Little round Top question (1 Viewer)

[Rob]

Sorry guys, I did warn you there would be questions!^&grin:wink2:

Yesterday I watched the first half of the film Gettysburg. (very enjoyable despite a few dodgy false beards!). In the lengthy Little round top scenes the Rebs were shown advancing through some thickly grouped but thinnish trees.However when I Googled Little round top images, images from the day show the slope as much more sparse with more rocks, bushes, boulders and altogether more barren look.So my question is am I looking at the wrong images or did the Rebs advance through thick woods to get to the summit of little round top. Also I don't know if the film was shot on the actual ground ,and I'm no arborist, but those trees do not look well over a hundred years old to me.

One final question, was there any artillery at all at the top of Little round Top?

Thanks in advance to my ACW expert friends.

Rob

 

[UKReb]

Rob

Yet another probing question from our ACW cadet ^&grin.

I believe that Little Round Top was indeed sparsley covered with trees and vegetation whereas Big Round Top was densely wooded.

Col Strong Vincent positioned Chamberlain's 20th Maine on the southern face of LRT, and on the western slope he placed the 83rd Pennsylvania, 44th New York and 16th Michigan. It was a hell of a fight with their ammunition fast running out but General Warren scrambled together more troops as reinforcements and amongst them were a battery of the 5th US Artillery who under fire dragged four cannon up the slopes. But they could not depress their barrels enough to fire into the advancing Rebs so had little effect on the fight.

Not sure where the actual filming took place but perhaps one of our US frogger's could enlighten us-as I don't think they were allowed access on the actual battlefield site-but I could be wrong.

Bob

 

[trooper]

The National Park Service did allow some filming to take place on the battlefield including Devil's Den and Little Round Top but most of the filming was done at an Adams County farm nearby. However I think the LRT shots must have been those on the summit post battle, as Rob rightly says contemporary photos show a much more barren aspect. Trooper

 

[Rob]

Rob

Yet another probing question from our ACW cadet ^&grin.

I believe that Little Round Top was indeed sparsley covered with trees and vegetation whereas Big Round Top was densely wooded.

Col Strong Vincent positioned Chamberlain's 20th Maine on the southern face of LRT, and on the western slope he placed the 83rd Pennsylvania, 44th New York and 16th Michigan. It was a hell of a fight with their ammunition fast running out but General Warren scrambled together more troops as reinforcements and amongst them were a battery of the 5th US Artillery who under fire dragged four cannon up the slopes. But they could not depress their barrels enough to fire into the advancing Rebs so had little effect on the fight.

Not sure where the actual filming took place but perhaps one of our US frogger's could enlighten us-as I don't think they were allowed access on the actual battlefield site-but I could be wrong.

Bob

Sir Bob!. I knew I could rely on you my friend. Thanks for answering as I couldn't understand the disparity between film and images. It says at end of film that some of it filmed at Gettysburg, but perhaps they filmed LRT scenes on BRT. Although with concerns about errosion and damage I can't imagine they'd allow it, I searched and found an article from Feb this year that states the park is tightening up just where visitors can climb, scramble etc for this very reason.

The more open, rough, less wooded terrain lends itself much more to a dio wouldn't you say Bob?.

Rob

 

[jazzeum]

One of the Gettysburg toy soldier dealers told me recently that he was an extra in the filming of Gettsburg (LRT I think). I can call and ask him if he was involved in LRT and where it was filmed.

 

[Rob]

One of the Gettysburg toy soldier dealers told me recently that he was an extra in the filming of Gettsburg (LRT I think). I can call and ask him if he was involved in LRT and where it was filmed.

Thats very kind Brad, but don't go to any trouble mate, my main point was to see if other folk agreed that the terrain on view in the pics was much different from that in the film.

Rob

 

[Rob]

The National Park Service did allow some filming to take place on the battlefield including Devil's Den and Little Round Top but most of the filming was done at an Adams County farm nearby. However I think the LRT shots must have been those on the summit post battle, as Rob rightly says contemporary photos show a much more barren aspect. Trooper

Yes Alan, and I thought the trees on the slopes were all of the same age, I only spotted this because its the same in many areas on the Somme or around Ypres where trees have been planted all at once and are still (in tree terms) quite young. Of course its quite possible one slope has more trees than another?.

