The 26th North Carolina vs. the 24th Michigan in Reynolds Woods with Ranger Bill Hewitt

[@59bartman]

My Great Great Grandfather ( PVT Charles Gocha F Co 24 Michigan was wounded shot left knee at Mc Phersons Farm. Ironically my Wife's relatives fought for the 26th North Carolina Caldwell County Units. The Civil War devastated America but our country survived. Thanks Officer Hewitt, great presentation.

[@danwoodliefphotography871]

Fate is kind to some and not others. My father's and mother's great grandfathers fought in different regiments, basically side by side at the Wilderness, where one was wounded.

[@tommycoffey3322]

I am proud to be a Coffey from Caldwell County NC. My 8th great grandfather came to Queen Anne's Parish VA from Ireland.

[@luckybait]

Bill, I have always wanted to spend time seeing Gettysburg,,,,, but for many reasons I never have!!! You are the next very best thing!!! You heartfelt presentation had a huge impact on me! I realize it’s been several years since this presentation was made but it still and I believe will always have its intended purpose! Maybe people nationwide understand the affection for our forefathers and there love of state and country! Your intended emphasis of family and brotherly love was well taught! Your family and children should be proud of you!!! We should also realize that we may need to sacrifice again to prevent communism, dictatorship, Marxism, Muslim extremist or any other threat to country that so many have died for !!!

[@scotttyson8661]

I'm in for that

[@ncole90]

I hope you folks never stop posting these! :-)

[@GettysburgNPS]

OooCARS! Thanks for continuing to comment with your appreciation!

[@bradymelton9478]

This is one of the finest presentations about the American Civil War I have ever heard. Just beautiful. Listening, I realize that I know a whole bunch about battles and generals but nothing about the individual soldiers/men/boys; a whole lot of American history but nothing about the American communities/families/people. Thank you.

[@blackcat2801]

This is awesome. Thank you SO much for posting this. My Great Grandfather was Assistant Surgeon for the 26th and was there that day.

[@scotttyson8661]

Wow man,mind if you can tell his name.Im from New Bern N.C.and the 26th fought gallantly here before Gettysberg.

[@Zoetropeification]

We have been to Gettysburg three times and just self toured but these videos have convinced me to revisit this summer and attend as many of these presentations as can be squeezed into a three day weekend.

[@DonAbrams-hq7ln]

I visited monroe,nc when I worked for Cuddy Farms. On the center of town an Obelisk was erected in Memory of company G after years l learned that Company G was decimated after Pickets Charge suffering more casualties than any other unit engaged.Huzzah for 26TH NCV 🙏

[@vickibarlowe8686]

Proud no matter what to be born and raised in NC!

[@dphush]

Thank you for this Bill Hewitt & GettysburgNPS! My brother, grandfather & great uncle have done loads of genealogy research. They discovered that our great-great-great uncle fought for the 24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry. It’s great to read books about the Iron Brigade & the 24th but Mr. Hewitt goes into fascinating detail about what all the men went through on this fateful day. Thanks again!

[@tracycc123]

Our family just returned home from a trip that included Gettysburg. You folks do a very good job at keeping up the parks and having folks to talk about what went on at each. Thank you very much!

[@benn2026]

A great video! I did want to mention, however, that some of the information regarding Romulus Tuttle (at around the 47 minute mark) was incorrect. Romulus was not the sheriff of Caldwell. That was Robert Gaius Tuttle, father of John A Tuttle, who dis not die at Gettysburg, but rather was killed at the battle of Bristoe station. John was the cousin of Romulus, the captain of Co. F. Romulus also had a younger brother, Columbus, who was at Gettysburg, and survived the war.

[@demianhaki7598]

Great presentation. I have spent the last couple days watching all these videos and reading up on the battle on the web.

[@roysmoot974]

The Coffey family are my ancestors all descended from Thomas Coffey who brought his family to the Yadkin River valley from Essex County, Va sometime around the Revolutionary War. Thoroughly enjoyed your presentation and have shared it with my family in Caldwell County. One mistake I would like to point out. The Israel Boone that is tied to the Coffey family was Daniel Boone’s brother. Two of Thomas Coffey’s sons married two daughters of Israel Boone. That is how the Coffey family moved into Watuaga County.

[@roysmoot974]

Uh

[@roysmoot974]

Forgot to mention that two of my cousins at one time owned Cloverhill the home of the Jones family where Major John Jones and his brother Walter grew up. Major Jones died on May 6, 1864 again leading the 26th at the Battle of the Wilderness. He is buried with his family in the valley at the Chapel of Rest. Collett Leventhorpe who was the colonel of the 11th NC on the first day at Gettysburg is also buried there.

