The National Park Service puts on a fantastic series of summer ranger programs and battlewalks. In what was perhaps a “once in a lifetime” tour, we joined National Park Service Ranger Troy Harman and at least a hundred other individuals out in the fields near Fairfield, Pennsylvania, for his July 3rd battlewalk on West Cavalry Field.

“Samuel Starr’s 6th U. S. Cavalry made a daring ride into the Confederate rear, on July 3, 1863, stirring up a hornets’ nest. General Grumble Jones’ 6th, 7th & 11th Virginia Cavalry regiments responded to the emergency prompting a vicious fight. To the accompaniment of the artillery bombardment preceding Pickett’s Charge, and at the same time that Custer clashed with Stuart at East Cavalry Field, Starr and Jones blazed away on the Confederate line of communication at Fairfield. Though Jones’ Confederates eventually held the field, it was not without significant losses and great alarm that federal cavalry had gained their rear so quickly.”