Get Out of the Car Field Talks | Doubleday | AG Field Talks | America250

Added: 2026-05-06

[00:00:00]From the Gettysburg Museum of History Studios, you're listening to Addressing Gettysburg.

[00:00:11]>> Hello everybody. May 23rd of this month.

[00:00:14]Oh, you must find yourself here with us in Gettysburg. We are doing the second of our Get Out of the Car tours this year. The theme this year is decision points and this month's tour is about Major Abno Double Day and the defense of McFersonen and Seminary Ridges on July 1st. Did Major General Abner Double Day accomplish all that he could have accomplished on July 1st? Or was the desperate struggle a futile attempt at holding ground at the cost of his core?

[00:00:50]and other questions and concepts and ideas are going to be explored with you uh on this day. Lewis Trot is the licensed guide who will be monitoring our thinking and guiding us through the discussion and the organizer of this season's get out of the car tours is the great Eric Houston uh patron or listener turned patron turned what is it event director >> director of programming >> he is the Julie from the loveboat uh for the digital history pioneers foundation >> that is me >> really >> which by the way is digital drugs buddy Digital History Pioneers Foundation is sponsoring uh the Get Out of the Car Tours this year.

[00:01:33]>> It was really just so I had a title whenever I signed my name on the permit.

[00:01:36]I had to >> ask you out of a title.

[00:01:38]>> I had to I had to ask for the I They didn't give me this title. I had to ask for it.

[00:01:42]>> Well, now that it's in writing now that it's in writing, we're going to make you look >> like I need a title if I'm going to sign this.

[00:01:48]>> Yeah. Thanks, Tad, for going on the [laughter] camera when I'm doing this.

[00:01:52]>> I'm rubbing my nose and it looks like I'm picking it up. Okay. [snorts] allergies. Uh, okay. So, >> cuz it's spring.

[00:02:01]>> I know. Yeah, right.

[00:02:02]>> It's cold May, too. That's why it's -13 outside. It's spring.

[00:02:06]>> All right, Louis, walk us through this now. Double day. Why are we Why are we uh discussing him on May 23rd?

[00:02:13]>> Uh, you know, I did a tour two years ago, right? It was two years ago.

[00:02:17]>> Yes.

[00:02:18]>> Back when we were doing regular stuff.

[00:02:19]Um, >> I I believe somebody fell over with the flag.

[00:02:22]>> Yeah, we had some action going on there.

[00:02:24]It was an action-packed [laughter] event. flagged down. Somebody's trying to earn a Medal of Honor by capturing it. Um, >> he flagged out. Yeah. Poor fella.

[00:02:34]Shouldn't make fun of him.

[00:02:35]>> We shouldn't I wish he would let >> I wish he would let me release the video cuz it is it is something. [laughter] >> Yeah, >> it was kind of scary.

[00:02:43]>> It was very scary. [clears throat] >> And when you watch the video, it's even scarier.

[00:02:47]>> There's no He's not an actor trying to, you know, brace his fall. He's full out fallen. The thing is actors sway and they do all the stuff before they go down. He just went down like a tree.

[00:02:58]>> Yeah, you need a bonus for that one.

[00:02:59]>> Anyway, >> um but we had that one. It was me talking for two hours >> and we had the flag incident which took away some of the time and that's fine.

[00:03:06]Um but there is questions and people have thoughts about what Double Day does. Um I have thoughts about what Double Day does and you know it's just not us. Back then it was a big controversy which core broke, the 11th core, the first core. Right. In the end, it doesn't matter. We don't care. It's just a point of pride and they had that they just >> for the guys that win the battle, you wouldn't think they'd argue as much amongst themselves like they did.

[00:03:32]>> Oh, sure.

[00:03:32]>> That's crazy.

[00:03:33]>> It's not enough to win, right?

[00:03:34]>> Yeah. No, no. We had to win better than you did.

[00:03:37]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:03:37]>> Yeah. Yeah. And so I definitely have thoughts about the first day. I I got to and I've said this many times. I I got to the point where I think because it used to be the old uh thing, well the Confederates win the first day, you know, they push them back. And I said, well, you know, did they win the first day? They don't have the better ground.

[00:04:00]And then I I started looking at the numbers and stuff and which units are used again on the third day. Which Confederates are units used on the third day. And I I came to this so far I'm the only person that says it. The Confederates lost the first day. In the long run, the Confederates lost the first day. And I I pitched this to Pete Carmichael because we did the Robinson tour together. Oh, it's one of my favorites. Um, and I said, "Boy, if I can get this smart guy to believe this, >> you know, that [laughter] validates me.

