Post by tomiseksj on Aug 5, 2013 19:55:30 GMT
Having studied the Civil War and toured the battlefield at Gettysburg, my excitement at spotting this cover in an ebay auction should come as no surprise.
The addressee, the Honorable Edward McPherson, owned a farm on the outskirts of Gettysburg on terrain that to this day is known as McPherson's Ridge.
I think that the ability to research the sender and recipient of a cove--essentially to provide some context to the mail piece--is what prompted me to expand my collecting focus from one solely devoted to stamps to one more broadly focused to include covers.
Some background on the man and the national significance of his property follow:
The addressee, the Honorable Edward McPherson, owned a farm on the outskirts of Gettysburg on terrain that to this day is known as McPherson's Ridge.
I think that the ability to research the sender and recipient of a cove--essentially to provide some context to the mail piece--is what prompted me to expand my collecting focus from one solely devoted to stamps to one more broadly focused to include covers.
Some background on the man and the national significance of his property follow:
McPHERSON, Edward, a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Gettysburg, Pa., July 31, 1830; attended the common schools; was graduated from Pennsylvania College in 1848; studied law; edited the Harrisburg American in 1851, the Independent Whig, Lancaster, Pa., 1851-1854, and the Daily Times, Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1855; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1859-March 3, 1863); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1862 to the Thirty-eighth Congress; appointed Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue in 1863; Clerk of the House of Representatives from December 8, 1863, to December 5, 1875; permanent president of the Republican National Convention in 1876; Director of the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing in 1877 and 1878; editor of the Philadelphia Press 1877-1880; again served as Clerk of the House of Representatives from December 1881 to December 1883 and from December 1889 to December 1891; editor and proprietor of a paper in Gettysburg, Pa., 1880-1895; editor of the New York Tribune Almanac 1877-1895; American editor of the Almanach de Gotha; died in Gettysburg, Pa., December 14, 1895; interment in Evergreen Cemetery.
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Battle of Gettysburg
Morning Fight for McPherson's Ridge
July 1, 1863
In the early hours of July 1, 1863, Gen. A. P. Hill directed his corps of the Army of Northern Virginia to make a reconnaissance in force toward the town of Gettysburg. Just after 7AM Confederates of Gen Henry Heth's division encountered Union cavalry under Gen. John Buford posted just west of Willoughby's Run. Heth's men pressed their attack only to discover that the Federal horsemen had been reinforced by tough veteran troops of the Army of the Potomac under Gen. John Reynolds. In a vicious and bloody struggle, the Yankees rushed to fend off the Southern assault, making their stand along Willoughby's Run and on McPherson's Ridge. In spite of the staunch Union resistance, the Confederates had the advantage in terms of numbers and position. As the day's battle wore on, more Confederates under Gen. Richard S. Ewell arrived from the north, threatening the Federal right. Compelled to retreat, the Yankees fell back through and around Gettysburg and reformed on high ground to the south and east of town.
For videos, photos, history articles and more on this important Civil War battle visit the Battle of Gettysburg page.
Source: Saving America's Civil War Battlefields Civil War Trust
Morning Fight for McPherson's Ridge
July 1, 1863
In the early hours of July 1, 1863, Gen. A. P. Hill directed his corps of the Army of Northern Virginia to make a reconnaissance in force toward the town of Gettysburg. Just after 7AM Confederates of Gen Henry Heth's division encountered Union cavalry under Gen. John Buford posted just west of Willoughby's Run. Heth's men pressed their attack only to discover that the Federal horsemen had been reinforced by tough veteran troops of the Army of the Potomac under Gen. John Reynolds. In a vicious and bloody struggle, the Yankees rushed to fend off the Southern assault, making their stand along Willoughby's Run and on McPherson's Ridge. In spite of the staunch Union resistance, the Confederates had the advantage in terms of numbers and position. As the day's battle wore on, more Confederates under Gen. Richard S. Ewell arrived from the north, threatening the Federal right. Compelled to retreat, the Yankees fell back through and around Gettysburg and reformed on high ground to the south and east of town.
For videos, photos, history articles and more on this important Civil War battle visit the Battle of Gettysburg page.
Source: Saving America's Civil War Battlefields Civil War Trust