Hunterstown Historical Society

[Diane Merkel]

The Hunterstown Historical Society invites you to visit its website,
www.hunterstown1863.com

The Battle of Hunterstown, July 2, 1863, is where a young Union soldier, Norville Churchill, "saved" Custer's life. Read more about it and our wonderful historic village.

[harpskiddie]

Diane:

Thanks for the posting. This is rather a different tale fron the 'standard' portrayal of Custer's first action with his new brigade, which is usually given as being a mad-brained dash at the enemy without reconnaissance, being driven off in hasty flight and being saved only by Pennington's battery stopping the enemy cavalry with a blast of grape.

Gordie

[Diane Merkel]

I received this message from the Hunterstown Historical Society today:

Today is a BIG day for HUNTERSTOWN!
CWPT is getting ready to announce their 10 Most Endangered Battlefields today at 10am at the National Press...
We received a little "heads up" last evening....
Gettsyburg made the 10 Ten....with HUNTERSTOWN being added as one of the additional 15 "Endangered Battlefields"!
This is the first time there has ever been two "Pennsylvania" battlesites on the list!!!
It is a great day for all of us...but there is still alot of work to be done.....
The happy moment....when there is NO developement on our battlefield!

[Diane Merkel]

Here is the latest from the Hunterstown Historical Society. References to Custer have been put in red for ease of skimming.

Hunterstown Historical Society Update...August 2007

Once again, it has been a very busy and a very interesting year here in Hunterstown! Preparations for this year's "3rd Annual Walking Tour" and our booth at the Re-enactment in Gettysburg were underway as early as January. It is difficult to plan an event and count on a good turnout when you have the Gettysburg Re-Enactment the very same weekend!

Nevertheless, Hunterstown Historical Society went ahead and made plans despite the fact that many of our Michigan Wolverine friends were unable to make the trip this year. They were with us in spirit though!

We are proud to announce that we have a logo and a banner for Hunterstown Historical Society depicting the two "George's" that visited our small, but historic Village! The banner was made by Bob McIlhenny, a former Hunterstown resident. Our thanks to Bob for his very generous donation! It can be seen on our homepage by visiting www.HUNTERSTOWN1863.com.

Our group put their heads together and came up with several "fundraiser" items which, we believe, will aid in telling our story here in Hunterstown. We had several of the town's old postcards reprinted and a brass ornament was cast depicting the "Jacob Grass Hotel," Union headquarters, where orders where given by Judson Kilpatrick to General George Armstrong Custer "to charge the Confederate line." The Jacob Grass Hotel will be receiving a Civil War "Hospital" sign sometime this year, thanks to the folks at Historic Gettysburg of Adams County. In addition, we had two different sized crocks crafted by local artisans, Willis and Denise Myers, with "Hunterstown 1863" on one and "crossed sabres" on the other. These items may also be found on our website.

In June, we had nationally known artist, Edwin L. Green from Williamsburg, VA, visit Hunterstown with the thought of painting the Civil War era homes still existing in our town. Mr. Green captured the very "heart and soul" of our historic village! To date, there are 11 prints completed and one more on the way. A portion of every sale will go to the Hunterstown Historical Society, these prints may be viewed online as well. Many thanks for his labor of love in 90+ degree weather! While visiting, Mr. Green agreed to be interviewed by the "Gettysburg Times." Thanks to John Messeder, a member of our group, the story made front page news! CBS 21 saw the article and came to film a nice promo piece that aired just days before our event, once again, giving our town great coverage. Our thanks to photojournalist Garth Millen for an excellent piece!

Panoramic photograph artist, James O. Phelps, Lexington, VA, has also offered his help to raise funds for Hunterstown Historical Society by allowing us to sell his "Great Conewago Church and Cemetery" panoramic on our website. A very generous portion of all sales will be donated to the Hunterstown Hsitorical Society. Thanks so much Jim!

While manning our booth at this year's Gettysburg Re-Enactment, where for those of you that didn't know, "The Battle of Hunterstown" was depicted on Saturday July 7th, we handed out every "business card" and Hunterstown history we had, and sold several fundraiser items as well. It's hard to judge our effectiveness, however, we did see our website jump to well over 300 hits in the week that followed! We also welcomed several new members to our group!

