Information on the Blue/Grey Ride.....

[Highbinder]

I recieved the following e-mail awhile back and thought I'd post it so that anyone interested for a guided tour will be aware that it is available, I hope Pete doesn't mind me posting this..

Glad to speak with you, Pete Gibb here… I go by “ptgb” on the VRCC board. Live in Ohio and myself and my wife are coming to the Blue/Gray ride; we are really looking forward to it.

 

The reason I am writing you, is that I am on a Honda Shadow board (still from years ago when I owned a Shadow). On that board there is a guy that is a volunteer licensed battlefield guide at Gettysburg (and a rider). He knows much about the battle and the battlefield and would be a wealth of information for anyone wanting to find out more about the Battle of Gettysburg.

 

I talked to him (email) about it, and he is willing to come up to Gettysburg  on Saturday and give a guided tour to whoever wants one. I am envisioning just telling people that if they want to tour the battlefield with a guide, that he is available and tell them a time and a place where we could meet him. I already told him, if it happens, that it could be 2 people or 50 people – or nobody, made no guarantees. He said that it could be as long or as short as anyone wanted. It wouldn’t cost anyone a dime, he is willing to do it just because he enjoys it.

We'll make it a point to get together with Pete and find out where and when this will be arranged....you may find it alot more enjoyable knowing exactly what happen in the area of the battlefield where you are standing...rather then looking out over the battlefield and wondering what happen there....

The club members are contributing to this ride from all over the country, it is truely amazing how a simple ride has turned into a joint effort from our members, we thank you all....Mark Hallock a Chaplain for his local C.M.A in N.J. has offered to do a blessing of Bikes/Biker while he is there, along with a sunday morning service for those that are interested, we thank you Mark...Rick Nay (3w-lonerider) made all of the  hotel arrangements for us and has offered to give a guided tour of the battlefield thanks Rick/Deb....My friend Leon Strickland (Maverick Valk) sent me some cd's loaded with information on Gettysburg, thanks Leon....and Misfit sending me a book on little known facts about the civil war, very interesting reading thanks again... Smokin'joe can't say enough about your part in this Punisher will be riding drag to help anyone that should break down, no one asked him, he just said that's what he was doing, you don't find many like him anymore, thanks Allen....everything is coming together for a great ride and a good time for all...I thank everyone again for all the interest and for taking time out of your schedules to contribute to the success of the Blue/Grey Ride.
 

[ptgb]

WOW, I was just looking for your email address Highbinder... as to talk about when to post about the guide.

Not a problem posting it at all... we are firming up times & locations as we speak...

I just emailed the battlefield guide (his name is Thad) 20 minutes ago and asked him to give me a location in Gettysburg near the visitor's center where we could meet him. I told him the plan was to leave the hotel(s) for the battlefield on Saturday at approx. 9:00 am (per the VRCC Blue/Grey ride page).

I told him we would be in Gettysburg around 9:45, so maybe set to meet him at 10 am. We (wife & I) were in Gettysburg last year and the visitor's center parking lot can get pretty crowded, so hopefully he can give us a department or grocery store near there where we can meet. As soon as I hear from him, I will post on this thread as to details.

He said he can give the 4-stop quickie tour or a 5+ hour fact-filled "history-fest"... I told him about 2 hours or so would be a decent length for a guided tour.

I agree that it should be really great to get the background information about the battle instead of looking at fields, etc. not know exactly what took place.

I might print up some little flyers with the meeting place information that we can put at the front desk or just hand-out on Friday night.

If anyone coming the Blue & Grey ride thinks they might be interested in getting a guided tour... let me know (here or PM, whatever), so I can tell him (the guide) how many he might expect, thanks

[..]

http://www.gettysburg.national-park.com/images/gettysburgmap.pdf

[Highbinder]

That will be great Pete, thanks...we'll keep an eye out for the info...

[ChromeDome]

If anyone coming the Blue & Grey ride thinks they might be interested in getting a guided tour... let me know (here or PM, whatever), so I can tell him (the guide) how many he might expect, thanks

I would be very interested in the tour.

[O be joyful]

Hello to all, I'm the guy who is going to show you the Battlefield next month. First off, I'm not a professional guide so I don't know it all. I know enough to give a decent tour of the battle I believe. If your the casual visitor or the history buff, you'll enjoy my tour. If you've debated why General Slocum was late to the battle, or argued General Sickles position on day 2 then you can sit this one out. If you have no idea what I'm talking about....you'll love it. I've been studying to work as a Battlefield Guide part time for a few years and am always looking for anyone who wants to hear me drone on about the largest battle fought in North America. I did a tour last year with a Honda Shadow group and all seemed to enjoy it. I plan on being there all day so whatever you all want to do is fine by me. PTGB (pete) is my go between to this board, but I thought I'd jump on and say hello. We can meet wherever you all want. It just depends on how many of you will be coming. I emailed Pete just now also and gave him a little more info. Any questions feel free to contact me directly here.

