Struggle for the Bliss Farm Part 7 With Licensed Battlefield Guide Woody Christ
August 27, 2009
Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Elwood “Woody” Christ is the author of the book, Over a Wide, Hot,…Crimson Plain: The Struggle for the Bliss Farm at Gettysburg, July 2nd and 3rd, 1863. He is the host for our series on the fighting for the Bliss Farm. Woody is standing south of the Bliss Farm buildings and he is pointing toward the Round Tops. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 8:45 AM on Saturday, June 13, 2009.
Although many individuals know the fields of Pickett’s Charge, fewer know the action which took place in those fields around the Bliss Farm. Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Elwood “Woody” Christ begins a series on the struggle for the Bliss Farm. His book, Over a Wide, Hot,…Crimson Plain: The Struggle for the Bliss Farm at Gettysburg, July 2nd and 3rd, 1863 was published by Butternut and Blue in 1993. Woody is a Gettysburg College graduate, and has been a Licensed Battlefield Guide since 1982.
In our first post Woody Christ concentrated on some terrain in the area of the Bliss Farm, specifically in what is now the subdivision, Colt Park.
In our second post he continued his emphasis on the “broad flat knoll” which is Colt Park.
In our third post he showed us the first positions of the United States troops that would be involved at the Bliss Farm. He also showed the route that many of them used to access the Bliss Farm from Cemetery Ridge.
In our fifth post, he described the arrival of the Confederate and United States at the Bliss Farm area.
In our sixth post he described the beginning of the skirmishing at the Bliss Farm on July 2, 1863.
In today’s post he finishes describing the fighting on the second day.
This map was provided to us by Woody Christ for the Bliss Farm posts.
This map shows the location of where our Bliss Farm videos were produced. Videos #1-#6 were shown in our previous Bliss Farm posts. Video #7 was taken at the crest of Cemetery Ridge near the stone wall south of the old Cyclorama building. Video #8 was taken at the monument to the 1st Delaware Infantry Regiment. Video #9 was taken north of the Brian/Brian House. Video #10 was taken along the Emmittsburg Road near the Brian/Bryan farm lane. Video #11 was taken at the fence marking the skirmish line of the 14th Connecticut. Videos #12-#16 were taken at the site of the Bliss House. Video #17 was taken south of the Bliss Barn. Videos #18- #20 were taken southeast of the Bliss Barn. Videos #21- #23 were taken farther south of the Bliss Barn than #17. This map was created facing north at approximately 10:20 AM on Sunday, July 5, 2009.
In Video #21 (Videos #s 1-20 were seen in our previous Bliss Farm posts) Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Woody Christ describes how Confederates need to drive the Union troops from the Bliss Farm area in order to support their attacks from Seminary Ridge on July 2, 1863. This view was taken facing southeast to west to south to southeast to west at approximately 8:45 AM on Saturday, June 13, 2009.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Woody Christ is standing northwest farther south of the overgrowth at the bank of the Bliss Barn. The light-colored building at the National Guard Armory on Seminary Ridge are in the left background. Colt Park is in the right background. This view was taken facing north at approximately 8:45 AM on Saturday, June 13, 2009.
In Video #22 Licensed Battlefield Guide Woody Christ shows that while the 16th Mississippi is being hit on both flanks, the 12th New Jersey advances on their front. The New Jersey soldiers capture 92 Confederates in the Bliss Barn. This view was taken facing north to northeast to north at approximately 8:45 AM on Saturday, June 13, 2009.
In Video #23 Woody Christ describes how the 12th Mississippi drives the 12th New Jersey out of the Bliss buildings. But the Confederate attacks towards Cemetery Ridge in this area stall mostly because the 8th Ohio was not dislodged from the broad flat knoll. By the end of July 2, 1863, the Confederates are in control of the Bliss Farm and the Bliss Orchards. This view was taken facing northwest to northeast at approximately 8:45 AM on Saturday, June 13, 2009.
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