"At the Society, I learned many of the most important responsibilities of a public historian." -Zachery Fry

An internship at the Adams County Historical Society, located in historic Schmucker Hall on the Lutheran Theological Seminary Campus, was always the most attractive opportunity for me when considering a work experience in The Gettysburg Semester. The Society boasts a relatively new Battle of Gettysburg Research Room, which is a remarkable resource for any stage of research on the campaign. The staff at the Society is impeccably knowledgeable and helpful, particularly Director Wayne Motts and Collections Manager Benjamin Neely. These gentlemen and others on the staff and volunteer force were always willing to help in their own well-informed ways.

At the Society, I learned many of the most important responsibilities of a public historian. My main interest during the internship lay with the Battle of Gettysburg and Union soldiers during the Civil War. My first project, therefore, was to scan and make searchable thousands of newspaper articles concerning the battle, the veterans, and the battlefield of Gettysburg from about 1880 to 1970. In doing this I learned countless fascinating details about the battle and enjoyed a staggering array of facts and anecdotes about the field of Gettysburg. One of the most engaging articles included a map from the men of the 1st Massachusetts Infantry, Brig. Gen. Joseph Carr’s brigade, detailing where every soldier in the regiment fell in the fields east of the Emmitsburg Road on July 2, 1863. This gave me a new appreciation for the battlefield which I might not otherwise have gained but through working at the Society. It was during this process of uploading newspaper articles that fellow Ohioan Wayne Motts took me on a fascinating tour of the George Spangler Farm, the Eleventh Corps field hospital where Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead died.

My second project, which claimed the bulk of the semester, was to create finding aids for the numerous boxes of files pertaining to Corporal Skelly Post 9 of the Grand Army of the Republic in Gettysburg. Thus I became familiar with all the Union veterans who lived in Adams County through seeing their applications and names on the ledger books. Particularly rewarding was seeing the applications of two Medal of Honor recipients – John F. Chase of the 5th Maine Battery and Daniel P. Reigle of the 87th Pennsylvania Infantry. The most fascinating of all the G.A.R. records were the Post Historian’s Interviews, a collection of documents inquiring of local veterans about their experiences in the war; these included standard service information, but also more personal questions pertaining to the veterans’ most vivid memories and who their closest comrades were. These documents will be absolutely invaluable to anyone researching ancestors or local Civil War history.

Schmucker Hall is a uniquely historic building in Gettysburg, operating during and after the battle as an observation post for both armies, a signal station, and one of the largest permanent hospitals in the area. Working in the meeting room on the first floor, I discovered halfway through the semester that the door I had been sitting near for so many weeks was actually the same one through which the battered men of the 151st Pennsylvania carried Lt. Col. George McFarland after that officer had been seriously wounded in the chaotic fighting in front of the Seminary on July 1, 1863. Perhaps the pinnacle of experiencing this history came on my last day at the Society when Ben Neely rewarded my diligent work with a rare ascent to the cupola to observe the town and the battlefield.

The Adams County Historical Society provided me with the experience that should come with any internship during The Gettysburg Semester, but it also gave me many fond personal memories of my time spent in Gettysburg. From the fascinating newspaper clippings, to the personal stories in the G.A.R. records, to Thursday evenings in the Battle of Gettysburg Research Room with good semester friends and stellar research company, the internship was an experience of which I shall always be particularly proud.

"Moments like this made me realize that I was making a difference." -Samantha Smith

"Upon arrival to the Gettysburg Semester, I was not scheduled to be an intern at the Gettysburg National Military Park. However, I soon decided that it would be advantageous and became one of three interns working with Paul Shevchuk, the Museum Specialist and Greg Goodell, the Chief of Museum Services.

"The first day proved intimidating. I found myself consumed by thousands of artifacts in the archival room, and all of these historical "beings" contained stories for me to hear. The intimidation did not last long because my goal as an intern was to help and preserve the past for future generations. Preservation became my fuel for action and education. Cataloging relics proved to be intriguing, for my eyes became accustomed to the sight of artillery shell but not the sight of poker chips or padlocks. These relics were great pieces of conversation.

