Sunday 30 June 2013

Gettysburg 1863

Samuel Gettys settled and built a tavern near the Shippensburg – Baltimore and Philadelphia – Pittsburgh cross roads in the 1760's.  Founded in 1786, Gettysburg was named after him. By 1860 there were about 450 buildings including carriage manufacturing, shoemakers, and tanneries.

One building was the Eagle Hotel.





The Eagle Hotel was used by General Buford as his HQ on the first day of the battle.


 For years following the war it was the hotel of choice for Union veterans returning for reunions.


Robert McCurdy and Josiah Diehl opened a new warehouse near the railroad tracks several weeks before the battle. McCurdy was President of the Railroad. 






He was well known and respected businessman on both sides of the Mason Dixon line.



 David Kendlehart had a shoe and boot making business in the town.

 
 John Burns was a veteran of the War of 1812, and a cantankerous former constable who decided to take up arms and go up against the rebels personally. A cobbler at town council President David Kendlehart's boot and shoe shop, Burns had nothing but unkind things to saw about his fellow townsmen whom he considered cowards for not helping out the army.


Fahanstock Brothers General Merchandise...

James, father of Gates, and two brothers operated Fahnestock Brothers General Merchandise a block south of the Diamond.  After the battle the store became the headquarters of the U.S. Sanitary Commission.



 Samuel Buehler and son Alexander operated Buehler's Book and Drug store.






 Cannon Marble Cutting Works was on the corner of Baltimore and East Middle. John Cannon ran a marble cutting yard in back of the house which he probably rented. General Jubal Early made this his HQ on July 2.

 Hugh Scott operated the telegraph office located in his parents house in the first block of Chambersburg Street on June 26 he received warning of the Confederate approach from one of Bell's fleeing troopers and took his telegraph equipment and headed east to York along the turnpike in a borrowed horse and buggy.



 Tyson Brothers Charles and Isaac came to Gettysburg to open a photography studio in 1859. Their house was on Chambersburg Street. On the morning of the battle Charles Tyson was busy taking portraits of Union soldiers lined up in his studio as their units headed into battle. 




I would like to thank Captain Richard from http://captainrichardsminiaturecivilwar.blogspot.com/
for the wonderful buildings he makes for his layout. The Eagle Hotel wall was inspired by the Captain's work from this post here.

                  and Pat from http://wargamingwithsilverwhistle.blogspot.com/
for the fantastic post on his Old West town here. This post by Pat came along at just the right time as  I was about to start on the making of Gettysburg.

If you have not visited these sites before.... get over and have a look, you will not be disappointed!!



20 comments:

  1. Wow!

    Can't wait to see them next week Rodger. Excellent work

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's a very detailed table. Superb work.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great and interesting story there :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great looking table, the atmosphere is impressive! Very nice work wuth the sun too, beautiful pics!

    ReplyDelete
  5. impressive and beautiful !!

    Fortunately, you don't have done ALL the city !! (450 buildings could be a lot!)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Excellent work very realistic , great !
    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  7. Gosh that is amazing work there, very impressive

    ReplyDelete
  8. That's an impressive amount of work that looks just great!!

    Christopher

    ReplyDelete
  9. Breath-taking in its detail and realism and even more incredible that you completed it in such short order. No doubt your good wife has a list of jobs a mile long for you to do now that you have knocked this project off my friend.

    Now all we need is a good set of ACW skirmish rules so we can fight the first day engagement in the town.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Some great looking buildings Rodger!!! The detail is superb!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful scenery, right down to the detail of mud and dirt on the bottom of the buildings.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very very nice Rodger, detail is awesome, great looking table.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Impresive collection of buildings!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Amazing collection. The details in between touch if off.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Superb terrain Roger and thanks for the mention.
    Cheers,
    Pat.

    ReplyDelete
  16. As we expected Rodger, even better than the one in the photo! All the best for the big game. We'll look forward to numerous posts after the event!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Fantastic houses!

    Greetings
    Peter

    ReplyDelete