This Model 1840 sword wields a remarkable story. A Union sergeant bestowed it at war's end to a Confederate prisoner with whom he shared the name Lemon

Model 1840 sword, blade detail and leather frog (Picket photos), Capt. Lemon during the Civil War

Capt. James Lile Lemon might have walked with a limp to shield what he was carrying in his trousers. Or perhaps he somehow covered the gift as he left Fort Delaware for freedom after serving years in Union prisons.

Whatever the circumstances, the Confederate officer was determined to bring the item back to his home in Acworth, Ga. And that’s where it is kept today – 160 years later.

I visited the Lemon house recently during events marking two new Civil War markers out front, one describing Lemon’s service and the other the Federal occupation of the town in June 1864. Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman used the residence as his headquarters for a couple days.

I asked Mark Lemon, who was sitting in a rocker on his front porch, whether I could see any of the captain’s belongings. Lemon’s second great-grandfather was remarkable for not only his military service, but his penchant for saving nearly everything he owned during the Civil War.

Most of the artifacts are in the collection of the Atlanta History Center, which purchased them in 2020 from the widow of a Macon, Ga., collector.

But one that stayed in the family is an NCO sword given to James Lemon at Fort Delaware in June 1865 after he finally took an oath of allegiance to the United States. The Confederate had earned the respect of one of the prison staff, who also had the name Lemon -- Sgt. Lemon Kline of the 215^th Pennsylvania Infantry. It’s easy to speculate whether the shared name had anything to do with their apparent friendship.

I don’t know whether the two men – who were both in their 30s during the Civil  – maintained a friendship after the war, but Mark Lemon said the story goes Kline told James Lemon, “Tell your family you once knew a good Yankee.”

Mark Lemon showed me the sword and a framed piece of paper written by James Lemon, who routinely made notes on his belongings. The note mentioned how he came to receive the sword.

(Civil War Picket photo)

One side of the blade (above) records it was made by Ames Manufacturing of Chicopee, Mass., a significant provider of weapons and tools for the Union. Some consider Ames the Cadillac of US military sword makers during the period.

The reverse has the stamp:

U.S.
ADK
1863

I am no sword expert, so I turned to the Authentic Campaigner Facebook group for help.

Built for combat, used mostly for presentation

I quickly learned the weapon is a Model 1840 sword for use largely by infantry and artillery NCOs. The initials ADK indicate the name of the manufacture inspector. The handle is made of brass.

When I examined the blade, I noticed it was quite light and not sharpened. Some commenters compared it to the spadroon, a light sword with a straight-edged blade.

One commenter said this model was mostly a symbol of rank and authority. The military used the sword, based on French and English models, for about 70 years.

So it is understandable Kline, as a sergeant, would have carried one. (At left, a Union NCO holds a Model 1840 sword, Library of Congress). Some of the weapons were issued to musician NCOs.

Another commenter presented a brief history of the weapon and a different take on its usefulness.

“Don't believe the hype where folks say that swords were unimportant to the war. This particular model sword may not have been frequently used in combat, mostly because sergeants would be using their bayonet in hand-to-hand combat before resorting to the sword.

"Regardless, this design of sword was intended for combat, with a design used for over a century, and not exclusively for presentation.”

The Model 1840 also could have been useful in “directing traffic” by keep troops and inmates in a straight line. 

Interestingly, the scabbard of Lemon's sword is made of leather. A few Authentic Campaigner commenters noted the "frog," a piece of leather which allows the wearer to carry a sword for a short time, likewise was in very good condition and at least as valuable as the sword.

Lemon items will get big play in next exhibit

Two years ago, the Atlanta History Center invited Lemon descendants to see the amazing collection, which is not currently on display. Mark Lemon showed the sword to AHC senior military historian and curator Gordon Jones.

Mark Lemon (left) brought the sword to the Atlanta History Center in 2023. (Picket photo)

The Lemon collection – which features  a captured drum, revolver, letters, canteen, photographs and much more -- will be showcased in its own case after a revamp of the center’s aged “Turning Point: The American Civil War” exhibit. (The sword will remain with the family).

“That story has a lot to say about Confederate soldiers' wartime experiences,” Jones recently told me.  

The historian said the new exhibit is set to open in June 2026. It will go deeper into “causes and results,” including slavery, politics and Reconstruction. There will still be plenty of weapons and military items on display in that space and the Goldstein gallery, Jones said.