Rob

 

[Scott]

Thats very kind Brad, but don't go to any trouble mate, my main point was to see if other folk agreed that the terrain on view in the pics was much different from that in the film.

Rob

In the film you'll notice how little damage was done to the trees by the "blank" ammunition in a very bloodless war movie.

Recently the Gettysburg National Military Park has been removing the park like trees and shrubs to make the battlefield more as it was then as it has become. I haven't been to Gettysburg since 2004 but I just talked to a New Hampshire man who had recently seen the park. Several areas have been opened up to reveal the farm land as it was at the time of the battle. I'm hoping LRT as also been "restored" to 1863.

 

[Combat]

Yes Alan, and I thought the trees on the slopes were all of the same age, I only spotted this because its the same in many areas on the Somme or around Ypres where trees have been planted all at once and are still (in tree terms) quite young. Of course its quite possible one slope has more trees than another?.

Rob

Rob-
The western facing slope of Little Round Top (facing Devil's Den and the battlefield) has no trees. It provides a clear view over almost the entire field. It's quite steep on that end with lots of rocky ground. Anyone standing up there understands why it was such an important position for observation and defense. However, the area behind LRT and Big Round Top is densely covered in trees. I recollect that Lee received reports that the Union had not occupied LRT top early on July 2. Those reports were proved false but set in motion the events there. I've always wondered why the Confederates attacked such a strong position when they easily could have gone around LRT into the rear areas of the Union line. Longstreet or Hood may have suggested such a course once they realized that LRT was being defended but were overruled by Lee.

 

[Rob]

Rob-
The western facing slope of Little Round Top (facing Devil's Den and the battlefield) has no trees. It provides a clear view over almost the entire field. It's quite steep on that end with lots of rocky ground. Anyone standing up there understands why it was such an important position for observation and defense. However, the area behind LRT and Big Round Top is densely covered in trees. I recollect that Lee received reports that the Union had not occupied LRT top early on July 2. Those reports were proved false but set in motion the events there. I've always wondered why the Confederates attacked such a strong position when they easily could have gone around LRT into the rear areas of the Union line. Longstreet or Hood may have suggested such a course once they realized that LRT was being defended but were overruled by Lee.

Doug, thats excellent thanks very much, thats just what I was hoping. In the film Longstreet does indeed ask Lee to let him attack from the rear but as you say refused. I wonder why the film makers went for the scene full of trees, perhaps it added more tension and atmosphere than an attack up a steep rocky slope?.

Thanks again

Rob

 

[Combat]

Doug, thats excellent thanks very much, thats just what I was hoping. In the film Longstreet does indeed ask Lee to let him attack from the rear but as you say refused. I wonder why the film makers went for the scene full of trees, perhaps it added more tension and atmosphere than an attack up a steep rocky slope?.

Thanks again

Rob

My recollection is that many of the Confederates would have attacked over BRT out of the woods into the "saddle" between the two hills. Also the fighting around the 20th Maine's position (Chamberlain) would have been in a more wooded area facing toward BRT and on the backside of the LRT. If you ever go there, you might be surprised to see where the 20th Maine was located. btw: Rob weren't you planning on visiting Gettysburg?

 

[Rob]

My recollection is that many of the Confederates would have attacked over BRT out of the woods into the "saddle" between the two hills. Also the fighting around the 20th Maine's position (Chamberlain) would have been in a more wooded area facing toward BRT and on the backside of the LRT. If you ever go there, you might be surprised to see where the 20th Maine was located. btw: Rob weren't you planning on visiting Gettysburg?

Thanks Doug, this is all very interesting for my planning. Yes I was meant to visit last year, however financial constraints prevented it, but it looks like I may be able to go next year now. Gettysburg and Antietam are top of my list when I get there.

Thanks again

Rob

 

[Rob]

In the film you'll notice how little damage was done to the trees by the "blank" ammunition in a very bloodless war movie.

Recently the Gettysburg National Military Park has been removing the park like trees and shrubs to make the battlefield more as it was then as it has become. I haven't been to Gettysburg since 2004 but I just talked to a New Hampshire man who had recently seen the park. Several areas have been opened up to reveal the farm land as it was at the time of the battle. I'm hoping LRT as also been "restored" to 1863.

