Addressing Gettysburg

Dr Ashley Whitehead Luskey is the assistant director of the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College and heads up an ambitious project called "Killed at Gettysburg". KAG sets students on a journey back into the lives of the men killed during the battle. After their research is complete, the students create profiles on the project's website . Dr Luskey sat down with Bob and I to discuss the project's history and goals. We think you'll find this fascinating.

When thinking about the Civil War or the Gettysburg Campaign in particular, some people might not consider Pittsburgh, Pa to have anything more to do with it than manufacturing for the war effort. But that's not true. Did you know there are fortifications around the city from the Civil War? There are. Did you know that Pittsburgh isn't so far from West Virginia, which was still Virginia for a good portion of the war? Well, Rich Condon from Civil War Pittsburgh sat down with me to let you in on this little secret. Rich Condon is a public historian based out of Pittsburgh, although he began his career as a battlefield guide in Franklin, Tennessee. For nine years he has worked with a multitude of sites and organizations, including The Battle of Franklin Trust, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, and Flight 93 National Memorial. Rich is a contributing writer for the Pennsylvania in the Civil War blog, and director of Civil War Pittsburgh – an organization focused on education and preservation regarding Western Pennsylvania's role in the American Civil War.

Yianni Barakos was told by his doctor that he might as well get on disability because he'll never be able to work again. Yianni said, "Yes, I will", became his own advocate and found a doctor who said "i can help". Now, Yianni is the proud owner of the successfully delicious Mason Dixon Distillery in Gettysburg. What does this have to do with the battle? Only the fact that Mason Dixon grows much of what goes into their liquors right on the battlefield. Did you know that the Park Service allows this? Well, they do. Yianni is a very interesting guy and he and I sat down to talk without any particular direction or subject matter in mind. It kinda gets a little personal at points, but, Addressing Gettysburg is more about human interest than anything else; whether it has to do with the Battle of Gettysburg or the people who help you enjoy learning about it or visiting the battlefield. Enjoy and please check out Mason Dixon Distillery on your next visit to Gettysburg

Yianni is a very interesting guy and he and I sat down to talk without any particular direction or subject matter in mind. It kinda gets a little personal at points, but, Addressing Gettysburg is more about human interest than anything else; whether it has to do with the Battle of Gettysburg or the people who help you enjoy learning about it or visiting the battlefield. Enjoy and please check out Mason Dixon Distillery on your next visit to Gettysburg

Rich Condon is a public historian based out of Pittsburgh, although he began his career as a battlefield guide in Franklin, Tennessee. For nine years he has worked with a multitude of sites and organizations, including The Battle of Franklin Trust, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, and Flight 93 National Memorial.

What a treat I have for fans of the movie Gettysburg! In October, 2018, the cast of the 1993 movie Gettysburg came to town for a reunion and screening of the director's cut of the film. I arranged to have Patrick Gorman, who played Major General John Bell Hood, and Bo Brinkman, who played Lee's aide, Major Walter Taylor, sit down with me and my buddy Pete.

One great thing about Ken as a guest is that I, as the interviewer, and hardly needed. He can go on and on and I rarely find myself getting bored. I hope you will enjoy learning about the town in this epic three-parter. Ken Rich is owner of Reluctant Witnesses Historic Tours and was one of the historical consultants on Addressing Gettysburg Episode 2 "INVASION! June 1863"

75 years after the Battle of Gettysburg, just under 2000 Civil War veterans, who wore both blue and gray, gathered together on Gettysburg's hallowed fields one last time before passing on into history. This was also the year that 450,000 Americans descended on the place to see President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicate the Eternal Peace Light Memorial on the third day of the reunion. As you will hear, it was quite the undertaking to put on and, in typical American fashion, it was not without its controversies, especially over that Rebel Battle Flag, but perhaps not for the reasons you would assume. Gettysburg National Military Park's Chief of Interpretation and Education Christopher Gwinn joins us to talk about his 2019 Winter Lecture Series lecture entitled "Twilight of the Blue and Gray"

Ken Rich is owner of Reluctant Witnesses Historic Tours and was one of the historical consultants on Addressing Gettysburg Episode 2 "INVASION! June 1863"