Benning's Brigade - Gettysburg Battle Walk with Ranger Matt Atkinson

Ranger Matt Atkinson leads a battle walk covering the actions of General Henry L. Benning on July 2, 1863.
Thumbnail by Ron Shawley, CC BY 3.0 creativecommon..., via Wikimedia Commons
No claim to original U.S. government works.

[@BigMrFirebird]

Even in the UK, we know Ranger Matt is legendary, "You either like bacon, or you're wrong" (1:25:31). Priceless!

[@mhollman8650]

I’ve got a serious man crush on Matt….The guy is a legend and destined to be person in charge of the Gettysburg Battlefield. Thanks so much for all you do StuffWriter.

[@jimbrew4529]

I'd wager 20 to 30% of the lecture attendees, were dragged there by their spouse or parent and had little interest in the specifics of the battle. They'll remember very little, but they'll remember Matt! 😊

[@battlewagonmclaren8004]

So true , I was thinking about the same thing 😂😂😂 the wives would rather be in town shopping ,

[@ConnieLatka]

Sexist much Battlewagon? This wife drags her husband, who would rather be golfing

[@gilllawson2214]

Saw a video about big snakes 🐍 around Devils Den

[@sbishop6450]

Many thanks for all the ranger tours you post. Great for us living elsewhere in the world. I’m also disabled so I would not be able to do the walking if I was there. You should be paid by the NPS! You are providing something that they should be doing. From uk

[@cindy-followerofjesuschris6572]

You are correct!

[@ronmoore5827]

I was on this walk one week ago today, Matt did his usual outstanding job. Was able to personally thank Mr. Stuff Writer for producing these videos for those of us who can only get to Gettysburg once a year.

[@M_Lopez_3D_Artist]

oh wow you did? you met him that is awesome

[@deanbenedict707]

I'd like the opportunity to thank him in person as well.

[@paulstan9828]

Hi Matt my favorite ranger! 😁👍 Always great videos. Thanks for doing them.

[@jeff2178]

These videos are the best and Matt NEVER disappoints. Thank you for filming these

[@danielvanmol5655]

I'm comming to gettysburg in 2 weeks. Would absolutely love to attend a tour with Matt. Would make up my wholevtrip from Belgium. A fan since many years.

[@runtoth3abyss]

All the park rangers know their stuff. I honestly wish more than Matt gave battlewalks

[@firstminnesota]

Exactly one year ago, I and my brother spent a week touring the battlefield. We stumbled onto Ranger Matt Atkinson while he was taking a group around the Peach Orchard. As a retired teacher, I recognized immediately someone who had both comic and pedagogical talent. We encountered him elsewhere as well. It took me a while to realize he was also a KZbin legend, and you can why. You can't rehearse his ability to improvise on the fly and to adapt himself to whichever group he happens to meet. And he is a past master at negotiating lingering sectional rivalries and resentments. His patience with the Cub scouts and the little guy with the binoculars is priceless. He deserves his own TV show. And the aw-shucks country boy self-deprecation doesn't fully hide the wealth of knowledge he actually has and the extensive reading he's done.

[@troy242]

There's always that one guy who wants to show everyone that HE knows more than the professional guide. Oh joy.

[@N2Dressage001]

So great to see Ranger Matt A.! Love these. Thanks StuffWriter!

[@simpilot8508]

A Hay's Tiger Brigade or Nicholl's 2nd LA Tiger Brigade battle walk would be awesome

[@travisbayles870]

Two of my Confederate ancestors were in the 20th Georgia Infantry part of Bennings brigade

[@autoguy57]

It will ALWAYS be “FT. BENNING” to real soldiers…

[@chadtheartist3424]

It's always a pleasure to see a new Matt Atkinson Park walk.

[@marosenmd294]

Hey! Mr. StuffWriter you've clearly taken my suggestion and are now PANNING THAT CAMERA, no longer locked on Matt. Noticed when your vids started movin' of late! Keep up the great work at making the best historical videos even better! Thanks!