[..]

I know I'll be listening to you.

Being a Brit my Civil War knowledge is biased towards Roundheads and Cavaliers. We knocked the crap out of ourselves  before you lot stole the colonies from us 
ps I'm proud to be an American citizen since April 12th, 2004.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Civil_War
http://www.historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture7c.html

[Bob E.]

I'll be going on the tour.  Sounds great!!!

[TomT]

Count on Joanne and I for the tour!!! Thank you Sir!!!

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Hello to all, I'm the guy who is going to show you the Battlefield next month. First off, I'm not a professional guide so I don't know it all. I know enough to give a decent tour of the battle I believe. If your the casual visitor or the history buff, you'll enjoy my tour. If you've debated why General Slocum was late to the battle, or argued General Sickles position on day 2 then you can sit this one out. If you have no idea what I'm talking about....you'll love it. I've been studying to work as a Battlefield Guide part time for a few years and am always looking for anyone who wants to hear me drone on about the largest battle fought in North America. I did a tour last year with a Honda Shadow group and all seemed to enjoy it. I plan on being there all day so whatever you all want to do is fine by me. PTGB (pete) is my go between to this board, but I thought I'd jump on and say hello. We can meet wherever you all want. It just depends on how many of you will be coming. I emailed Pete just now also and gave him a little more info. Any questions feel free to contact me directly here.

Thats a kind offer if you can come to Chambersburg on friday night the 11th to meet and kick a few tires with us 

[Normandog]

and kick some tires with us.
My wife and I interested in your tour. 

[2tonevalk]

Glenda and I will be up for the tour.  Long or short.  This has been a place I have wanted to go to for some time. 
I look forward to this ride. Counting the days.

Ride safe and often
Robert

[fudgie]

Wow Thx! I'm interested also! 

[fudgie]

I know I'll be listening to you.

Being a Brit my Civil War knowledge is biased towards Roundheads and Cavaliers. We knocked the crap out of ourselves  before you lot stole the colonies from us 
ps I'm proud to be an American citizen since April 12th, 2004.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Civil_War
http://www.historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture7c.html

  

[keystone kid]

For those of you coming to the Blue/Grey ride, a little Civil War background on Chambersburg, Pa.  It was invaded 3 times by Southern troops during the Civil War.  The first by JEB Stuart on his famous ride around the Army of the Potomac in 1862.  His forces took horses, cattle, wagons and other food stuffs.  The second time was in late June of 1863, General Lee met Longstreet and Ewell on the square and made the decision to turn east to counter the threat from the Army of the Potomac. And we know how that turned out-GETTYSBURG.  The third visit was in late July of 1864 when General Jenkins led a force into Chambersburg and demanded $500,000 greenbacks or $100,000 in gold.  The town was forewarned and all valuables had been removed to safety in Harrisburg.  When the ramsom was not paid the town was set to the torch and only a few buildings survived the resulting fire.  The most famous of the surviving buildings is the Masonic Lodge located on 2nd Street.  And that is a brief history of Chambersburg's part in the Civil War.

[threevalks]

Slight Correction: General John McCausland, Not General Albrert Jenkins, burned the town in July 1864.
Both Generals are from West Virginia, Jenkins from Cable County and McCausland from Mason County.


 During the early days of the 1863 Gettysburg Campaign, a Virginia cavalry brigade under Brig. Gen. Albert G. Jenkins occupied the town and burned several warehouses and Cumberland Valley Railroad structures and a nearby bridge. From June 24-28, 1863, much of the Army of Northern Virginia passed through Chambersburg en route to Carlisle and Gettysburg, and Robert E. Lee established his headquarters at a nearby farm.

The following year, Chambersburg was invaded for a third time, as cavalry dispatched from the Shenandoah Valley by Jubal Early arrived. On July 30, 1864, a large portion of the town was burned down under orders from Brig. Gen. John McCausland for failing to provide a ransom of $500,000 in US currency, or $100,000 in gold. Among the few buildings left standing was the Masonic Temple, which had been guarded under orders by a Confederate mason. Norland, the home of Republican politician and editor Alexander McClure, was burned even though it was well North of the main fire.
"Remember Chambersburg" soon became a Union battle cry.