Gettysburg Idols Part 2: Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski

Brigadier General James Wadsworth (1807-1864) commanded the First Division of the First Corps, Army of the Potomac. On July 1, 1863 his men fought along McPherson Ridge and Seminary Ridge. This view was taken circa the 1860s and is courtesy of Joe Mieczkowski.

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Joseph E. Mieczkowski is the host for our Gettysburg Idols series. A resident of nearby Fairfield, Pennsylvania, Joe is a Civil War living historian and educator. Joe portrays Lincoln’s Secretary of War, Simon Cameron as well as Gettysburg resident, David Wills. In addition Joe is a Licensed Town Guide in Gettysburg. He is also the past President of the Gettysburg Civil War Roundtable.

Educated at Salem College, Salem, West Virginia and at Pennsylvania State University, Joe has been employed for over 30 years with the Social Security Administration. He has served in a variety of locations and assignments including 16 years as a manager and director in Washington D.C. Presently he is the Area Director in Harrisburg PA.

If you would like to contact Joe, click here to reveal his email address.

In our first Gettysburg Idols post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski presented United States Major General Abner Doubleday, and some of his actions before, during and after the Gettysburg Campaign.

In today’s post, Joe Mieczkowski presents the first day battlefield statues and stories of James Wadsworth, John C. Robinson, and Francis Barlow.

This map shows us the locations taken of the videos for the Gettysburg Idols series. Videos #1-#4 were taken on McPherson’s Ridge near the statue to Abner Doubleday. Video #5 was taken on McPherson’s Ridge near the statue to Brigadier General James Wadsworth. Video #6 was taken on Oak Ridge near the statue to Brigadier General John C. Robinson. Videos #7 and #8 were taken on Barlow Knoll near the statue of Brigadier General Francis Barlow. This map was created facing north at approximately 7:00 AM on Saturday, May 8, 2010.

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski is our host for this series on Gettysburg Idols. He has been a Licensed Battlefield Guide since 2007. He is standing on McPherson’s Ridge near the statue to Brigadier General James Wadsworth This view was taken facing east at approximately 2:45 PM on Sunday, April 25, 2010.

In Video #5 (Videos #1=#4 were shown in our previous Gettysburg Idol post) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski presents biographical information on Brigadier General James Wadsworth. This view was taken facing east to north to east at approximately 2:45 PM on Sunday, April 25, 2010.

Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski is standing on Oak Ridge by the monument to Union Brigadier General John Cleveland Robinson. In the right background is the monument to the 88th Pennsylvania. To the left of the Robinson statue is the tall monument to the 83rd New York. To its left is the monument to the 97th New York. To its left is the monument to the 11th Pennsylvania. To its left is the monument to the 107th Pennsylvania. To its left is the monument to the 16th Maine. To its left is the monument to the 94th New York. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 2:45 PM on Sunday, April 25, 2010.

In Video #6 Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski introduces us to Brigadier General John C. Robinson. This view was taken facing southwest to southeast to southwest at approximately 2:45 PM on Sunday, April 25, 2010.

Brigadier General John Cleveland Robinson (1817-1897) was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his conduct at the Battle of Laurel Hill, Virginia on May 8, 1864. The citation reads, “Placed himself at the head of the leading brigade in a charge upon the enemy’s breastworks; was severely wounded.” The wound caused his left leg to be amputated. This view is circa the 1860s.

Joe Mieczkowski is standing on Barlow Knoll near the monument to Brigadier General Francis Channing Barlow. The monument to the 17th Connecticut is in the left background. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 2:45 PM on Sunday, April 25, 2010.

In Video #7 Joe Mieczkowski provides biographical information on Brigadier General Francis Channing Barlow. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 2:45 PM on Sunday, April 25, 2010.

After the war, Brigadier General Francis Barlow (1834-1896) helped to prosecute New York’s Boss Tweed Ring, and was a founder of the American Bar Association. This view, courtesy of Joe Mieczkowski, was taken circa the 1860s.

Joe Mieczkowski is still standing on Barlow Knoll. General Barlow was wounded on July 1, 1863 somewhere in the fields in the background.This view was taken facing south at approximately 2:45 PM on Sunday, April 25, 1863.

In Video #8 Joe Mieczkowski discusses the Barlow-Gordon incident. This view was taken facing southeast to south to east to south at approximately 2:45 PM on Sunday, April 25, 2010.

A drawing of the Barlow-Gordon incident. This view is courtesy of Joe Mieczkowski.

To see other posts by Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides, click here.