Over a decade ago, I reached out to my good friend, Larry Smail, with an idea regarding the 62nd PVI story…Larry and I are not only great friends, but former co-workers, who share many common interests, including history, art, music, and most importantly, faith…

This idea would focus on the history and art connections…Larry has long been a painter of wildlife ,and of historical figures, specifically from the French & Indian era…he had actually published a book about that local history during that period, and his artwork graced the cover of the book…so I thought, maybe he would be willing to create a Civil War painting, my intention being the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the Wheatfield at Gettysburg…well, I asked, and he agreed, and we were off to Gettysburg to spend some time in Rose’s Wheatfield…while Larry sketched and photographed the landscape and surroundings, I described to him as best I could what the scene might have been like on July 2, 1863…

After returning home, I gave him as many resources as were necessary, and after a few phone calls and visits, Larry began the process…I believe he still has the post on his site archived, where he describes that in detail https://larrysmailart.com

Months later, “The Wheatfield–Whirlpool of Death” was completed…the reason I had requested the painting was simple: to provide a visual means of telling the story of what the 62nd Regiment, as part of Col. Jacob B. Sweitzer’s 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division, Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac, had experienced in their desperate fight during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg…

In the years since, the painting has been printed, published, and circulated in many ways, shapes and forms…it is even available on flagstone, thanks to our friends at “Framing on Stone” https://framingonstone.com …but recently, the original intention of “telling the 62nd story” has, as they say, “come full circle”…Larry and I were contacted a few months ago by the folks from “The Civil War Times”…and the rest is, well, “History”!

The August issue of the magazine features William Cain of the 62nd on the cover, to go along with the “Gettysburg: Wheatfield Mayhem” story, by Scott Fink [pages 26-37]…

At the top of page 32, “The Wheatfield: Whirlpool of Death”, by Larry A. Smail…needless to say, we are both very pleased that the painting is still helping to tell the story…

A few of the other images within the article are also very familiar to our Living History Family…the “Sweitzer’s Brigade Flag”, which is housed at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh, PA, was recently on display at our event for the Armstrong County Historical Museum & Genealogical Society…Michael Kraus, Curator at Soldiers & Sailors, was one of our guest speakers at the event, and brought the priceless artifact to display for a few hours…many of the other images of soldiers and artifacts are from the Ronn Palm Collection at “Civil War Images” in Gettysburg…

So, while the descendants and members of the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Living History Family continues to honor the men of the 62nd, and their families, it is encouraging to know that we are not alone…to know that their story is being told, at a national level, and using some of the very resources that we have been using, well, that is truly special…

The magazine has been available at newsstands and bookstores for a few weeks now…

The original “Wheatfield–Whirlpool of Death” painting hangs in the Civil War Room at the Armstrong County Historical Museum, 300 North McKean Street, Kittanning, PA, 16201 https://www.achmgs.org

Prints are available by contacting Larry Smail @ http://www.larrysmailart.com or Robert “Slim” Bowser @ 100yrs2L8@windstream.net or through this site…or by phone at 724-545-1330 or 724-664-6625

Flagstones are available through Robert “Slim” Bowser [see above], or through Framing on Stone http://www.framingonstone.com

For more about Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall, go to: http://www.soldiersandsailorshall.org

For more on the Ronn Palm Collection, go to: http://www.ronnpalmmuseum.com or call 724-664-5150

Also available, “Pittsburgh’s Forgotten Civil War Regiment”, by Ernest Spisak, either through Robert “Slim” Bowser [see above], or through Amazon

Thank you for your interest in the ongoing story of the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry!

God bless.