First Shot (1 Viewer)

[7th OVI]

On June 30th, 1863, Federal cavalry, the newly formed 1st Cavalry Division commanded by General Buford, approached Gettysburg from Emmitsburg Maryland and then through the town and to the outskirts where the lead squadron spotted elements of General Pettigrew’s Confederates to the west on the Cashtown Pike. One of the brigades, under Col. Gamble, would pursue the Confederates and take position to the west of the town. The first regiment in line based on the daily rotation was the 8th Illinois Cavalry Regiment also known as the “Big Abolition Regiment”. The brigade would move forward to Herr’s ridge with the 8th in the lead and set up headquarters around the old tavern near the Chambersburg Pike and set up pickets or vedettes to the west of the town. A company from the lead regiment, the 8th Illinois Cavalry, was sent a mile further down the pike to set up a line of vedettes on Knoxlyn Ridge further to the west to give advance warning of any Confederate threats. The company selected for the advance vedettes was E Company, commanded by Lt. Marcellus Jones. Jones and 35 troopers arrived at blacksmith Ephriam Wisler’s brick house and outbuildings on the ridge in late evening of June 30th and would sleep on saddles and blanket rolls before deploying in skirmish line at first light. Within the next 24 hours Lt. Jones, accompanied by Lt. Riddler and Sgt. Shafer will fire the opening shot (a few others make a similar claim) of the battle of Gettysburg around 7:30 AM on Wednesday July 1st. Jones would borrow Shafer’s carbine and fire at an officer leading Confederates across the Marsh Creek bridge. The officer could have been Col. Fry of the 13th Alabama Infantry. For the record, Jones missed.

In 1886, a marker was placed on this spot and gives credit to the 3 men. The marker is still there.

This diorama shows the first platoon of E Company as it moves off the Chambersburg Pike and executes the commands Jones probably would have given to do so “Front into line, March “, then “Halt, Right dress” with finally “Front, Dismount”.

As always, let me know what you think. Thx Chris

 

[villagehorse]

Comes across as realistic, which is no doubt what you trying to achieve. Robin.

 

[Horus]

As usual Chris, another winner

 

[Panzer ace]

Not a Civil War collector but I have to say this set-up is excellent.

 

[mestell]

As always Chris, very nicely set up and photographed

Mike

 

[Louis Badolato]

Chris,

Nice portrayal of a critical moment in American history!

 

[jason foote]

Great history lesson and the lighting of the scene is first rate. Looks like first light

 

[7th OVI]

Thank you all, really liked doing this one. This is my first diorama of ACW cavalry and caused me to do some additional research on cavalry in general and more specifically on the "first shot" and 8th Ill. Cav. I spent a lot of time trying to understand the major evolutions in Poinsett's Cavalry Tactics used in the ACW and eventually found some videos from the 11th OVC reenactment group that were very good with the explanation. I also looked at a few period images of the house and of the pike to determine if the 8th IVC would have moved out to the positions in files of 2 or 4. I have added a couple of images of the marker, the renovated house, which was complete in 2023, Jones and a slightly aerial view of the diorama showing the position of sergeants, guidon and commissioned officers for a troop in line per Poinsett's. An interesting note is that the E Troop had 3 officers and 49 enlisted men on the July 1st, 1863, Muster/Payroll while only 35 men were in the vedette line per a number of accountants. The first image is of the Wisler home circa 1895. Second image is of Lt. Jones. Third and fourth images of the marker. Fifth image shows the organization of the troop with guidon. The last image is of the house today after renovation. Thx Chris May do this one again but more refined as a part of a Gettysburg series for the 165th anniversary of the battle.

 

[jason foote]

Awesome. Enlightening

 

[Louis Badolato]

Chris,

You really did your homework! Thanks for showing us how your diorama/images came into being!

 

[Panzer ace]

Great historical references, this type of knowledge is the foundation of toy soldier collecting.