[@charliet1535]

Love seeing Matt out in his element. Anyone know if the park will be doing control burns again? I noticed the view shed along plum creek valley and along Little Round Top are quickly reverting back to before the clearing

[@joshuscundiff3708]

YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS THE F&$&$N GREAT ONE IS BACKKKKKK YEEESSSSSSSSSSS MATT FOR PRESIDENT BABBBBYYYYYYYY WOOOOOOOOOOO RIC FLAIR!!!!!!!!

[@deanjackson2125]

Matt better be leading the charge July 1,2,3 2023…160 years ago. We will never forget that..

[@Davethebalikid]

Hey, does anyone know how to find out when Matt does his tours

[@KatzenjammerKid61]

You have to stalk him like everyone else...

[@haileycomer8706]

If you contact the visitor center and ask, they should be able to tell you. That’s how I found out about the tour me and my family did last year for the anniversary.

[@keithhuotari2571]

Awesome!! Always love Matt's presentations...

[@Sutcliffe371]

MATT!!! WOOHOO!!! BEST EVER

[@KatzenjammerKid61]

I love that Ranger Matt mentions the little boy whose Mom had made him a Union uniform (the Little Round Top video) when he brings up the equally wonderful Cub Scout with the binoculars. My Dad loved history and Scouting, he made Eagle at age 14, was a Scout leader, and was in the BSA Order of the Arrow. He took my brother and me to Gettysburg when I was in middle school and my brother was about the same age as those boys. I hope he remembers this moment and gets many chances in he future to visit that wonderful place (especially once he figures out binocs!). Thanks StuffWriter.

[@SteveMikre44]

Matt Atkinson for President 2024...🇺🇸

[@panzerdeal8727]

HUH??? "Disrupts Chaos..." Chaos = confusion. IF you Disrupt Confusion don't you Unconfuse 'Em....[ LOL. Good one Ranger Atkinson..]

[@iamrrspike7132]

I noticed it and am certain he misspoke, and I took it as that.

[@peterbrown1208]

Good job Stuff Rider once again. But Gettysburg greatest asset, Ranger Matt helps. Wish I could do a tour with you two. Keep doin this.

[@deanbenedict707]

Thank you StuffWriter!!!

[@deanbenedict707]

You know you are something special when Ranger Matt calls you "mysterious"!

[@JuneMacCross]

My goal is to one day participate in a walk lead by Matt in person! Knowledgeable and hilarious! Thank you for doing these vid's, I am learning so much!

[@Cattani1982]

Thank you Matt and StuffWriter

[@cyndiebill6631]

👍👍👍👍Yessss another battle walk with Matt my favorite.👍👍👍👍

[@battlewagonmclaren8004]

StuffWritter !!!!! Thank you once again for another great video !!! Matt thank you sir once again for another great tour !!! Matt is a landmark to touring the Battlefield long with StuffWritter

[@Gitarzan66]

Matt and Stuff. My favorites. One of the first Civil war channels I ever followed. Not even sure how long its been. Years.

[@keeftaylor834]

Haven't been to Gettysburg in over 30 years since I was a kid, and I've been wanting to see it again. I hope if I can, Ranger Matt Atkinson will be there doing a tour. I've seen numerous GNP videos with guides, Matt is friggin' awesome.

[@Joshua-rb2hv]

i love watching matt i really do enjoy him learning history and standup comedy love it

[@iamrrspike7132]

You never truly know until you know. When you’re surprised by the moment and you either hightail it or your training and nerves kick in and begin fighting, then you truly know. Some can’t even take the next step in thoughts even though they didn’t run. Lives depend on the calmness of leaders to make sound decisions. One should admire those that never ran.

[@cannae216]

I've gotta catch one of Matt's presentations--one hell of a storyteller. I'm 2 hrs away, I have no excuse.

[@patrickancona1193]

YAAAAAA BUDDY!!!!!

[@---------353]

The king! Matt is the best.

