We found part of a human rib cage in a cedar tree while elk hunting in New Mexico. That evening we met with a game warden and told him about it. I took him to the tree. The nexxt day the sheriff, coroner and a team from NMSU came out and started digging. It was a native man's remains from over 400 years prior. He was buried there and the tree grew, raising his remains out of the ground. They found many more graves and fenced off the area.
@@surfdocer103if you had any idea what you're saying and what it would cost you you would get on your knees where you're at right now and ask for forgiveness!
I am 80 years old, from NJ and disabled. I will never again walk the Gettysburg Battle fields. So i enjoy the presentations and historical commentary. Thank you. I remember my grandmom talking about watching parades in Elizabeth, NJ and seeing the old Civil War veterans marching. That thrilled me as a child and still does to this day.
I am also from NJ! As a very young man, my grandfather(born 1889) enjoyed going to the corner store and hang out, listening to the Civil War veterans talk war stories.
Grew up in southeast PA. Remember Boy Scout camping trips to Gettysburg. Hiking all over the battlefields, climbing rocks in Devils Den, seeing the various monuments. I remember sitting around the fire at night with my fellow Scouts and we pondered how a century earlier boys not much older than us were camping, fighting, and dying on the same ground. Really made us think just how easy we had it growing up.
When my wife and I go to Gettysburg (we live 1-1/2 ours away) we hike from town to Little Round Top, down thru the Slaughter Pen, up to Devils Den and then back to town. We usually do this in the Spring or Fall when there is hardly anyone around. The one time, as we walked thru the Slaughter Pen we heard bugle calls….absolutely no one was around. Another time we took our Niece and her Parents for Sunrise at Little Round Top. My sister is her mom. After a beautiful sunrise, we went to Devils Den. While there we heard the distinctive sound of cannon fire coming from Longstreet’s kick off point. It was in December, early morning, so there was absolutely nothing going on. We also checked later, nothing was scheduled on the Battlefield. If you have ever been to Gettysburg mid-week in December, it is very quiet. Just thought I would share these two interesting events we encountered on the Battlefield in this location. This is truly a very special place. To appreciate and understand it, leave the car behind and walk it. You may just happen to encounter some unique History.
I have had a couple of experiences while visiting the Gettysburg battlefield. One that stands out especially in my mind was a trip my mom and I took In 1994. It was late in the afternoon and we generally don't visit the battlefield during peak times, so there was no one else around. We were headed West on the road that runs in front of the Trossel house where we encountered a Calvary officer riding his horse. As we passed him, I slowed down and said we should get a picture of him, I bet they're having a reenactment. I pulled off, turned around, and he was no where in sight. When we went by the visitor's center we stopped and asked about a reenactment and were told there was none. I mentioned the officer we saw and they just smiled. The other was in the Triangular Field. That place is very spiritual, I've felt it everytime I've visited in some way. I've been to at least two dozen battlefields and Gettysburg is my favorite!
I have often felt a rage well-up in me as I hear of battlefields, or parts of battlefields sold in the name of real estate development. Even in Gettysburg there is a steady encroachment on various ancillary locations and positions. AFAIK there are unique conditions that must be met in order to have the kinds of experiences often reported. The fact that these events continue to occur tells me that these places are hallowed in a way that the average American is just never going to appreciate. Just sayin.....
@repentandbelieveinJesusChrist9 Gotta laugh..... On behalf of the Christ family....Mr and Mrs Christ and their son, Jesus.....maybe yoiu can explain why you have to use words that Jesus never spoke, written by a guy who never met Jesus, to support a belief system that Jesus never espoused. Apparently, what you don't know about Christ Consciousness, the Judaic Messianic movement of the turn of the Milenium and Religiousity vis Spirituality would fill a small library. Kindly take your intrusive self-appointment down the street, mayhaps to find someone who gives a shit. FWIW.
My great great grandfathers - Aaron Parker, 10th Alabama, and Hiram Duke, 14th Alabama - and Hiram's brother, Roland Duke, 47th Alabama, were present at Gettysburg. All came home. Which in the case of the first two, is how I came to be able to comment on your video. Thanks to the Yankees for missing, or to my ancestors for ducking. 😊
WOW!! I'm 74 years-old and have read just about everything I could find about the Civil War since I was in my early teens. I also love playing any and all Civil War board games over the past 60+ years. I visited Gettysburg in the early 1980s, and I was like a kid in a candy store...I did not want to leave! This RU-vid series is fascinating and the stories from people like Pfeffer are amazing.
