Gettysburg Daily

Bert Barnett’s Battlefield Walk



Gettysburg National Military Park Historian Bert Barnett lead a walk along Seminary Ridge showing the Confederate artillery positions for July 3, 1863. Unfortunately, the rain kept more visitors from attending the program. Here Bert explains that approximately 170 Confederate artillery pieces participated in the bombardment before Pickett’s Charge. This view was taken from the southwest facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, June 27, 2008.

Friday afternoon, Gettysburg National Military Park interpretive ranger (Historian) Bert Barnett presented a battle walk along Seminary Ridge. The focus was the Confederate artillery on the third day, July 3, 1863. The walk began at the old National Guard Armory, and went south to the area between the North Carolina and Tennessee state monuments. Unfortunately, it was raining fairly steadily at the beginning of the program, and not too many visitors showed up.



The program began at the National Guard Armory on Seminary Ridge along West Confederate Avenue. Here the crowd waits for Bert to make his appearance. This view was taken from the northwest facing southeast at approximately 3:30 PM on Friday, June 27, 2008.



Bert began the program by taking us to Rice’s Battery position just northwest of the armory to show this high point on Seminary Ridge, and its relationship to Cemetery Hill. Cemetery Hill is marked by the tallest trees in the background. This view was taken from the west facing east at approximately 3:45 PM on Friday, June 27, 2008.



While Bert talks about the trouble with the manufacturing of Confederate fuses, Licensed Battlefield Guide Tony Kellon is preoccupied with his cell phone. This view was taken from the northeast facing southwest at approximately 4:00 PM on Friday, June 27, 2008.



Between the North Carolina and Tennessee State monuments, Bert explains one of the key factors in Lee’s plan for Pickett’s Charge. He read a report from a Confederate artillery captain who stated that after the Confederate guns finished firing, the Confederate Infantry were to instantly emerge and begin moving across the field while the smoke was still hanging over the field. This view was taken from the west facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, June 27, 2008.