Gettysburg Relics of the Confederate Dead at Pickett's Charge | American Artifact Episode 28
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 มิ.ย. 2022
- When visiting Gettysburg, the national cemetery isn't the only place where the dead of the battle are buried. Many still lie in the unmarked graves where they buried in the summer of 1863. Unless they were accidentally dug up, that is. That is what happened to Fred Pfeffer (who also happens to be the great great grandfather of Erik Dorr) in the late 1800s. In this episode, we're looking at some of the relics that were unearthed at the site of Pickett's Charge, which saw some of the worst violence of the Battle of Gettysburg.
This episode was produced in partnership with The Gettysburg Museum of History. See how you can support history education & artifact preservation by visiting their website & store at www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory...
Get your History Underground MERCH at www.thehistoryundergroundstore.com
Set yourself up with a 10% DISCOUNT on all Origin gear and nutritional products by entering the code "history10" at www.originmaine.com!
Other episodes that you might enjoy:
- Was JESSE JAMES Radicalized At This Place??? | History Traveler Episode 212: • Was JESSE JAMES Radica...
- The James Gang: From the FIRST ROBBERY to the FINAL SURRENDER | History Traveler Episode 213: • The James Gang: From t...
- The Bullet That Killed Lincoln!!! | History Traveler Episode 15: • The Bullet That Killed...
- Gettysburg's Most STUNNING Artifact Collection (JFK, Marilyn Monroe) | History Traveler Episode 148: • Gettysburg's Most STUN...
- The Assassination of Lincoln & Ford's Theatre | History Traveler Episode 25: • The Assassination of L...
Support the effort to expand history education on PATREON: / historyunderground
Facebook: / thehistoryunderground
Instagram: @the_history_underground
All drone footage was shot outside of park boundaries by a part 107 licensed drone pilot.
If you've watched a few episodes and feel like I've earned it, be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss any new content when it comes out.
Also be sure to check out The Gettysburg Museum of History and their store at www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com. Thanks!
I love your series for its genuine feel and the quality content.…will be great if you can travel to Vietnam and cover some of the battles … Tet offensive, Hamburger hill, la Drang valley… the siege at Khe Sanh. Just an idea. There are so many stories just waiting to be told…
What is the music playing during this episode? Sounds familiar
I absolutely love these videos!!! TY🤗❤️
I absolutely love these videos!!! TY🤗❤️
I was born and breed in Mississippi and I appreciate your information!!! I'm very proud of My heritage and My state and ancestors who fought for States Rights against unfair taxes and for their family and friends!!!!
I am bricklayer in Scotland. In 2006 we were doing a new wall in an old town called Alloa. When putting in the foundations of the wall we came across an ancient burial site. The soldier was buried with his sword. The job was shut down so they could remove the body & hand over to historical Scotland. He must have been important, to be buried with his sword. Amazing.
Where abouts in Scotland and how old do you think the grave site was? So cool that you found The Sword too!!! : )
That was old Mc Donald's grave Head of the Mc Donald clan known fer there hamburgers and French fries. Ronald Mc Donald is the last known decedent living in America.
@@mrliberty8468 Ronald MacDonald invented the "Fillet O'Fish at Glen Coe.. And fought like Hell at Cauldon in 1746 to save the Big Mac from Flora MacDonald at Inverness after Bonny Price Charlie took the Field. Aye!!! ; )
That's seriously cool!!
I’m a Scottish American. McWilliams Clan.
I live in Northern Ireland and there's a veteran of Gettysburg buried near me in a place called Newtownards. He died in 1921 and fought in the 69th Infantry's New York Company. Im of Scots Irish descent and this race of people were over represented on both sides with famous names like Grant, McClelland, Jackson and Stuart all having links to Northern Ireland. We also provided the US with 20 presidents!
Thanks
I believe the 69th NY regiment was part of the Irish Brigade. Makes sense.
Thank you !
Besides John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama who are the 18 others with links to Northern Ireland?
We're all Irish in the USA. Plenty of us drinking adult beverages too. Best to you.
It's so refreshing to see someone from a younger generation that cares about our history. Good or bad. Thanks again for your blogs.
👍🏻
I am a Brit and visited Gettysburg back in 1989. Couldn’t help but be amazed at the bravery of Picket’s men advancing through that hell facing Union artillery. Incredible that they advanced so far. It certainly wasn’t Lee’s greatest battle. Wonderful monuments.
IF Lee is to be hailed as a great commander, what possessed him to attempt to strike meade in the centre that day after what he's viewed at fredricksburg some months earlier?
@@davec8730 If you look at Lee for the man he really was the right way. Lee was coerced into his position and he could not imagine what he had agreed to after he done that. General Lee was my grandmothers father. Margurite Lee Laub was his daughter and of all people my grandmother was adamant at how he had talked about ending the war to her older sister Anita. The only reasons Lee agreed to being the commander he was is because he was afraid of losing his farm and family to the Union as well as their rights to their own freedoms. He had somewhat the same view every southerner at the time had. They would be sort of enslaved by the north as well as cheated out of their existence by excessive taxes on their property. He would say what kind of man would I be if I leave someone from the north running our lives. Not all the facts are stated about General Lee nor his REAL personal beliefs. There is a lot written on the man and a few times my grandmother called out yelled bullshit when she was reading books written by people that never even knew the man or conjecture by people that allegedly knew or served with the man. She said the man as a different person altogether on the farm. I read a book myself that said Robert E Lee used to quote scripture to justify his actions which is totally false to what my grandmother said most of the time their religion was left to dinner prayer which even we do in my household to this very day. I have one actual photo of my grandmother with Robert E Lee she was about 3 years old at the time of the picture. Her sister Anita was 6-7 years old. The media and tabloids did not even have the correct names of most his family members. Robert E Leee sent my grandmother and her sister to live friends that had gone to California in the months before the war actually started part of the reasons there is only meager mention of her and Anita one semi factual book.