Great story about the sharpshooter in the tree. The Pfeffer family stories really make Gettysburg come alive in these videos. Whoever does the music for your videos must be a musician, as they are spot on!
My father had an uncle who fought at Gettysburg with the 1st North Carolina Infantry and was wounded the first day of the battle, sat out the 2nd day, then participated in Picketts Charge on day 3. Luckily for us he survived the hell of that day only to be captured during Lees’ retreat in Falling Water’s Maryland. He was released in a prisoner exchange in Baltimore Maryland then went on to Vicksburg only to be captured again. After the war, he returned to Charlotte North Carolina and opened a dry goods store which is still there as far as I know.
My family was mostly with NC 26th. Pvt Joseph Phillips Co F. Killed at Gettysburg July 1, 1863 as was his brother W. E. Phillips. Others came home. Missing limbs, facial deformities, and never the same mentally. That trauma carried down generations.
It’s amazing the things people find without really looking for them. That soldier was buried and no one cared that he was a southerner. They just took care of him. 🙂👍
Gettysburg was one of our favorite family trips. So impactful and so much to experience. Hire the walking/driving tour guide - they are so knowledgeable. An incredible place with so much history. It's like stepping back in time and no better place to understand the civil war.
Samuel Gettys and Isabella Ramsey are my 6th great-grandparents, their daughter Elizabeth Gettys is my 5th great-grandmother. I feel this deep connection to Gettysburg through my familial roots and enjoy learning about the history of the town and of the battles that took place there. Thank you for making the content you share here.
I have a 1865 Springfield 50-70 Trapdoor rifle that was found by my great grandfather in the early 1900’s at fort Lowell in Tucson. The story goes my great grandfather found the rifle hidden up in the roof rafters when the fort was still standing.
Wonderful, thank you for this. My great-great grandfather was at the battle of Umbeyla Pass in late 1863, around the time Lincoln was giving the Gettysburg address. History is fascinating.
This is an amazing personal story handed down through the years. Thanks so much for sharing. The channel is always informative and amazing. Thanks so much for all that you do !
Visited Gettysburg on many occasions beginning with Dad packing up the family on a weekend trip. As you tour the battlefield you observe others walking peacefully down the many footpaths that dot the area, one must remember the thousands of men and boys who's experience here was the polar opposite. Men who paid the supreme sacrifice and many not dying quietly but experiencing immense suffering until their demise. With that thought in mind ,the battlefield experience takes on a whole new meaning of significance.
Devils Den is freaky. When I was about 15 years old, I was near the rocks looking toward Little Round Top when right next to me a disembodied voice said "What you lookin for is over there." No one was anywhere near me and it was RIGHT THERE! It still sticks with me nearly 40 years later.
Pvt Elbert A. Cotton was in the 15th Ala. Infantry Regt, Co. E and is my most direct Confederate ancestor and at 39 years of age when he enlisted in 1862. He is mentioned in Col. Wm. Oates book, The War Between the Union and the Confederacy, was present for duty at Little Round Top, survived this battle and many others, until he surrendered with the 15th, at Appomattox Court House. Thank you J.D., for mentioning the 15th Alabama.
That's quite a story! I have to wonder about the family of the man who died in the tree. They probably never knew what became of this soldier since any id he might have had would have been long lost.
My Ancestor George Washington Newmyer fought for the 28th Pennsylvania Infantry at Gettysburg. He survived the war and eventually settled in Nebraska. I saw his name on the 28th Infantry Marker at Gettysburg. I have a second ancestor who was in the 3rd Indiana Cavalry. I am not sure if he fought at Gettysburg.
This story reminds me of one told to me by my grandmother, who was born in 1879. Her grandfather was a boy in Canada during the War of 1812, and had told her of seeing the bodies of American soldiers hanging in the trees after the battle of Queenston Heights. Maybe also snipers. Sure makes history come alive.
Awesome story, captured very well !!! Great job You two! JD and Erik, you both make a great team! Erik, I love this story that is from your family! I use to love sitting around a fire, and listening to my parents, Aunts and Uncles tell stories of their childhood! Now with them all gone and I'm 63, I wish I would of listened better!!!!
