Civil War discovery on Memorial Day

Thanks to Russ Dodge's fine work at the Find A Grave Web site, I found the final resting place of Corporal John Hewitt (right above) of the 34th New Jersey Infantry today. That's pretty neat because two years ago I purchased photos of John and his brother William from a Civil War dealer in Pennsylvania. William served with the 12th New Jersey and saw action at Gettysburg, where he helped flush some stubborn Confederates out of the Bliss Farm buildings. John served in the South, seeing action in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. He was mustered out in April 1866. According to one of the Hewitt brothers' relatives, one of these boys was killed by lightning after the war. Don't know if it was William or John, but it merits further research.

Covered bridge in Connecticut

We can travel about 30 minutes from our home in suburban Hartford and be in the middle of nowhere. I traveled east about 30 miles today and stumbled upon this covered bridge in West Cornwall. This one was built in 1864. Kayakers were zipping along the Housatonic River below the bridge as I snapped these pictures. The Appalachian Trail winds its way through Connecticut near here.

Old and new at Gettysburg

The old visitors' center (right} at Gettysburg has closed, replaced by a beautiful, and much bigger, visitors' center (above) just up the road. That's a good thing. While many have a sentimental attachment to the old visitors' center -- it was the first place I remember seeing with my family on my first trip to Gettysburg in the early '70s -- it was dingy, poorly lit and often overcrowded. The new place has cool multimedia displays, ample museum space and a terrific bookstore. The Electric Map, a staple of the old visitors' center, is outdated and won't be displayed at the new center, much to the chagrin of some, but I don't think it will be missed. For old-time's sake, I stopped by the old place. The National Park Service will demolish it next year and restore the land to its 1863 appearance.

Civil War memories: Gettysburg

Horatio Howell (left) was a 42-year-old Union chaplain. After tending to wounded soldiers at the Christ Lutheran Church (above) in Gettysburg, Howell was shot and killed by a Confederate soldier on the steps of the church. Apparently, Johnny Reb thought Howell was an officer. Here is the memorial to Howell at the bottom of the steps of the church.