[@genenoud9048]

How about sheep or goats to clean that brush out. Early spring , early fall

[@kimberleyannedemong5621]

Marr never disappoints me. He is by far my favorite ranger

[@andrewchaney626]

he had enough scouts to do a reenactment

[@TheWeatherbuff]

@StuffWriter Thanks for posting these great videos for those of us who can't regularly get to Gettysburg. I'm a PA native, but I live in CO, so I don't get much of a chance to visit. One question: Are the motorcyclists around in the late autumn and winter? Nothing against the riders, but I'd rather visit when they're not in abundance. Thanks again, Sir.

[@cynthiajacobson9602]

I have never been to Gettysberg, but because of Matt, I am able to discribe the movie Gettyberg with so much detail, to my Mom who is 86 and did visit 41 but did'nt have a Park Ranger Thank You for your dedication to our countries History

[@markgatz6127]

Who commanded the 3rd Arkansas and what its straight or how many soldiers were in 3rd. Arkansas. Thanks.

[@carywest9256]

Look up 3rd. Arkansas on Wikipedia, it should give the information your seeking.

[@alexvangen745]

Colonel Van H Manning was the Commanding Officer in the 3rd Arkansas. The 3rd Arkansas was part of Hoods Texas Brigade.

[@clarkbuckner4900]

Couldn't help but notice that for the anniversary this year, no Pickett's charge program ( at least from Seminary Ridge).

[@jcksnghst]

My grandfather said if your head was bald in the front then that meant you were a thinker, if you were bald in the back then that meant you were a lover, but if you were bald in the front and back then you just think you're a lover.

[@justinsharpe6607]

Do you have a playlist that goes from Buford's defense through Pickett's charge chronologically?

[@hikingviking6676]

I just learned iam related to Benning through Ambrose Cobb which brings me to this video thank you

[@davedee72]

Top man Matt O7

[@refugeeca]

Thanks for doing these since the NPS never does any.

[@wes2262]

I was about to fly here for this tour but waited too long. Glad StuffWriter was there to get it

[@lukeprobst1664]

It’s great to see a new post. Thank you for the effort to record and post them out here for us to watch

[@battlewagonmclaren8004]

Sherman was the person who invited the Bic lighter 😂😂😂😂

[@denniscolvin5106]

Sherman met his Waterloo at Vicksburg though

[@lindawilder3148]

Love these videos, love love Matt!!

[@Based_Gopnik89]

THE RETURN OF THE KING

[@OldHickoryAndyJackson]

Atkinson loves to take his little digs at the Union

[@allanhugo9213]

Too much joking and chatting at the beginning. Just get to it. You lost me. 8 minutes in you still hadn't started.

[@carywest9256]

Always with the negative waves, have a little patience.😊 He's just getting warmed up!

[@troymartin1347]

I wish I could get there and walk in the foot steps of those soldiers and listen to Matt talk

[@shanestahl8788]

Love ya Matt, but his name wasn't Jesus Presbyterian!

[@willoutlaw4971]

Are there any relatives of the thousands of Confederate troops who deserted Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in 1865 present for these battle walks?

[@herecomesaregular8418]

Probably. They either don't know their ancestor eventually did the ol' solo return march, or conveniently leave out that part of their story. And even if they did stay, who is to say they were even a good soldier? And if they could meet said ancestor, would they even like them as a person, and vice versa? A lot of ancestor worship is pretty silly when you think about it. When I think about my own ancestors that fought in this war, or any other ancestor that passed before my time, I think, "that's interesting", and that's where it ends.

[@KatzenjammerKid61]

@@herecomesaregular8418 You and @WillOutlaw are both real fun at parties I bet.

[@Dahveed1982]

get well soon kiddo!

[@irockuroll60]

Who cares if they deserted in ‘65. Petersburg was sieged. Georgia was burnt. The war was over. Families across the south were starving. I would have left to to take care of my wife and kids.

[@denniscolvin5106]

They're still trying to catch up with the Union deserters