Addressing Gettysburg

🔴Ask a Guide 125 1ST Minnesota at Gettysburg- with Ralph Siegel- America250 April 8m 2026, LIVE! at 7pm

This episode of Addressing Gettysburg's Ask a Gettysburg Guide provides a deep dive into the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, led by guest historian Ralph Siegel.

1. The Strategic Importance of the 1st Minnesota (1:11:12 - 1:49:13) Saving the Center: The discussion centers on the regiment's critical charge on July 2, 1863. Ralph explains how the unit was ordered to plug a dangerous gap in the Union line near the Pennsylvania Memorial location, effectively halting Willcox's Confederate brigade. Military Necessity: The panel debates whether this was a true military emergency or if the Confederate attack was already faltering. (2:58:10 - 2:58:36).

2. Analyzing the Casualty Data (1:41:14 - 1:47:05) Historical Accuracy: Ralph uses this as a lesson for battlefield guides: numbers are vital, but he notes that it is difficult to explain the internal experience of these men to modern visitors, as the soldiers were fighting in a state of automatic, combat-hardened instinct rather than calculating their own losses in real-time.

3. Legacy and Commemoration (1:49:39 - 2:07:04) The Commander's Resting Place: There is a specific investigation into why their commander, Colonel Nathan Messick, is buried in the National Cemetery (2:06:53 - 2:07:04). 4. Cultural Memory and Media (3:06:05 - 3:07:02)

🔴Ask a Gettysburg Guide 125 1st Minnesota at Gettysburg with Ralph Siegel - April 8, 2026 Show Sponsors: Totem Pole Playhouse https://totempoleplayhouse.org Antica Napoli Pizza https://anticanapolipizza.godaddysites.com

Recommended reading and show references: The Last Full Measure: The Life and Death of the First Minnesota Volunteers - Richard Moe

Addressing Gettysburg Beaver Shirt https://heritage-depot.myshopify.com

First Minnesota Society firstminnesota.net Minnesota Historical Society https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/group/first-minnesota-volunteer-infantry-regiment The Killer Angels - Michael Shaara 1st Minnesota Monuments https://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/union-monuments/minnesota/1st-minnesota/#google_vignette

Regimental Losses in the American Civil War - William F. Fox Regimental Losses in the American Civil War - Hathi Trust https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000452031

Glory Road - Bruce Catton Gettysburg: The Final Fury - Bruce Catton Minnesota

Soldiers and Sailors Monument St. Paul MN https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/thing/soldiers-and-sailors-memorial-st-paul?hs_amp=true

Last Civil War Solider Albert Woolson Monument https://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/monuments-to-individuals/albert-woolson/

Gettysburg - 1993 Movie

William Lochren and family papers, 1852-1925 https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/group/first-minnesota-volunteer-infantry-regiment

David Geister Artist - https://www.davidgeister.com/americancivilwarartwork

Addressing Gettysburg: Ask a Gettysburg Guide 52- Gunfight at the Peach Orchard Ask A Gettysburg Guide #52- "Gunfight at the Peach Orchard"- with LBG Ralph ...YouTube · Addressing Gettysburg

Jan 31, 2022 American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War

- Bruce Catton (David Greenspan illustrator) Noble Pillars: Medal of Honor & Confederate Medal of Honor Recipients of the Gettysburg Campaign: Volume I: The March into Pennsylvania & The First Day's Battle at Gettysburg

- Roy Frampton Lincoln and the human interest stories of the Gettysburg National Cemetery

- James M. Cole & Roy Frampton Abraham Lincoln's Honored Dead at The Gettysburg National Cemetery: Profiles of the 2,000 Soldiers with Names Preserved for Their Gravestones

- James A. Christian Pickett's Charge: The Battle of Gettysburg―A Critical History of the Civil War

- George Stewart Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg: A Guide to the Most Famous Attack in American History

- James Hessler & Wayne Motts

-Son of the Morning Star: Custer and the Little Bighorn -Evan S. Connell

-The Civil War - 1990 Ken Burns Documentary

-Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom

- David W. Blight Masters of the Air - 2024 TV Miniseries

-Band of Brothers - 2001 TV Miniseries

-The Pacific - 2010 TV Miniseries

-Actors who played Al Sieber Apache

- 1954 Movie Actor John McIntire Mr. Horn

-1979 TV Miniseries Actor Richard Widmark

-Geronimo: An American Legend - 1993 Movie Actors Robert Duvall

-Arrowhead - 1953 Movie Actor Charlton Heston Y

ou can submit questions well in advance of the show by becoming a Patron at www.patreon.com/addressinggettysburg

Support the show's expansion efforts for digital history education & receive a tax write off w/ The Digital History Pioneers Foundation at www.dhpioneers.com #gettysburg #gettysburghistory #historyofgettysburg #pickettscharge #americancivilwar #history #americanhistory #podcast #america250 #freedom250 #1stminnesota #firstminnesota #addressinggettysburg #addressinghistory

