields of Gettysburg and saw each other’s battle flags. 

General Hancock

On July 2, Union General Winfield (Win or Winnie) Hancock, later a Democratic Party Presidential candidate, was preparing his men for the defense of the “high ground” that his men had helped taken control of on Jul 1. As he planned his defense, on that day he saw the battle flags of the Confederate Virginia regiment that his long-time friend Lewis Armistead served under.  This was the first time that they opposed each other since they shared a tearful goodbye when the Civil War started almost three years before.

 This video gives a little taste of their friendship...only the first two minutes gives Lo/Winnie information.

Winnie and Lo (Armistead) served and fought in the US army together. My grandpa, who recently passed away, was in the US army and fought in the Korean War. While serving, he made many good friends. I couldn’t imagine him having to fight against that friend after experience so much of life together. However, this is the reality of Winnie’s and Lo’s friendship…

General Hancock if the solider learning against the tree

On July 2, as noted in my previous blog, their divisions clashed and Lo was shot and died two days later. Hancock was also wounded but was not killed and went on to be a prominent political figure in the US. One day before he was shot, Lo asked General Pete Longstreet to give his personal bible to Mrs. Hancock in case he were to fall in action at Gettysburg.

Here is another video clip with Lo giving an emotional account of their friendship...it gets real good about 2:45 minutes in.

The Battle of Gettysburg was filled with all kinds of different stories. This story of friendship had a tragic ending and stills fills my heart with sorrow 150 years later.


"Win was Like a brother to me..."

Lo Armistead 

A Confederate Hero?

"If I live for a hundred years I shall never forget that moment or the command as given by General Lewis A. Armistead on that day."

Lt. John Lewis of the Fourteenth Virginia


This quote is from a book I read called the "Most Glorious Fourth" and is response to Armistead action during Pickett's Charge on July 3, 1863



Lewis Armistead

Introduction:

As I stood at the “HIGH WATER MARK” (this is what historians call the point of furthest advancement by the Confederates during Pickett’s charge on July 3, 1863) during my visit to Gettysburg a few months ago, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of sorrow. Not because the Union nearly lost the battle at this point; rather, because of the many heart wrenching and heartwarming stories that have yet to be told about the Confederates who fought in this war.  Stories of friendship and love, tales of heroism and sacrifice saturate the letters and diaries of southerners. Don’t get me wrong; I am as big a fan of A. Lincoln as you will find but not telling the accounts of those who fought for the south leaves a void in the big picture of Gettysburg. Here is the tale of General Lewis Armistead who was the man who was mortally wounded at the “HIGH WATER MARK”.  

Location where Lo was wounded

 

Who was Armistead?

Lewis Armistead (or Lo), who’s Uncle George Armistead was commander of the U.S. Army during the War of 1812’s Battle of Fort McHenry where the “Star Spangled Banner” was written, was a Virginian who fought in the Civil War as a Brigade General under Lee. This solider, who didn’t own slaves, also served in the U.S. Army during the Mexican War and was commander of a small force in San Diego at the start of the Civil War. He died, as a result of battle wounds on July 5^th, 1863 suffered two days earlier. He was the only Confederate officer to break the Union lines during Pickett’s charge on July 3 and if there were more troops backing him and his men up, the Confederates may have taken the field that day and won the battle and possibly the war. If that were the case, I would be refereeing to Armistead, not Chamberlain (see my last post) as the “man who won the war."
 

For a taste of Armistead as a leader or dare I saw, a hero, check out this Video clip. BTW, he is the man in the grey uniform.

Why am I wasting time writing about a Confederate in a Blog about Hero’s of Gettysburg?

Well, I am writing about Armistead because he is a hero to many. Yes, I do have some Confederate blood in me (I have relatives from TN who fought in the Civil War) but that is not why I’m discussing Lo’s story. I’m looking at this man because he, like Chamberlain, showed a great deal of courage during this battle and exhibited a high level of respect for those who he looked after. A hero is someone who shows courage and is admired by others… Armistead, to his men, was just that; their hero. Maybe he is not your hero of mine, but his actions on July 3, 1863 warranted this blog posting.

When I stood next to the spot where he was mortally wounded, I sincerely felt admiration for Armistead and wanted to learn more about his life and his story. I’m thankful that this blog has given me that opportunity.



 

Video 2 depicts some of Lo’s courage and leadership on July 3

For some reason, I could not connect the easy access view of the video but just click on the link to view. Trust me, you will enjoy it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUHnL6R39VM

 

Was Lo a Hero?

In my opinion, he was. In addition to the reasons given above, I believe that Armistead executed his duties with integrity and also had a genuine human side what I could relate well with.  What do you think? Was he a hero or do Confederates not deserve that title?

Field that Armistead marched across on July 3 (Picture personally taken)

Last video and a sneak peek into my next blog!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm6kHM2TPuE

Who was this Hancock guy Lo was referring to? In my next blog, I will look at an intense friendship between two people (Armistead and Hancock) fighting within yards of each other at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863.

