3 monuments vandalized at Gettysburg battlefield

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | 11:56 AM - Thursday, February 16, 2006 | Milan Simonich

[pittsburgh gop guy]

Vandals hit Gettysburg National Military Park overnight, damaging three Civil War monuments and stealing a 120-year-old sword.

Park spokeswoman Katie Lawhon said the intruders pulled the top stone and sculpture off the 11th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Monument, which was dedicated on Oct. 8, 1885.

They also stole a sword from that monument. Ms. Lawhon said this morning that the sword was taken from a sculpted arm attached to the monument.

Park rangers hope the theft will help them solve the case. A healthy market exists for Civil War-era weapons, particularly from Gettysburg. Many collectors, though, are on the lookout for stolen items.

In addition to the Massachusetts memorial, vandals also damaged monuments to Pennsylvania and New York units that fought at Gettysburg.

They pulled down the bronze sculpture of a Zouave infantryman from the pedestal of the 114th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Monument. It was dedicated on July 2, 1886.

The third monument attacked by intruders also was a bronze sculpture. It featured a Civil War artilleryman from the monument to Smith's battery, also known as the 4th New York Battery.

The Smith's battery monument was dedicated on July 2, 1888.

Gettysburg is patrolled by national park rangers and civilian volunteers, who keep an eye on the battlefield and its 1,400 monuments and markers at night.

Even so, this is third time in 18 months that vandals have damaged Gettysburg monuments.

The battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest of the Civil War. Some 51,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or vanished in three days of fighting. The battle was waged July 1-3, 1863.

[pittsburgh gop guy]

Time for some punks to pay....

[babyface00]

Time for some punks to pay....

And their parents too, if they're under 18.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Even so, this is third time in 18 months that vandals have damaged Gettysburg monuments.

Maybe they need a better security system?

[91B]

I hope they get real jail time. Gettysburg is one of my favorite places. I've visited several times and when I visit I always find something I haven't seen before

[CitadelArmyJag]

Whoever did this should be flogged...

[SueRae]

When they catch the kids who did this, they should be made to care for the field using 19th century equipment as part of their restitution (among othe things I can think of)

[apackof2]

Set up a manned night time patrol and catch the scum

[advance_copy]

This makes me sick.

[pittsburgh gop guy]

"Maybe they need a better security system?"

Kinda hard to secure since the monuments are all over the town and countryside, and public highways run through the park. But yes, the need to somehow make the monuments more secure.

[stainlessbanner]

dixieping

[Smokin' Joe]

I thoroughly agree--and my ancestors fought for the South.

[From The Deer Stand]

Felony hard time in prison, with a 250lb girlfriend named Leroy

Great line! Ha ha. Actually, the reasons vandals vandalize is because our court system is too lenient and they know it. Hard time, full restitution, and a substantial fine may serve as an incentive to be a good boy.

[stand watie]

!@#$%^&*! just !@#$%^&*!

i hope they do something UNPLEASANT to the creeps, when they're caught!

free dixie,sw

[null and void]

Felony hard time in prison, with a 250lb girlfriend named Leroy

Shouldn't that be:

Felony hard time in prison, with a 250lb girlfriend boyfriend named Leroy

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"I hope they get real jail time"

I don't want them to do jail time. Jail time costs us money.

When they find the vandals we need to flog them publicly, stick them in the stocks for a while with signs that name them as stupid criminals, then put them to work doing public good. If they don't want to work flog them some more.

Hell, flog them some more anyway.

Michael Frazier

[stand watie]

!@#$%^&*!

this is UTTERLY DISGUSTING!

free dixie,sw

[sauropod]

This is really sad. Gettysburg is one of my favorite places to visit.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

Very, very sad. :(

I suppose we are raising a generation where video game skills and political correctness classes have edged out basic history.

Well, keep an eye for that sword on eBay.

[eyespysomething]

Disgraceful dishonorable punks ping.

Nothing a baseball bat couldn't correct.

[Feiny]

The statue had been fine there since 1885....

[stand watie]

Gettysburg is HALLOWED GROUND for BOTH sides!

fwiw, my ancestor was PVT William James (Little Thunder) Freeman, late of the First Cherokee Mounted Rifles & the Fourth Missouri Partisan Rangers & REBEL, to his marrow.