🔴Ask a Gett…. Valley Forge Guide 123 Washington's Crossing with Ken Gavin - March 18, 2026

Ken's Previous Shows *Patreon Premium: "Four Score and Seven Years Before" Gettysburg in the Revolutionary War - November 18, 202 "Four Score and Seven Years Before" Gettysburg in the Revolutionary War - November 25, 2024 Valley Forge Part 1 "Naked and Starving As They Are" - February 24, 2025 Valley Forge Part 2 "Naked and Starving As They Are" - March 3, 2025

The Patriot - 2000 Movie

The Crossing - 2000 Movie

Revolution - 1985 Movie

Henry Knox letters to wife Lucy https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/essays/dear-girl-how-much-i-love-you-revolutionary-war-letters-henry-and-lucy-knox

American Battlefield Trust Battle of Trenton https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/trenton

Recommended Reading from the Guide:

Washington's Crossing - David Hackett Fischer

Ten Crucial Days: Washington's Vision for Victory Unfolds - William L. Kidder

Winning the Ten Crucial Days: The Keys to Victory in George Washington's Legendary Winter Campaign - David Price

The Long Retreat: The Calamitous Defense of New Jersey, 1776 - Arthur S. Lefkowitz

Addressing History's Tavern Talks: (COMING Mid-SPRING 2026)

Valley Forge with Ken Gavin; John Brown with Dr. Jennifer Murray; Battle of Little Big Horn with James Hessler; Airborne Operations during-Day with Doug Douds

Submit questions for Ask A Guide episodes ahead of time while supporting the show at www.patreon.com/addressinggettysburg and from SuperChats and phone calls during the livestream.

Join us for our first-ever Ask A Gettysburg Guide stage show at the Totem Pole Playhouse on April 12 at 2pm! Special guests include Britt Isenberg, Lewis Trott, Kevin Bryant and Codie Eash with music by Billy Webster. Get your tickets here https://totempoleplayhouse.org/shows/addressing-gettysburg-a-live-podcast/ Sponsored by the Gettysburg Foundation, Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center, The Digital History Pioneers Foundation and Community Media.

Rich Kohr is back tonight to talk about how soldiers were compensated during the Civil War. I know what you're saying: "Who cares?" Oh, ye of minuscule minds. Just watch and you'll be blown away at how interesting this actually is. Know how we can be so sure? Because this was recorded back in 2024 and our Patrons watch the recording session and participated LIVE at www.patreon.com/addressinggettysburg See ya there!

Join us for an in-person Ask A Gettysburg Guide on April 12! Get your tickets here https://totempoleplayhouse.org/shows/addressing-gettysburg-a-live-podcast/

🔴Ask a Guide 122 Pickett's Charge with Jim Hessler

March 11, 2026 Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg: A Guide to the Most Famous Attack in American History, James A. Hessler & Wayne Motts

Ask a Guide Dinner provided by Bob Passamenti from Dobbin House Tavern https://www.dobbinhouse.com

Steven Stanley American Battlefield Trust Map Artist https://www.battlefields.org/contributors/steven-stanley?ms=googlepaid&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22284116153&gbraid=0AAAAADfvU_P6UWDa3Fj8xo9IOB3tqXR9m&gclid=CjwKCAjw687NBhB4EiwAQ645dqILbV7vx0XjaJq6P1h5o_I1uiK4psg6WSuCqL20_-pO6rAW3D-A9RoChEkQAvD_BwE

The Complete Gettysburg Guide: Walking and Driving Tours of the Battlefield, Town, Cemeteries, Field Hospital Sites, and other Topics of Historical Interest, J. David Petruzzi & Steven Stanley

Gettysburg - 1993 Movie

The Bachelder Papers: Gettysburg in their own words - John B. Bachelder, David Ladd & Audrey Ladd

Robert E Lee's Gettysburg After Battle Report https://www.nps.gov/gett/learn/historyculture/official-report-of-general-robert-e-lee.htm

Addressing Gettysburg: Get Out of the Car Tours https://www.addressinggettysburg.com/get-out-of-the-car-tours/

S. G. Elliott Burial Map https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3824g.cw0332000/ Son of the Morning Star- Complete Miniseries - https://youtu.be/M_ysYTAV-gk?si=z9r-TcCmpA0ds_57

Alonzo Cushing Medal of Honor Presentation https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2014/11/06/president-obama-awards-medal-honor-first-lieutenant-alonzo-h-cushing Gettysburg Museum of History https://www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorUUf5y7NVjrQ3tLNWaLewUEI7DeyOc7ylLi7gpxQdKNMmVXHh6