Chamberlain...The man who won the Civil War



Lieutenant Joshua Chamberlain leading a bayonet charge at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863 

Me, with a stick, leading the charge right where Chamberlain did it on Little Round Top!

 

A noteworthy thought from this man before you continue reading...

“We are here for something new. This has not happened much in the history of the world. We are an army out to set other men free. America should be free ground, all of it. Not divided by a line between slave state and free…all of it; from here to the Pacific Ocean. No man has to bow, no man born to royalty; here we judge you by what you do, not by who your father was. Here you can be something; here is the place to build a home. It’s not the land...there is always more land. It’s the idea that we all have value, you and me. What we’re fighting for, in the end, we’re fighting for each other. “

Quote was personally dictated from the movie Gettysburg

Introduction:

 

As way of introduction, check out this clip about Joshua Chamberlain.

My Thoughts on this Man:

When I think about Chamberlain, I think about sacrifice. This guy had a ton of great things going on in his life in 1861 when the Civil War began and no one would have said anything negative if he didn't join the fight and volunteer for the Union. In order to dig a bit deeper in this remarkable man's life, I examined and looked at the sacrificed he made when he joined the fight to "set other men free."

Top 8 Sacrifices Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Made when he Volunteered to Fight for the Union

1.       His Wife: married the “light of his life”, Annie in 1855

2.       His Children: Grace and Harold were young at the time…three other children died in infancy

3.       His Safety: was appointed as a lieutenant (font line officer) upon enlisting…fought in over 20 battles including Antietam and Gettysburg

4.       His Career: became of professor of languages and rhetoric at Bowdoin College, his alma mater, in 1855

5.       His Comfort: left his large home with all of the top amenities of the day

6.       His Recreation: enjoyed horseback riding, swimming, and sailing

7.       His Church: former seminary student, who was active in a Congregationalist Church…this background helped shape his strong abolitionist views.

8.       His Education: was fluent in nine different languages…couldn’t lean another one on the battlefield

 

A few more clips for your viewing:

The clip below is from the movie Gettysburg and dramatizes a speech on freedom that Chamberlain gave leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg.

 

This last clip dramatizes Chamberlain's charge on Little Round Top...the one mentioned in Andrew's introduction clip above.

 

Your Thoughts???

Which of the sacrifices that Chamberlain made would be most difficult for you to make in your life today?

Change in my BLOG name

NOT A FULL POST…JUST AN UPDATE BUT PLEASE READ

In order to more accurately represent what my blog is focusing on regarding the Battle of Gettysburg, I decided to change the title. It is my desire to create and maintain an inclusive blog that is able to attract readers of all backgrounds. Because of the human element attached to my blog, I feel that that title now as constructed better reflects my heart for this blog. I hope that you all continue to check in for future blogs. My next blog will focus on a College professor from Maine who decided to volunteer (in contrast to many being drafted) for the North, or the Union as an Army officer because he believed that ALL PEOPLE had value and thought that freedom FOR ALL was worth risking his life and leaving his family for. Any guesses on whom I will be blogging about next?

John Burns...A 70 year old civilian solider

 

The Battle of Gettysburg was fought during the American Civil War in 1863. This three day battle took place on July 1-3 and is often called the turning point of the war. Whether you have an opinion regarding the significance of the Battle of Gettysburg or not, there is no denying the fact that thousands of lives were altered as a result of this battle.

I know that everyone is not as interested in the Civil War as much as me; therefore, instead of getting into the details of the battle, I'm going to bring to life some of the people, soldiers and civilians, who were greatly impacted by this battle.

Before the battle, Gettysburg was no more than a small town which consisted of people who worked, went to school, and lived their lives. After the Civil War, Gettysburg took on a Larger-Than-Life-Persona that either turns people off of the battle or captivates their fascination in the Civil War even more. Here is a link if you want to read more about Gettysburg before the Battle. Gettysburg before the Civil War.



Phtograph of John Burns







Burns Monument at the Gettysburg Battlefield

















I recently visited Gettysburg and learned about of a remarkable 70 year old man named John Burns. On July 1, 1863, Mr. Burns, a veteran of the War of 1812, heard the first shots of the Battle of Gettysburg fired, grabbed his flintlock musket, and sprang into action. After being rejected by the U.S. Army for military service because he was too old, Burns simply walked onto the battlefield on July 1 and joined the 155^th Pennsylvania Division and fought alongside the infamous Iron Brigade. Burns was actually wounded three times and was captured by the Confederate Forces but was released a short time later. Needless to say, Burns did not participate in the action of the battle on July 2^nd and 3^rd. Burns did become a national hero after the battle and was even personally thanked by President Lincoln.

 

Wow! Burns was a 70 year old man fighting for a purpose and cause. Some would call his actions crazy but I call his decision to fight admirable. If a cause is worthy and noble, it is worth fighting for…150 years ago or today. At 70 years old or what every age you are, what cause or person would you risk losing your life over?

The Battle of Gettysburg, as well as the Civil War is filled with many personal stories which bring the “human” element into the big picture. I look forward to looking at the ramifications of Gettysburg on the lives of several others in the upcoming weeks and months.