Gettysburg Daily

Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop: The Iron Brigade Part 8

Colonel Henry Morrow and the Iron Brigade’s 24th Michigan Infantry Regiment fight a desperate delaying action on Seminary Ridge on the afternoon of July 1, 1863. With all the color bearers and color guard down, Colonel Morrow took the flag to rally his command. The Charles Krauth House is in the left background. The Seminary’s dormitory and classroom building, now known as Schmucker Hall is in the right background. This image, titled “Men of Iron” by artist Dale Gallon is courtesy of Ms. Anne Gallon of Gallon Historical Art Inc., 9 Steinwehr Avenue, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Their telephone number is 717-334-8666. Their e-mail address is [email protected]. Their web address is gallon.com.

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Dr. Rich Goedkoop is the host for a series on Iron Brigade of the United States’ Army of the Potomac. He is a professor of Communication at LaSalle University. Rich began his professional career in education as a Graduate Assistant at Central Michigan University. He received his Masters there in 1977 and went on to Pennsylvania State University to receive his Doctorate in 1980. Rich joined La Salle that same year. Throughout his career, Rich has taken an active interest in news and public affairs television programming which inspired his book, Inside Local Television News (1988). His numerous reviews and articles have appeared in such publications as Journalism Quarterly, The Journal of Broadcasting, Feedback, and Critical Studies in Mass Communication.

Dr. Goedkoop was the host for our series on John F. Kennedy’s visit to Gettysburg.

Rich Goedkoop writes, “I appreciate the contributions of Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides Stuart Dempsey and Cliff Detweiler in helping me put together this series, and Ms. Anne Gallon of Gallon Historical Art, Gettysburg, PA (Gallon.com) for the gracious use of four of Dale Gallon’s paintings for illustrations of key moments of the Iron Brigade at Gettysburg.”

To contact Richard Goedkoop, click here to reveal his email address.

In our first Iron Brigade post, Rich Goedkoop introduced us to the Iron Brigade series, explained how the unit was organized at the beginning of the war, and described their distinctive uniform.
In the second Iron Brigade post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Richard Goedkoop explains how the Iron Brigade acquired its nickname, and discusses their actions in the battles of Brawner’s Farm and Antietam.
In the third Iron Brigade post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Richard Goedkoop described the makeup of the First Division of the First Corps, and in particular, the 6th Wisconsin.
In the fourth Iron Brigade post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Richard Goedkoop briefly presented the rest of the regiments of the Iron Brigade and their commanders.

In the fifth Iron Brigade post, Richard Goedkoop showed the direction that the Iron Brigade took across the Codori Fields, where they entered McPherson’s Woods, and where they captured members of Archer’s Brigade.

In the sixth Iron Brigade post, Richard Goedkoop showed where the action occurred in the unfinished railroad cut, sums up the July 1st morning action, and shows the position of the Iron Brigade during July 1st’s “morning lull.”

In the seventh Iron Brigade post, Licensed Battlefield Guide Richard Goedkoop shows the retreat of the Iron Brigade on the afternoon of July 1, 1863, from McPherson’s Woods to Seminary Ridge.

In today’s Iron Brigade post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Richard Goedkoop shows the locations where the Iron Brigade made their stand on Seminary Ridge on the afternoon of July 1, 1863.

This map shows the location of the videos for Iron Brigade posts. Videos #1-#22 were shown in our previous Iron Brigade posts. Video #17 was taken at the Railroad Cut Video #18 was taken on east McPherson’s Ridge. Video #19 was taken by the monument to the 7th Wisconsin Regiment. Video #20 was taken by the monument to the 26th North Carolina Infantry Regiment. Videos #21 and #22 were taken on East McPherson’s Ridge near the junction of Reynolds Avenue and Meredith Avenue. Video #23 was taken at the Stewart Battery Marker on Seminary Ridge, north of the Chambersburg Pike. Video #24 was taken in the field in front of the position of Stevens’ Maine Battery. Video #25 was taken on the summit of Seminary Ridge at the position of Stevens’ Maine Battery. This map was created facing north at approximately 7:00 PM on Thursday, December 2, 2010.

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop is the host for the Iron Brigade series. He is standing by the marker for Battery B, 4th United States Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant James Stewart. The 6th Wisconsin of the Iron Brigade provided the infantry support for Stewart’s battery. The white structures in the background are at Larson’s Quality Inn. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:45 PM on Saturday, July 17, 2010.

In Video #23 (Videos #s 1-22 were shown in our previous Iron Brigade posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop is standing on Seminary Ridge near the marker to Stewart’s U.S. battery. He shows positions of some of the Union artillery on Seminary Ridge, and how they fired at the Confederate brigades commanded by Alfred Scales and Abner Perrin. This view was taken facing northeast to northwest to south to southwest to south at approximately 5:45 PM on Saturday, July 17, 2010.

Licensed Battlefield Guide Richard Goedkoop is standing on the west slope of Seminary Ridge. The Charles Krauth House, constructed in 1834, is in the background. The position of Stevens’ Maine Battery is in the background to the left (northwest) of the house. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:45 PM on Saturday, July 17, 2010.

In Video #24 Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop is standing on the east slope of Seminary Ridge. He describes how the Iron Brigade fell back to Seminary Ridge. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:45 PM on Saturday, July 17, 2010.

Dr. Richard Goedkoop is standing on Seminary Ridge near Seminary Avenue and the cannon and marker for Captain Greenleaf Stevens’ Battery E, 5th Maine Artillery. The Charles Krauth House is in the background directly behind Dr. Goedkoop. The 1942 Seminary Chapel (with the white steeple) is to the right of the Krauth House. To the right of the columns of the 1942 Seminary Chapel are the red bricks to the Seminary’s main building in 1863, now known as Schmucker Hall. In fact the green top of the cupola is barely visible above the trees. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:45 PM on Saturday, July 17, 2010.

In Video #25 Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Goedkoop is standing on Seminary Ridge near the position of Stevens’ Maine Battery. He describes how the Iron Brigade left Seminary Ridge through the town, and eventually to Cemetery Hill and Culp’s Hill. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:45 PM on Saturday, July 17, 2010.
Some statistics from the Iron Brigade’s action at Gettysburg.

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