Eyewitness to The First Shot at Gettysburg: Gettysburg 160 

Going to Gettysburg this fall mainly because of all your videos!

Great video! We have a plaque here in downtown Glen Ellyn, IL marking the home of Lt Marcellus Jones of the 8th IL Cavalry. I’ve always been proud of the connection between our quiet Chicago suburb and Gettysburg!

Love these eye witness accounts! Looking forward to the next few days! Thanks all!!!

The first shot at Gettysburg was bourbon.

My first trip to Gettysburg was in 1959 traveling from Michigan. Eaglegards...

I was at 125th Gettysburg and 135th, in 1998. Stonewall Brigade, 33rd Va Infantry. That was my last year of participation, in the hobby.

Excellent as usual from you guys

I grew up visiting my uncle who used to own the house.

I just love Tim, and the wealth of knowledge and information he brings to us. I could listen to him all day, and thanks to you tube, sometimes I do! You guys are wonderful! I’ve been studying, visiting, living, and breathing, and reading everything Gettysburg for 35 years now but somehow you always manage to teach me something new. Your work and your knowledge and your enthusiasm are greatly appreciated!

Like it! Then again, I like all your videos.

Outstanding job! I think the presentation of peoples stories is a wonderful idea, looking forward to more.

Enjoy the first person accounts of those present!

Loving the Eyewitness To Civil War format. Insightful. Riveting. Sad about the dog.😢

The two BEST at Gettysburg. Please keep posting Gary and Tim

To quote Mark Twain, "Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life." I'm reminded of that every time I see you guys. Thanks for sharing your in-depth knowledge and stories on location for those of us who can't be there.

Thank you Gary n Tim

I happen to love the first hand accounts! The individual experience is what makes history come alive for me! Great work!

Every year I learn something new from Gary and Tim! Great stuff!

I love watching these videos. It’s so cool to hear the history that took place less than 200 yards from my house. I really do enjoy living in a historical town. Thank you for putting together these great videos, I really do appreciate them.

The first day's fighting at Gettysburg has taken on a personal dimension for me recently. I learned that my 3rd great grandfather Rudolph Bentz was fighting, right about the time I'm writing this in fact, with the 17th PA Cav, west of town.

Could listen to Tim, Kris and Gary all day long everyday. The knowledge these 3 possess is fascinating. Well done.

I am stoked....excellent approach to the battle theme coverage this year!! The buildup to the 1st days battle is filled with very knowledgeable accounts putting all of us in Gettysburg that summer of 1863. Bring it On!!

My first "Gettysburg" was Gettysburg 100...1963! Long before reenactments, living historians, or anything more than a "self-guided" driving tour. But...I was there!

These guys are awesome!

Thanks for the reference to Elija Viers White of the 35th VA who was in the vanguard of Heth’s Division as it entered Gettysburg prior to the commencement of the battle. Col. White was born and raised in Poolesville, MD and came from a very prominent family. Vier’s Mill Road in Wheaton was a family holding. White’s Ferry across the Potomac from Poolesville to Leesburg was another. The house in which he was born and raised still stands in Poolesville. White was a 1854 graduate if Denison University in Granville, Ohio. After a time in Kansas, he returned home at the commencement of the war. He raised the 35th in late 1862 and they fought in nearly every engaging the East. They were with Lee at Appomattox and refused to surrender, attempting to breakout to the West towards Danville. After the war, White became an ordained Baptist minister and very successful merchant in Leesburg. He served multiple terms as the Mayor of Leesburg. Thanks for the reference to White, Gary, and for sharing his photo as well, Great job with Gettysburg 160 and for the wonderful work of the Trust!

👍👍

Outstanding guys, thank you for all the videos.

Love all the details and stories of Gettysburg. I felt like I could have been there. Keep up this sort of information. Wish I was there this weekend.

Gettysburg 100th with my Dad he being from Titusville PA; Gettysburg 125th with my young family traveling from California in a motor home with a 1 month old and 3, 4and 5 year old; Gettysburg 150 with 31 year old Doctor Daughter and many times in between. Love your coverage. Wish I could be there! and with your coverage I actually am! thanks ,Still in California!

