Licensed Battlefield Guide Eric Lindblade explains the 151st Pennsylvania’s role in the fighting on July 1st and describes John Thomas Jones taking command of the 26th North Carolina (Video #13).This video was taken at approximately 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Eric Lindblade was born and raised in North Carolina. He began his study of the Civil War after a trip to Gettysburg when he was six years old. He attended East Carolina University and is the author of “Fight As Long As Possible: The Battle of Newport Barracks” (2010). His next book “The 26th North Carolina, 1861-1865: A Regimental History” is expected to be released in 2018. Eric is the host for our series on the 26th North Carolina. If you would like to contact Eric, you can click here to reveal his email address.
A map showing the location of Videos #13-16. Previous posts in this series: Part 1 [the 26th North Carolina starts July 1], Part 2 [the 26th North Carolina moves out towards McPherson’s Ridge], Part 3 [the 26th North Carolina advances against the 24th Michigan in Herbst’s Woods], and Part 4 [the “running fight” through McPherson’s Woods].This map was created in a chair facing east on April 23, 2017.
Video #14: The edge of Herbst’s Woods at the monument to the 151st Pennsylvania. The end of the fighting on July 1st for the 26th North Carolina.This video was taken facing east at approximately 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
Eric is pointing at the monument to the 151st Pennsylvania Infantry. Herbst’s/Reynolds’/McPherson’s Woods is in the background.This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
The 151st Pennsylvania would have retreated toward Seminary Ridge after buying time for the Iron Brigade to retreat.This view was taken facing east at approximately 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
Video #15: How many 26th North Carolina color bearers were killed?This video was taken at approximately 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
John Randolph Lane was born and raised in Chatham County, North Carolina and at the age of 25 enlisted in the “Chatham Boys” (later Company G of the 26th North Carolina) on June 10, 1861 and was mustered in as a corporal. On September 19, 1861 he was elected Captain of Company G, and on August 19, 1862 was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the 26th North Carolina. This photo was taken after Gettysburg and you will notice the various reunion and veteran ribbons and pins that Lane is wearing.This image is courtesy of Eric Lindblade.
Taken on July 4, 1903 the two former combatants on July 1, 1863, John Lane on the right and Charles McConnell of the left, are photographed near the monument to the 24th Michigan on Meredith Avenue. The story of McConnell’s wounding of Lane while a member of the 24th Michigan is an entrenched part of Gettysburg lore, but while the friendship between the two was very much real, McConnell wounding Lane likely was not.This image is courtesy of Eric Lindblade.
Video #12: Eric describes the story behind the wounding of John Lane.This video was taken at approximately 8:30 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
Also taken on July 4, 1903, William Burgwyn who was the younger brother of Colonel Henry Burgwyn stands between Lane and McConnell. Burgwyn played a key role in introducing Lane to McConnell and promoting and perpetuating the story of McConnell’s wounding of Lane at Gettysburg. This image is courtesy of Eric Lindblade.