How Weather Impacted Gettysburg

[Linda Anderson]

This interesting article is from AccuWeather.

"Battle of Gettysburg Anniversary: How Weather Impacted the Bloodiest Battle of the Civil War"

"A Gettysburg man by the name of Rev. Dr. Michael Jacobs, a math professor at what was then called Pennsylvania College, had a strong interest in weather and recorded his observations three times a day, every day, even during the battle. As a result, the "Meteorology of the Battle", was published, and it gives very specific details on the weather at the Battle of Gettysburg and the role it may have played in battle.
Ben Neely, Executive Director at the Adams County Historical Society, emphasized that the most damaging aspect of the weather for this event actually occurred on July 4, the day after the battle had ended. Rain fell across the area for most of the day; Rev. Dr. Jacobs put the total at 1.39 inches. While wounded still lay on the field, some may have felt welcomed by the break in action. Some wounded soldiers had still not been moved from low-lying areas by the Plum Run Creek, however, which overflowed its banks. Those stranded near the flood waters, reportedly all Confederates, drowned."

http://www.gdg.org/Research/Other%20Docu...6pt1l.html

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-ne...n/14824506

[BettyO]

I'm familiar with Lew Powell's regiment at Gettysburg - The 2nd Florida Infantry. It was 151 years ago today that Powell was wounded and captured. It was an extremely hot day - much like today's weather.

http://www.2ndflorida.net/perrys.htm

[Linda Anderson]

(07-02-2014 05:17 PM)BettyO Wrote:  I'm familiar with Lew Powell's regiment at Gettysburg - The 2nd Florida Infantry. It was 151 years ago today that Powell was wounded and captured. It was an extremely hot day - much like today's weather.

http://www.2ndflorida.net/perrys.htm

Thanks, Betty. I'm always amazed at your research.

[BettyO]

Thanks, Linda. You are a top notch researcher!

While this site is good, there are a few errors, such as calling Mosby's regiment as the "53rd Virginia. It was the 43rd....


Powell's unit arrived at Gettysburg about 1 PM, coming up through Taneytown. They lay in the woods until they went into battle about 4-4:30 PM and fought until about 8 PM. Powell was one of the wounded left on the field.

Lew's 2nd cousin, General John Brown Gordon was also at Gettysburg at the same time. I doubt that they saw each other as Gordon was attached to his Georgia regiment, although they were part of the same Corps.

   

[Linda Anderson]

Thanks, Betty! And thanks for pointing out the errors in the article.

[Rsmyth]

I believe I mentioned this once before. While driving south on route 15 in PA to visit our daughter at York College, we were just a few miles north of Gettysburg. The exit sign said Dilsburg. My wife said "if only Lee had pushed forward a little more, it could have been the battle of Dilsburg. Just doesn't have the same ring to it, does it?

[BettyO]

Sounds somewhat like where the cartoon character Dilbert might live.....no - it doesn't sound as grand.....