Tom

Thanks for your reply. You are quite correct Gettysburg was a battle filled with monumental individual actions and engagements that in any other battle would have otherwise been the highpoint of any other engagement.

As I said I had a personal interest in Perrin's Brigade because of a G-grandfather in the 13th South Carolina. I also had another GG-Grandfather with the 3rd Arkansas Inf of Hood's Brigade and my wife had on eof her G-grandfathers with the 22nd Georgia Inf of Wright's Brigade. Each of these 3 men were involved in pretty heavy actions I do believe.

The last time I visited Gettysburg was on July 1st, 2003. Naturally they were having massive crowds and large guided tours and programs. Since it was on July 1st naturally the programs were aimed to the first days battles.

What struck me is that the large groups were all centered at the North end of the Seminary battle line. While I and my family were standing alone on the south end of the same battleline conducting our own tour, only a few hundred yards away.

It is my understand from reading some of the reports that the Confederate attack by Scales brigade of the north end failed and fell apart. While Perrin's Brigade attacked almost alone, presisted while taking heavy casualities of 30 to 40%, breaking the Union lines in their front, and forcing the abandonment of that portion of the field. And forcing the northern Union section to have to fall back.

I must wonder if the death of Union Gen. John Reynold's wasn't a more significant event to most historian's and National Parks personnal than the actual historic defeat of the Union battleline. I bet that if you asked 90% of all interested persons in the battle of Gettysburg where the actual breakthrough of the Federal lines on Seminary Ridge on July 1st occurred they would answer along the Chambersburg Pike. When in actuality it would seem to me to have occur just north of the Fairfield Road a good 1/4 to 1/2 a mile away from the Chambersburg Pike. I don't feel that pointing this out is being picky, but it fact attempting to establish historical fact.

I am looking forward to your book. It is a worthy project and greatly needed. If I am still around I plan on trying to do some re-enacting at the 150 anniversary of Gettysburg. I plan on re-enacting the 1938 Old Soldiers reunion, at the 75th Anniversary, by hobbling across the "Picket's Charge" field, by gum, with my cane in hand, or on it, and club any northerner's I find on the other side at the angle. I have already got my cane made.