The George Wray Jr. collection of rare Confederate weapons will be in the Goldstein space.

Confederate captain reluctantly took oath

Mark Lemon keeps this note by his ancestor near the Model 1840 sword (Picket photo)

James L. Lemon served with Company A, 18^th Georgia Infantry, part of John Bell Hood’s Texas Brigade. He enlisted as a second lieutenant in 1861 for a three-year term. Lemon was described as having a “light complexion, dark hair, blue eyes, [and] 6 feet” in height.

The regiment fought in numerous Eastern battles – including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Second Manassas and Chancellorsville. The farmer and merchant from Acworth had a close call at Gettysburg, when a Yankee bullet struck his canteen, causing it to strike his head.

His combat days came to a close in November 1863, when Lemon was severely wounded by a Minie ball in the pharynx and taken prison after an assault on Fort Sanders in Knoxville, Tenn. .

By the time he arrived at Fort Pulaski, Ga., in October 1864, Lemon had already been in at three Federal prisons: One in Louisville, Ky; Camp Chase in Ohio and Fort Delaware, Delaware. He kept several diaries. The officer etched his name onto a wall at Pulaski.

Capt. Lemon etched his name and regiment into a wall at Fort Pulaski (Picket photo)

In March 1865, the Rebel officers, including Lemon, were returned to Fort Delaware, where they were held until the end of the war. Shortly after their return to Delaware, the captain’s diary describes harsh conditions at Fort Pulaski and alleged mistreatment by his captors. 

“We have recently returned to this place after a most brutal & cowardly outrage against humanity. I cannot now speak of the sufferings & deprivations & humiliations we were subjected to. Many among us are now dead from starvation, disease, shot or beaten to death and the rest of us are about used up from the shameful journey forced upon us by the Yanks. I know not of the reason for this but we are told it is for some reported offense against a few of their prisoners in Charleston.”

He held off taking the oath for two months after Appomattox but finally relented.

In his journal, Lemon wrote: “I have done the unspeakable but I am now paroled & today set out for home. My duty to my country is done, mine to my family remains.”

Lemon returned to Acworth and had 11 children with his wife Eliza. He was a retail merchant and then a bank executive. He was serving as president of the bank when he died on June 12, 1907, at age 71.

Mark Lemon has lived in the house for 30 years and with the help of friends, has been restoring the home’s exterior and side buildings, with plans to turn to the interior.

The house is painted in bright yellow (a suitable color?), but he says it was clad in white for at least a short time in the 19^th century.

Illness sidelined Lemon Kline in two great battles

I have been unable to learn a great deal about Kline, beyond service and pension records. The blue-eyed farmer lived in York County before and following the Civil War.

Much of what I learned comes from a Findagrave page, which lists his birth as July 24, 1830.

Sgt. Lemon Kline's Pennsylvania veterans card via Fold3

Rosters indicate he first enlisted in the 30^th Pennsylvania Infantry

“Admitted to a Washington hospital on September 9, 1862, for illness, he almost certainly missed the battle of Antietam. He returned to duty but was again hospitalized January 18 through July 1, 1863, thus missing the battle of Gettysburg,” says the page.

He was transferred to the state’s Veteran Reserve Corps and honorably discharged in June 1864.

Kline reenlisted in late March 1865 in Lancaster, joining the 215^th Pennsylvania. Presumably at Fort Delaware, he was promoted to first sergeant on April 21. He was mustered out with his company on July 31.

He apparently got a disability pension in 1878. The 1880 census lists the veteran, his wife, Catharine, and three daughters and three sons. Kline died at age 69 in November 1899 and his widow received a pension. She died in 1904.

The York County History Center has not been able to locate a photograph of the soldier.

“However, it does seem we have some information on him and his family, including census abstracts, his marriage record, and cemetery record,” said library assistant Emma Streb.

(At right, Findagrave photo courtesy ajtarman710)

A view of the sword and scabbard on the porch of the Lemon house in Acworth, Ga. (Picket photo)

'Lady Victory' may have lost the battle with the wind, but the toppled statue won the war. Now she's back where she belongs in Mercer, Pa. -- standing tall

Two fallen figures, bent flagpole, broken musket, return of Lady Victory last week (Courtesy of Mercer County)

For about 125 years, motorists, shoppers and those doing business at the Mercer County courthouse in Pennsylvania have been greeted by “Lady Victory,” a statue of a woman solemnly placing a wreath on a kneeling soldier.

