I was at Gettysburg for the 125th Anniversary. I am from Minnesota and our unit was the 1st Regiment of Minnesota Co a. I was 1st Sargent of Co. A. We did the 1st Minnesota Charge on the battlefield 125 years later. It was very moving. The next day July 3 1988 we saw Pickets charge. I still get emotional when talking about it.
Many thanks from Cambridge, UK. Really enjoying the great videos. I'm a tabletop miniature wargamer. For the last 9 months I've been working on a Gettysburg project. On Friday July 1st I played my first game of the confederate attack on Seminary Ridge. These videos have been an invaluable resource to better understand this fascinating battle. Seeing the reenactors drill like this really brings to life the scale of what I try to represent with miniatures and the importance of coordinated command and control and the level of troop training. I can only imagine how impressive (and probably chaotic) it would be to see an entire brigade, let alone division or corps, manoeuvre across the battlefield.
I remember doing Battalion Drill as a reenactor many years ago. It takes lots of practice to get it down but once you do it is very impressive. Extremely hard in rough ground.
Thank you SO much for keeping our story alive. Too bad people now days would rather forget our past instead of honoring it. I'm VERY PROUD to be an American, and always have been, it's a shame the younger generations would rather demonize all the men that fought and died and gave the ultimate price because FREEDOM isn't Free. Thank God We've Always had people that are willing to make that sacrifice. ! Long Live FREEDOM and AMERICA !!
Younger people don't demonize the soldiers who fought. I don't think anyone has a problem with Union soldiers, Ww1 and ww2 GIs. It's the confederacy no one likes. We hate hicks who still wave the flag with pride as if they wish slavery existed. How can you be American and wave a Confederate flag?? They were literally America's enemy. It's like waving a North Korean flag today and saying your patriotic
The people who would "rather forget our past" are ignorant, leftist "woke" morons. History should ALWAYS be preserved, whether people think it was right or wrong. History needs to be remembered, so that we can learn from it. There is absolutely NO benefit to forgetting our past.
Thanks so much for sharing this. My Son and his fiancée are both active duty members of the Minnesota Army National Guard. I will share this with them. She’s currently deployed in SE Asia.
I was there today.. great time with great people. Thank you to all the reenactors for the great job they do by keeping the battle and what happened here alive.
Veteran units could innately know what formations were likely coming up and understood what was going to happen. They with these dedicated reenactors have brought home how impressive veteran troops would be . Thanks so much as usual for a memorable lesson
Close order drill, same as taught ad nauseum in boot camp for US military. I went through back in 77, USCG. Drill long enough and your unit becomes a well oiled machine. This kind of thing was still useful when I was in when we were acting as Gun Crews or for shipboard firefighting, it gets you into the mindset to obey commands instantly, and that's important when SHTF. I am impressed that these fellows are willing to go through all this, BZ Gentlemen!
Great job guys! I’m a SGT. in the Georgia Army National Guard and D&C is definitely a perishable skill. I love to see the authenticity and accuracy of basic soldering and drill & ceremony! I was at the 135th Anniversary Gettysburg reenactment back in 1998. It’s was the largest event I had ever been apart of; definitely one for the memories!
I still can not fathom the tens of thousands of troops in a battlefield then. The sites had to be overwhelming for the civilians. This is closest we ever get to see that scenery
Thank you for making it possible for those of us that cannot be there still experience this re-enactment of our history. Love this, and hope that someday I can visit Gettysburg on the anniversary of the battle.
Thanks again for another great video Kris, Gary, and all!!!! Thanks for keeping history alive and preserving our battlefields! I wish my reenacting group still did the Gettysburg reenactment! Thanks again!!! 🇺🇸😃👍
Thank you to the reenactors as well, they bring History to life for us! We remember the fallen soldiers here, 159 years ago, we shall never forget their sacrifices for future generations...
ABT never fails to keep me interested in learning more about the Civil War. My one visit to Gettysburg was at the end of July and it was hot, humid and it started pouring when we were at Devil’s Den. A full out thunderstorm with booms that made me think of cannon. It was fantastic sound effects, but sadly cut our visit a bit short.
It was a pleasure saying hello to you this morning. We appreciate what you’re doing! My 13 year old loved what he saw! We were fortunate to get there early enough to see drill. Keep up the great work!!!!
