The morning dawned with a hazy sunshine, and the temperature and humidity nearing the level of “uncomfortable” by 10 o’clock…I suppose you would think that I am quoting from one of the many first-hand accounts penned after the Battle of Gettysburg, as those indeed were the conditions on July 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 1863…and while most of us were unable to attend the actual 161st Anniversary events and remembrances this year, we arrived piecemeal near weeks end to spend a few days together, celebrating the 248th anniversary of our independence, and commemorating the time when war raged in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania…the weather replicated that of the war-time accounts…
And if I were to say “the sights of countless shells bursting directly overhead filled the evening sky with colors unimaginable, and the sounds of each explosion echoed in a steady, low ruble through the valley that seemed to last for hours”, again, your mind would no doubt envision the scene from Cemetery Hill near the end of the first day of July, 1863 as the Union troops struggled to maintain possession of the elevated position…those were our thoughts, as we gazed at the fireworks display on July 4th, 2024…
For our 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Living History Family, gathering together at various times throughout the recent weekend in Gettysburg again proved to be a fruitful and memorable experience…from our gatherings in small groups on the battlefield to watch the fireworks or discuss a part of the battle, to our planned “Wheatfield Tribute” and dinner gathering afterwords, each and every aspect of the weekend revolved around family and fellowship…
That hot, humid morning of Saturday, July 6th, descendants, families and friends of the 62nd PVI LHF assembled beneath a patch of shade along the stone fence separating Rose’s Woods from Rose’s Wheatfield…our Honor Guard marched into the field bearing the Colors of the 62nd Regiment, and included graying and seasoned veterans of such activities, alongside steady, dependable men of middle age, and bright young men, wearing the blue wool much too soon in their lives…again, sounds familiar, doesn’t it…
Our lovely ladies followed and took their place along the stone fence, represented by generation to generation as well, their dresses matching the colorful display of the flowers blooming throughout the fields…they, like the men in uniform, are no strangers to the heat of the day in Gettysburg…
Following the invocation by our Regimental Chaplain Jeff Ryder [appearing for the first time in his new role], it was my honor to address the audience, standing in the very field where my great, great, great uncle D. W. Swigart served with Company D…quoting from Colonel Samuel Wylie Black, the man who recruited the 62nd regiment, I read from the speech he gave on December 21, 1861, as he accepted the State flag of Pennsylvania, presented by Senator Edgar Cowan…and as has been known to happen during these events, as our words of tribute and remembrance are lifted up, so too are our flags, as the God-given breeze drifts across the field, unfurling the flag, and cooling our bodies as well…
“When the sky is clear, and the wind is still,” Col. Black said of the flag, “it leans upon its staff in patriarchal and peaceful repose–an object of calm and contented love. But when it trembles in the storm, a nation assembles at its silent call, battalions people every hill; the mighty hosts of the mountains hasten to the field; squadrons sweep over every plain; and sovereign States, sensible that loyalty is the sign of independence, form themselves into one solid squadron for its defense.”
He goes on near the end of his remarks, “The flag of the Union is our flag as it was our fathers’, and we receive from them, though dead, their living faith that it shall not perish”…
And while those words still rang in the ears of all in attendance, Pvt. Matt Hankinson stepped forward, and shared several accounts from the fighting on 2 July, 1863, quoting from Sgt. Isacc Osborne, Thomas Budlong, and others who struggled mightily to save the State, Regimental and National Colors in Roses’s Wheatfield that day…those names would be heard again near the conclusion of our ceremony…
Without allowing those stories to stray from our thoughts, General JNO Buford [portrayed to perfection by our devoted friend Michael Smith] gave an emotional and riveting address, including some very appropriate lines from William Shakespeare’s “The St. Crispin’s Day speech from Henry V”… [https://poetrysociety.org.uk]
Not lost on any of us as we spoke to duty, honor, patriotism and fellowship, was the fact that we were looking directly into the face of our guest and friend Colonel Tom Vossler [U.S. Army, Ret.], a man who has led men into battle, and has served as Licensed Battlefield Guide for over twenty years, co-authoring two battlefield guide books, “A Field Guide to Gettysburg”, and “A Field Guide to Antietam”, with Carol Reardon, as well as a third book “Battle Tested: Gettysburg Leadership Lessons for 21st Century Leaders”, with Jefferey D. McCausland…Col. Vossler was recently inducted into the ROTC Hall of Fame in October, 2023…
We then heard from three of our ladies, Chloe Armstrong, Ashley Ciprich, and Courtney Vitale…Chloe spoke about her love for Gettysburg, and how that love became even more meaningful upon the discovery that she is a descendant of Pvt. John A. Walker, Co. D, who was killed in the Wheatfield on July 2nd…as a 16 year old descendant and living historian, Chloe encouraged others in attendance to research their family history, and embrace the findings…