@@thekingsilverado3266 what on earth has your family history to do with the fact that i posted a question asking why would lee try a mass attack against fixed positions when he's seen the slaughter of burnside's troops doing exactly the same at fredricksburg?
lee's juniors (up to longstreet) could see it was a disastrous folly, why couldn't lee?
@@davec8730 Being as polite as I can be to sensitive little tykes like you the man is a relative of mine in the family. He was one of thee most misunderstood world figures of his time. But with you being brain dead it does figure you would miss a well made point since the man had the same concerns 1875 that we all have right here and now.
@@thekingsilverado3266 i very much doubt anyone hasn't seen your continuing insistence on telling us he was a relative of yours.
how was 'he one of the most misunderstood figures of his time'?
i haven't insulted you, even though you're an attention seeking wannabee.
what made one the highest rated generals of his time take the decision to advance uphill into a fortified union position when all could see it was the wrong decision bar HIM?
Thank your family for giving dignity to those fallen from my State of Mississippi. We still. Have long memories of those who never came home . There names are not forgotten !
Traitors who tore up the Constitution so they could kill their fellow Americans and keep their slaves should not be honored or remembered as heroic with a statue
nor their deeds.
may those who defended their homelands in the face of the invader dine forever in the Halls of Valhalla?
@@davec8730 ceaseless mayhem and eating - not for me
You can add my GG Grandfather’s too Steve~
Levi Webster Harrelson
Co G 42nd Miss ANV
captured: Falling Waters MD July 1863
cheers.
John-Valley Forge PA 🇬🇧
They were traitors 🤷♀️
As a southerner I would like to say thank you to the family of this man’s for the thoughtfulness in moving and reburial of these “enemy” soldiers. I’m sure that may not have happened every time. Thank you again🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸.
Yes, it should be that way all the time. And, they were Americans... Not " enemy" soldiers. Coming from a life long Northerner.
All were Americans in the 1860s They just represented two sides of the same coin, that's all. When it came time to flip the coin to decide which vision of America was going to predominate, it took a war to do it.
Traitors who tore up the Constitution so they could kill their fellow Americans and keep their slaves should not be honored or remembered as heroic with a statue
@Southern Storm Who seceded? Who fired the first shot? Fort Sumter, anyone? You don't have to shred the Declaration to tell the truth about the Confederacy. Talk about disingenuous. What difference if he "owned the slaves" he was willing to fight and die so his superiors could keep them. None of your examples come close to the traitorous acts of the murdering slaveholders who tore up the Constitution so they could kill their fellow Americans. There were no other motivating factors but slavery and slaveholding and the continuation of it. All other reasons were fabricated by Southern apologist historians 100 years after the war. You believe whatever you want, and honor whomever you wish. Just tell the truth about it and accept that you love and support a decadent and cruel culture that should have stayed in the trash but persists today in the south.
@Southern Storm Thank you for your thoughtful response, but more importantly, for your service to our country. My grandfather was an ensign in WWII. He told me he saw the flag go up at Iwo Jima from the deck of a battleship. I did not serve. Your perspective is that of a sailor/soldier. As I understand it, more than anything, soldiers fight for each other as brothers would. I respect and admire that greatly.
I'm an Irishman, but I have a fascination for American history, especially the civil war. For some reason I have always felt a strong connection to it since I was a child. I have a video of an old man being interviewed in the 1950s who witnessed the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He was aged 5 at the time and he remembered being worried about a man who fell from the balcony and hurt his leg. It was of course John Wilks Boothe.
I saw here on TH-cam a video from the old TV Show I've Got a secret and was probably the same man you're referring to.
I can’t help but think about the families of those boys and men who died at Gettysburg and the terrible longing they must’ve had to know what happened to their loved ones and where they were buried. As a mother of sons I imagine that it would be incredibly difficult to deal with. So many soldiers went off to war and never came home, and their families didn’t even have the comfort of knowing where and how they died. These are the unspoken costs of war.
The rate of casualty was so great, just going off to the war was almost an automatic death sentence as very few came back alive. If you were wounded,, there was poor medical available to help you. I can't imagine how horrible of the times it was for everyone back then.
Find the cost of freedom
Buried in the ground
Mother earth will swallow you
Lay your body down
Very well said...
I had 3 great-uncles with the Pennsylvania volunteers who died at Gettysburg. Two died the first day and were buried in a mass grave. The third was mortally wounded and died days later. His grave is marked with his name, at least. He had a note in his pocket he had written to tell his family of his brothers’ deaths.
I doubt there were all that many families who lacked information on where their loved one gave the ultimate sacrifice. Unlike today, most of these soldiers in the Civil War formed units together consisting of men from the same community. Often times, they were relatives. Take my ancestors for example. My 2nd Great Grandfather was in the same regiment along with two of his brothers, a brother-in-law (who married their sister), and a cousin. It also appears that one grand uncle's and my grandfather's wife's brothers were in it also, but I haven't researched their trees (they just have the same names).
So, when one of my grand uncles fell on July 3rd, in Pickett's Charge, his relatives were alongside him and likely saw it happen. Perhaps, if he didn't expire instantly, one of them may have been able to console him somewhat.
Erik Dorr is a gift that keeps on giving. I could listen to both of you guys for hours.
As a long time Civil War reenactor (Norfolk light Artillery Blues) I have been fortunate to go to Gettysburg numerous times. One year several hundred of us Confederate reenactors and numerous civilian visitors to the park (along with Park Rangers) got to walk the Pickett's Charge route from the Virginia Monument to the Stone Wall. It was very moving especially when we met the Union reenactors at the Stone Wall and they reached their hands over and brought us "Back into the Union".