When did they renovate the Whistler House? The last time I was there it was white and no porch. It looked like half the house was old and the other half had some 1960s or 70s siding. Glad they finally decided to restore it to how it looked during the battle.

Love Tim and his accounts. And Gary is still on decaf right ? And a Blacksmith the fist casualty of the Battle, very interesting And Thank you Kris as well. ❤️👊👍

Awesome 160th Gettysburg!! Tomorrow the fighting begins,

John Singleton Moseby is credited with saying the Eighth Illinois Cav was the toughest unit he faced. They came the closest to capturing Moseby

I was at the 140th anniversary I remember sitting in the “ old electric map “ room watching men in blue and gray looking at their watches. Marking the time of Picketts charge

Very interesting accounts that are usually overlooked. Thanks for this!

Garry, love you brother and the work you and your peeps do.

Fantastic video as always! These eyewitness accounts are very interesting and give a great perspective on things that we might not otherwise consider about these historic events.

Thank you for bringing History Alive.

Gettysburg is such an amazing place, it is truly hallowed ground. My family and I participated in the 130th anniversary re-enactment. To say the least, it was quite the honor to have been there.

My first two anniversaries are thanks to you all. You inspired me to go see Harpers Ferry, Gettysburg and Antietam last fall for Antietam 160, and that led to me coming out to Gettysburg 160 and the folowing week this year.

Buford's cavalry arrived, the battle cry of freedom

Love the set ups, the stories and the trsins still using the lines and the truck noise ❤

Did I hear Gary lending sound effects to Tim's description? 😂

As always, great stuff and thanks 😊

It wouldn't be a battle anniversary without giving Tim his opening to complain about the LAZY MAPMAKERS!!!!!

Super description of the start of the battle.

The Union forever! Hurrah, boys, hurrah! Down with the traitor, up with the star; While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again, Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

I put in my earbuds, and these are my bedtime stories

I love yall's videos but I have noticed that yall refer to "Joe Davis's Mississippi Brigade" but didn't his Brigade also contain the 55th North Carolina Infantry?

Great job guys way to start it off. I have one request if you can could we get a more thorough insight on the 6th core. Coming from Manchester Md. like a step by step in asking another everyone is busy. I have walked 3/4 of the route since I work for Carol country. Thanks again.

I remember the 105th, 1968. My 1st time in Gettysburg on a family vacation.

love the first person accounts

A movie should be made on the civilian perspective...the stories would be amazing!

Very interesting accounts!

Nothing better than Tim "going overboard"! (He can swim, can't he?)

Does anyone have anything more on the dog that Tim mentioned? I'm fascinated to read an account but can't find one online.

Love the "eyewitness" theme. I've always wondered about that.

Thank you. I love these first person perspectives. Could you possible include a few more written witness statements? They have a way of making the narratives vivid and tangible. Great episode!

Thank you for all the fascinating videos!

You guys do a great job! I was actually at the centennial SIXTY years ago. I find it hard to believe it was that long ago.

Really enjoying this year's coverage, the Trust does a great job of looking at the anniversaries of battles from different perspectives and keeping things fresh. Tim Smith is a real treasure and I'm slowly being won over by Kris White's one man campaign to change the way we pronounce Gettysburg. Haven't made it out there on the anniversary yet but I have been to numerous Antietam anniversaries including the really big one for 2013

Loved it!

My first was Battle of Bull Run 125.

Liking the viewpoint of 160

War is like a tornado.... Nobody knows what kind of death or destruction is going to happen....thanks again ABT!!🇺🇸🇺🇸

The book by General Edward J.Stackpole "They met at Gettysburg" the confederates fired first shots .Corporal Hodges fired a shot tell me if I'm wrong

Very interesting seeing how the locals took to having both armies coming into the town, knowing they were about to be in the middle of a battle. You guys do an exceptional job of capturing the moment and filling your videos with so many human interest stories. Love your series of videos!