Our numbers were definitely smaller for our walking tour this year, but a crowd of about 70 people joined us for the afternoon. Our Thanks to Battlefield Guide, Mike Vallone, who always does an excellent job in the telling of the story of "The Battle of Hunterstown". If you missed this year's walking tour, be sure to put it on your calendar of "things to do" for next year! Many good "connections" were made that day, only the future will tell if they produce good results for Hunterstown!

We were very fortunate to have Larry and Connie Clowers, who portray General Ulysses and Mrs. Grant help us by attending and speaking at our event. Also, Joe Topinka with his wife Deb, who portrays General Custer, spoke on the importance of preserving the battlesite. Joe, who is from Bedford, PA, is our single-most advocate for Hunterstown. Joe has written many articles and letters informing folks about the battle and the need for preservation. Deb McCauslin gave the account of Kitty Payne and her family, a freed young black girl who worshipped at the Great Conewago Church. Donna Jayne and her husband, portraying Doctor Tate, set up a wonderful Civil War hospital tent and demonstrated what a surgeon's life entailed during the battle.

Thanks also to Glenn Zepp for the cemetery tour and Dan Smith for his insight into General Custer's life.... All of these folks "volunteered" their services for our event. MANY THANKS!!!

Last but certainly not least, The Great Conewago Presbyterian Church, for the use of its beautiful grounds and lovely facilities to host our event and for the use of their "Chapel" for our monthly meetings. Thank You So Much!

There are several amazing stories I'd like to tell here, but for lack of space, you can read them in their entirety on our website. Two of them are listed on our "Members Page"....the Norvell Churchill story, and the Colonel DeLoney story. If all goes as planned, the Churchill Family will be bringing the very sword that saved General Custer's life with them next summer when they hold their family reunion here in Hunterstown/Gettsyburg!

On July 5th, we received an email from a family member of Lt. Cicero Brooks of Cobb's Legion. Her relative was killed in the battle here in Hunterstown and was never returned home for burial. Ms. Holliman, after seeing our website, was inquiring to see if Cicero might be buried at the Great Conewago Church cemetary. I posted her inquiry that evening in the hopes that maybe someone would read it and offer her some suggestions. The very next morning, one of our members from Florida, Ed Rowe, emailed us to let us know that he knew exactly where Lt. Cicero Brooks was buried and had contaced Ms. Holliman with the good news! After 144 years, they found their relative! What an amazing story! Thanks again to Ed for his help and the wonderful account he is compiling on all the soldiers who fought during the war.

Preservation in Hunterstown has taken a giant leap recently as a young couple purchased one of the old, historic homes in the center of town that was originally slated for demolition. "The David Little House" will be restored to it's former early 1800's look. The couple hopes to incorporate "the chairmaker's story" and someday, also hopes to open up their home for tours. What a wonderful idea! The very same week, we had two different individuals who were related to David Little looking for more information on their ancestor's home! Thanks to our local historian, Mrs. Linda Cleveland, who has been documenting and recording many of the histories of the families who lived here, information has been sent out to them. Mrs. Cleveland also has written the history of Hunterstown which we are using as a handout to educate folks on our town's past. In addition, Linda has written a song entilted "HUNTERSTOWN" and has had it copyrighted. This song will be sung for the first time at an event to be scheduled this fall. More information to follow.

In the making....we have another artist who is painting the "first ever" battle scene of the cavalry clash, the "Battle of Hunterstown," fought here on July 2nd, 1863. Joe Topinka, Custer re-enactor, who was here with us in July, has secured this artist at "no cost" to Hunterstown Historical Society! More news on the painting as it develops.

Lastly, an update on the "Monument" to be placed in Hunterstown by the Michigan Roundtables of Grand Rapids and Holland/Zeeland. If all goes as planned, this monument will be dedicated in Hunterstown in July of 2008, when the Churchill family is here for their reunion. You can read more about this event on our "Members Page".

As you can see, it HAS been an exciting year here in Hunterstown! None of this could have happened without ALL the generous support of our members and friends. We THANK YOU so much!

To our board and volunteer members, this year we have made amazing strides within our newly formed group. Everyone has played an important role in this effort and is greatly appreciated for their time and talents.