While the 11th Mississippi was at Gettysburg at the same time my ancestors in the 33rd Mississippi were at Vicksburg. My GGGrandfather was wounded and captured at Champions Hill a few weeks earlier.
Tom Boyte
GySgt. USMC, retired
Vietnam 65-66/70-71
Thank you for your service Sir!🇺🇸
Thanks for your service Gunny, especially involving two tours in 'Nam! Semper Fi!
Honestly I am not even American and I love this channel ! Love history and especially the civil war. People should not take down statues over there because that's trying to erase the past which they can never do but also reminds you to never repeat it. Thank you so much for your awesome channel! 👌🏼
Thanks!!!
Agree completely 👌
Traitors who tore up the Constitution so they could kill their fellow Americans and keep their slaves should not be honored or remembered as heroic with a statue.
"People should not take down statues over there because that's trying to erase the past " No it isn't trying to erase the past. When communism fell in the Eastern block what is the first thing many of these countries did? Yeah, tore down the statues honoring people that oppressed, tortured and murdered them for decades. None of these confederate statues were erected while the confederacy actually existed. They were a reactionary measure. The erection of confederate statues often coincided with growing african american civil rights movements where the white southerners wanted to remind them what land they lived in.
@@tsdobbi well said - i'll pitch in for that Sherman statue too
I’ve learned more about history on this channel than school ever taught me
👊🏻
Me too! And so interesting.😊
When there is family history, compassion and respect involved, it allows a deeper understanding. Thank you Eric for yours and families contributions.
Need to piss on the remains of the racist traitors. Fuck the confederates, traitors deserve no honor.
I couldn't agree more.
I am an old retired High school history teacher. I had never visited the battlefield at Gettysburg until my birthday in August of last year age 69. What a visit! These videos are icing on the cake as far as my visit is concerned. Oh by the way my interest in history began as a child as a lady up the street would tell the kids in neighborhood of the old days. One powerful story that resonated with me of how her father was left for dead right there at Gettysburg. I wish I would have been able to have her with me as I walked in the footsteps of her father in July of 1863.
All replys are delightedly read. I have not been fortunate to have visited these interesting sites. Not long till i will be 80!
@@junewarren4378 Then you need to make the trip. It’s worth it.
My earliest proven relative in the US WAS Cpl Jacob Kempner of the 67th
Well, I am a former art teacher and age 72; and five years ago I FINALLY got to Paris and saw so many of the artworks I taught middle schoolers and high schoolers about. I was thrilled as were you! We crossed some items off our bucket list I guess.
Erik Dorr , I'm a True Ol Southerner and have many Confederate kinfolk in my Family line . On behalf of my Confederate Ancestors and Myself, I sincerely and humble pass a word of heartfelt Thank-you to you , your kinfolk for doing the right thing and treating them with Respect. It may be a long time ago now , but their are still many True Southerners who bloodline still run True. We Thank-you and God Bless you and your Ancestors.
True to the confederacy means true to the death of more Americans than killed by Hitler. You're proud of that. Traitor.
This is raycist and need to be destroy
Rest in peace my Confederate brothers. You are not forgotten. You deserve to be honored.
My great grandfather, Jacob Ziegler of the Eighth NY Calvary received his wound on July 1st late in the afternoon. This story as told to his great nephew G.A. Tuttle and recorded by him in our family journal titled "War incidents Related by Jacob Ziegler, First Sargent Co. C 8th New York Cavalry 1861-1865" I qoute-- "Our regiment arrived at Gettysburg June thirtieth, the next day July first in the afternoon we were ordered to take a position behind a low stone wall, to dismount and hold the position. The rebs wanted to get the position and bullets were flying thick, we were ordered to load and fire at will. About five o'clock Captain Folette was killed right near and I was loading and firing as fast as I could when a rebel calvary rode into sight and they had on blue coats to fool us. I called out "don't let them fool you!" And then the order came to fall back. I felt something in my shoulder and Captain Compson said to me " Sargent you are wounded." " I said no, the gun kicked." He said" You are wounded go to the rear." I looked and saw my coat was all soaked with blood, went to a hospital in a barn back of Round Top.... There's more but this will give you a sense of what it was like to be there on the first day of battle. Fortunately my great grandfather recovered and reentered the fight several weeks later and he was on hand to witness the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. I have an even more interesting first hand account in the family journal of the surrender should anyone want to hear it. If so, I'd love to tell it to the authors of this fine video.
Please share your great grandfather's account of Appomattox.
I would love to hear more about it because you have first hand knowledge of the actual events.
I'd love to hear it
Wow thanks for sharing that bit of history
@@michaeldeloach6610 So here's what I have- a first hand account of someone from our town that was a young boy when Grandpa Jake told him his account of the surrender. This record was written down by Spencer Knapp, a prominent businessman on Palmyra, NY that was a customer of the bank where I got my first job in 1974. Spencer came in one day and said he had something I would be interested in, knowing I was Jacob's great grandson.
The next day Spencer who was in his 90's at the time came back to the bank and handed me a two page typewritten account of the surrender as told to him by Jacob. I would guess I received this in 1975 or 1976. Here it is:
Jacob Ziegler was a young immigrant, outstanding enlisted cavalryman, exemplary citizen. Among the original contributors for the erection of the Methodist Church building; likely the first person to know of the possibility of the termination of the war of the Rebellion; furrier and blacksmith for many years on Market Street, grandfather of our townman, Karl Ziegler.
As related in my presence at dinner in my father's home about the year 1903. Jake, as he was affectionally called came out of Germany to evade the intrigue and martial inclinations of the "Potsdam Gang". He had observed the rigorous tactics of the military clique and believed that sooner or later Europe would be engulfed in a military conquest of the continent. With that thought in mind, he sailed for America. He fell in love with his newly sought land and within a few monthes enlisted in the 8th Cavalry, Co. C. at Rochester, N.Y. September 10, 1861. the record shows that he participated in forty two (42) battles. His outfit fired the opening shot of hostilities at Gettysburg and that he was severely wounded there on the 1st day of the battle.
