Terrain Chambersburg Pike. (1 Viewer)

[Spudee]

G'day,

Am busily building up the 55th North Carolina Intantry figues from First Legion with the end result hoping to be the 55th's battle line as it moved down the Chambersberg Pike on the first day of Gettysburg. I am hoping to put together a simple diorama with just the assault line troops moving through the grass towards Buford's cavalry. Any suggestions as to the sytle of grass likely to have been found at that location and that time of year? I have looked at some of the terrain mats available and think there are a couple that might fit but would like to be as accurate as possible. Thanks.

 

[Larry Allen]

Hello Spudee;
I am, by far, NOT a Civil War expert, but if you <GOOGLE> or <BING> Chambersburg Pike and view Images you will get dozens of HITS on actual pictures of the exact place at the time of the Battle. Here is just a sample.

http://www.old-picture.com/civil-war/Pennsylvania-Chambersburg-Gettysburg-McPhersons.htm

http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/hh/9/hh9c.htm <Scroll down to about 1/2 a page>

Hope that helped. -- Larry

 

[Scott]

Possibly cultivated crops rather than grass. Photos may be from November when Lincoln was there rather than post battle in July. Maybe a search to see if the farm owners had crops or cattle. You KNOW that if you do it one way, an expert will say it's the other way and have the documentation to prove it. The road with snake rail fences on one side and rail fences on the other look way more interesting as a "ground."

 

[Spudee]

Hello Spudee;
I am, by far, NOT a Civil War expert, but if you <GOOGLE> or <BING> Chambersburg Pike and view Images you will get dozens of HITS on actual pictures of the exact place at the time of the Battle. Here is just a sample.

http://www.old-picture.com/civil-war/Pennsylvania-Chambersburg-Gettysburg-McPhersons.htm

http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/hh/9/hh9c.htm <Scroll down to about 1/2 a page>

Hope that helped. -- Larry

G'day Larry,

That certainly did help. I now have a better idea of the terrain around the Chambersburg Pike at the time the 55th NC Infantry were advancing. And the fact that one of the photos you steered me towards shows 2 different style of fences is great as I was thinking of including these if possible. Will get my Google finger working. Many thanks.

 

[Spudee]

Possibly cultivated crops rather than grass. Photos may be from November when Lincoln was there rather than post battle in July. Maybe a search to see if the farm owners had crops or cattle. You KNOW that if you do it one way, an expert will say it's the other way and have the documentation to prove it. The road with snake rail fences on one side and rail fences on the other look way more interesting as a "ground."

Hi Scott,

From your suggestion and those of Larry, I now have a better idea of what the Pike may have looked like on that July day back in 1863. I also note that some of the terrain model suppliers od have crops etc. and these might be included. Great work. Many thanks.

 

[Spudee]

Found this youtube clip after a little searching. Very interesting but not sure if the terrain, especially the cultivated fields, would have looked similar in July 1863.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70sugdjRug

 

[lancer]

Hi Scott,

From your suggestion and those of Larry, I now have a better idea of what the Pike may have looked like on that July day back in 1863. I also note that some of the terrain model suppliers od have crops etc. and these might be included. Great work. Many thanks.

Just a suggestion, but you might get access to a book titled "The Maps of Gettysburg" by Bradley Gottfried. This book is an outstanding record of the battle in situational maps that follow the action almost minute by minute. Each map follows the units on the area of the field they were engaged in and each map has terrain features such as fences and their types and the fields and how they were cultivated, ie., woods, corn, grains, grass, orchards, etc. The book is excellent and would be good for dio builders who are interested in terrain details. -- Al

 

[Spudee]

Just a suggestion, but you might get access to a book titled "The Maps of Gettysburg" by Bradley Gottfried. This book is an outstanding record of the battle in situational maps that follow the action almost minute by minute. Each map follows the units on the area of the field they were engaged in and each map has terrain features such as fences and their types and the fields and how they were cultivated, ie., woods, corn, grains, grass, orchards, etc. The book is excellent and would be good for dio builders who are interested in terrain details. -- Al

G'day Lancer,

Excellent suggestion, not just for my dio but also as a a good reference for studying the Battle of Gettysburg. Will now try to hunt the book down. Many thanks.

 

[lancer]

G'day Lancer,

Excellent suggestion, not just for my dio but also as a a good reference for studying the Battle of Gettysburg. Will now try to hunt the book down. Many thanks.