[00:04:32]You know, I feel so validated. This dummy from up in Marboro can get this academic guy to agree with me." He said, "You know, Lewis, I'll give you a draw."

[00:04:42]>> I said, "Good enough. That is good enough. I left happy that day." So, I have thoughts about that and I will present some of my evidence towards that uh notion when we do the tour.

[00:04:54]But did Double Day do a good job? He gets relieved afterwards. Part of that is personality driven. And part of that deals with reports in my mind misinformation that's sent back to me who's not here on the first day. People know that. And so he doesn't have in my mind me doesn't have a correct picture of everything that goes on in the first day, but he's receiving he receives one I'll give you this is one from Buford about 3:30 p.m.

[00:05:21]Doesn't seem to be anybody in charge.

[00:05:23]And I will tell people Buford has a high reputation, but Buford's been fighting and under stress all day long. He's probably tired and maybe a little anxiety sets in with that report. So maybe that's not the best report Buford ever sends. And it gives me a false impression about what's going on on the first day. Um, >> and Buford had some close ties with Reynolds and Reynolds has has died at this point and he's used to that leadership of Reynolds. That's a big leadership. That's a big hole to fill.

[00:05:54]>> Yeah. And we don't know what Reynolds is going to We say he's going to barricade the streets. He's, you know, we know that, >> but he doesn't have a chance to put that into motion. Does Double Day know that?

[00:06:06]So, when Double Day takes over, he doesn't know Reynolds's overall plan.

[00:06:11]>> He might have some sketch of it, but he doesn't know the overall plan. And suddenly he and it happens many times on different areas of the battlefield. He's suddenly thrust into command [snorts] of the core. Well, what's he going to do?

[00:06:23]And a lot of people blame Double Day. He doesn't do a very good job, etc., etc. He gets relieved.

[00:06:30]I'm not going to tell you what I think.

[00:06:31]I have a definite opinion. You have to come out to the tour, but we want to know what you all think because again, >> a lot of the listeners, smart people, um, have definite thoughts and opinions.

[00:06:41]We want to know that. And for the people that don't have any opinion, come out and listen to what others think and just learn from the overall conversation.

[00:06:48]That's what I want. Conversation. Last time it was me talking in the heat.

[00:06:52]That's why the guy fell out. Didn't drink enough water. It was hot. It was very hot.

[00:06:55]>> And we were in the shade. It was hot.

[00:06:57]>> Well, it's been a it's been a cold spring cuz I'm still wearing the same hat as I was from the winter. Um [laughter] >> cuz we're doing this in May.

[00:07:06]>> This is this is our this is our wardrobe. It's just hanging on hooks in the back. I just put it on every time we come back in. But it's not going to be me talking for two hours again just telling you what happened. We want to know more of the why and we want to know what the people think the why is and what their overall opinion is about >> Double Day's performance.

[00:07:25]>> He's an interesting guy. Double Day.

[00:07:26]>> I'm not a first day guy. I've never been much on the first day. So I'll ask the first question.

[00:07:32]>> When how soon after Reynolds died did Double Day take over? Was it immediate?

[00:07:36]Was it was there >> The message has to get back to him. how because he's still coming up.

[00:07:41]>> Yeah.

[00:07:42]>> Yeah. Yeah. So, I don't know the exact time frame when he gets it, but it's not immediate. All that always takes time.

[00:07:48]It's communication, you know, right?

[00:07:50]>> Um but he he's not there for the first day, uh excuse me, the morning portion. He's in charge of that afternoon portion and he's bringing his division up. Um and he takes over because he's the senior division commander. So it's it's he doesn't have any control over what happens in the morning when the Union Army does a great job. Yeah. They knock both wings, those two brigades, the Confederates back. That's Reynolds setting them up and then those brigade commanders are doing what they're supposed to do and the incompetence of the Confederates coming forward. Um I think it's less incompetence than what the Union Army does. They're not expecting to run in. The Confederates aren't expecting to run into what they eventually run into. So it's the tenacity of the Union Army at that point, but it's by the afternoon he knows and he's in charge of that afternoon fight when the rest of his division moves up. So that includes moving those brigades forward to the front line and the front line being um north and south of the railroad cut where um the the woods are and over there where that overpass is the the modern day overpass over the railroad um cut is that area. But it also his reserve is backed by the seminary. It includes building that barricade. There was there was a tree lot there where that parking lot is today and they build next to that a a barricade.