But his particular pride was in telling how it came about that he was likely the first man to guess that the war would end. His Cavalry under Sheridan had chased the "Johnnies" all the way from Petersburg, VA to Appomattox Courthouse. Here is the story related as near as the writer can recall.
On the morning of April 9, 1865, very early as officer of the day, I was changing the guard at the skirmish line. I remember we had gone southerly down a cow lane to relieve the night guard. It was cold and the grass wet with dew. The sun was just beginning to appear. The night guard was drawn up facing North. The exchange was being readied when I noticed a stir far to the south.Thru the haze, I could see mounted men approaching. As they advanced nearer to us, I could see the mounted officers clearly and one bore a white flag. Instantly I knew of the possibility of surrender and the end of four years of bloody conflict.
I immediately suspended the guard changing and advanced to meet the half dozen on horseback..
I gave the challenge, "Who comes here?" The answer: "General John B. Gordon, Confederate Officer under a flag of truce, seeking audience with Lieutenant General Grant to arrange terms for an interview by General Lee". Ziegler: You may pass through the line".
Hurriedly Jacob changed the guard and with the relieved, escorted General Gordon and his officer in the direction of his superiors post, who would make further and necessary arrangement for the desired interview".
Later in the day this incident became the happy prologue to the meeting of the two Supreme Commanders in the McLean parlor where the "unconditional surrender" was effected.
This General Gordon was the hero of the Gordon-Barlow incident at Gettysburg two years before. He was afterward a Congressman and Govenor of the State of Georgia.
So ended this incident which Jacob seldom told, being a modest man. No yankee soldier was better disciplined, or fought with greater courage than the blacksmith from Palmyra.
Note: In the newspaper account of his passing on March 30, 1915, the newspaper article mentions he accepted the surrender flag at Appomattox Courthouse.
I have other first hand accounts of Jacob's war experience that are not battle related but every day life in the Cavalry that were recorded as short stories by my Great Uncle, George Tuttle. All very interesting glimpses into the day in the life of a soldier.
That guy has an awesome museum in Gettysburg with the most astounding artifacts not just of the civil war but history in general. What an awesome place.
I met Pickett’s Great Grandson, who was a quiet, elderly man, as his wife was a friend of my Aunt Jean. They were living in SE Montana and considering a move to California to live with their daughter. As I watched this old man riding around his farm on a lawn mower, I couldn’t help but think how different his life was from his namesake. His wife pointed to the well known historic photo of Pickett and asked if I and my husband would like it to have it, as her daughter wasn’t interested in the old large photo. We declined, hoping the daughter would gladly find a place for this keepsake. They moved and my Aunt Jean has died, but I remember this day like yesterday, because we had met Pickett’s Great Grandson.
Being at Gettysburg was hard, having to see where it all ended. Brave men on both sides.
I had a friend - Nancy Higgins Wagner - who donated a lot of Civil War Artifacts from her family collection. She said they still had her great-great grandfather's glass eye from that era, but a number of items they donated to a museum. She said the museum closed and she doesn't know where her donated items are now. I'm hoping they are somewhere being seen by all ages, as she really was proud of her family's involvement and the artifacts they provided.
How sad.
Thank you to all those who help preserve this monumental part of our American history.
Monumental SHAME of American history. You don't see Germany trying to preserve Nazi history.
I read the book The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara about 30 years ago. Then about 7 years ago I visited Gettysburg . All the details from the book about the troop movements flooded into my memory. It was an awesome and solemn experience to visit the battlefield seeing exactly where everything took place. Little Round Top, Devil's Den, Picket's Charge, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, etc. Monuments were everywhere, but the largest of them all of course was the one dedicated to the Pennsylvania regiments who fought there.
I just finished reading it! Yeah, it is especially good about what the generals and other leaders were thinking about during the battle, how they thought they could win, etc. As far as Lee having his army charge with Pickett, I think something was said about him verbalizing, "well, we are here -- this is where we are, and we have to win or lose HERE." Meh! He could have skedaddled as the CSA did after the battle and Lincoln was pissed that Meade didn't chase them down and kill them off while they were headed back to VA, but I don't think Lee thought his soldiers would support fleeing to fight another day.
Imagine being shot there 125 years later I was shot during pickets charge during reenactment of battle
Great book.makes you feel you were right there fighting
Thank you for saving our history. It’s EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
Traitors who tore up the Constitution so they could kill their fellow Americans and keep their slaves should not be honored or remembered as heroic with a statue
There’s so much history at Gettysburg and no matter how much you read, watch, or literally dig, there’s always more. I’ll be going there for the very first time next month and this channel has helped me prepare to see and search for things I had no idea about before discovering this amazing channel last year……my trip to Normandy will be next year.
Have a wonderful experience and a fruitful time in Gettysburg, Mr. Bruce👍 There's so much territory to cover just for the battleground scenery alone. East Reynolds Avenue by McPherson's Ridge is an incredible sight
I went there as a kid back in 1990. We got up early and headed out. When we got there, the sun was just starting to climb. It was somewhat overcast and a there was a fog. Even as a kid, I remember feeling a very powerful somber feeling as I stood there looking across the battlefield. The place seems to have an energy all its own. That experience really kickstarted my interest in history. I turned 40 last month and can still remember the feeling. It’s not something that can truly be described. It has to be experienced. If you haven’t been, you should go. It truly is a historical national treasure.
I know what you're talking about, I'm from North Carolina & we visited Gettysburg 6 yrs ago, You just get a feeling that you're on holy ground, I got cold chills when our tour guide showed us the NC monument & the stories about their part in Pickett's Charge. Amazing experience in Gettysburg!
