Eleventh Corps at Gettysburg Part 41 With Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey
December 26, 2011
Colonel Stephen Joseph McGroarty of the 61st Ohio Infantry Regiment was born in County Donegal, Ireland. His family emigrated to America in 1833, settling in Cincinnati, Ohio. McGroarty lost his arm at Peach Tree Creek, Georgia, in July of 1864. On July 2, 1863 he led the 61st Ohio and the 157th New York towards the saddle area between Culp’s Hill and Lower Culp’s Hill. This image was taken circa 1864 and 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 presents the role of four Eleventh Corps infantry regiments that were moved to Culp’s Hill on July 2, 1863.
This map shows the location of where our Eleventh Corps at Gettysburg videos were produced. Videos #1-#117 were shown in our previous Eleventh Corps posts. Video #118 was taken near the saddle area between Culp’s Hill and Lower Culp’s Hill. Video #119 was taken near the monument to the 149th New York Infantry Regiment. This map was created facing north at approximately 6:00 AM on Friday, November 25, 2011.
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is the host for our Eleventh Corps series. He is standing near the junction of Slocum Avenue on the left and Williams Avenue on the right. Behind him is Lower Culp’s Hill. Above Stuart’s right shoulder are two individuals walking in the saddle area between Lower Culp’s Hill and Culp’s Hill (where Stuart is standing). This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Friday, November 4, 2011.
In Video #118 (Videos #1-#117 were shown in our previous Eleventh Corps posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing near the saddle area between Culp’s Hill and Lower Culp’s Hill. He explains what happened to the 61st Ohio and the 157th New York Infantry Regiments after they were moved to this area on the evening of July 2, 1863. This view was taken facing south to southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Friday, November 4, 2011.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing near the east slope of Culp’s Hill. The monument on the right is to the 149th New York Infantry Regiment. The 45th New York and the 82nd Illinois regiments from the Eleventh Corps, reenforced Twelfth Corps regiments in this area on July 2, 1863. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Friday, November 4, 2011.
In Video #119 Licensed Battlefield Guide Stuart Dempsey is standing near the east slope of Culp’s Hill. He explains the actions of the 45th New York and the 82nd Illinois in this area on July 2, 1863. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Friday, November 4, 2011.
Lieutenant Colonel Edward Selig Salomon of the 82nd Illinois Infantry Regiment. In the Battle of Gettysburg, Salomon had two horses shot out from under him. He assumed command of the regiment following the wounding of the regiment’s Colonel, Friedrich Franz Karl Hecker, at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Fellow-immigrant German immigrant, Major General Carl Schurz, described him during the battle: “He was the only soldier at Gettysburg who did not dodge when Lee’s guns thundered; he stood up, smoked his cigar and faced the cannon balls with the sang froid of a Saladin.” This view was taken circa the 1860s and is courtesy of Stuart Dempsey.
Stuart Dempsey is standing on the eastern slope of Culp’s Hill near the reconstructed earthworks north of the monument to the 149th New York. The text of the conversation between the unknown 12th Corps officer and Lieutenant Colonel Edward Salomon of the 82nd Illinois follows. [Unidentified officer]: “If you had been here yesterday instead of that d–d 11th Corps, we would not have been driven back.” [LTC Salomon] “You are a miserable hound, sir, I and my regiment belong to that same 11th Corps you are speaking of, and we did no worse fighting yesterday!” This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Friday, November 4, 2011.
There are not yet any histories of the Eleventh Corps that are in print. Here is the autobiography of Oliver O. Howard, who commanded the Eleventh Corps at Gettysburg. For ordering information, click here.
To see other posts by Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides,click here.