All was well until March 2023, when calamity struck.

Sixty mph-winds rushing through Western Pennsylvania toppled the Civil War statue dedicated in 1897, causing damage that reads like something from an NFL injured reserve list:

-- Soldier’s left knee blown out and he is bent backward; his right foot is separated from base plate;

-- Weapon broke off at soldier’s wrist, and butt stock of weapon is broken off base plate.

-- Lady Victory is bent backward and her feet suffered separation from base plate; (photo left, courtesy Mercer County)

-- Flag bent toward the front of the statue; eagle at the top of flagpole twisted to nearly a 90-degree angle;

-- Base bent and mangled and two side plates are broken loose;

Nearly two years after the top of the Civil War monument on the Mercer County courthouse square was knocked to the sidewalk, a crane late last week lifted the repaired statue back in place. (photo below, courtesy Mercer County)

The formal name of the monument, “Victory Crowning the Returned Soldier,” seemed especially appropriate for such an occasion.

“I know it’s kind of an iconic thing, that people were very upset when it was gone. We just had that pillar there for the last couple years,” Grace Reiter, executive director of the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce, told TV station WKBN.

The return of Lady Victory is being welcomed in a county with significant history related to the Civil War.

There was strong abolitionist sentiment in the first half of the 19^th century, including support of the Underground Railroad, which spirited escaped and freed enslaved people to safety.

“Mercer became a significant stopping point for the slaves,” said the Grove City Area Historical Society. “The Pew family farm was a ‘station’ on the railway. It is believed Joseph Newton Pew and his siblings were personally involved in moving the escaped slaves.”

Numerous regiments drew from the area. That includes the 10^th Reserves, 57^th, 100^th, 140^th and the 145^th Pennsylvania infantry. 

“These regiments fought in the Eastern Theater, with the exception of the 100^th that fought in both Eastern and Western Theaters with the 9^th Corps,” said Chris Conti, senior planner with the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission.    

Among the town’s Civil War heroes was Medal of Honor recipient Lewis Brest, (below) who captured a Confederate flag near war’s end at Sailor’s Creek, Va.

Mercer-born soldier Martin J. Hawkins entered service in Ohio and received the medal for exhibiting great courage during the Andrews Raid in Georgia in 1862. He was among two dozen men who commandeered a Southern train.

Like hundreds of other communities – North and South – Mercer County erected its monument in the late 19^th century. (The county, between Pittsburgh and Erie, Pa., is on the border with Ohio. Youngstown is the closest large city.)

Brian Gruber, facility director for the county, told the Picket on Monday statues of two soldiers representing the cavalry and artillery were not damaged by the windstorm. They stand in the middle of the monument.

The memorial is called “Victory Crowning the Returned Soldier” but for short it is called “Lady Victory.” All three statues on the monument were built by W. H. Mullins of Salem, Ohio, said Gruber.

They were fashioned from stamped copper and bronze. 

McKay Lodge Art Conservation Laboratory of Oberlin, Ohio, performed the repairs and Alex Restoration and Masonry Repairs out of New Castle, Pa., placed the repaired status atop the base.

Early photos of the courthouse monument in the W.H. Mullins catalog

The cost was covered by insurance, Gruber told the Picket.

An August 2024 storm damaged a clock on the west side of the courthouse. "We had a severe storm roll through and the high winds snapped the clock in half, imploding it into the inside of the building," said Gruber. A replacement will be installed March 12.

About 110,000 people live in Mercer County, which has the active historical society.

“As far as our economy, similar to all counties in Western Pennsylvania, we have gone from rural/agricultural to industrial to ‘Rust Belt’ to attempting to diversify and redevelop,” said Conti. One of the largest outlet malls in the nation is located on Interstate 79 in southern Mercer County.

Outsiders, including those in the Pittsburgh area, come to Pymatuning Lake and Goddard state parks and the Shenango reservoir. Other attractions include Keystone Safari and the Avenue of 444 Flags (photo right, Wikipedia).

Reiter, with the Chamber of Commerce, said Mercer – which has about 2,000 residents – is loaded with small-town charm.

“We cherish the moments that give us that classic ‘Hallmark movie’ feeling, and lately, there's been a renewed energy -- a spark of rejuvenation and a strong desire to create meaningful community events and lasting memories,” she wrote to the Picket in an email.

