(front)
I L L I N O I S
96TH INFANTRY
1ST BRIGADE - WHITAKER
1ST DIVISION - STEEDMAN
RESERVE CORPS - GRANGER
(rear)
Commanded by
COL. THOMAS E. CHAMPION
SEPT. 20, 1863
2.30 TO 6.30 P.M.
LOSS 225
Monument #713
I L L I N O I S
96TH INFANTRY
1ST BRIGADE - WHITAKER
1ST DIVISION - STEEDMAN
RESERVE CORPS - GRANGER
(rear)
Commanded by
COL. THOMAS E. CHAMPION
SEPT. 20, 1863
2.30 TO 6.30 P.M.
LOSS 225
Monument #713
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Dave Powell suggested in a comment that I should post a picture of the 96th Illinois monument, so here it is. Unfortunately it really doesn't show much of the surrounding terrain. One thing it does show is how think the woods is now. Makes me wish there was an active Friends Of organization like Gettysburg or Antietam that would work to thin the woods. It would probably be a full time job to keep the woods thinned but I've seen the results at Antietam and Gettysburg and it is truly spectacular.
2 comments:
Actually, the park staff is doing some good work on thinning. Recently, the park has a new Supe and a new Maintanence chief, and both men are interested in addressing some of the historical viewshed concerns. In the early fall, the park was doing a lot of thinning along Battleline Road, so that it was actually possible to see into Kelly Field from the Regulars' position, for example. I think they will continue to chart this course next summer.
It's a pity that you can't show the 96th in context with the rest of Whitaker's Brigade, to demonstrate how far apart they are; and by extension, how misplaced many of these monument are. The 96th Position you have here is their 'final' position of the day, and really only represents half the regiment. Three companies never formed here, having been split off and led by Champion to the center of the line, where they fought until dusk. Two more companies were detached and sent farther west as a flank guard. There is a small stone farther down this same path that shows their position.
Thanks for putting it up, though...
Dave Powell
And thinning is a monumental task. There is so much to cut and it grows so fast (compared to what I'm used to in dry Colorado). I haven't been back in a year so I missed seeing that cutting, good to know they are addressing that.
I could probably scan in the Trailhead Graphics map to show some relative locations, except at that scale I'm not sure it would do a great job of showing it. But worth a shot.
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