I suspect that is the lament of many of us when we get into our 60s -- or even beforehand. But, feel confident that you are not alone in the regret brother!
Heard another story from years back, probably over 15 years ago now. Someone was at Gettysburg with an old camcorder and captured what appeared to be Confederate soldiers marching through the tree line. I think it was around the area of Big Round Top as well. Very few if any people were at the national battlefield that day and no reenactments were scheduled because it was early March, still rather cold and rainy. The video itself is grainy of course due to the age of the camera that took it but, if you believe in ghosts, it'll certainly reinforce tales of the battlefield being haunted. Ya gotta figure too, even if you don't believe, that a place such as that where so much suffering and death occured, why wouldn't be haunted in some way?
My Great Grandfather enlisted with the 25th. Illinois Infantry in 1862. He was seriously wounded at the Seige of Corinth in May 1862. His Discharge Papers read, "Discharged due to partial loss of right hand - no longer able to fire a musket - disability 25%". He returned home, recuperated, and re-enlisted in the 10th. Illinois Cavalry as a scout. He was discharged as a Corporal at wars end in 1865.
Erik, you and your family have quite the backstory, thanks for sharing. Can't wait to make it to Gettysburg again. The first place I visit will be the Gettysburg Museum of History. Thanks to JD and Erik for all their fine work.......
That's awesome! I can remember in the early 1960's when I was a child I found a rusted triangular shaped bayonet in the area of West Fairview, Cumberland County. It was very rusted and that shape looks like it. They were doing bridge work/upgrades to the 11-15 bridge over the Penn Central railroad tracks....... that's amazing!!!!
My ex’s ancestor (Quitman’s grays, GA) fought in the wheat field. A bullet went through his leg but missed major blood vessels. He was captured and taken to Elmira Prison in upstate NY.
@@cognomenunknown2144 At the end of the war the prisoners were released and he walked/hitched rides back to Georgia. We still have the confederate dollar he had. He married and raised a family. He was an unrepentant Confederate and during reconstruction stabbed a Yankee veteran for singing a yankee song! (The man survived, and he was not charged)
I read a account of another family losing a cow during the chaos of the battle. They assumed it ended up in a Confederate commissary but they were wrong. The cow wandered ten miles! To a neighboring hamlet and was recognized by a relative! If I remember correctly the cow even walked back home on its own. I think I read it in a book title “Debris of battle.”
@@ethanmeade8508 I was part of a reenactors group for Company B of the 57th. "The Franklin Sharpshooters". I've been to Franklin County, beautiful area!
What a fascinating story. I lived in Dillsburg, PA 2011-2020. I’ve found confederate artifacts I believe from Jeb’s Calvary. I’ve sold the house but, there are plenty more to be found on the 2 acres.
My hubby and I took our daughter to Gettysburg 20 years ago and one of the confederate actors took us into to the woods and showed us a rock with the name of a soldier carved in it. I can’t remember more details about it but it wasn’t far from the creek and the old cemetery. Pretty cool.
Talking about snipers in the trees , my great great grandfather was a sharpshooter in the Confederate army. He and his brother were in the Battle of Williamsburg in 1862, and his brother was shot just as daylight was breaking by a sniper up in the trees, and my great great grandfather killed the sniper. As I remember the story, he said the sniper died in the tree. So I suppose it wasn't uncommon. Ironic too, he made it through Gettysburg and Picketts charge, didn't surrender until after 1900, and lived until 1921.
As a feller who climbs trees for a living, I don't doubt it at all. You'd want to be in a nice solid shooting position, and that would mean you've got a good spot to hang out in. Not surprising that you could be stuck right there if shot or incapacitated
My 2G great grandfather served in 47th Batt VA Cavalry CSA and was KIA in skirmishing along the Jackson River in Virginia on Dec 20 1863. He was just a farmer with a wife and two young sons. Family records say he was "found bleeding to death against a tree". I can only imagine his sense of pointlessness that night thinking about what he was losing - and for what? His family quickly fell apart, his wife died soon afterwards, and the sons fostered out to relatives. All the older family members sold their farms and went west to Missouri and farther. Only one son remained in VA and he was my great grandfather. This was a devastating war to many families in Virginia where they were torn apart and the reasons to fight and die were lost in the depths of their losses. Nothing romantic or pridefull about the civil war. Over 600,000 Americans died fighting each other over the expansion of slavery and a few wealthy southern men whose empires were dependent on slave labor. Truly a rich man's war and a poor man's battle. My family paid a price that very nearly wiped us out.