[00:09:12]>> Oh yeah.

[00:09:13]>> You know um >> by the seminary >> pseudo Yeah. Breast works and stuff.

[00:09:17]>> Um he's back there where that's going on. And then he sends that reserve over to um Robertson's division over to the extending that line that far right flank uh for that afternoon fight. So that's that's what he's in control of and it culminates with that core being pushed off of those ridges falling back through the town and occupying the better ground. So, well, um I think one of the things that uh we're going to do to help you guys um out there in the audience, uh maybe prepare yourself a little bit for these tours. And uh we didn't mention it in the in the last one for April, but we're mentioning it here. Eric, tell us uh about what they'll be able to find on the website to help them. Yeah. So, our plan is is I've already started to put together a list of um basically reference material, things that you can go take a look at on your own, uh study it, things that are >> now, it's a list. It's not the materials themselves.

[00:10:19]>> No, it is not the materials itself right now. It's a it's a list. So, I put together I'm not going to read through it for everybody, but I put together a list out of the the Leno book. Uh Godfrieded's map book is a great he does some really nice map sets in there. Uh there's three map sets that that you know correlate with this same time frame uh on the first day. Also some stuff out of the field guide. Um Lewis is going to put together some you know maybe some readings, maybe some excerpts from the O. We'll give you where they're at there. You can go find them.

[00:10:51]>> They'll be links. Those will be links.

[00:10:53]Click on them. It'll take you to a free where you can read them for free. So, that will all be if you go to addressing Gettysburg, I always just search AG get out of the car tour by Google.

[00:11:02]>> Um, >> you actually just you actually just do AG or do you do addressing Gettysburg get out of the car?

[00:11:07]>> I've been doing AG. It really at this point at this point my history knows when I tell as soon as I start typing get out, it knows where I'm going.

[00:11:13]>> You're the original AG, man.

[00:11:15]>> I'm the OG Ag. [laughter] So, same place you're going to find the details about when the tours are, where there are, where we're meeting, uh, is where we will have links or a list, links, whatever we're going to provide as far as some things for you to go look at on your own because, as we talked about, this is about engagement. It's about, >> yeah, >> the listeners, um, the the people coming to the tour, engaging uh, with us, having conversations with Lewis, having conversations with each other about what goes on. So, um, if you'd like, you certainly don't have to with this. It's not, you know, nobody is going to be left behind because or left out because you haven't gone and and studied this.

[00:11:58]It that's not the intention to make this so intense that you have to go prepare for it, right?

[00:12:02]>> But if you would like to, it is there.

[00:12:04]You can go study up a little bit on it, maybe understand a little bit more about some of the activities, the actions that happened there. Um, so we'll make that available to you. Just go to the website to find it. And also, you know, feel free if you want um you can if you've got, for example, the the Leno Atlas or uh Godfrieded's book or any materials you want, if you want to lug them around with you, you're more than welcome to bring them out. Um and and that way uh you have that to look at and to to stand if you haven't done this before where you stand in the spot that you're talking about with the map facing the direction the map is and then visualizing it it it just pulls it all together for you a lot better too. So you know we encourage you to bring whatever helps you uh in this uh endeavor of ours.

[00:12:53]>> Yep.

[00:12:53]>> Anything else you want to add?

[00:12:55]>> I think that's about it. I I will say um before and I'll put this uh I'll provide the link for the website. Double Day writes about this in a book after the war about it's Chancersville and Gettysburg. And so the thing I'll say about that is it's it's fascinating reading, but you're getting it from his view. Sure.

[00:13:16]>> So you've got to always temper what you read. Um when they're writing post-war stuff. And also the other thing I'll put up there is he he goes and he testifies at the um committee on the conduct of war in 1864.

[00:13:31]And you got to realize he's he's kind of bitter because he gets relieved by me and that's what the committee's investigating me his actions at Gettysburg. Um they're investigating Chancellor'sville at the same time too but it for our purposes Gettysburg gets all the uh the attention. But you always have to temper what you read when it's written by that person that the that is our subject matter. They're trying to put themselves in the most favorable light.

[00:13:56]>> So you got to always go to another source and say, "Well, what's the real story?"

[00:13:59]>> Right?

[00:14:00]>> Um so the question there is, >> would he write a book?