We also visited Harrisburg, Hershey & York, where my old Harley was build. This was our first time in Pennsylvania & you always hear about southern hospitality, but you couldn't ask to meet nicer people than the ones we talked to. I can't wait to go back!
I know the feeling as I experienced it at the Battle of Bighorn in Montana where George Custer’s men died.
I am PA German, now living in Florida for the past few decades. PA Germans are generally very nice, talkative, will give you directions, like to be helpful, have a talent for telling funny stories that elicit great guffaws! Thrifty, do it yourself. Clannish though. Family means a lot. Being from PA we went to Gettysburg and when I was small, it was the CW centennial in 1961 and my folks took us on a family vacay to visit many of the VA battlefields, including Appomattox. Why do people go to amusement parks like Disneyworld when there is so much history to share with kids, whether it be Revolutionary war sites like Valley Forge or Ft. Ticonderoga, Civil War, homes of the famous like Lincoln's, Jefferson's or Jimmy Carter's, on and on? Williamsburg is ideal! You never know what will stick with a child that will become a career or lifelong hobby. Yes, battlefields are sacred ground, and this teaches children love of country and the sacrifices our ppl have made to create a free and just society. All the museums in Washington, DC are important to visit too once the kids are older elementary school age and up. Including the Holocaust Museum to beat back all this anti-Semitism so rife these days.
Just finished reading Gods and Generals and The Killer Angels
Thanks for this channel
Incredible enduring witness of history never to be forgotten
What a tremendous story of Erik’s family. History runs deep in him. The two of you “hooking up” and presenting this and all the collaborations you do is so amazing and satisfying. Keep up the good work, JD and Erik!
How surreal, standing with artifacts that were found where the artifacts were found! I can’t imagine for an instant how that would feel. You both do great work and I never get tired hearing about the civil war. 👍🏻🙂
I was in Jamestown on the "Behind the ropes with Dr. Kelso" tour and one of the archeologists had just dug up a musket ball from the 1600s and put it in my hand!!!! It was amazing!!!!! I was the 2nd person to hold that musket ball in 400 years after it was held by the colonist!!
That is what i love the most! Seeing the actual battle sites, hearing the stories of the soldiers who fought there and if possible see real artifacts.
@@punkin01ful oh my gosh! How exciting! That is something very special. That’s why I love history.
@@Mist3rData me too Stefan! I never get tired of watching these stories, the Gettysburg series I’ve watched a couple of times.
I never do either, hun🙂 It's something I've been fascinated in since I was a grade schooler bc my late uncle was a re-enactor for years as both Union & Confederate troops
Excellent episode JD! I love Erik’s story! One of my favorite things about this channel is that you and your guests always display such a passion for true history ~anything less is fiction! Well done JD and Erik, well done indeed
There is no saga so gripping and as that of the American Civil War, and no story so dramatic as the battle of Gettysburg. Thank you for a superb program.
Thank you, JD and Eric, for keeping History alive. I really want to get back to Gettysburg one day, and especially to visit Eric’s museum. Great video. Makes you wonder how many other yet unknown buried remains are still on that vast battlefield.
I bet more than can be counted. I hope to visit there someday!
I go there at least once a year always stop by to see Erik
I never tire of learning about the history of the Battle of Gettysburg. There is something quite poignant about walking the battlefields, envisioning the sheer enormity of troops and the horrific bloodshed. Each time I visit Gettysburg, I find myself deeply reflecting on the sacrifices that were made by those soldiers.
There's probably thousands of forgotten graves scattered everywhere. It was July and the bodies were rapidly decaying, plus doctors believed the 'miasmic vapors' from the dead would potentially create a plague so they were buried rapidly where they fell in shallow graves. It's why keeping developers' greedy hands off of these sacred American sites is so important.
What you mean get back to Gettysburg. I really doubt that you ever went there,another TH-cam B.S'er!...
Absolutely fascinating. Its hard to imagine the pain and suffering that took place here.
I've been to Gettysburg twice. I was there on the 150th anniversary of the battle. They canceled the parade because some criminals drove their car (stolen? I don't remember) into a house in town. Your series is amazing and I'm learning so much. I'm not sure if the museum was there then, but, if it was I REALLY wish I would have gone in!
This is my favorite topic, I salute both sides both north and south and this is my favorite place on earth I go every year July 1st 2nd and 3rd to pay honor to them all. My horses are part of the renactment of the three days battles, I let them participate and we camp out in the camp grounds provided and we just just love to honor both sides, they all fought for what they believed in and I take pride in my country and my beautiful horses I am proud of, I allow them to ride for the north one day and the south the next, both sides have honor.and I honor their service
I met Eric a few years ago, his museum is definitely worth a stop if you visit Gettysburg. I have walked around the 11th MS monument before and now I have a reason to go back and find another spot on that battlefield. Thank you guys and keep up the good work.
My family and i visited Gettysburg in may of 2018, what an amazing place. I was in awe of the thousands of monuments scattered through those few square miles and how intact all of the battlefields are. If you visit plan at least two days, so much to see there. Just an amazing place of our American history.
Such an incredible video. The connection between Erik's family and these relics is fascinating and extremely interesting. This video DOES make you wonder how many more soldiers are out there on the field still lying some 160 years later. So amazing...
Near Gettysburg College, at the “railroad cut,” skeletal remains of a soldier were unearthed by erosion there, I believe around the late 1970’s or 1980’s (have to kook it up) so yes, there are definitely most likely unmarked remains still at Gettysburg…
@@ChannelOutScotia - I did read that. If I recall correctly I was thinking the remains were found in the 90s. But I may have a faulty recollection. Either way, that's fascinating stuff...
thank you for preserving this history on this hallowed ground
👍🏻
I have been to Gettysburg 7 times, and each time I learn so many new things. I especially love stories of folklore, things that history never officially recorded. I can’t wait to go back again someday.