"Curious about the numerous arrow heads I found, I asked Paul for more details. He explained to me the history behind the object and how it pertained to the archival collection at the Gettysburg National Military Park. Moments like this made me realize that I was making a difference. The arrowhead aided in the explanation of history due to my curiosity. As an intern, I aided in the preservation of this object’s history and allowed for future generations to be curious. Although, I must say I was constantly surprised my own curiosity, as it occurred when I least expected it.

"One day while working with the photographs, I came across a picture of the seasonal staff from 1970. I am not quite sure what made me instantly fall in love with the snapshot, but I did nonetheless. I felt like I was a part of something greater than myself. Almost 40 years ago, individuals like me where doing what I was doing at the moment- history. I was preserving it and they were too, and in 2009, I was preserving their actions of preservation. History, like that photograph is timeless, and my internship allowed me to preserve their immortal existence (both the photograph and history).

"I am ever thankful for my experience, too often I have underestimated the stories objects have to tell, but because of my archival internship, that mistake will never be made again."

-Samantha Smith, Gettysburg Semester 2009

Gettysburg Semester 2009 - Muster Out

Last Friday, after all us of burned the midnight oil to finish our seminar papers, we scrambled over to Rob Gibson's studio to get a Civil War era group picture taken (see below!). He briefly reviewed the history of photography and showed us the techniques he used -- and even let us play around with his camera, which was super neat. We then got dressed up and posed; staying still for fifteen seconds is, believe it or not, harder than it looks! That evening, after I took a long afternoon nap, we all went to Herr's Tavern for a final dinner together. We read Civil War poetry, enjoyed the yummy (but admittedly leisurely) meal, and said our last goodbyes to Dr. Guelzo.

Now that I'm officially finished with all of my work for the semester, it's beginning to feel like the end. It's a bit astonishing that the semester is over already; as I write this, my darling roommate is packing up her things, and it all feels a bit surreal. I will not deny that I am excited to head home and celebrate the holidays with my loved ones in a warmer climate, but I am sad that this experience is coming to a close. (It's going to be REALLY strange not talking Civil War with the people I live with all the time.) I've met many kindred spirits here and will miss them dearly, and with the good and bad, I am thankful to have spent the time here that I did. To everyone: best of luck on your adventures. Thank you to everyone who has helped me, and all of us, on this journey. It's been great!

Gettysburg Semester 2009 - Washington, D.C.

This Friday, we embarked on our final Gettysburg Semester field trip – to Washington, D. C. I hadn’t been to Washington since early high school, and have desperately missed being in a city, so I really looked forward to it.

We began the day in Lafayette Square in front of the White House, where Dr. Guelzo explained how the area appeared during Lincoln’s administration. As he discussed Stanton in the Treasury Department and Lincoln’s frequent visits to Seward’s house nearby, we saw a helicopter depart from the White House and some apparently important visitors arrive. Exciting!

We then made our way to Ford’s Theater, where we spent some time in their downstairs museum. There, they had some interesting artifacts, including the gun John Wilkes Booth used to assassinate Lincoln and the suit the president was wearing when Booth did so. We then left the museum itself and made our way upstairs to peek into the Presidential Box, in which Lincoln sat when Booth shot him. After listening to a brief ranger program, we crossed the street and went through the Peterson House, where we were able to see the rooms in which Mary Lincoln awaited news about her husband, Secretary of War Stanton briefly ran the nation, and Lincoln ultimately died.

After lunch at the Hard Rock Café, we concluded the day with a visit to the Lincoln Memorial. Looking across the mall from the Lincoln Memorial was certainly an apt way to end the trip – and the last of the semester.

Gettysburg Semester 2009 - Richmond Trip, Day Three / Appomattox Court House

On the final day of our Richmond trip, we made our way down to Appomattox Court House. Fortunately, the day was beautiful, and we were able to enjoy the park in the sunshine!

