Gettysburg Daily

Corn on Steroids

Don’t let these short stalks in the foreground fool you. The corn rides high in Gettysburg National Military Park this summer. The 8th New York Cavalry Monument is next to the tree in the background – closer to camera is the marker to the 3rd Division of the Army of the Potomac’s 1st Corps. This image taken facing east at approximately 7:00 PM on Wednesday August 10, 2016.

We’re walking along South Reynolds Avenue for today’s post. And if you wanted to show a visitor around, there are some features worth pointing out in this area. In the background of this photo… This image taken facing east at approximately 7:00 PM on Wednesday August 10, 2016.

… the marker showing where Major General John F. Reynolds was mortally wounded/killed in front of Herbst’s/Reynolds’/McPherson’s woods. This image taken facing east at approximately 7:00 PM on Wednesday August 10, 2016.

North of the woods is the McPherson Barn. This image taken facing east at approximately 7:00 PM on Wednesday August 10, 2016.

Guns marking the position of Gilbert F. Reynolds’ Battery L Army of the Potomac are nearby on the eastern side of the avenue. This image taken facing east at approximately 7:00 PM on Wednesday August 10, 2016.

But let’s step back and take a wider view of this area. We’re standing in front of the Reynolds’ killed marker at the edge of McPherson’s woods looking towards a field of corn along Reynolds Avenue. But where’s the Lutheran Theological Seminary? Where’s the cupola? Let’s walk closer. This image taken facing east at approximately 7:00 PM on Wednesday August 10, 2016.

Supposedly Reynolds’ last view on earth was turning in his saddle and looking back towards the Seminary to see if reinforcements were coming across this field to help him. Can’t see that. This image taken facing east at approximately 7:00 PM on Wednesday August 10, 2016.

Scales’ Brigade of North Carolinians and Perrin’s Brigade of South Carolinians charged across this field towards the new Union position on Seminary Ridge. Can’t see that. This image taken facing east at approximately 7:00 PM on Wednesday August 10, 2016.

Perrin’s men were very brave and instructed not to fire at all as they crossed the fields towards the Union line. They held their fire until the last moment, allowing them to succeed in the assault despite horrendous casualties. Can’t see that. This image taken facing east at approximately 7:00 PM on Wednesday August 10, 2016.

It’s great that farmers can grow crops in Gettysburg National Military Park, preventing fields from eventually becoming wooded areas. But Licensed Battlefield Guides and other historians have had difficulty interpreting events that occurred at some stops along their tour route this summer. Harvest time can’t come soon enough. This image taken facing east at approximately 7:00 PM on Wednesday August 10, 2016.