I'm really enjoying these updates. "Someone from England" is taking part? Lucky person. I wish I could make it "two people from England". Planning to visit next year; absolutely cannot wait! Thanks for posting these excellent videos.
I know some Volunteer Regiments were up to snuff of the Regular Infantry. Colonel Gorman of the 1st Minnesota had prior military service as an officer in the regular army and made sure that the 1st Minnesota was up to par.
An invaluable segment, gentlemen! I now have an inkling of what was happening on the fields near Gettysburg when the soldiers were actually fighting there.
Phenomenal coverage of Gettysburg 159. I appreciate all the extra information that you add to the historical events that many of us are familiar with. Amazing video work, the way you deal with sometime challenging shooting conditions is, in my opinion, beyond reproach. Thank you for all the work that you do, you never cease to impress this former Canadian Military Imagery Technician.
Reenacted for a few years with The Holmes Brigade. Never got to Gettysburg, but was apart of 5,000 reenacting at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in 1991, the 130th Anniversary. Coolest thing was to here musicians in the encampment at night playing the music of The Civil War series by Ken Burns in the background.
Thank you so much for these videos, your passion for history, and educating me and so many others. I have been to re-enactments before and never really thought about the aspect of practicing the actual maneuvers- magnificent!!
Love your presentations and just bought a couple more of those great map books. If possible, please show us something of the Md. Eastern Shore units around Culp's Hill where many of us Lower Shore folks had cousins in both sides. Cheers.
I can’t even imagine what these camps were like all the human waste and required water. Honestly I’m beginning to think the worst job would have been quartermaster having to feed cloth and supply 10’s and 100’s of thousands of soldiers.
About half of the 640,00+/- deaths in the Civil War were from disease. After a battle, collera was a huge problem in the surrounding area because of the hastily buried shallow graves left behind when the combatants moved on.
Wonderful seeing these maneuvers on the battlefield with a group that actually represents a real regimental size: 260 men as was the 1st Minnesota on July 2, 1863. One gets the scope of how it must have appeared with regiments and brigades moving back and forth.
Was there an ammunition wagon that followed the regiment into battle? I read accounts of regiments running out of ammunition. How were these supply issues handled in battle?
At 12:02, imagine the disappearance of four of every five men in that line of troops. The 1st Minnesota actually suffered 82% casualties, as a result of its famous charge on 2 July 1863.
They charged Wilcox's Brigade and were almost wiped out. My 2XG Grandfather was in 11th Alabama Regiment, Company B that they charged into. The 11th was running low on ammo and the union artillery was starting to pile up on the Ridge ahead. The 11th fell back for lack of support and ammo.
While enduring a pounding rain' Of fire. The 1st Minnesota continued their charge with a sudden press on the enemy. Driving the enemy away. And resecured the Union line. Had I been General Hancock. Those surviving that action. Would be issued all of General Sickles whiskey. His cigars. His drawers etc. Many gave all. Great even't. Great group of people.
It is impressive that they had techniques to keep everyone organized and in line. However, it is really sad because the men went through all of this, and for the most part, get shot to pieces. I am glad ya'll posted this because I have always wondered how the armies in the civil war did their maneuvers to get into position for battle.
We had 260 men in the battalion and were representing a regiment who went into action on July 2nd with 262 (they had 2 companies detached at the time of their charge). This is a pretty average size for a veteran regiment by this point in the war.
I must not be in the loop. I thought the soldiers couldn't do more than set up a living history camp on the battlefield. Would love to see this but I will be arriving a little later this year....unless something like this happens on Saturday or Sunday. I only live about 2 hours away so I could always drive up and see what's going on but my vacation will be during Bike week.
Its good for folks to see these drills. Now, when you wonder why it took Longstreet so long to get to the confederate right on the 2nd you know some of the reason why. That was a corps too!
Probably not. The National Park Service has regulations about firearms on park property, and there aren't many places near Gettysburg battle areas where you could have a reenactment of any size. Private property is another issue, you have insurance and liability questions and arrangements have to be made for parking, portable sanitation, potable water. It's quite an organizational challenge.
Near Trostle Farm (red brick barn in the background), if I am not mistaken. This is also near where the artillery park was approximately during the battle, errant Rebel shells doing a lot of damage on the 3rd.
