Gettysburg at Arlington Part 11: Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Kohr
March 15, 2010
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Kohr is standing by Wilbur Boyer, who was involved with tank training at Gettysburg’s Camp Colt in 1918. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Sunday, January 31, 2010.
Arlington National Cemetery, overlooking Washington, D.C., has many connections to Gettysburg and to the Gettysburg Campaign. There are many more connections than to only Robert E. Lee’s residence, and John F. Kennedy’s grave. Almost every row in the older sections have someone buried there who had a link to Gettysburg.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Kohr shows us the individuals connected to Gettysburg who are buried at Arlington.
In our first Arlington post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Kohr explains Robert E. Lee’s connection with Arlington, how the Union Army first occupied the site, and why Union Brigadier General General Montgomery C. Meigs established a National Cemetery at Arlington.
In our second post, Rich Kohr showed us the burial places of some of the first Union soldiers killed during the Gettysburg Campaign, and individuals such as John Gibbon and Hiram Berdan.
In our third Arlington post, some of the Gettysburg Campaign graves we saw included those of Ezra Carman, Roy Stone, and Abner Doubleday.
In our fourth Arlington post, we showed the graves of Gabriel Paul, Romeyn B. Ayres, J. Irvin Gregg, and Samuel Perry Lee, and James Jackson Purman.
In our fifth Arlington post we showed the graves of Lieutenant James Stewart of Battery B, 4th U.S., Colonel William Dudley of the 19th Indiana Infantry, Sergeant Frederick Fuger of Cushing’s Battery, and Colonel John Ramsey of the 8th New Jersey Infantry.
In our sixth Arlington post Rich Kohr presented the graves of Horatio Wright a division commander of the Sixth Corps, and Ellis Spear, Captain of the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment during the Gettysburg Campaign.
In our seventh Arlington National Cemetery post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Kohr shows us the grave of Edward Whitaker, who carried the flag of truce to Confederate lines at Appomattox on April 9, 1865.
In our eighth Arlington National Cemetery post, Rich Kohr shows us the grave of military engineer Ira Spaulding, and two Chief of Staffs of the U.S. Army, Ira Chaffee and Samuel Young.
In our tenth Arlington post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Kohr shows us the graves of the son of George Pickett, a Gettysburg Medal of Honor recipient, and the grandson of E.P. Alexander.
In today’s Arlington post, Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Kohr shows us the graves of a tank trainer at Camp Colt, and a witness to both Pickett’s Charge and the charge up San Juan Hill.
This map shows us the locations taken of videos for our Gettysburg at Arlington series. Videos #1-#18 were shown in our previous Arlington posts. Videos #19 and #20 were taken near McPherson Drive at the graves of Edward Whitaker and James Milton Pipes. Video #21 was taken at the graves of Jeremiah Williams and Llewellyn Estes. Video #22 was taken at the grave of Ira Spaulding. Video #23 was taken at the grave of Ira Chaffee, and Video #24 was taken at the grave of Samuel Young. Video #25 was taken near the final resting places of Dr. Jonathan Letterman and Lieutenant General Nelson Miles. Video #26 was taken near the grave of Major Edmund Rice of the 19th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. Video #27 was taken at the grave of Major General Daniel Edgar Sickles. Video #28 was taken at the grave of George E. Pickett Jr. Video #29 was taken at the grave of Charles E. Capehart. Video #30 was taken at the grave of E.P. Alexander III. Video #31 was taken at the grave of Wilbur Boyer, and Video #32 was taken at the grave of Harry Cavenaugh. This map was created facing north at approximately 7:30 AM on Sunday, March 14, 2010.
In Video #31 (Videos #1 – #30 were shown in our previous Arlington posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Kohr explains who Wilbur Boyer was, and despite very poor health, posessed an almost obsessive desire to serve in the military. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Sunday, January 31, 2010.
An acquaintance said of Wilbur Boyer I was in his confidence during the year in which he put forth every effort to be accepted for service in France. He showed at this time the greatest perseverence and singleness of purpose until he succeeded. During his months in service I heard from him frequently and I was amazed at his powers of observation and his startlingly concise way of presenting facts. On his return he showed two characteristics which are typical, he talked very little and was very conservative when he did make statements. He said to me, ‘I cannot talk about what I don’t know, and what is the use of endlessly repeating what you have only heard. He is a student and reads constantly the best books. His power of concentration is remarkable. I have seen him sit for hours intent upon his reading, utterly oblivious to the conversation going on around him. He is quiet and dignified, but is gifted with that keen sense of humor which relieves trying situations and makes men good companions.” This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Sunday, January 31, 2010.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Kohr is standing by the headstone of Harry Gibbons Cavenaugh who was a sergeant with the 1st Delaware Infantry at Gettysburg. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Sunday, January 31, 2010.
In Video #32 Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Kohr describes the actions at Gettysburg and later in Cuba that make Harry Cavenaugh a notable person. In Cuba, Cavenaugh was a Captain in the 13th U.S. Infantry Regiment. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Sunday, January 31, 2010.
Harry Cavenaugh was one of the few individuals to participate in two most famous charges in 19th century American History: He helped repulse Pickett’s Charge on July 3, 1863, and he participated in the Spanish American War charge up San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898, where he was wounded in the left hip. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Sunday, January 31, 2010.
When we left Arlington late that afternoon, a couple of items caught our eye, including the Washington Monument in the sunlight. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Sunday, January 31, 2010.
Also President Kennedy’s grave… This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:59 PM on Sunday, January 31, 2010.
…below the Arlington House. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:59 PM on Sunday, January 31, 2010.
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