[@TooMuchToSay-FollowJesus]

Excellent presentation!. If Ranger Bill Hewitt is still around please tell him Thank You! The entire male population of Fremont Township between 15 and 53 was killed as part of the action on July 1st, 1863. Gettysburg carnage was the impetus for the U.S. Postal Service to create Rural Delivery.

[@peggysmith2801]

I am from Caldwell County, NC. However, I don't agree with what they fought for, in any way. Such a sad, sad time in our Nations history. I would like to visit Gettysburg someday, to pay my respects to ALL of the fallen soldiers there. Very informative Video.

[@rhardee8]

I live in eastern North Carolina.In a small village called Hookerton there is a NC Civil War Trails Marker.It says that in the Spring of 1863 Pettigrew's NC Brigade including the 26th NC were stationed to guard some important bridges.It says the brigade was ordered North to Virginia in late April to join Robert E Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. I bet they had no idea that the majority would never make it back to NC!

[@RobbyHouseIV]

I really enjoy those video clips posted about the often neglected 1st day of the battle at Gettysburg. Mr. Hewitt did a good job describing the whole nine yard if you will! I hope you continue posting these!

[@Ekib-Niatnuom]

Amazing presentation. Ranger Hewitt conveyed the gravity and deep loss that this horrific battle caused. Thanks for doing all these soldiers justice.

[@pstew1862]

Thank you for posting these videos, hopefully I'll finally do one of these battlewalks in person one of these days

[@bonniefry4075]

It gives you a idea of what it was like for both sides and the families and the soldiers that gave their life for what they believed in thank you for sharing all these videos

[@timothyblackburn2830]

Very moving! I live in an adjacent county to Caldwell County, NC but I have a number of cousins, etc. in Caldwell. Sometime, please take a look at Lincoln County, NC. It's a rural county but 4 Confederate generals from Lincoln County! Amazing! Two were West Point graduates (Hoke and Ramseur).

[@IndyRickHikes]

Powerful, personal presentation. 👏 How could we do this to each other? When enough people in a generation stop asking each other, “What can we do to live together?” And they start asking, “How can I make you do what I want?” Then the generation takes up sides and starts seeing the other as evil, and stops listening to the other, and only hurls names and accusations at the other. Then we are one step from the final solution: kill each other. Our founders bound together a nation of very different people. They did it by asking, “What can we do to live together?” Every once in a while, we raise a generation that does not know this. And that generation then spirals toward a solution for the “others.” We are in the midst of just such a generation now. And if we don’t find leaders who can ask the right question, appeal effectively to the better angels of our nature, and inspire us to step back, then ...

[@luckybait]

Just look at Portland Oregon and everyone should easily see how very close we are to this exact same situation!!!

[@peterclague42]

This is great history!....from across the pond 👏🇮🇲....

[@slantsix6344]

Talk about a dream job!

[@seanwalters1977]

I need to visit Gettysburg.

[@russby3554]

I guarantee you its worth the trip

[@jefffetzer8201]

My name is Fetzer I have an ancestor who fought for the north at Gettysburg. Germans have problems distinguishing between F and S . Setzer may be the same family name as Fetzer.

[@andrewvigoda2384]

Any chance someone at the visitor center has the slides that Bill used saved somewhere?

[@cwb0051]

Thank you once again..These are Wonderful...

[@PrimeTimeChris420]

Thanks for continuing to post these videos for those of us too far away to travel. Is there a website to donate to the Park Service there or an online shop to support them?

[@GettysburgNPS]

PrimeTimeChris420 You can donate directly to the National Park Service via the National Park Foundation (www.nationalparks.org/ click "GIVE NOW"). You can also donate to Gettysburg National Military Park's non-profit partner organization, the Gettysburg Foundation.

[@vincentbergman4451]

I’m a descendant of William Lughbow H Company 24th Michigan

[@SuperJackson31]

Thank you for posting these vids

[@davidfeador4125]

an excellent book on the 26th n c 's actions on this day one battle vs the 24th is called "covered in glory" I believe written by Rod Gregg

[@Framer_Mike]

Good book...

[@keithharvey7478]

Love this!

[@mjbachman3027]

The 24th Michigan was formed and joined the Iron Brigade a month after Antietam and two months before Fredericksburg.