We just returned from a visit to Gettysburg with two grandchildren a boy of 11 and a girl of 8. Your videos have been extremely helpful to my understanding of the battle timeline and the battlefield. My grandson had bugged me for a year to bring him to Gettysburg after a trip we made last year with his two older cousins. Once we arrived he was overflowing with questions and interest. We visited the Museum and Visitor's Center. watched the movie and took in the Cyclorama which blew them both away! Then we took a two hour guided bus tour. We toured the battlefield by ourselves by car the following day. Without the knowledge I have gleaned from watching your videos our visit would not have been as thorough and enjoyable. My 11 year old grandson's favorite monument (and mine as well) is the John Burn's memorial. What patriotism and bravery he demonstrated! We think he deserves a much larger and more prominent memorial! Both grandchildren enjoyed Devil's Den tremendously especially the great view across to Little Round Top. Now that we are home in Michigan my grandson can't wait for us to go back next summer when Little Round Top re-opens and we can complete the tour. My grand-daughter enjoyed the battlefield but was slightly more interested in the shopping opportunities in town. We split up for a few hours to let the girls shop while my grandson and I did a little bit more in depth battlefield exploration. When the granddaughter learned that we had climbed to the top of the tower on West Confederate Ave. she asked to re-join us so she could join us to climb the tower on Culp's Hill. Your videos, knowledge and engaging presentations are invaluable and very inspirational! Keep up the great work. I can't get enough of them.

Guys I love your videos but your maps are F@#$%d. They are really hard to follow and not worth the effort. Do something about that. Thank you.

Super informational and interesting! Thank you! Any chance of you guys doing a future video showing the inside of some of these civil war era homes? Also I love the civilian stories of the battle!

Great job to you guys. I need some information. My family owned land a stones throw from the fist shot location. John Eddy lived on the spot that is now the oak lawn cemetery. This was between 1730 and his death in 1751. I donated a copy of his will to the historical society. I was told there was a picture of John Eddy home that was still standing till 1947. I have never seen. My question is, was there still an Eddy living on the land during the Civil War? If so, what was there names.

Great job!

Great job!! Looking forward to a 160 weekend!! Ed from Lynchburg

Tim should visit England, where there are constant fights over apostrophes......

Love this whole series again this year. One comment though. You guys keep mentioning that the army "ransomed the town". Don't you mean "ransacked"?

WA Mchenry of Denison Iowa was there with the Eighth Illinois. His wife Mary Mchenry a national president of the GAR was good friend of Georgia Wade Mcclellan sister of jenni wade had a baby born at the time of the battle. Georgia is intered in the Denison cemetary.

Boy I remember watching the 150th anniversary of the battle episode can't believe how fast 10 years went by now 160th 😔

My absolute favorite series, Tim is a wealth of information, i really do wish you guys would incorporate the pictures in the video as you would see both past and present, but still a great series looking forward to seeing more 🇺🇸

Always great posts ⭐🙏👍🇺🇲 (30 June 2023) (MN)

Not sure how the 8th Illinois calvery ended up in the Eastern theater. Someone pointed out that the 1st Minnesota and Michigan units were also there.

Sorry late to the game today but thank you for presenting these I look forward to them each year.

I had an ancester in Archer's Brigade.

those damned horse men who had those carbines u load on Sunday and fire all week

The moment these boneheads shot my dog, i would have changed sides.

The march from Maryland, up taney town road

Great post from the masters....Thank you

I have to say I do love Gary's enthusiasm.

I want a T shirt with a high contrast pic of Garry on it.

Stop with the hands...too distracting

long live dixie

135

Love first hand accounts, especially from civilians. Amazing stuff! Thank you, Tim, Garry and Kris!

Well done! Looking forward to the Eyewitness series.❤

I guess Gettysburg is the John Wick prequel. The Confederates killed a UN dog and felt the wrath over the next few days.

Shame on those savages murdering an innocent dog.