All wars since the beginning have been fought for the benefit of rich men. When two poor farmers have a dispute, they can normally work it out between themselves. But for some reason, rich men like to hire young men to do the fighting for them.
Hi Vane. I know what you mean! However, IMO WWII was the last truly clear reason to war. A fight to protect global freedom from fascism. My ancestors lined up to fight, and the belief was personal, especially after Pearl Harbor. My Virginia ancestors were blue ridge farmers who fought in the Revolution, but many other Virginians were Loyalist for economic reasons. Several Southern Campaign battles (i.e.: Kings Mountain) looked a lot like a Virginia civil war. The truly wealthy men were in England, but they lost the war as the political will dwindled. I think the US Civil War is probably the most extreme example of a rich man's war. Northern industrialists and southern planters had serious economic interest in the outcome, and whether slave labor would permitted to spread to western territories. Then if we look at both the Bush's invasions and oil grabs in the Middle East we may have some of the best examples. And let's not forget the Spanish American War land grabs, and "Indian Wars" and etc.... @@vanespeer
I just can't get enough of this stuff The gentleman that owns a museum and the History traveler both I just love it. I've been to Gettysburg twice and it's an awesome feeling of great history and I don't know I can't explain it
Amazing story. I'm from the area and have done a lot of hiking in the mountains there and played around at Devil's Den (a popular skip day location). The Appalachian Trail in that area is the most spooky of all the trails and old farms I've walked on in 50 years of doing so (all over the country and some overseas hiking). There's energy there around Gettysburg, Harper's Ferry, and Gathland.
I've done West New York spent a good four months there with my ex near buffalo - but this next trip will be entirely for me to be a history geek. I'm really looking forward to it! thanks for the advice I will avoid July! I'd rather go in the off times anyway :) UK is a shadow of what it used to be the country won't exist for much longer if you want my opinion, we've allowed our nation to be over-run. THere are still some very cool historical places to visit here though, for sure,
@@BIASED_RU-vid I’m sorry. I have wanted to visit for so many years. As for times of year, avoid major holidays and spring breaks (April). October is my favorite time.
My daughter attended Gettysburg College and we visited the battlefield many times! It is a spiritual journey with every step. If you have never been there, I urge you to go and feel the presence of the past. It will change you!
I am so thankful for the older folks taking the time to comment. You are all treasures and have a wealth of knowledge in your minds. Thank you for sharing it!
a friend of mine was sitting in a deer stand in NW Florida and said he heard some commotion coming through the woods, he said three rag-tag civil war soldiers were running through the woods looking disheveled and scared, he said as they disappeared in the woods an officer on horseback came tearing through the woods , stopped , looked behind him and took off again going the same way as the soldiers. He said there were no tracks left behind.
When I lived in Warren, PA (in the 1960's up to 1970) my mother and I visited Gettysburg a couple of times and we NEVER heard about this incident! Thanks so much for sharing this bit of Gettysburg history with us!
A local man, Thomas Brown of South Ryegate Vt, was in the 1st United States Sharpshooters. He was in a tree behind the Union lines at Spotsylvania and got a bullet in the forehead. His body was shipped home and buried and his wife kept his personal items including his belt buckle. That belt buckle has been one of my most prized Civil War items. He is mentioned in the book Something Abides, by Howard Coffin.
Berdan's Sharpshooters (2nd Regiment USS I believe) had withdrawn eastward to this area. Not only were Berdan's Sharpshooters highly skilled snipers, they were superbly trained to track down and dispatch enemy snipers. A fellow up a tree and armed with a muzzleloading Enfield was no match for 2nd USS veteran armed with a tricked-out breechloading Sharps Rifle.
Not really linked to Gettysburg, BUT…..I had an original three band enfield rifled musket that had three Minnie balls jammed in the barrel, which I know was a common problem during the ACW, due to panic. This rifle had been reproofed in Birmingham (England) proof house and was used by Indian troops during WWI. It’s reproof expired in 1955. Great content by the way! Best wishes from the UK.
