Gettysburg Idols Part 6: Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski
March 9, 2011
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski is standing on Little Round Top holding a reproduction musketoon. Behind him is the statue for one of this post’s subjects, Brigadier General Gouverneur Kemble Warren. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, March 4, 2011.
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.
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 the second Gettysburg Idols post, Joe Mieczkowski presents the first day battlefield statues and stories of James Wadsworth, John C. Robinson, and Francis Barlow.
In the third Gettysburg Idols post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski presented information on Brigadier General John White Geary.
In the fourth Gettysburg Idols post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski presented information on Brigadier General George Sears Greene.
In the fifth Gettysburg Idols post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski presented information on John Fulton Reynolds and John Buford.
In today’s Gettysburg Idols post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski shows us two heroes of Little Round Top: Gouverneur K. Warren and Strong Vincent.
This map shows us the locations taken of the videos for the Gettysburg Idols series. Videos #1-#15 were shown in our previous posts. Video #16 was taken near the statue of Gouverneur K. Warren on Little Round Top. Video #17 was taken near the statue to the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry on the south side of Little Round Top. This map was created facing north at approximately 6:00 PM on Saturday, March 5, 2011.
Gouverneur Kemble Warren (1830-1882) is frequently referred to as the “Hero of Little Round Top.” He graduated second in his West Point class of 1850 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Corps of Topographical Engineers. Before the war he worked on the Mississippi River, studied possible transcontinental railroad routes, and mapped the trans-Mississippi West. When the Civil War began he was a first lieutenant and mathematics instructor at the United States Military Academy at West Point. This view was taken circa 1863-1865.
In Video #16 (Videos #1=#15 were shown in our previous Gettysburg Idol posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski presents biographical information on Brigadier General Gouverneur K. Warren. This view was taken facing northeast to north to northwest to northeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, March 4, 2011.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski is standing on Little Round Top near an artillery piece marking the position of Hazlett’s/Rittenhouse’s Battery D 5th United States Artillery. The musketoon that he is holding is a short barrelled version of the musket. It was used by artillery units, especially in the Confederate and British armies at the time of the Civil War. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, March 4, 2011.
Joe Mieczkowski is standing on the south side of Little Round Top below the statue of the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. On top of the monument is the figure of Strong Vincent. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, March 4, 2011.
In Video #17 Licensed Battlefield Guide Joe Mieczkowski shows the terrain on the south side of Little Round Top where Strong Vincent deployed his brigade, and provides some background information on Vincent. This view was taken facing north to northwest to northeast at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, March 4, 2011.
Strong Vincent (1837-1863) was born in Waterford, Pennsylvania and was the son of iron foundryman B. B. Vincent and Sarah Ann Strong Vincent. He graduated from Harvard University in 1859 and practiced law before the Civil War. This view was taken circa 1862-1863.
Joe Mieczkowski is standing on the south side of Little Round Top below the statue of the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. Although he is pulling out his sword as the statue of Strong Vincent is in the act of doing above him, Strong Vincent did not have a sword during the fight on Little Round Top. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, March 4, 2011.
Instead of a sword, Strong Vincent used a riding crop given to him by his wife, and shown here on his monument in Erie, Pennsylvania. This view is courtesy of Joe Mieczkowski.
To see other posts by Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guides,click here.