Thanks Scott, is this you in the pic?

Rob

 

[jazzeum]

I just got off the phone with Ed Miller of Gettyburg Toy Soldier. He was in the filiming of LRT and he said it was all filmed outside the battlefield. The National Park people wouldn't let them in there.

 

[Rob]

I just got off the phone with Ed Miller of Gettyburg Toy Soldier. He was in the filiming of LRT and he said it was all filmed outside the battlefield. The National Park people wouldn't let them in there.

Thanks Brad, very kind of you.

Rob

 

[sammy719]

Hi Rob, I'll be going to Gettysburg this fall for my first time and looking forward to it, I want to see where my Great-Great grand fathers unit fought, plus the unit has a statue placed on the grounds for the 55th of Virginia, if there is anything you want pics of let me know, I plan on taking plenty!!!

He was captured later on at Cashtown and sent to Fort Delaware prison which if I can find documentation of being his relative I can actually stay overnite in the same area he was held, looking forward to this trip, hope to learn alot more of my relative...Sammy

 

[Rob]

Hi Rob, I'll be going to Gettysburg this fall for my first time and looking forward to it, I want to see where my Great-Great grand fathers unit fought, plus the unit has a statue placed on the grounds for the 55th of Virginia, if there is anything you want pics of let me know, I plan on taking plenty!!!

He was captured later on at Cashtown and sent to Fort Delaware prison which if I can find documentation of being his relative I can actually stay overnite in the same area he was held, looking forward to this trip, hope to learn alot more of my relative...Sammy

That sounds fantastic Sammy, hope you have a great trip. If you could get any pics of Little round Top and its terrain that would be great, also any of the area Bufords men held up the Rebs on Mcphersons ridge I'd be really grateful. Have a great time Sammy.

Rob

 

[sammy719]

That sounds fantastic Sammy, hope you have a great trip. If you could get any pics of Little round Top and its terrain that would be great, also any of the area Bufords men held up the Rebs on Mcphersons ridge I'd be really grateful. Have a great time Sammy.

Rob

Will do Rob, also going to Antietem/ Mannasas/Appomatox courthouse/Cold harbour, and the Meuseum of the Confedercy in Richmond, I have been to a few of these sites already but not my son or wife, if there is anything you want just let me know...Sammy

 

[lancer]

My recollection is that many of the Confederates would have attacked over BRT out of the woods into the "saddle" between the two hills. Also the fighting around the 20th Maine's position (Chamberlain) would have been in a more wooded area facing toward BRT and on the backside of the LRT. If you ever go there, you might be surprised to see where the 20th Maine was located. btw: Rob weren't you planning on visiting Gettysburg?

Combat is quite correct about this. The 15th Alabama, on the far right of the Confederate attack, and the 47th Alabama in line to the 15th's left, both attacked from BRT, across the saddle and up LRT, to the 20th Maine's position. This area was dense in woods. At the time of the battle, LRT was kind of 50-50 with the foreslopes unwooded and the backside wooded. The 20th Maine was in the wooded areas. I don't think the movie was inaccurate in regards to how it depicted the 20th Maine's position. -- Al

 

[Rob]

Will do Rob, also going to Antietem/ Mannasas/Appomatox courthouse/Cold harbour, and the Meuseum of the Confedercy in Richmond, I have been to a few of these sites already but not my son or wife, if there is anything you want just let me know...Sammy

Sammy, I would love to see some up close pics of the Sunken Lane at Antietam, but please don't go out of your way for them.

Combat is quite correct about this. The 15th Alabama, on the far right of the Confederate attack, and the 47th Alabama in line to the 15th's left, both attacked from BRT, across the saddle and up LRT, to the 20th Maine's position. This area was dense in woods. At the time of the battle, LRT was kind of 50-50 with the foreslopes unwooded and the backside wooded. The 20th Maine was in the wooded areas. I don't think the movie was inaccurate in regards to how it depicted the 20th Maine's position. -- Al

Al, so 20th Maine were in the wooded area whilst other units were in the more barren rocky area, so fighting on both slopes?

Rob