The 11th Mississippi has a man buried among the Union dead in the Gettysburg National Cemetery, mistakenly identified as being from the 11th Massachusetts, John L. Johnson of Company K. Great stuff, JD and Erik!
If this is verifiable, and I’m guessing it is, part of me thinks this should be corrected out of respect for both sides. Just a thought.
@@ChiefMiddleFinger Does it really matter at this point?
@@POOKIE5592 yes it does. Considering that neither side would've ever been caught dead with the other!
@@johnf8064 They are Americans.
@@POOKIE5592 Yes, but one a traitor,and the other a patriot.
Thank you for sharing this story JD. This is the kind of history I love. So fascinating about the story and the dogs finding the grave site.
Thank you for sharing our history. it breaks my heart what's been done to our history, especially the last few years, of it trying to be erased. Thank you for standing up, for sharing and for brining history alive again. What an amazing story! I grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and the history there is astounding. Maybe take a trip down there to show folks the history there as well. Thank you again for your passion for our history.
You don't see Germany trying to preserve Nazi history. It's a National Shame that these traitors even have monuments.
Several years ago, I was in northern Maryland for corporate job training. The company I worked for always made us bunk with a roommate. On the weekend, I was close enough to Gettysburg that I wanted to go. Asked around and not a soul was interested. My roommate, who was black, made a smart-ass comment of why anyone would want to waste their time off by "going to a place where a bunch of dead people were at." I wish I could say I was surprised by his comment wasn't. Wanting to keep my job, I left the room for a couple of hours until I knew he had left with another black to party the weekend away in Baltimore. Not wanting to make the trek by myself, I sat in the room and watched TV all weekend. I regret it to this day. Also, changed my perspective on many black people forever.
Hi JD. Great detailed information about a nearly unknown story from Gettysburg.
You always speak and present VERY WELL and make history LIVE! Thanks!
.
It must be absolutely fascinating to have a family connection to these remarkably interesting stories through your great-grandfather. I enjoyed this video very much. Thank you.
Amazing story. I have always been fascinated by the Civil War. I have been metal detecting for 50 years and everytime I find a civil war item, I get excited. Terry Greenway (Columbia Tennessee)
Have continued success on every one of your ventures, Mr. Greenway
@@michaelvaughn8864 Thanks Terry.
@@terrygreennway9655 You're welcome, sir🙂 My cousin, Timmy, found a mini ball at Gettysburg years ago with a pal's metal detector along the Emmitsburg Road fence on the Confederate Seminary Ridge side of it
@@terrygreennway9655 He still has it 31 years later
@@michaelvaughn8864 That's great. Terry.
To be so connected to this area, and especially this battle is amazing. Eric, you have a rich and storied heritage. Thank you both for for this snippet of history.
Great Episode always love hearing Erik recount his battle & family related knowledge associated with Gettysburg
i used to visit Gettysburg with my wife for your yearly vacation. Last time I was down there on vacation was on 9/11. That cut our vacation short and we returned to Northern NJ straight away. I remember that area around Pickett's charge and there was a foundation of a house in there. I always wondered about it because it looked like the house might have been blown apart from artillery hits. Seeing this video made me homesick for Gettysburg. My wife passed in 2014 and the good times we had there are some of the most precious memories.
Everytime I watch one of your videos on Gettysburg, i learn more and more about the Battle. ive been to the town 5 times, it will be 6 this summer. you give me more things to see or look for when i go back. Thank you for the great videos. 1 of my Ancestors participated in Picketts charge and was wounded but survived. God bless those Mississippi boys!
Yet another fantastic video - just great information and filming. I got chills when he recounts the personal connection to the battle and the soldiers who fell there. Thanks for continuing to capture and record these stories - they would be lost to history without your efforts!
Just a tremendous video presentation. You should have a million subscribers. Clear and respectful to the fallen.
Thanks 🙏🏼
Around 6:10 if you're from the South like me you'll know what I mean when I say "it sounds hot outside" 😆 cicada noises are firmly associated with and evoke feelings of hot, humid weather, at least in my mind.
Edit* side note for JD: your music selections, as always, are _excellent_ , I feel like not enough credit is given as far as music in your videos goes. Fantastic as always.
Indeed friend. 😊
I had forgotten about Erik's family connection until he brought it up again. Thanks for sharing the story.
I can't imagine plowing up a bunch of bodies, let alone moving them somewhere else. Then on top of that, digging them up again to help someone make an ID.
Wreckdiver59 Back in the late Victorian age people were closer to death than we are today. Most people were waked at home ( deceased were kept in the parlor at home in their casket until burial ), little family cemeteries existed in remote areas and often some family member or friend dug a grave out of necessity or respect. So, in the Gettysburg, PA area it was not uncommon, as the 19th century wore on, for farmers and others to accidentally disturb the resting place of a soldier or soldiers who had been killed in the great battle, and hastily buried.
The respectful thing to do afterwards was to rebury those who had been dug up. I live in Washington Co. Maryland close to where the great Battle of Antietam took place on September 17, 1862. This date is often referred to as America's 'bloodiest day' as there were 23,000 killed or wounded in an 8 - 10 hour period. The same thing occurred here as in Gettysburg - many were hastily buried on the field of battle ( bear in mind that the heat of July and September required that ). Some were missed when bodies were later disinterred for reburial, and are even found today, 160 years after the fact.
What an incredible story. These every-day stories embedded in major historical events are the most fascinating!
Seen so many presentations, videos, old photos of the Gettysburg battle that it is definitely a bucket list item. Good video fellas.