[@crystalgresham6263]

Coffey who that start talking about at 57 mins is my family, anyone know where I can get a copy of the notes he has???

[@andrew_swanson]

Crystal, there's a link to some of the notes that Ranger Hewitt passes out in the video description. Pasted it here for ya: docs.google.com/file/d/0B6SMKEFUruyDeHFpRDdJck03dHM/edit?pli=1 The slides detailing the Coffey clan are pages 49, 50, and 51. Hope you are able to find some info from them!

[@crazycarlsju]

I'm curious...He alludes to what happened to the band members by the end of the war, but we can't see the slide. It's bugging me....what DID happen to them? Anyone know?

[@indy_go_blue6048]

Specifically I don't know, but Grant didn't care too much for pomp and circumstances and quite a few musicians, along with heavy artillerymen ended up in combat units during the Overland Campaign and Petersburg siege. Grant said he could recognize two songs. One was (IIRC) "Yankee Doodle" and other one wasn't.

[@mregensb1sgt]

I so need this for a job. Awesome work.

[@stokerboiler]

The 26th NC was so big because in missed Chancellorsville while recruiting and training new men. The 26th was about 40% green men.

[@davidbowman4259]

Shout-out to the Iron Brigade.

[@stokerboiler]

The US (and Confederate) forces used territorial recruitment until after the destruction of the 69th Division - all NYC - in the Argonne forest in 1918. In World War Two the army split brothers up. The Navy followed suit after the loss of the Sullivans on the USS Juneau.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

I served with my cousin for all 3 years of our active enlistment (1968-1971) US Navy but we were never in a combat zone.

[@markanderson6716]

The National D-Day Memorial is in Bedford, VA. They were from the 29th Infantry. Read this: "Thirty-four Virginia National Guard soldiers from the town of Bedford were part of D-Day. Nineteen of them were killed during the first day of the invasion, and four more died during the rest of the Normandy campaign. The town and the "Bedford Boys" had proportionately suffered the greatest losses of the campaign, thus inspiring the United States Congress to establish the D-Day memorial in Bedford. The Bedford Boys included three sets of brothers: twins Roy and Ray Stevens, with Ray killed during the landing while Roy survived, Clyde and Jack Powers, with Jack killed and Clyde wounded but surviving, and Bedford and Raymond Hoback, both killed. The losses by the soldiers from Bedford were chronicled in the best-selling book The Bedford Boys by Alex Kershaw, and helped inspire the movie Saving Private Ryan. The movie's director, Steven Spielberg, helped fund the memorial, including funding for the creation of the Arnold M. Spielberg Theater, in honor of his father, a World War II veteran.". Not to be a smart ass, just to help clarify.

[@carywest9256]

@@markanderson6716 Enlightening people to facts of obscure history is not being a smartass. If someone smirks or shuns what a person is trying to teach them, l feel like that that individual is doomed to failure. My dad had a saying, "A hard head makes for a soft ass". Meaning if you don't pay attention when someone is trying to teach you,you will truly regret it later.

[@bonniefry4075]

I had family that fought in the civil war

[@scotttyson7970]

The 26thNorth Carolina was the Baddest asses in the Civil War

[@tbone4646]

I believe the 24th Michigan Regiment lost the highest percentage of Union forces at Gettysburg. Might have been the 2nd Minnesota? North Carolina incurred the highest percentage of casualties of Confederate forces throughout the war.

[@garyjd1166]

+T Bone I think you mean 1st Minnesota.

[@slantsix6344]

24th Michigan lost 588 men.

[@michaelwutka9714]

Remembering the family vacation so,may looking back to the past to 1972 height of U.S. policies cause some segment of society opportunity to "blur" history.Indifferent meaning never apologetic to the innocent that witness protesters in all it's forms.Lest not another similar war show the affected vicariously or otherwise now understand this historical meaning. Can 50 year's now,on "the hollowed ground" allow the Park Services as well as the historical preservist, each active with retaining the true site action.Such can in it"s own rite aide the attempt to restore before actual action.No question those now still alive now will have the broader picture of the event's that erupted in some summer campaign in 1863 turn "killing field"when visited known simply to me as Gettysburg Battlefield Site. Tell a broader view or revel each offering the other importance.Will history then be restored more correctly having gained insight,while reserving right for it's {re}{sic} revel?Intent to restore to battle date event.Offer the before it's inclusion, after it's return and now for the historical troop operation in the field importance.

[@ИринаКим-ъ5ч]

Anderson Jeffrey Lopez Anthony Taylor Dorothy