My g-g-grandfather was wounded @ Gettysburg! Was imprisoned @ the "notorious", Andersonville Prison, and (fortunately, for _me_ !😉) survived the war. In fact, at the time of his passing in 1941, he was one of only 3, surviving Civil War Veterans left in New Jersey. I was blessed/fortunate enough to come into possession of his original enlistment & discharge papers(95th NY volunteers), as well as his invitation from....The Government of The United States, to attend the ceremonies recognizing the 75th Anniversary of The Battle of Gettysburg, and several newspaper articles written about him in 1940 & '41. Sadly, I lost these priceless, familial heirlooms to a fire, two years ago. Proud & honored to say; besides my grandfather who was the..."bread-winner" and provider for his wife and 2 kids (dad, being one of them) during WWII, our family's continued devotion to serving our great nation, goes back to.....well,... _BEFORE_ we were even a nation!!
Great story! I remember Erik talking about this during another video. Those bayonets are huge and look like they could do some mean damage in close quarters
I just found your channel. I love history, especially the Revolutionary and Civil War eras. This was fascinating. Thank you and I look forward to watching more of your videos.
The rifles I have seen with out rear sights were done so post war . A shotgun was needed to hunt rabbits and squirrels , long range rear sights were in the way . I`m an old man and remember my great , great aunt talking about the young boys and older men going rabbit hunting . They all had the old guns and would pour powder down the barrels , stuff in some paper , a hand full of jack rocks , more paper , cock the guns with their bare feet , lift em up , put on a copper cap and away they would go . That night we would have rabbit and gravel for supper . All this because I asked if I could keep the old gun setting in a corner of an old smoke house . Still have that old Enfield without the rear sight .
Fascinating story! About that Enfield rifle in the second half of the video, I noticed an eagle stamp behind the cocking piece. Does that mean it was manufactured in the US or CS instead of GB?
Great family story, which will be preserved for future generations. Those of us who have photos of great and great-great-grandparents are so fortunate. Interesting to see the lay of the land at this battlefield site. Thanks for sharing this.
Top of rocks at devils den - first time there I didn’t realize there was such a drop and I’m just jumping over them like it’s nothing. Only after I saw how steep the drop was between the rocks 😆. Awesome video cool to learn about new spots 😎✌️
Western Marylander here! I visit both Gettysburg and Antietam a lot! A few years remains of a Union soldier from NY were found on the Cornfield on Antietam battlefield! They were identified and returned to NY for burial !
We found a bayonet just like that in my woods back in the early 1970s (probably 1972). Though it was much more rusted and eroded than that one. The closest battlefield to where it was found would have been Pender or Manassas.. a neighbor kid kept it because he was the one who first spotted it.
Nova huh, ain't much left of the Pender farm area is there? Not much of old Fairfax either for that matter, and data centers are pressing up against the Manassas battlefields and not enough people care.
@@SST11B life keeps going. Some day all of our wars will be forgotten and built over the same as ancient Rome and the histories we lost in the times before. Nothing of this earth is eternal.
It seems like getting up in a tree when armies were on the move would be a terrible idea. Because once they saw the smoke from where you were at you would be an easy target to pop off.
Not necessarily if you consider all the smoke and haze from cannon and musket fire it would probably be pretty hard to see a puff of smoke from a single shot fired from up in a tree.
@@blakeantoniuk5299 Not really, for one there wasn’t cannons in that particular area. And if the smoke was so bad how do you think anyone would see him like they clearly did. Those guns are hard to load on the ground much less dangling from a tree.
@@nimitz1739 It's hard to say what the weather conditions were like on that day. Was it overcast with a low ceiling and windy which would lead to low hanging smoke over the battle field.
I know nothing about the ins and outs of the Civil War I am on the west coast so no family heritage to either side. Just wasn't a topic of discussion. But I love! Love! Hearing stories from our riddled past that in most schools is just a slight mention... 😢 All facts matter no matter what the outcome we all need to hear the truth. So with that, Thank You!!!
My grandma was born in Adams County, every wkend our family had to go see grandma's mom. Dad would drive the battlefield, he was at the dedication of the Gettysburg Peacelight.