East Cavalry Field Discoveries

Looking & Learning Locally

Incongruities, small graces, moments of connection and simple beauty -- time spent at various venues of Gettysburg National Military Park can yield all of these. I used to be an impatient one, driving through and noting the "important" places, then driving on. Living in Adams County affords me the opportunity to do so much more than that now. Today's post is all about observation, taking the time to see beyond those quick glances and observe all that is there. One day, near sunset on East Cavalry Field, I was watching a doe graze impassively despite the occasional car that passed by. I was near the turn where Cavalry Field Drive leaves the national park along Confederate Cavalry Avenue. Here there are examples of the artillery from the battle, aimed across an open field. From the road, it appeared that the cannon was aiming across the meadow at the deer. I was struck by the juxtaposition of the serenity of the field and tree line, the grazing deer, and the weapon of death.

 

As I drive along the roads, the monuments sometimes seem to have become part of the scenery, and I hardly notice them, but this year I have started to pause and look, to walk the same ground that the troops here honored walked 149 years ago. For many, the fighting of July 1 is merely a prelude to the battle, but the action in the railroad cut was dramatic and in many ways played a vital role in events to come. Accessed from the Chambersburg Road west of Gettysburg, the monuments on Reynolds Avenue tell the tale of those units that were involved. This monument to the 147th New York Infantry, which is on the spot of their position in the morning on July 1, 1863,  was erected in 1888. It tells the story of the soldier's life in this beautifully crafted detail. Cast in bronze, this part of the monument can be found just above the seal of New York state. Attached to the knapsack with straps of bronze is a bedroll, a canteen, and a cartridge box -- a soldier's "home" and battle equipment all compactly linked. Inscribed on the pack, the word Oswego is the name of the county in New York from which these soldiers came. The strap of the canteen, and the straps attaching the bedroll to the knapsack actually seem to drape naturally, as though they were still made of leather and not metal.

But to see this detail, one must look closely because a quick glance is not enough. The monument to the 147th New York Infantry stands near the 3rd Indiana Cavalry monument, seen here in the background. 

Surprise Inside

 Napoleons and 3 inch rifles are frequently called cannons by those (like me) who are not experts. On Confederate Cavalry Lane these are pointed across the field. This battalion was engaged in the battle at East Cavalry Field on July 3, 1863. The 3 inch rifle was one of the most common used during the war, and fired shells that weighed eight or nine pounds. Slightly larger, the Napoleon fired twelve pound shells. If you have ever heard artillery fire at a reenactment, you can imagine the noise that the five described here could create. On the battlefield, round wooden disks plug up the cannons, and I was interested in a reason for that. I thought that perhaps vandals stuffed debris or trash inside. Yesterday, July 10, I was walking along peering into the cannons and comparing the round disks inside. But then, there was one that had lost its disk or never had one. Tucked away about 18 inches down the barrel of the cannon was a cluster of dried grass,

 

  and on the grass....

 3 blue eggs.

I have seen bluebirds perched on these cannons, so I think that these are bluebird eggs, nestled deep in the barrel of a cannon. I hope that they are safe. I hope that others who observe and wonder will also be content to walk away.