“Our town has a unique character due to its proximity to the courthouse, which brings a strong presence of nonprofits and government-related businesses. However, there's also been an exciting wave of growth, with new retail shops opening on the square and businesses growing.” 

2024's Top 12 Picket posts: Fort Fisher earthworks, Meade's cool hat, replica gun at Walmart, USS Monitor mystery, Burning of Darien survivor -- and much more

Clockwise: Enfield rifles conserved in Georgia; Herb Peck collection auction, Adam Strain building in Darien, Ga., deadline at Andersonville prison, George Meade's slouch hat and Fort Fisher's new replica traverses

Posts about a rescued tabby warehouse that has an interesting Civil War connection, Fort Fisher's rebuilt earthworks and new visitor center, George Meade’s cool slouch hat and rusted Enfield rifles being kept in an aquarium tank were big reader draws in 2024.

The top 12 Civil War Picket posts – by Blogger page views – covered a wide array of topics (two pertain to North Carolina's Fort Fisher).

Chad Jefferds, assistant site manager at Fort Fisher State Historic Site, recently told the Picket: “The reconstructed earthworks are already a major hit, and we hope to be adding more interpretation to them in the coming months. Visitors have also been very pleased with the exhibits, along with the views from the second-floor windows and balcony. We have seen a dramatic increase in visitation – this November’s total was 56% higher than November of 2023.”

We’ve got a few items in the works (including an update on Enfield rifles under conservation and Georgia troop markers at Manassas) and we look forward to rolling them out in early 2025. Thanks so much for your continued interest. Please tell a friend or two about us. And Happy New Year!

Drum roll, please ....

12. PRECIOUS PORTRAITS AUCTIONED: The family of the late Herb Peck Jr. enlisted the help of law enforcement, other collectors and Military Images magazine in their hunt for 117 photographs taken during a 1978 burglary at their Nashville home. Forty-eight recovered images sold for $292,000 in a March sale. – Read more

11. CROSSING “DEADLINE” MEANT DEATH: The light railing at Andersonville in Georgia was made from posts 3 to 4 feet long and driven into the ground. Horizontal pieces of wood topped the design, which was roughly 18-19 feet inside the stockade wall. Confederate guards in sentry boxes kept a sharp eye for POWs who extended any part of their body past the deadline. – Read more

10. LITTLE ROUND TOP BACK IN BUSINESS: A two-year rehabilitation of the Gettysburg landmark tackled erosion, overwhelmed parking areas, poor accessibility and related safety hazards, and degraded vegetation. This January post ahead of the reopening summarized the major project. – Read more

9. HOW THEY CLEAN ENFIELDS KEPT IN WATER: A team with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources uses a garden hose, small pump, spray nozzle and a wet-dry vacuum to periodically clean and refill a 300-gallon aquarium tank that holds -- of all things -- 18 Pattern 1853 Enfield rifles. The artifacts are awaiting long-term conservation. – Read more

8. VANDALS TRASH KENNESAW MOUNTAIN: Vandals destroyed or damaged six signs, several sections of split-rail fencing and caused minor damage to Civil War earthworks at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in late January. As of this month, no arrests have been made. – Read more

7. Q&A WITH GETTYSBURG SUPERINTENDENT: The Picket asked Kristina Heister (right) about her priorities and initiatives, current and future projects and her ancestors. Many fought in the Civil War and two were at Gettysburg. – Read more

6. GEORGE MEADE’S COOL HEADGEAR: If I ever get around to writing “Cool Hats of the Civil War,” my top choice (spoiler alert!) will go to Union Maj. Gen. George Meade’s slouch hat, followed closely by those of Ambrose E. Burnside and J.E.B. Stuart. There are great images of him with that headgear: In front if his tent; seated among a throng of soldiers, or perched on a bench at the famous Grant "Council of War" at Massaponax Church in Virginia. – Read more

5. FORT FISHER, PART ONE: The staff at the Civil War site near Kure Beach, North Carolina, and contractors engaged in an extraordinary effort this year to recreate three traverses, bombproofs, a magazine and a sally port that were vital parts of the Confederate fort, which fell in furious hand-to-hand combat in January 1865.. – Read more

4. FORT FISHER, PART TWO: This piece previewed the earthworks project mentioned above and the building of a new visitor center, which is just north of the east-west line mounds of earth known as traverses that were part of the defenses. Much of the eastern part of the fort has been claimed by the Atlantic Ocean. – Read more