Ashley spoke on behalf of the wives of the 62nd PVI veterans, and to their trials and experiences of taking care of the homefront…being a wife and mother of two herself, she made a very interesting comparison from modern day responsibilities to those of the Civil War wives…Ashley also shared a story from a conversation between Samuel Hours [Pvt., Company E, 62nd] and his wife Mary, a conversation that no-doubt took place in countless homes during the onset of the Civil War…the story comes from the book “No War is Civil”, where Pvt. Hours recounts his first talk with Mary about his possible enlistment…at first she laughed, thinking he was merely joking, but upon seeing that he was sincere, she went into the bedroom, slammed shut the door, and turned the key to lock him out…after spending that night sleeping on the floor in the living room, Samuel dodged questions from the children as to his sleeping arrangements, and allowed the matter to settle, before pleading his case again…eventually Mary conceded, after protesting that if he was killed “she would never speak to him again”…
Courtney Vitale continued on the subject, while her husband, Colonel Chris Vitale and their three sons looked on…Courtney is the great, great, great granddaughter of Pvt. Christopher Hyser, Company H, 62nd PVI…Pvt. Hyser was captured during the July 2nd melee in the Wheatfield, and was taken to Libby Prison for a period of time, before returning to the regiment…following his service with the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Christopher Hyser re-enlisted with the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry in February, 1865, and remained with the 4th until mustering out at wars end…Courtney too shared the sentiments of being a descendant, and her appreciation for all who served with the 62nd, and for the opportunity to represent her family in the very fields where he fought…
Then came time for the reading of the names of the 62nd men who lost their lives in that field, as well as those who died from their wounds shortly thereafter…General Buford eloquently read each name, allowing for a pause after each–and his words from the “Crispin’s Day” poem about becoming “household names” seemed even more appropriate in the moment…Among those names were Isaac Osborne and Thomas Budlong…
At the conclusion of our tribute to the 62nd men, I couldn’t let the ceremony close without also paying tribute to a few of our own family and extended family…prior to the ceremony, we had placed a blue wool blanket at the base of the 62nd monument, and four framed photos of those recently departed from our earthly home, along with a well-used coffee boiler…
Donna & Gordon Sheaffer were the parents of our Living History Family founder, Gordy Sheaffer…Donna and Gordon were avid supporters of the 62nd from the beginning and throughout our endeavors over the years…both suffered strokes last year, and passed away a few months apart…both Donna and Gordon were dedicated contributors to the Find-A-Grave registry…
David Bonham walked into our camp, and our lives, many years ago as we sat around the fire at the Lightner Farmhouse B&B in Gettysburg…as a fellow historian, Dave portrayed several Union officers over the years, finally embracing the persona of General Henry Slocum with great passion…in one of his first campfire sessions with us, he presented a shiny, new coffee boiler, along with his words “this is yours, if you’ll just keep it full of coffee”…that boiler traveled with us to many, many historic events, and served coffee to everyone who shared our fire, including our brother Dave…Dave Bonham died on May 22, 2024…
Ronald Hicks was a dear friend and extended member of our family, attending many of our encampments and events in Gettysburg, including our “Murder Mystery Weekends” at the Lightner Farm hosted by Dennis & Eileen Hoover…those who attended will never forget Ron’s velcro mustache!…Ron battled cancer for the last several years, and died June 4th, 2024…
Zoe Ward was the 5th great granddaughter of 1st Sgt. Daniel W. Swigart, Co. D, 62nd…I learned about Zoe through my ties with Swigart’s family, being a descendant myself…in June 2023, the family learned that Zoe had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor…in the months following, we received many photos and health updates as Zoe’s family traveled to appointments, trial procedures, and Make-A-Wish trips…on the morning of her 12th birthday, May 5, 2024, the Lord sent an angel to call her home to Him…
So, with tear-filled eyes, the Honor Guard were called to “present arms”, Bugler Brian Wolfe posted to his position, and “Taps” resounded across Rose’s Wheatfield once again…with the troops still rendering the salute, I retrieved our wheat sheave tribute from young Pvt. Zimmerman, serving for his first time with us, and asked Courtney Vitale and her family to present the tribute at the monument on behalf of all descendants, families and friends of the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry…Chaplain Ryder offered thanks to God for the glorious day together in remembrance, and prayers for His guidance as we departed, and for safe travels…
Family, Flags, and Fellowship were all properly remembered as the blessings that they are that hot, humid July morning…
My personal note of gratitude to all who participated in any way, and to those present to witness and support our “Wheatfield Tribute”…
Following our ceremony, many of us gathered together at the local Hoss’s Restaurant to share a meal and more time of fellowship together…everyone really enjoyed themselves, and many indicated the desire to do that every year!
May God bless,
Slim
Photos in this post contributed by Chloe Armstrong and Matt Zimmerman…
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CoD62ndPVI 