This is a summary of the activities that I got to participate in during a recent symposium of history buffs in Gettysburg (a simply marvelous time).

Friday

After dropping $325 and 3 hours getting a new timing belt after the car expired on the PA Turnpike) Doug Rogers and I set-up our McPherson's Ridge wargaming scenario at the Stonehenge banquet hall in Gettysburg. We explained wargaming to the crowd of researchers and writers, and played a few turns of Johnny Reb III to give input on the battle and to gain feedback on the rules system.

Saturday

Saturday was a delight. First, we spent two hours with cavalry reenactor and writers J. D. Petruzzi and Mike Nugent (the tour director at the Joshua Chamberlain museum in Maine) discussing Buford's tactics and his defense in depth. For the first time since 1863 (allegedly), all four key cavalry flags flew on East McPherson's Ridge (U.S., national, Buford's and Devin's brigade flags, and the red and white 1st Division guidon).

After this indoctrination on the opening phases of the battle of Gettysburg, Larry Purtell guided the group on a walking tour and detailed discussion on Stone's Brigade and the critical position they were assigned as the salient of Doubleday's defensive line along Chambersburg Pike. Stone's men, although green, were the last I Corps brigade to leave McPherson's Ridge and retire to Seminary Ridge (the Iron Brigade had already been flanked and were gone).

After lunch on Oak Hill and an informal discussion of artillery ranges (Carter's artillery duel with Cooper, Reynolds, Stewart and Hall), we proceeded to Hersbt Woods. Walking down to Willoughby Run and the seldom visited stone quarry site, Chris Army led an excellent walk from Willoughby Run to the down slope of Fast McPherson's Ridge, while discussing Scale's and Perrin's third wave attack on the I Corps. Reaching East McPherson's Ridge, we came into site of the guns on Seminary Ridge and had a talk on artillery tactics.

Switching gears, the group drove to the XI Corps line, and Eric Wittenberg (author of several Gettysburg books and a yet-to-be published biography of Phil Sheridan) started with a talk on Dilger and the defense line of the XI Corps from the Mummasburg Road to the Carlisle Road, paying attention to Dilger's work in negating Page's guns on Oak Hill. From there, we visited Barlow's Knoll where Eric was joined by researcher Chuck Teague in describing Barlow's fight with Gordon and Doles. Eric then led us to the seldom seen position of Jones' Rebel artillery, which silenced Bayard Wilkeson's battery posted on Barlow's Knoll.

Following this, we toured the line that Shurz and Howard had considered near the Alms House complex. Eric Wittenberg then led tours and gave vivid descriptions of Coster's Last Stand near Kuhn's Brickyard (Stratton Street in Gettysburg). The formal tours ended with Eric and Mike Nugent speaking to us on Raffensberger's Hill (East Cemetery Hill) on Howard's last ditch defensive line as he prepared for what he thought would be another blow from Ewell.

With the formal tours over, several of the group peeled off for more exploring. We went to Powers'Hill and explored Latimer's position, and viewed the fields that Avery crossed on his way to Culp's Hill. Driving out to Brinkerhoff's Ridge (another seldom-visited part of the field), I led a discussion on Walker's Stonewall Brigade and the 10th PA cavalry's fight.

Skipping the formal group dinner, Doug and I drove off and toured East Cavalry Field, then stopped on the way back into Gettysburg at the "Lost Avenue" position of Neill's Brigade of the VI Corps. This was totally deserted and simply pristine in its appearance! With darkness falling, we drove to Culp's Hill and viewed the landscape from the tower before winding up the long, long day around 7:30 tramping Houck's Ridge and the Weikert triangular field. Sunday

Doug and I toured the Pickett's Charge/high water mark area. The formal talks for the 45 members of the muster began at 11 am with author Brian Kennell (caretaker of Evergreen Cemetery) taking us on a private tour of famous graves, and talking on Howard's defense of the position on day #2 and #3. We were allowed to enter the actual famous gateway arch that appears in many pictures of Cemetery Hill.

Jim Lamasson (whose wife is the great-great granddaughter of General G.K. Warren) then led a talk on Warren and Little Round Top and we discussed that portion of the battle.

Reluctantly, Doug and I then headed back to Ohio, with our wallets lighter and our minds spinning from the depth of knowledge we had been exposed to over the three day period.