We began in the visitor’s center with a brief ranger talk and orientation video. Afterward, we stood outside the old courthouse and Dr. Guelzo discussed the maneuvers of Lee’s army subsequent to the fall of Petersburg. He explained that chiefly, Lee sought to access the supplies first at Amelia Court House, and, failing that, at Appomattox Court House. However, Sheridan captured those at Appomattox before Lee could arrive – and after realizing that the Union cavalry was supported by infantry units, he surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia. We then made our way to the McLean House to see the room in which Grant and Lee negotiated the surrender. We concluded the morning with a discussion of the parole and final march of the Army of Northern Virginia.

After a very pleasant lunch at a cozy bed and breakfast, we made our way back to Gettysburg. Although we faced more than a few bumps along the way (metaphorically and literally, given the unpaved road we somehow managed to find ourselves on), we made it back over the Mason Dixon line in one piece. After Thanksgiving, on to Washington, D. C.!

Gettysburg Semester 2009 - Richmond Trip, Day Two / Cold Harbor and Petersburg

After sleeping in, at least a little bit, we began our second day of the Richmond trip with Cold Harbor – led by Dr. Guelzo himself. He opened with an explanation of the utter exhaustion that the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia alike suffered by late May of 1864. After discussing Grant’s frustration with geography during the Overland campaign, we moved on to the Sixth Corps position on June 1. Dr. Guelzo then described the contribution of the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery, of Upton’s brigade, in the Union attack. We then saw several lines of entrenchments – labeled as Confederate, but Dr. Guelzo disagreed. We continued walking through the battlefield as Dr. Guelzo explained the bloodshed of the June 3 battle and the decision of men to disobey orders to attack – indicating the measure of casualties and the terror experienced by the Army of the Potomac. We concluded the morning with a photograph at the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery monument - and an impromptu discussion of the balloon corps.

After lunch, we met Randy Watkins at the Petersburg. We began by becoming acquainted with the siege of Petersburg with the National Park’s video on the subject. We then went outside with Mr. Watkins and did artillery practice – probably the most fun, in Dr. Guelzo’s own words, that we’ll have all semester! (To be fair, he isn’t wrong.) We then made our way to Ft. Stedman and discussed the action there – and Mr. Watkins explained that this was the last real offensive made by the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War. We concluded at the Crater, where Mr. Watkins had us figure out the tricky ventilation system in the tunnel and described the battle there as a good plan, poorly executed. Sunday, on to Appomattox Court House, and then back home to Gettysburg.

Gettysburg Semester 2009 - Richmond Trip, Day One / The Wilderness and Spotsylvania

We began our trip to Richmond by heading down to the Wilderness and Spotsylvania – close to the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville battlefields we visited several weeks ago. We met with our intrepid guide, Don Pfanz, and braved the cold and rain as we began the morning. (Appropriate, at least!)

We started the tour with a discussion of Grant’s motivations and intentions in the Overland Campaign, in particular, the potential use of combined forces. We then discussed the nature of the Wilderness battlefield as extremely difficult to maneuver through and thus terrifying for the men fighting throught it. We then went to Ellwood, where, most notably, Stonewall Jackson’s arm. We moved on next to Saunders Field, where we discussed the action there and – perhaps one of the most disturbing aspects of the Wilderness – the fires that broke out and consumed the dead and wounded. We finished the morning with stops at the Tapp Field and Chewning Farm, where Mr. Pfanz explained the actions of Texas Brigade and Lee’s rather legendary attempt to lead them into the fray.

After lunch at the Spotsylvania Courthouse Café, we proceeded to a brief tour of the battle at Spotsylvania. We began by discussing the so-called “Mule Shoe salient” and Colonel Upton’s assault there. The most sobering stop on our visit was that at the Bloody Angle, where we discussed the action there that was perhaps the hardest and bloodiest fighting of the entire Civil War. Thereafter, Mr. Pfanz explained the end of the battle and foreshadowed our visit the next day at Cold Harbor. We finished the day with a stop at the Massaponax Church, where a famous photograph was taken of Grant holding a council of war outside on the church’s pews. Saturday, on to Cold Harbor and Petersburg!