By continuing to work together we can...
See the "Village District" added to our new zoning.
See the protection of many more of our historic buildings.
See a "home" for our Historical Society.
We can even SAVE our battlesite!

There is nothing better than to leave a LEGACY for future generations. Thank you all for your committtment to HUNTERSTOWN!!!

Sincerely,
Laurie Harding, President

[Diane Merkel]

Here is the latest from Hunterstown. You can view the flyer about the proposed Custer Monument at www.littlebighorn.info/messageboards/CusterMonument.pdf. I would suggest that LBHA contribute to the cause, but we all know how far that would go . . . . For more information, check their website, www.hunterstown1863.com/id5.html.

Unveiling of New Hunterstown Monument!

The following is an excerpt of an email received today from Jackie Vohlken, member of the Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table, Holland/Zeeland Civil War Round Table, 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Company F, and Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War.

To Whom it May Concern:

Our Round Table groups are banding together to erect a monument in Hunterstown, Pennsylvania that will honor General George Custer and the Michigan Cavalry Brigades, for their action and bravery during the battle there on July 2, 1863. This area
of the Gettysburg battlefield has been heretofore long overlooked and we are trying to help remedy that.

Our goal is to have a granite monument placed there, on the Historic Tate Farm, by the 145th anniversary of the battle, which is next year on July 2. The family of soldier Norvel Churchill, who saved Custer's life on that fateful day, are planning a family reunion in Hunterstown at that time next year, and we think it would be wonderful if we could dedicate a monument to the Michigan boys while they are there then.

We have some flyers to distribute to folks who may be interested in helping with donations towards this monument, or have suggestions as to how we can raise the money. We need somewhere around $6500 to reach our goal.

We appreciate your consideration and time and hope you will help us with this very important endeavor that we think is long overdue, honoring General Custer, Norvell Churchill and the rest of the Michigan Wolverines!

If you are interested in making a donation or would like more information, Please contact:
Dave Broene at [e-mail] or Jackie Vohlken at [e-mail]

For those who will be in the area around Thanksgiving:

Saturday, November 24th, 7PM
"An Evening with the Grants"
Sponsored by "The Historic Tate Farm"...
A special presentation to help raise funds for Huntertown Historical Society
AND the monument fund....

To be held:
at the GAR Building
53 Middle Street
Gettysburg, PA. 17325

Seating is limited.
Reservations made be made by calling
717-339-0903

Thank you once again...
Together we can give the General the "honor" that is due him!

[conz]

Going from memory, but I believe at Hunterstown Custer took a squadron of his regiment, after posting a dismounted support, and charged down the narrow road in column of fours hoping to break the Confederates.

Instead, the Confederates counterattacked, chasing back Custer's squadron to his supports, whereupon the supports decimated the Southern squadron, leaving the Union on top in this fight, at least by casualty count, about 2:1.

Clair

[Diane Merkel]

A national preservation organization has added the Hunterstown battlefield to its 2008 list of most-endangered U.S. battlefields.

"We've been keeping an eye on Hunterstown for a number of years," said Jim Campi, spokesman for the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT). "The fighting there was very important to determining the outcome at Gettysburg."

Campi said a 2,000-home development dubbed Gettysburg Commons is the main threat to the battlefield, where historians say then-23-year-old Gen. George Custer nearly died in combat with Confederate forces.

Preservationists say the Gettysburg Commons development threatens the majority of the Hunterstown battlefield.

Article: www.eveningsun.com/ci_8572204

[chamberlain63]

Hi all,

My name is Jared. I'm a student of history at Penn State University. I was perusing through your site and was pleased to find this thread.

I am also an artist and was asked by the Hunterstown folks to depict the battle in art for the first time. I recently finished the painting. It is 16x20 and shows Custer being saved by Private Norville Churchill on the Hunterstown Road, July 2, 1863.

I hope if any of you are in or around Gettysburg this July 2, that you can make it to the monument dedication/ painting unveiling. The ceremonies will be followed by a battlefield tour, luncheon, book signings, and evening programs. Visit www.hunterstown1863.com to learn more.

Also, please visit my website at www.historymatters.biz if you like. Thanks again for spreading the word about the Hunterstown Battlefield!

