Eleventh Corps at Gettysburg Part 16 With Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey
January 28, 2010
Brigadier General Francis Channing Barlow commanded the First Division of the Eleventh Corps on July 1, 1863. He was wounded when his division was attacked near what is known as Barlow’s Knoll or Blocher’s Knoll. This view is from the Harpers Weekly magazine issue of October 7, 1865.
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 in our first post, Stuart introduced himself and showed us some of the routes that the 11th Corps took as they approached the Gettysburg Battlefield.
In our second post he brought Major-General Howard to the Peach Orchard, and showed the route that two of Howard’s divisions took to get to Gettysburg.
In our third post he described the reasons Howard found Cemetery Hill and thought it was an important position. Howard also wanted to get a closer look at the fighting to the west and north of town. He moved into the town for that look.
In our fourth post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey showed us the view from the top of the Fahnestock Building on an overcast day.
In our fifth post, Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey showed us that after his visit to the Fahnestock Building, Major-General Howard returned to Cemetery Hill and issued orders for other units to come to Gettysburg. Stuart also introduced us to the positioning of the Eleventh Corps on the fields north of town.
In our sixth post, Stuart gave some background about the men who made up the Eleventh Corps, and their desire to perform well after the Battle of Chancellorsville in May, 1863.
In our seventh post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey described command changes in the corps on July 1, 1863, and when the first units of the Eleventh Corps arrived on the field.
In our eighth post, Stuart Dempsey showed us the advance of four companies of the 45th New York Infantry Regiment towards the McClean Barn on July 1, 1863.
In the ninth post, Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey showed us the fighting around the McLean Farm and the position of monuments of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Eleventh Corps.
In our tenth post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey described the arrival of artillery on the Eleventh Corps line and the initial position of the Second Brigade of the Third Division of the Eleventh Corps.
In our eleventh post, Stuart Dempsey gives brief sketches of some Third Division units of the Eleventh Corps including the 74th Pennsylvania, the 61st Ohio, and Wheeler’s 13th New York Battery.
In the twelfth Eleventh Corps post, Stuart presented stories of the 82nd Illinois Infantry Regiment, the 157th New York Infantry Regiment, and the 119th New York Infantry Regiment.
In our thirteenth post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey shows us the monuments to the 82nd Ohio Infantry Regiment, the 75th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, the 26th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, and the 58th New York Infantry Regiment.
In our fourteenth post, Stuart asked that donations be sent to save part of the Chancellorsville Battlefield, and he describes Francis Barlow, and Barlow’s Division.
In our fifteenth post, Stuart shows us the location of the Adams County Alms House and provides some background on Von Gilsa’s Brigade and Ames’ Brigade.
In today’s post, Stuart speculates on why Brigadier General Barlow left his assigned position near the Alms House and moved to Blocher’s Knoll/Barlow’s Knoll.
This map shows the location of where our Eleventh Corps at Gettysburg videos were produced. Videos #1-#34 were shown on other maps on our previous posts. Video #35 was taken by the monument to the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. Video #36 was taken at the monument to the 61st Ohio Infantry. Video #37 was taken by the monument to Wheeler’s 13th New York Independent Battery. Video #38 was taken at the monument to the 82nd Illinois Infantry. Video #39 was taken at the monument to the 157th New York Infantry located at the intersection of West Howard Avenue and the Carlisle Road. Video #40 was taken at the monument to the 119th New York Infantry Regiment on East Howard Avenue. Video #41 was taken at the monument to the 82nd Ohio Infantry Regiment. Video #42 was taken at the monument to the 75th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. Video #43 was taken at the monument to the 26th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Video #44 was taken at the monument to the 58th New York Infantry Regiment. Videos #45-#47 were taken on Barlow’s Knoll. Videos #48-#51 were taken at the site of the Adams County Alms House. Videos #52-53 were taken at the site of the Josiah Benner Farm. This map was created facing north at approximately 8:00 AM on Monday, January 25, 2010.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing on the site of the Adams County Alms House. Barlow’s Knoll/Blocher’s Knoll is in the background. This view was taken facing north at approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009.
In Video #51 (Videos #1-#50 were shown in our previous Eleventh Corps posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing on the site of the Adams County Almshouse, now the Adams County Agricultural and Natural Resources Center. He shows the area that Barlow’s division was supposed to occupy on July 1, 1863, and speculates on why Barlow moved his division forward. This view was taken facing north to east to north to northwest to north at approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009.
A “closeup” of Barlow’s Knoll/Blocher’s Knoll which is approximately 540 yards north of the Adams County Alms House. This view was taken facing north at approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009.
The Josiah Benner Barn, located “north” of Rock Creek and west of the “old” Harrisburg Road. This view, courtesy of Stuart Dempsey was taken facing northwest circa the 1870s.
The Josiah Benner House, located just to the south of the barn along the “old” Harrisburg Road. This view, courtesy of Stuart Dempsey was taken facing west circa the 1870s.
The Josiah Benner Barn, is owned by the National Park Service, and has recently been rehabilitated to look closer to its 1860s appearance. Stuart Dempsey is not very visible by the large barn. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009
In Video #52 Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing on the site of the Josiah Benner Farm. He shows how four companies of the 17th Connecticut Infantry Regiment approached the farm and were positioned. This view was taken facing north to southwest at approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey has now moved to the property line separating the National Park Service land at the barn from the private land at the Benner House, shown in the background. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Major Allen G. Brady (1822-1905) of the 17th Connecticut Infantry Regiment. This picture was taken circa the 1860s, and is courtesy of Stuart Dempsey.
In Video #53 Stuart Dempsey provides some biographical information on Major Allen G. Brady of the 17th Connecticut. This view was taken facing east to northeast at approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009.
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