Great presentation, JD! Thanks for having Eric on. I learn so much and enjoy his presentations each time I see him. What a legacy his family has! I can’t wait to visit Gettysburg again, hopefully sooner than later.
You never see people celebrating their Nazi family members in Germany
Erik's great great grandfather really did a great service by his actions. Interesting video as always.
He really did. If he only had of known the impact he would of had on him.
That was right decent of him. Farming’s hard work already without having to exhume and re-inter actual *bodies* one has accidentally plowed up!
Very interesting Erik and his family history. To be a part of history and have the artifacts in relation to such a huge event is fascinating and humbling. Great work you two on presenting history on this platform.
Retired 22-year cadaver dog handler (Border Collies) here. Folks have no concept of the talent of our canine friends. I attended an advanced training in Williamsburg, VA. We were assigned to check out a small room. As we entered, my dog alerted on a cabinet under a sink. The instructor indicated the dog was correct and to give him his award. I asked what the source was, and the instructor replied, "old bone". I asked for his definition of "old". He replied "over a hundred years old."
We continued to check the room. My dog showed interest in a file cabinet, but was hesitant to give his trained indication. Finally, he committed and gave his alert.
Again, I asked the source. "Ancient bone" came back. "What's ancient?"
"At least a thousand years old"!
What must their noses be bombarded with 12/7?!
Wow! That is super interesting. Out of curiosity, how do you know of they’re hitting on a human bone and not a deer bone or do they just alert on anything?
Training. You use both in training, and they are only rewarded for alerting on the "correct" scent source. It takes a year and a half to two years of training to get certified, but the training never ends. At that same training in Williamsburg they had a room that had two containers on the floor. One contained human cremains, the other animal cremains. Prior to that trip my dog had never been exposed to cremains - as you can imagine, source material is not easy to find! Despite that, my dog went in, sniffed each can, went to the human cremains and alerted!
Dogs can be trained to find victims of drownings. They work from the front of the boat and pick up the scent of the victim as it leaves the water and gets picked up by the wind. It is a very tough discipline but very doable with a lot of work.
-Dave Polmon
Connecticut Canine Search And Rescue.
Thank you, Erik and JD, for telling us this story.
Awesome seeing these videos and being able to learn what I ride and drive by everyday. Hoping to visit the Gettysburg museum soon. Thanks for all of the great work on the videos!
This was an amazing post, I've watched it a few times now. Thank you so much for bringing this to us
Best wishes
Looking forward to the upcoming videos. Really appreciate you guys bringing history back for us all!
I love hearing the stories. Hats off to you and Erik. Keep ‘em coming
So appreciate these very deep connections to the past and the memory of such brave and committed individuals. Always enjoy your civil war pieces. Keep em coming :)
You bring history to those of us who can not and will not ever be able to travel to those places; "Thank You Kindly!"
Great video and explanation of the events of the day.
In my learning on the Civil War ,I have been in awe of the people that fought in this war. In talking to most people, they always felt that the soldiers were always buried in the cemeteries. As historians and yourself in this video proved out, soldiers were usually buried where they fell, and mostly without markers of any kind.
And that is the shame of this situation, all these people died and buried, and noone knows where they are and if they did no way of knowing who they are.
Thank you so much for bringing this part of history into the light.
God bless ya'll for your efforts, and stay safe on your travels.
Thank You very much. This is the stuff of Greatness, you won't find in History books. This is truly AWESOME!!
JD, I wouldn’t be surprised if a network picked both you guys up to do some work for them. Great series and delivery of important historical information.
Brilliant! Wonderful! Enchanting! Extraordinary! Thank you so much for bringing this slice of history to us.
I must admit, when I first saw the whole Gettysburg thing in the title, I was like ugh, just keep kicking a dead horse, but I should have known with you that it always turns out to be quite the interesting piece that you present to us. Yeah, I could've skipped it, but so glad I didn't! Didn't know that Erik was a descendant of one of the farmers!! That's so cool that he keeps all of that history alive. I sure wish I could go there and see that museum and see the grounds for myself. It's one thing to see people and places on videos, tv shows, and movies, but to see something first hand, walk where people in the past have walked, touch, smell, see history, that's what excites me! Great job as usual 👏.
My husband and I both have ancestors that were fighting at Gettysburg. North Carolina Infantry and Alabama Infantry.
Awesome video. Fascinating story and can’t wait for more. Thank you. I’ve been to Gettysburg dozens of times I never tire of it.
I am so glad I stumbled upon this video. My Great (Paternal) Grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Stokes, was Captain of Company K of the 11th Mississippi. My wife and I travelled to Gettysburg for my 63rd birthday to follow grandpa's movements during the Battles. We found the 11th MS monument on Seminary Ridge and we later wound up at Bryan's Farm to complete the "march". Grandpa was one of the 11th that were captured, otherwise, I wouldn't be here. One of grandpa's guards at Pt. Lookout, MD was a fellow Mason and gave grandpa a $20 gold piece to help get him back home to Mississippi when the war ended. Why Grandpa never spent that coin was never revealed to me, but I have it. At reenactments and school presentations, I hold that coin up and ask "how many sides does this coin have" at the beginning of my talks. At the end of the talks, after I have done all I can to give up as much info that I possibly can, I ask the question again, but add, "now, how many sides.... ?" The third side is the rim (or thickness) and contains the "true story" of America's darkest war. I know why I have that coin!
Another stellar video and job well done. Incredibly interesting. Thanks for the hard work!
Erik is SO fortunate to have been born into that family and hav' been raised up with all of those cool stories and relics! I just wanna follow Erik around and listen to his stories. Wow !! Im hoping to come up to Gettysburg this summer. Awesome video!