Fighting for the Confederacy: The Personal Recollections of General Edward Porter Alexander Military Memoirs of a Confederate: A Critical Narrative - Edward Porter Alexander

Southern Historical Society Papers https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/002704339

You can submit questions well in advance of the show by becoming a Patron at www.patreon.com/addressinggettysburg Support the show and receive a tax write off through The Digital History Pioneers Foundation at www.dhpioneers.com

#gettysburg #battleofgettysburgpodcast #gettysburghistory #historyofgettysburg #pickettscharge #americancivilwar #history #americanhistory #podcast #america250 #freedom250 #georgepickett #gettysburghistory $gettysburg history #theoriginalgettysburghistory

Join the popular Civil War podcast Addressing Gettysburg for a live recording of their hit show, Ask A Gettysburg Guide. Featuring a powerhouse panel of historians—Britt Isenberg, Lewis Trott, Kevin Bryant, and Codie Eash—this interactive event invites you to join the conversation and ask the experts your questions about the Battle of Gettysburg.

Complementing the discussion, Billy Webster will perform Civil War music with a fresh, modern flair. Don't miss this unique blend of education, music, and community.

Order your tickets here! https://totempoleplayhouse.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a0FQQ000006ScTV2A0

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

The Gettysburg Foundation https://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/

The Digital History Pioneers Foundation https://dhpioneers.com/

Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center https://www.seminaryridgemuseum.org/

Community Media https://www.communitymedia.net/

#addressinggettysburg #gettysburghistory #americancivilwar #historyofgettysburg #thecivilwar #america250 #freedom250 #gettysburgfoundation #podcast #stageshow #billywebster #liveaudience #askagettysburgguide

🔴Ask a Gettysburg Guide 121 Wooden Nutmeggers: Connecticut Flags and Flag Bearers at Gettysburg - Chris Army February 25, 2026 We Fought at Gettysburg: Firsthand Accounts by the Surviors of the 17th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry - Carolyn Ivanoff Wooden nutmegs at Bull Run - Elnathan B. Tyler Connecticut Battle Flag Collection https://www.cga.ct.gov/cprc/BattleFlags.asp Connecticut Museum of Culture and History https://www.connecticutmuseum.org New England Civil War Museum https://www.newenglandcivilwarmuseum.com History of battle-flag day, September 17, 1879 - State of Connecticut published by Lockwood & Meritt Riding for Uncle Samuel: The Civil War History of the 1st Connecticut Cavalry Volunteers - Robert B. Angelovich Litchfield County and the Civil War - Peter C. Vermilyea Murder by Death - 1976 Movie For The Historian Bookstore https://forthehistorian.webstoreplace.com - mention Addressing Gettysburg to get 20% off! ***Show notes compiled by 2025 LOTY Jeff Pasnik *** As always, these shows are made possible by our Patrons at www.patreon.com/addressinggettysburg AND/OR a tax deductible donation to the Digital History Pioneers Foundation at www.dhpioneers.com #america250 #addressinggettysburg #americanbattlefieldtrust #abt #gettysburg #gettysburghistory #chrisarmy #askagettysburgguide #historyofgettysburg #civilwarmyths #gettysburglicensedbattlefieldguide #historyinterpretation #connecticutatgettysburg #17thconnecticut #carolynivanoff

A NOTE FROM OUR GUEST: "I wanted to make one correction that you can add to the podcast notes. I was saying General Early's Army at Nashville; I meant to say General John Bell Hood's Army was at Nashville. His army was defeated at Franklin and then Nashville. The losses from those two battles had lowered his army from 60,000 down to 8,000. Sorry, I got caught up in the conversation and said the wrong general's name. I just came back from a Mardi Gras event at church and it just hit me as I got back on my computer that I said Early instead of Hood."

IN THIS EPISODE-

🔴USCT with Steward Henderson - Recording Session - February 17, 2026 Emerging Civil War, Steward Henderson on the USCT

December 17, 2021 https://emergingcivilwar.com/2021/12/17/tonight-steward-henderson-on-the-usct/ Reverend Jesse Jackson Memories https://www.rainbowpush.org

Glory - 1989 Movie

African American Civil War Memorial Museum https://afroamcivilwar.org Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania Through Time (America Through Time)

John Cummings 23rd USCT reenactment group Facebook · 23rd Regiment United States Colored Troops2.4K+ followers23rd Regiment United States Colored Troops | Spotsylvania VA 54th Mass Reenactment group https://www.54thmass.org Emancipation Day Parade D.C. https://emancipation.dc.gov American Civil War Museum https://acwm.org

Grant reactor Larry Clowers https://www.lincolnpresenters.com/other-presenters/ Gettysburg

Remembrance Day Parade https://sites.google.com/site/remembrancedayparade/gettysburg-remembrance-day-

