Gettysburg Daily

Irish Brigade at Gettysburg Part 1: Licensed Battlefield Guide John Fitzpatrick

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide John Fitzpatrick is the host for our series on the Irish Brigade at Gettysburg. He is standing on Cemetery Ridge and is pointing to the Pennsylvania Memorial in the area where the Irish Brigade was positioned. The 1st Minnesota Infantry Monument is on the left (west) side of Hancock Avenue. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 20, 2011.

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide John J. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Esq. is host for a series on the Irish Brigade at Gettysburg. John’s interest in Gettysburg began in centennial year of 1963 when he arranged a trip to the Battlefield for the Villanova University Student History Club. That sparked a continuing interest in the American Civil War. Throughout his travels in the Service, work and some vacations he has been to Civil War sites coast to coast from Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California to the home, church and College of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in Brunswick, Maine. He is now entering upon his eighth year of Guiding at Gettysburg.

His professional career began in 1966 as a United States Marine Corps Officer, Tank Platoon Commander then Pilot. He served a combat tour of duty in Vietnam completing 140 missions in the A6 Intruder for which he was awarded 9 Air Medals and Vietnam Service Awards. Captain Fitzpatrick was Honorably Discharged from Active Duty in 1971 whereupon he entered law school. Upon graduation in 1974 he began a 32 year career as Corporate Counsel for Gulf Oil and Chevron Corporation retiring in 2006. He is a Member in good standing before the highest Courts in Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and California.

Contemporaneously with his first legal job, he transferred to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and later the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He served as an Active Reservist Pilot/Forward Air Controller/Squadron and Group Training Officer at the Willow Grove NAS, PA from 1974-1984. He was transferred to HQ USAF at the Pentagon in Legislative Liaison from 1985-1993 and finally as a JAG Officer reporting to the USAF TJAG and General Counsel from 1993-1997 based on his civilian expertise to assist the Air Force with its new Arbitration and Mediation Programs. Colonel Fitzpatrick received 3 Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal and other Awards before transferring to the Retired Reserve in 1997. He now divides his time amongst Guiding at Gettysburg, certain volunteer Veterans’ activities and serving as an Arbitrator in commercial, construction and securities cases.

John Fitzpatrick writes; “I appreciate the earlier related postings of my fellow Guides Rich Bellamy [Colonel Cross in the Wheatfield], the Editor of this Gettysburg Daily, Bobby Housch specifically for his postings of November 8 and 15, 2010 of the Weikert Lane [one of the most likely Avenues of Approach used by the Irish Brigade when it deployed to the Wheatfield in the late afternoon of July 2, 1863] and Dr. Rich Goedkoop’s posting of President Kennedy’s 1963 visit to Gettysburg. I also want to thank Licensed Battlefield Guides Rich Kohr for his posting on the Gettysburg Electric Railway and Ralph Siegel for sharing his expertise on the artillery fight at the Peach Orchard.”

“I also appreciate permission to use:
• New York’s Bravest, Painting by Don Troiani, www.historicalimagebank.com;
• Remember Ireland and Fontenoy, Painting by Rick Reeves, permission from Rick Reeves, rickreevesstudio.com;
• Pride of Erin, Painting by Dale Gallon, permission from Ms. Anne Gallon of Gallon Historical Art, Gettysburg, PA, www.Gallon.com;
• The Prince of Wales Flag courtesy of Erik Chipchase at mercenarygraphics.com.”

To contact John, please click here to reveal his email address.

In today’s Irish Brigade post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide John Fitzpatrick introduces us to the series on the Irish Brigade and brings the Irish to the battlefield at Gettysburg.

Captain Fitzpatrick on the US Marine flight line, DaNang, Vietnam, March 1970, a US Air Force F-4 Phantom Fighter having just landed in the background.

This map shows the location of the Irish Brigade videos. Video #1-#3 were taken along Cemetery Ridge south of the Pennsylvania State Memorial. This map was created facing north at approximately 7:00 PM on Sunday, May 22, 2011.

In Video #1 Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide John Fitzpatrick is standing on Cemetery Ridge, south of the Pennsylvania State Memorial. He introduces the Irish Brigade series and brings the Irish to a position east of Little Round Top. This view was taken facing north to west to north to south to north at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 20, 2011.

Licensed Battlefield Guide John Fitzpatrick is pointing to the William Patterson House located on the east side of the Taneytown Road. The Irish Brigade marched along the Taneytown Road from south to north (right to left) as they prepared to take position along Cemetery Ridge. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 20, 2011.

In Video #2 Licensed Battlefield Guide John Fitzpatrick is standing on Cemetery Ridge. He shows how the Irish Brigade marched north along the Taneytown Road and turned west at the Hummelbaugh Farm to take position on Cemetery Ridge. This view was taken facing east to north to northwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 20, 2011.

John Fitzpatrick is showing an index card showing the position of the regiments of the Irish Brigade. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 20, 2011.

In Video #3 John Fitzpatrick is standing on Cemetery Ridge. He uses an index card to show the double line of battle in which the Irish were positioned along Cemetery Ridge. This view was taken facing north to northwest to north to west to northwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 20, 2011.

The Irish Brigade regiments would have been in position along Cemetery Ridge, and in the fields west of Cemetery Ridge. This view was taken facing west at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, May 20, 2011.

To see other posts by Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides, click here.