[carlo3b]

Lest we forget

[onyx]

BTTT for tomorrow's read! Thanks for the ping!

[B Knotts]

Thanks for the ping. My great-great-great grandfather, Absalom Knotts, fought in that battle. He was captain of Company E, 14th Virginia Cavalry. He was captured later in the war, and held for a year or so. Before the war, he served briefly in the Virginia legislature, and afterwards, he was the postmaster at Minnora, West Virginia.

[kellynla]

Thanks for the post and the ping, Carlo. I'll read it in the am.

[ExSoldier]

American History TEACHER BUMP!!! THANKS

[Roscoe]

BTTT

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for posting this.

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[GRRRRR]

Dearest Mother,

I write this tonight by the dying embers of our campfire. Today's march has brought us to the edge of town, Gettysburg. A small creek runs near the camp, Rock Creek. To the west of camp lies a small ridge of land, leading south of the town, I pray the name, Cemetery Ridge is not an omen for us. We are told that Lee's Army of the Northern Virginians is off to the west by only a few miles.

General Meade is well in command now, he has been riding among the troops tonight--probably trying to make sure of his thoughts. He has changed some of our Captains of the Cavalry to be Generals. These men, fresh from the point will lead us tomorrow...Farnsworth, Merritt and Custer. Orders are for us to make a threat to Lee's southern lines of communication and draw the rebs down to Monocacy. We are to have fortified positions along Pipe creek and await their charges. Reynolds and Buford are to hold above the town and Sykes' V Corps will move to Hanover. Slocum and the XII Corp move to Emmitsburg and the rest will move to headquarters at Taneytown. At least these are the orders for tomorrow, July 1.

Mother, I do not know what the day will bring. I only know I am ready to fight for our Union. Providence has given us a Fine Country and we must stay together. The embers die down now, and the darkness is illuminated only by the heat lightening coming from the west. I will sleep now, dear mother.

Your son

Jeremiah Forster

[Northern Yankee]

Thanks for the history.

One of my favorite stories is that the song, Rally Round the Flag became a popular song for the Billy Yanks; but often the Confederates would request that song across the lines during the evening lull.

[dansangel]

(((((((carlo3b)))))))

Thank you for the poignant reminder of the battles that made our country what it is today. May the souls of these young men rest in peace.

[Carolina]

Thanks for the ping, carlo. I'm bookmarking this thread for my boys.

[goodnesswins]

Bump for later....and thanks for the ping

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the post!!! Hugs!

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[boxerblues]

bump