3. REPLICA GUN FOUND AT WALMART: A Civil War replica revolver (not the real thing, as some news reports claimed) was found in January by a Walmart employee in Gettysburg, Pa., while emptying an outside trash can. It was a real firearm, however. State troopers recently said they still don’t know who left it. – Read more

2. LINGERING MYSTERY OF USS MONITOR: I continue to marvel at the design and engineering skills of those who made the vessel that changed naval warfare in a single battle with the CSS Virginia in March 1862. My recent foray into learning a bit more about the vessel’s circular, ingenious turret – and its supporting braces -- put me back in touch with experts on Monitor about a distinctive maker’s mark found on a brace. Project director Will Hoffman says they still don't know who stamped an "ULSTER" mark on one brace.  – Read more

1. THEY SAVED A CIVIL WAR SURVIVOR: One of just a few tabby structures remaining on the Georgia coast, this weathered warehouse had survived a controversial fire during the Civil War, hurricanes, economic downturns, Father Time and decades of emptiness. Entrepreneurs Milan and Marion Savic, working with a team of specialists, completed the painstaking restoration of the Adam Strain Building in Darien and turned it into a brewery and event space. They are now working on a museum about the area's history and culture. – Read more

Honorable mentions: This researcher helped obtain Medals of Honor for two soldiers; Wisconsin twins are legendary in reproduction artillery; monument will honor Black hero Robert Smalls. 

Gettysburg's famous Little Round Top reopens after two-year rehabilitation project. This comes just in time for 161st anniversary events

Park and other officials cut the ribbon at the landmark (NPS photo)

Little Round Top, the legendary hill where Union forces fought off a furious Confederate assault on July 2, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg, reopened Monday afternoon after a two-year rehabilitation project that addressed problems associated with large crowds.

The news was met with enthusiasm from park fans and visitors who have been unable to hike or take a bus up to the popular site since July 2022. Park spokesman Jason Martz said Tuesday the feedback has been positive thus far.

“We know everyone has been anxious to get back to the summit, but your continued patience will still be required," Gettysburg National Military Park said on social media after the opening. "We fully anticipate the area will be very heavily visited so please work with our on-site staff. They will be strategically posted throughout the area to help get you acclimated."

The park cited erosion, overwhelmed parking areas, poor accessibility and related safety hazards, and degraded vegetation before the area was closed.

Visitors take in one of the Little Round Top markers near the summit (NPS photo)

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting was held Monday morning ahead of the reopening. The conclusion of the work comes about a week before 161^st anniversary programming.

Little Round Top traditionally is the top destination for park visitors, followed by the visitor center and museum and Devil's Den, which reopened in September 2022 after a rehabilitation effort.

“The (Little Round Top) project enhances access to a more extensive, safe, and accessible trail system that allows visitors to experience the area's monuments, cannons, and other areas of interest,” the park in southern Pennsylvania said in a news release.

“Gathering areas across the summit will better accommodate the many large groups arriving by bus. Eroded soils have been stabilized and re-vegetated. New interpretive waysides throughout the area tell the story of those who suffered, died, and memorialized the battlefield. In addition, satellite parking has been expanded and formalized in the area with access to the trail system.”

The project included significant work around monuments and trails (NPS)

Some 164 feet above the Plum Run Valley to the west, the hill became the anchor of the Union’s left flank and a focal point of Confederate attacks. The 4^th,15^{th and 47th} Alabama regiments made a series of legendary assaults against the 20^th Maine.

“The (Maine) regiment’s sudden, desperate bayonet charge blunted the Confederate assault on Little Round Top and has been credited with saving Major General George Gordon Meade’s Army of the Potomac, winning the Battle of Gettysburg and setting the South on a long, irreversible path to defeat,” according to the American Battlefield Trust.

The regiment was led by Joshua Chamberlain, and its heroics has been remembered in film and folklore.

David Duncan, president of the American Battlefield Trust, a partner in the Little Round Top project, said in a statement:

“Gettysburg veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Joshua Chamberlain (right) noted that ‘In great deeds something abides. On great fields something stays’ and there are few landscapes for which that power of place is more tangible than Little Round Top. “Now revitalized and enhanced, it stands ready to welcome this and future generations, a place where they can feel a meaningful connection to the past.”

Superintendent Kris Heister told the Picket in March improvements at Little Round Top and Devil’s Den have provided “a high-quality visitor experience and resource protection to ensure those resources are available to future generations in good condition.”

