Eleventh Corps at Gettysburg Part 36 With Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey
March 1, 2011
George Nixon (1821-July 10, 1863) was a member of Company B of the 73rd Ohio Infantry Regiment. He was wounded in the right hip on July 2, 1863 while skirmishing with Confederates on Smith’s Ridge. Musician Richard Enderlin was awarded the Medal of Honor for his efforts to pull Nixon back into the Union lines. However, Nixon died in the Eleventh Corps Hospital at the George Spangler Farm. His great-grandson, Richard M. Nixon, became the 37th President of the United States. This image circa the 1860s is courtesy of Stuart Dempsey.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is our host for a series on the Eleventh Army Corps during the Battle of Gettysburg. Stuart had two relatives in the Eleventh Corps (73rd Ohio Infantry Regiment) and both were killed/mortally wounded at Gettysburg. They are both buried in the National Cemetery. Stuart has been a Licensed Battlefield Guide since 2004.
In addition to tours at Gettysburg National Military Park, Stuart also conducts tours at other historic sites in North America and Europe. He invites you to have a look at his website: www.battlegroundhistorytours.com.
In today’s Eleventh Corps post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey continues to show positions occupied by soldiers from Orland Smith’s Brigade in and around an area Stuart has designated as “Smith’s Ridge.”
This map shows the location of where our Eleventh Corps at Gettysburg videos were produced. Videos #1-#104 were shown on other maps on our previous posts. Video #105 was taken at the southeast corner of Queen Street and Johns Avenue. Video #106 was taken at the monument to the 136th New along the Taneytown Road. Video #107 was taken at the Smith Brigade plaque along the Taneytown Road. This map was created facing north at approximately 7:30 PM on Friday, February 25, 2011.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is the host for our Eleventh Corps series. He is standing at the intersection of Queen Street, shown on the left, and Johns Avenue, behind the cameraman. He is pointing to Cemeter Hill, distinguished by the tallest trees in the background. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, December 31, 2010.
In Video #105 (Videos #1-#104 were shown in our previous Eleventh Corps posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing at the junction of Queen Street and Johns Avenue. He relates the story of Richard Enderlin rescuing George Nixon and being awarded the Medal of Honor for this action. George Nixon was the great-grandfather of President Richard M. Nixon. This view was taken facing northwest to southeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, December 31, 2010.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing on the western slope of Cemetery Hill near the monument to the 136th New York. The Taneytown Road is just out of sight on the right. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, December 31, 2010.
In Video #106 Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing along the Taneytown Road near the monument to the 136th New York Infantry Regiment. He describes some of the experiences of the 136th New York while positioned in a battleline in this area. Of course Stuart meant to say that stone walls bordered the Taneytown Road (not rail fences). The tree-line visible in the background of this video indicates the ridge contested by Orland Smith’s troops, which Stuart refers to as Smith’s Ridge. This view was taken facing northwest to north to west to north to west to northwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, December 31, 2010.
Stuart Dempsey is standing by the plaque to Orland Smith’s Brigade on the western slope of Cemetery Hill along the Taneytown Road. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, December 31, 2010.
In Video #107 Stuart Dempsey is standing on the west slope of Cemetery Hill near the plaque for Orland Smith’s Brigade. He sums up the action of the brigade on July 2nd and July 3rd. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, December 31, 2010.
To see other posts by Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides,click here.