Glory - Movie Soundtrack

Gettysburg - Movie Soundtrack

Gods and Generals - Movie Soundtrack

Lonesome Dove - Movie Soundtrack

The African Americans in the Civil War Era Round Table https://www.aacwert.org Lincoln -

2012 Movie A Brave Black Regiment: The History of the 54th Massachusetts, 1863-1865 -

Luis F. Emilio Emerging Civil War, Black Confederates: Laborers or Soldiers -

Steward Henderson https://emergingcivilwar.com/tag/black-confederates-laborers-or-soldiers/ Edward A. Wild and the African Brigade in the Civil War - Frances H. Casstevens

***Episode noted by Jeffrey Pasnik, 2025 LOTY***

Link to video - https://www.c-span.org/program/the-civil-war/us-colored-troops/593528

This episode is brought to you by The Digital History Pioneers Foundation www.dhpioneers.com DONATE TODAY Participate in the recording sessions of episodes like this and support the show by becoming a Patron at www.patreon.com/addressinggettysburg

#americanhistory #blackhistorymonth #podcast #americancivilwar #addressinggettysburg #history #gettysburghistory #historyblacksoldiers #usct #unitedstatescoloredtroops #glory #54thMassachusetts #23Connecticut

Join us for our third annual Taco Tuesday, But On A Saturday, at the Seminary. Come alone or bring friends, it doesn't matter, just come out and cure your cabin fever with us!

We provide the tacos and you BYOB.

Get your tickets here: https://www.seminaryridgemuseum.org/events/tacos-and-trivia-0221

"Ask A Gettysburg Guide #120 - Civil War Railroads," features Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Kohr discussing the crucial role of railroads during the American Civil War.

Here are the key takeaways from the discussion:

• Railroads' Crucial Role (6:32): The Civil War was the first major conflict where railroads were essential for supplying armies, moving troops, and transporting equipment on a massive scale.
• Rapid Expansion Before the War (7:23):
  • In 1840, the U.S. had 3,000 miles of railroad.
  • By 1850, it grew to 9,000 miles.
  • By 1860, it reached 30,000 miles, with a significant disparity between North and South: the North had 21,000 miles, while the South had 9,000 miles.
• Differences Between Northern and Southern Railroads (8:09):
  • Southern Railroads: Primarily "market railroads" (8:59), designed to transport commodities like cotton, tobacco, and sugar from farms to ports, often with shorter mileage (9:37).
  • Northern Railroads: More focused on connecting cities (9:31) and commerce (11:55), with some relying heavily on passenger business (12:05).
• Impact on Manpower (12:20): The railroad boom in the 1850s influenced the available manpower for the war. Southern railroads largely used slave labor (12:40), while Northern railroad construction brought in European immigrants, significantly increasing the white male population of military age in the North by 1860 (12:52-13:32).
• Gauge Issues (14:52): Railroads in 1860 were not standardized in terms of "gauge" (the distance between rails), with about a dozen different gauges in use (15:42). This often meant freight and passengers had to be transferred between different rail lines, as railroads frequently didn't physically connect (21:14-21:41).
• Southern Reluctance to Modernize (27:59): Despite the recognized need to connect railroads for military purposes, the Confederate legislature debated extensively in 1861, with arguments centering on military necessity (29:11), funding (29:36), and whether connections should be temporary or permanent (30:06). A significant argument against expansion was the belief that the war would be over quickly (31:16).
• Protection of Railroads (32:59): While initially neglected by figures like Secretary of War Cameron due to personal financial interests (33:11), later in the war, the Union built blockhouses and established a "railroad division" to protect vital lines like the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (33:40-33:51).
• Compensation and Management (34:04): The U.S. government compensated private railroads for their use by offering higher rates for government shipments (34:49). The North also consistently appointed experienced railroad managers to positions of authority within the War Department, which was a significant advantage (35:09-35:26).
• Train Speeds (35:34): Wood-burning freight trains typically traveled around 15-20 mph (35:41), while passenger trains could reach 30-40 mph (35:46). Coal-burning locomotives, which were beginning to appear, offered higher speeds and would become more prevalent after the Civil War (36:02).

BOOKS FOR FURTHER LEARNING

General Theory for Bridge Construction - Herman Haupt

Reminiscences of General Herman Haupt - Herman Haupt

Don't forget to support the show by becoming a Patron at www.patreon.com/addressinggettysburg or make a tax-deductible contribution to the budgets of our history video projects at www.dhpioneers.com

Grab your hot cocoa and ugly Christmas sweater and cozy up to an insightful and fun conversation with Uncle JD. We cover a bunch of topics in this conversation. Some who have already heard it said that "it flows like wine." Have a Merry Christmas and thanks for your support for @TheHistoryUnderground and @addressinggettysburg in 2025.