Gettysburg Daily

Eleventh Corps at Gettysburg Part 16 With Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey

Brigadier General Francis Channing Barlow commanded the First Division of the Eleventh Corps on July 1, 1863. He was wounded when his division was attacked near what is known as Barlow’s Knoll or Blocher’s Knoll. This view is from the Harpers Weekly magazine issue of October 7, 1865.

In today’s Eleventh Corps post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey speculates on why Brigadier General Barlow left his assigned position near the Alms House and moved to Blocher’s Knoll/Barlow’s Knoll.

This map shows the location of where our Eleventh Corps at Gettysburg videos were produced. Videos #1-#34 were shown on other maps on our previous posts. Video #35 was taken by the monument to the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. Video #36 was taken at the monument to the 61st Ohio Infantry. Video #37 was taken by the monument to Wheeler’s 13th New York Independent Battery. Video #38 was taken at the monument to the 82nd Illinois Infantry. Video #39 was taken at the monument to the 157th New York Infantry located at the intersection of West Howard Avenue and the Carlisle Road. Video #40 was taken at the monument to the 119th New York Infantry Regiment on East Howard Avenue. Video #41 was taken at the monument to the 82nd Ohio Infantry Regiment. Video #42 was taken at the monument to the 75th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. Video #43 was taken at the monument to the 26th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Video #44 was taken at the monument to the 58th New York Infantry Regiment. Videos #45-#47 were taken on Barlow’s Knoll. Videos #48-#51 were taken at the site of the Adams County Alms House. Videos #52-53 were taken at the site of the Josiah Benner Farm. This map was created facing north at approximately 8:00 AM on Monday, January 25, 2010.



Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing on the site of the Adams County Alms House. Barlow’s Knoll/Blocher’s Knoll is in the background. This view was taken facing north at approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009.

In Video #51 (Videos #1-#50 were shown in our previous Eleventh Corps posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing on the site of the Adams County Almshouse, now the Adams County Agricultural and Natural Resources Center. He shows the area that Barlow’s division was supposed to occupy on July 1, 1863, and speculates on why Barlow moved his division forward. This view was taken facing north to east to north to northwest to north at approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009.



A “closeup” of Barlow’s Knoll/Blocher’s Knoll which is approximately 540 yards north of the Adams County Alms House. This view was taken facing north at approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009.



The Josiah Benner Barn, located “north” of Rock Creek and west of the “old” Harrisburg Road. This view, courtesy of Stuart Dempsey was taken facing northwest circa the 1870s.



The Josiah Benner House, located just to the south of the barn along the “old” Harrisburg Road. This view, courtesy of Stuart Dempsey was taken facing west circa the 1870s.



The Josiah Benner Barn, is owned by the National Park Service, and has recently been rehabilitated to look closer to its 1860s appearance. Stuart Dempsey is not very visible by the large barn. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009

In Video #52 Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing on the site of the Josiah Benner Farm. He shows how four companies of the 17th Connecticut Infantry Regiment approached the farm and were positioned. This view was taken facing north to southwest at approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009.



Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey has now moved to the property line separating the National Park Service land at the barn from the private land at the Benner House, shown in the background. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Major Allen G. Brady (1822-1905) of the 17th Connecticut Infantry Regiment. This picture was taken circa the 1860s, and is courtesy of Stuart Dempsey.

In Video #53 Stuart Dempsey provides some biographical information on Major Allen G. Brady of the 17th Connecticut. This view was taken facing east to northeast at approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009.