Jared

[Diane Merkel]

Welcome, Jared! I'm always pleased to "meet" history students, especially ones as talented as you. Congratulations on your painting, and please keep in touch.

Diane

[chamberlain63]

Took the painting to the printers today. We'll have some canvas prints at the monument dedication on July 2. It is all very exciting

Hope to see some of you there!

[chamberlain63]

We had a great event. Thought you'd all like to see the finished product. My painting and the new monument. Thanks for your interest!

[galderton]

conz,
I think the strategy was a bit more detailed than most think or understand. This is one of the battles where Custer truly shows that he is more than just a "charge at the enemy" kind of guy. I believe he shows his tactical brilliance, which of course he never get's credit for. He perfectly set up a "killing zone" by placing men in a house and barn which were on either side of the road, then placed his reenforcments and up to 6 canon at the end of the road making a U shape. Once this was set up, Custer led the remainder of his brigade down the road to draw the confederates into the killing zone. Absolutely brilliant. I hope to visit this town next time I am at Gettysburg.

[conz]

May 12, 2009 8:55:44 GMT -6 galderton said:

conz,
I think the strategy was a bit more detailed than most think or understand. This is one of the battles where Custer truly shows that he is more than just a "charge at the enemy" kind of guy. I believe he shows his tactical brilliance, which of course he never get's credit for. He perfectly set up a "killing zone" by placing men in a house and barn which were on either side of the road, then placed his reenforcments and up to 6 canon at the end of the road making a U shape. Once this was set up, Custer led the remainder of his brigade down the road to draw the confederates into the killing zone. Absolutely brilliant. I hope to visit this town next time I am at Gettysburg.

You won't find too many Army Cavalry officers with a low opinion of Gen'l Custer's tactical abilities.

My read on this action, though, isn't as ingenious as you imply here. It was well set up, and competently led and controlled.

But I don't think he deliberately set up a trap and baited the enemy to come into it. I think, rather, it was simply the natural result of proper tactics.

If Custer was only charging as a feint, all along intending to draw the enemy into a trap, he would not have lost as many men as he did. That would be a tactical error, and if this was his plan as you suggest, it actually opens him for more criticism from his military brethren than it gains him credit. Good feints don't lose that many casualties.

But it was a "deveop the situation" charge, properly ordered and well set up and conducted. IF, you find the enemy too strong for you, and he doesn't run, you collect your survivors and go back to your supports.

If the enemy is too reckless in his pursuit of you, he will run into your supports, much like the "ambush" you well describe.

So no great "Sun Tzu" strategy here, I think...don't need to make more of Autie than he is, especially at this very early stage of his command career. But it was very good execution of very good tactics, and he gets full credit for this.

After all, he was top of his class in cavalry tactics at West Point. <g>

Enjoy your trip!

Clair

[galderton]

Some great thoughts Clair! I have just one question. Why did he leave the significant majority of his troops set up in the U shaped killing ground....most of them dismounted and in buildings? If his initial desire was to drive through the enemy and defeat them in combat more than a mile away, why didn't he take the majority of his command with him? In fact if it was an all out attack, it shows his stupidity! No cavalry commander would lead a charge down a narrow road with the limit of having only 4 troopers abreast, attacking an enemy up hill and expect firm results...with only a small segment of his command.
If it was an insane attack, why would he leave his other troopers set up as they were? I believe his initial attack was a feint....to kill some rebs and draw them into his attack. Did some troopers die....absolutely...was it a blunder.....only history can judge that.....was is a brilliant plan....

Greg

[conz]

Greg,

I believe it was an attack like a "recon in force," used to develop the situation. I don't think Custer ordered it...I'm pretty sure his division commander, Gen'l Kilpatrick, did.

Custer was to take one squadron from his regiment (which had five or six squadrons on hand, each with two companies), and march forward at the charge and see what the enemy has hiding over there. Kilpatrick needed to know if the enemy was standing, or just had a screen line there and was withdrawing.

Custer accomplished his "RIF" and ran into a hornet's nest, so recalled his squadron back to its supports, and the supports took proper care of the counter-charge.

Pretty standard cavalry tactics...all cavalry leaders on both sides did this sort of thing throughout the war. It was Custer's first official combat action as brigade commander, and he did it well, and was commended by Kilpatrick for it.

Clair