I think you will like it. It is one in a series of similar studies that include Chickamauga, First Bull Run, and I think an upcoming volume on Antietam. I also would recommend another book we have discussed on this forum, if you are a true Gettysburg addict, as it is expensive. It is called The Gettysburg Companion, by Mark Adkin. It is a complete guide to the battle, covering all aspects of the campaign, well illustrated, and with good maps. It has some errors but not enough to hurt the usefullness of the book. -- Al

 

[Combat]

I drive through that section of the battlefield almost daily. Recently the park service put up a variety of fences. I can only assume these are intended to replicate the fences that existed at the time of the battle. There are three distinct types of rail fences. I'll try to post some picture, but here are some interesting websites:

http://www.gdg.org/Research/BattlefieldHistories/farmap2.html

http://www.nps.gov/gett/historyculture/upload/A-Mystery-Solved-P2-photos.pdf

 

[Spudee]

I think you will like it. It is one in a series of similar studies that include Chickamauga, First Bull Run, and I think an upcoming volume on Antietam. I also would recommend another book we have discussed on this forum, if you are a true Gettysburg addict, as it is expensive. It is called The Gettysburg Companion, by Mark Adkin. It is a complete guide to the battle, covering all aspects of the campaign, well illustrated, and with good maps. It has some errors but not enough to hurt the usefullness of the book. -- Al

Thanks again Lancer. Have ordered the book through Amazon and await its arrival with much interest.

 

[Spudee]

I drive through that section of the battlefield almost daily. Recently the park service put up a variety of fences. I can only assume these are intended to replicate the fences that existed at the time of the battle. There are three distinct types of rail fences. I'll try to post some picture, but here are some interesting websites:

http://www.gdg.org/Research/BattlefieldHistories/farmap2.html

http://www.nps.gov/gett/historyculture/upload/A-Mystery-Solved-P2-photos.pdf

G'day Combat,

You drive along that section of the battlefield almost daily! OMG! I am so grateful for the information you have provided plus the links to the incredibly detailed photos and captions. What a find! From these I now have a very good idea of the terrain near McPherson's Farm in July 1863, even down to some wildflowers growing in the meadows. Bloody fabulous and well done.

 

[mestell]

Just a suggestion, but you might get access to a book titled "The Maps of Gettysburg" by Bradley Gottfried. This book is an outstanding record of the battle in situational maps that follow the action almost minute by minute. Each map follows the units on the area of the field they were engaged in and each map has terrain features such as fences and their types and the fields and how they were cultivated, ie., woods, corn, grains, grass, orchards, etc. The book is excellent and would be good for dio builders who are interested in terrain details. -- Al

I use this book and also Gottfried's "Brigades of Gettysburg" all the time to research my Gettyburg dios that I create . . . . both volumes are great reference books. As an FYI, the 55th NC was on the left flank of Davis' Brigade. The Brigade was moving through grain fields and over worm fences north east of Chambersburg Pike and not on or really near the road itself. The first Union contact that the 55th NC encountered was the 56th PA and the 76 NY who were positioned on the north end of McPhearson's Ridge. Assisted by the 2nd MS, the 55th NC fired first into the 56th PA and then fired into the 76th NY. The skirmsih lasted about 20 minutes before the 56th PA (50% casualties) and the 76th NY (62% casualties) were forced to pull back.
:smile2: Mike

 

[Spudee]

I use this book and also Gottfried's "Brigades of Gettysburg" all the time to research my Gettyburg dios that I create . . . . both volumes are great reference books. As an FYI, the 55th NC was on the left flank of Davis' Brigade. The Brigade was moving through grain fields and over worm fences north east of Chambersburg Pike and not on or really near the road itself. The first Union contact that the 55th NC encountered was the 56th PA and the 76 NY who were positioned on the north end of McPhearson's Ridge. Assisted by the 2nd MS, the 55th NC fired first into the 56th PA and then fired into the 76th NY. The skirmsih lasted about 20 minutes before the 56th PA (50% casualties) and the 76th NY (62% casualties) were forced to pull back.
:smile2: Mike

G'day Mike,

Will have a look to buying Gottfried's "Brigades of Gettysburg" which is obviously a good research tool. I had been aware of the 1 July 1863 movements of the 55th NC and realised that they were further left than the Pike itself. Not sure if you have looked at the Youtube vid I have linked in one of my earlier posts on this but it seems to follow fairly closely the movements of the 55th that day. I will now concentrate on deploying the 55th in open fields, maybe with some wildflowers and perhaps a fence. Which of these would have been likely to have been in use in that area at the time do you think?

 

[mestell]

G'day Mike,

Will have a look to buying Gottfried's "Brigades of Gettysburg" which is obviously a good research tool. I had been aware of the 1 July 1863 movements of the 55th NC and realised that they were further left than the Pike itself. Not sure if you have looked at the Youtube vid I have linked in one of my earlier posts on this but it seems to follow fairly closely the movements of the 55th that day. I will now concentrate on deploying the 55th in open fields, maybe with some wildflowers and perhaps a fence. Which of these would have been likely to have been in use in that area at the time do you think?

The references I have looked at indicate they were moving through "grain fields" but don't really indicate of what type (wheat, hay, alfalpha?). At some point they did have to cross over worm (zig-zag) fencing so I would say that a fence in tall grass would be appropriate.
:smile2: Mike

 

[Spudee]

The references I have looked at indicate they were moving through "grain fields" but don't really indicate of what type (wheat, hay, alfalpha?). At some point they did have to cross over worm (zig-zag) fencing so I would say that a fence in tall grass would be appropriate.
:smile2: Mike

Thanks again Mike. I think what you suggest about the terrain is the way to go; taller grasses and perhaps some sections of zig-zagging worm fences.