Thank you for your love and care of these historic events, god bless y’all from Australia xoxo
🙏🏼
I love the dedication you and Eric have to history. Always makes my day when I see a new video on your channel. Thank y’all for what y’all do
I 100% agree! I've taken to clicking the link when I see a new video drop, hitting the "like" button and THEN watching the video. Never once have I regretted hitting the "like" button first. Because I KNOW I'm going to love the content! My favorite YT channel.
Easily my favorite channel
Absolutely agree.
Same thing
Amazing episode! Y’all are doing good work shining a light on the guys who never come home after the war.
I was at Ft. Sam Houston in February of 94 when the movie ‘Gettysburg’ came out. Some buddies from basic training and I went and watched it on the post theater on a Friday evening right across the street from our barracks. It was hard to contend with the idea of Americans fighting with other Americans and the pain that generation had to live with for the rest of their lives. I always wanted to see it with my own eyes and this past summer (May 2021) I finally made it out a few days after my son graduated from West Point. It was more incredible than I could have ever imagined and all of us (me, wife, son, mother-in-law, and niece) were astonished at seeing the battlefield for the first time. We spent three days walking around and to be frank it wasn’t long enough to take it all in. It’s so hard to describe what you feel when you actually arrive there but you know you are on hallowed ground.
Missed this museum when we were there but will hit it on our return trip. Great video with great info. 👍
Congratulations on your son's graduation from West Point. My cousins have always lived across The River in Garrison NY and have a great view of it. When the cadets march, we can hear the drumbeat wafting across The River. GO ARMY!
Having been a student at the Seminary at Gettysburg , while the film was being made, we got to see how detailed they had to be to capture the ethos... covering the concrete sidewalks, blocking highway traffic, watching for air crossings, etc. But years before, I hosted a reenactment group, who were on their way to an event there, and so I went to see them 'in action!' Dressed in period costume myself, I didn't figure to stand out as a tourist while walking across a stream ravine but found myself in ankle-deep water between some trees following the sounds of some activity over the rise. Suddenly, a calvary charge (with swords thrust over the horses' heads erupted on either side of me (fortunately still behind a streamside tree!) as this galloping, leaping force passed me (within an arm's-reach!!) Yet in that split second, I believe they never me as they disappeared over the opposite bank? Talk about realism... the hair rises when I think about that moment 50 years ago!!!
Man, you guys have an awesome channel. I love seeing areas where old battles took place.
I visited the battlefield about 25 years ago . It is a very moving and sobering experience. We walked a large part of the battlefield, and I recommend doing that if you can.
This is so well done that it should be on tv.As good as any professional documentary maker could put up
Thanks 🙏🏼
Another fantastic video. You deserve a television show.
Too ugly for tv, but thanks!
Erik, thank you for sharing your family history with us the viewer. JD, you and Erik make a great "History Team," keeping our history alive is very important at this point in time.
Thanks!
My great, grandfather was shot in both arms at Gettyburg but recovered and saw action all they way to the end. He was a Sergeant on guard duty at Appomattox Courthouse the day of the surrender and I have a written account of that day as recorded by a resident of our town, Spence Knapp. My great grandfather was friends with his parents and as a young boy, Spence would listen to him tell stories from the war. I had the good fortune of hearing Spense at age 92 describing his discussions with great grandfather back when he was 15. If anyone wants to hear the story of the surrender through the eyes of Jacob Ziegler, 8th Cavalry, Co. C leave a comment. I now reside in Seminole, Florida.
I'd be very interested in hearing his account Paul. Please do share!
@@michaeldeloach6610
I’m posting another comment on this video today with a little more information. I have much more first hand account information from our family archives.
I’m traveling for the next 3 weeks with limited access to a computer. I’ll try to post something in the comments on this video. Thanks
I would love to hear more about the surrender at Appomattox because you have firsthand knowledge through your journal of what actually happened.
I just replied to michaeldeloach- I'm not good with the technical things but I think you can read it. let me know if not, and sorry it took so long.
Love your channel your content is presented in a very professional and intellectual way. I appreciate that very much.
Keep up the very good work.
I agree with so many of the previous comments re your dedication to enlightening so many to the history of Gettysburg. Truly your videos are fascinating and moving for me. Understanding what happened only enriches America's story. Those who disagree and selfishly remove icons of history so we can't share and celebrate the stories should be ashamed!! Thanks for producing these videos. God Bless
Wow! Just Wow!
Eric's family connections to the museum and local history is the most beautiful historic continuity i have ever seen. i had a chance at helping with my own Grandfathers dream of a small museum highlighting local and family history. i blew it.
Much love and God bless !:-)
💜🙏⚡️
Clapping my hands! That was awesome. JD and Eric you are quite a team. Thanks so much!
I love these. They are so well done. I really appreciate you guys and look forward to every time you upload a new episode. They are by far my favorite on TH-cam
👊🏻
Thanks for the video!! I loved seeing the relics you have shown.
This is the first video on your channel that I watched. Now I am hooked & can't get enough! Your knowledge of history remind's me of my son's. You two would be great friends. I appreciate your balanced way of presenting history whether good, bad or ugly. If we don't learn from our past we're bound to repeat it. God's blessings upon you as you share your passion of history with us. Keep up the good work!
This series is absolutely amazing!!
Great Job you two! you both make a great team! Great video, editing, music, and to tell the History! When you inspire someone to want to learn more, you are doing a great job! I love when Erik brings artifacts to the battle field, and the family history....Priceless!
Interesting stories and connections to the battlefield. Wonderfully filmed and edited. Good to see that old ball cap still in place!
History is fascinating, thank y’all for the excellent work you do in discovering and sharing our American history.
Great story!! Gettysburg is one of my favorite spots to visit. Me and some friends metal detect up in central Massachusetts and a friend of mine found a Mississippi Infantry button near a long gone railroad cut. We’ve always speculated it was from a prisoner being transferred to the prison camp in Rutland Massachusetts which is close by. Anyway, great video!!!!!!