[00:14:04]>> So he wrote a book because he didn't get credit for the good things he did at Gettysburg, but would he have ever written a book about the fact that he didn't actually invent baseball?

[00:14:16]>> [laughter] >> that he gets all the credit for.

[00:14:18]>> And that was post Double Day's lie.

[00:14:21]>> I was going to say it was even a lie.

[00:14:22]>> It was later. It was much later.

[00:14:24]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, >> and he he gets credit for creating a multi-billion trillion dollar industry.

[00:14:33]Baseball.

[00:14:34]>> Yeah. And he made zero pennies.

[00:14:36]>> Nothing out of guy. He got nothing out of >> He should sue. He needs a good lawyer.

[00:14:40]>> Yeah. or at least his answer or >> getting relieved of his score is nothing compared to getting jipped on baseball.

[00:14:46][laughter] >> That reference was for our baseball friend Jeff Pas.

[00:14:49]>> Jeff's out there. Yeah, he's a good guy.

[00:14:50]>> He's still out there.

[00:14:51]>> Smart guy.

[00:14:51]>> Well, the other thing Jeff Pasnik loves is uh our little groundtop, which of course you can grab a bag of when you come to town for the May 23rd get out of the car tour. We want you to park where legal, ladies and gentlemen. That means all four wheels on the pavement. We're going to meet at the Avenue Double Day statue on Reynolds Avenue uh at uh at Gettysburg here >> and and this will be stationary. We are going to stay there the whole time. May we move across road because it was hot >> and then somebody passed out.

[00:15:24]>> And I and I'll add this now and then let you finish up is uh you know Matt mentioned park on the road all four all four wheels on the road. Um, but try and it's very difficult to do on Reynolds Avenue because there's there's a ton there.

[00:15:38]>> Try to leave a spot open in front of the the uh >> monuments >> in front of the monuments. The park has asked us to do that. Um, they've been very good to work with through this this process. So, uh, try to leave those spots open for other visitors to to come. But you can also go what's the other one? The one that comes down from the the older bathroom, Meredith Avenue.

[00:15:58]There's that. You could >> Did they say anything about Westside Gas station? that park that gravel lot behind.

[00:16:02]>> You could park. You could park back behind there, too. That's a Yeah, that one's open. I wouldn't park in in the front of it. Park in the back.

[00:16:08]>> Park in the front of it facing Chambersburg Pike because that's where people stop, use uh the bathroom behind it, that gravel lot >> and you know, it should be nice out. We hope it's nice and if you can walk, >> you're able to get out and walk that distance. Walk from there. It just makes it easier. There is a way too like it looks like it's I mean it looks close to where we're meeting from there but you know you got to walk either down Route 30 which could be treacherous >> or around Meredith but you don't have to go all the way around Meredith because there's a pathway through Reynolds Woods somewhere around the uh 24th Michigan monument I think is where you catch that >> Snake Ape.

[00:16:47]>> Oh we can't use that.

[00:16:48]>> Oh no it's not a trail is it?

[00:16:50]>> It's a trail.

[00:16:51]>> It is. It is. Yeah. Oh, yeah. You know what it is? It's one of the It is one of the >> It goes through the woods. You're right.

[00:16:56]I apologize.

[00:16:56]>> And that's okay. It's a You know, you were being cautious and considerate of the of the the rules.

[00:17:02]>> That's fine. There's nothing wrong with that.

[00:17:03]>> Yeah. My my name's on a permit.

[00:17:04]>> Yeah. Exactly.

[00:17:06]>> As [laughter] the do.

[00:17:08]>> So, anyway, you can you can take that road or you take that path all the way through. It'll it'll take you out to where the Reynolds wounding marker is.

[00:17:16]And then just beyond that, you'll see us at the uh double day statue there.

[00:17:22]Listen, we had a tremendous turnout in April, and we hope that we're going to have an even tremendous turnout this May. And so, come on out to this new way of doing tours on the battlefield. It is the anti-our tour, if you will. Nobody else does it like this, so you might as well come out before they all start copying and doing it in a subpar way.

[00:17:43]All right, we'll talk to you next time.

[00:17:46]A quiet along [music] the bottomic tonight. Except now with a straight pick is shot as [music] he walks on his feet to and fro by a rifle and hit [music] in the [singing] thicket.

[00:18:02]Just nothing to [music] now and then will not count in the news of the battle. [singing] Not an officing [music] [singing] out all alone in death