"L.T." would be HIGHLY OFFENDED by this ATROCITY against the memory of BRAVE men.

free dixie,sw

[w_over_w]

I will always cherish my first visit to Gettysburg last summer . . . this is heartbreaking. Mongrels roam the land.

[colonialhk]

outrage

[dinoparty]

No matter, in 40 years all battlefield parks will be paved over anyway. Our citizens will all know what rock and rap bands were popular throughout history, but will have no idea that important wars were ever fought on our soil ... let alone be interested in preserving the fields.

[Potowmack]

Shameful. Truly shameful. Only barbarians descrate monuments to the dead.

[dinoparty]

My thoughts exactly. See my other post.

[Constitution Day]

Disgraceful!!

[BlessedBeGod]

Scum.

[Hegemony Cricket]

Man, that is sickening. I can't help but wonder if some young barbarians have no appreciation for our history because of what poses as history education these days. Does not excuse this crap, but may explain it?

[Lee Heggy123]

Theres a special place for bastards that do such things. The fellows that have died in war take turns running it.

[HostileTerritory]

I have to wonder what, in a public school history education, would lead young people to attack the monuments of Grand Army of the Republic soldiers.

[RebelBanker]

Absolutely disgraceful!

I agree wholeheartedly with stand watie - our ancestors fought for the South, but would have certainly been apalled at the lack of RESPECT. Vandalizing a battlefield or a cemetery is just beneath contempt.

[oh8eleven]

Maybe they need a better security system?
No, time for public canings, hangings, etc.

[Alouette]

Turn him over to a reenactment group for some real Civil War disciplinary punishment.

[stand watie]

WELL SAID!

free dixie,sw

[dinoparty]

Actually, they wouldn't have the slightest idea what you are talking about. They wouldn't be able to tell you in what century the war took place, or what it was about.

[SittinYonder]

Nothing a baseball bat couldn't correct.

At least they stuck to the Yankee monuments.

[cubreporter]

I know the battlefield is huge...we have been there. But, if there ARE volunteers couldn't there be two at every monument? This is disgraceful and the punks that did this probably have no idea how this country was formed, or built not to mention what those who gave their blood did for all of us. They are STUPID, IGNORANT, BRAINLESS WITH NO INTELLIGENCE AT ALL. They are probably drop out, hating, miserable inside people and the only way to get attention is to do something so drastic like this. I hope they get lots of attention and are put into jail where they belong. These kind of people do not belong on the same streets where the rest of us walk or on holy ground such as our battlefields where those who fought for the rest of us now rest. I hope they find them and punish them accordingly.

[RSmithOpt]

Eminent Dopey Main?? The 'me-me' syndrome protected by legislation sponsored by the ACLU, other Liberals, and society in general in agreement to "protect the right of a person to be void of integrity, respect, moral responsibility, and individual responsibility for one's own actions in the name of understanding and tolerance"?

[Texas_Jarhead]

hate crime

[eyespysomething]

You are BAD!

[Cinnamon Girl]

Except now they've had three attacks in the past 18 months, it says, so they need to do something differently before everything is destroyed.

[steelcurtain]

This makes me sick.

Me too. Those pictures made my stomach turn.

[IGOTMINE]

SONSABTICHES!

[groanup]

Hang 'em.

[HostileTerritory]

Actually, they wouldn't have the slightest idea what you are talking about. They wouldn't be able to tell you in what century the war took place, or what it was about.

I'm not buying it. Gettysburg is in the middle of nowhere. If you live there, you drink in this stuff from day one. If you don't, and you don't know about the Civil War, you're not going to drive 50-100 miles to knock over monuments which all happen to be from northern states.

Let's be honest. The most plausible explanation is that a couple of lowlifes who were visiting one of the greatest battlefields of the Civil War decided to celebrate their southern "heritage" by attacking monuments to Yankee soldiers. These people do not reflect on the attitudes of the many southerners who take pride in their ancestors' bravery and dedication to the cause, and to their credit (nearly) everyone posting to this thread has condemned this act of vandalism.

[HostileTerritory]

At least they stuck to the Yankee monuments.

The fact that you're the only person on this thread to express this sentiment should tell you something.

[groanup]

c'mon, no taking sides in this one.

[Potowmack]

I have to wonder what, in a public school history education, would lead young people to attack the monuments of Grand Army of the Republic soldiers.

Why is everyone assuming these perps are young?