At Little Round Top, she said, traffic circulation patterns have been improved and individuals with mobility issues (whether considered handicapped or not) will now be able to visit the hill.

Breastworks have been rehabilitated, new wayside exhibits were installed, some social trails removed and others have been formalized, providing access to areas of the hill and monuments that haven't been accessible in years.

Designated bus parking has been added and gathering spaces have been formalized to reduce off-trail use and facilitate the many groups that visit, Heister said.

The cost of the Little Round Top project was $12.9 million, of which $5.2 million came from donations from the Gettysburg Foundation, National Park Foundation and the American Battlefield Trust.

Officials ask visitors to park on Sedgwick or South Confederate avenues and take one of the new trailheads to the summit. The park has provided this FAQ about parking. There are changes.

Q&A: Gettysburg's new superintendent Kris Heister on big projects, rentals, volunteers, her Civil War ancestors and a place she'd like to see more visitors

Kris Heister, Little Round Top rehabilitation, Spangler Farm (NPS photos)

Kristina “Kris” Heister, the new superintendent at Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site, comes from a family with deep roots in Pennsylvania. Her ancestors came over from Germany in about 1732 and produced congressmen and other political leaders in the state.

Heister, who has held numerous positions with the National Park Service over a 30-plus year, was deputy superintendent at Gettysburg before the promotion.

“I have been amazed by the dedication of my colleagues, our partners and our community,” she said in a news release earlier this month. “Their collective commitment to preserving and protecting these hallowed grounds inspires me every day. I look forward to continuing to work together and maintaining an open dialogue with our partners and our community to address both the challenges and opportunities the future holds for these exceptional places.”

The Picket asked Heister about her priorities and initiatives, current and future projects and her ancestors. Many fought in the Civil War and two were at Gettysburg. The favorite Heister family meal (Chicken Divan) is a recipe Julie and David Eisenhower served for Christmas one year.

Heister this week responded to my questions by email. A few have been edited for brevity.

Q. You have held leadership posts at the park for about four-five years. During this time, did you work on specific initiatives or projects that resonated with visitors?

A. An example of a specific initiative that I led in the last four years was the leasing of historic structures for Airbnb-style rentals. This program will create a new and immersive visitor experience as well as generate revenue for the preservation of park facilities. This year, we are initiating a pilot with two structures that witnessed the battle of Gettysburg - the Slyder farmhouse and Bushman farmhouse (NPS photo, left). Both are in close proximity to special places on the battlefield, including Devil's Den and Little Round Top. For the first time, park visitors will be able to stay at these homes for between 2 and 6 days at a time. If successful, we will expand the program to two additional battlefield homes in the next 3-5 years.

Q. As the new superintendent, do you have any early ideas on initiatives or programming?

A. Currently, I am focused on existing initiatives including the reopening of Little Round Top in spring/early summer 2024, rehabilitation of the reception center at Eisenhower National Historic Site, building the Spangler Trail connecting the museum and visitor center to the Spangler Farm (owned and operated by the Gettysburg Foundation), kicking off summer interpretive programming and preparing for battle anniversary on July 1-3, 2024. Upcoming initiatives include rehabilitation of the National Cemetery and historic structures on the battlefield.

A. The news release mentions your strength in employee development and community engagement. Are you able to pinpoint specifics from the past or possible in the future on these two areas?

Q. I see many possibilities for engagement with the Gettysburg community in the future and am excited to investigate our shared goals and how we can achieve them together. One I look forward to the most is reinvigorating our volunteer program. By this summer, we will have hired a permanent volunteer coordinator -- a new position at the park. My goal is to develop a vibrant, safe, inclusive volunteer program that promotes engagement with the community (locally and nationally) through meaningful service, is focused on needed work and contributes to creation of the next generation of public land stewards.

Q. What is your favorite part of the battlefield? Is there a spot you wish more visitors knew about?

A. There are so many beautiful areas of the battlefield. My favorite place is anywhere I can experience peace and tranquility (that) allows me to both renew my spirit and contemplate the meaning and significance of what happened here. I wish more visitors knew about Eisenhower National Historic Site (above, NPS photo), which is located directly adjacent to Gettysburg National Military Park and tells the story of our 34^th president as well as having significant connections between President Eisenhower and the Gettysburg battlefield.

Q. Gettysburg has seen a lot of wear from visitors, hence the projects at Little Round Top and Devil's Den. What do you believe to be the impact of those improvements and are there other such areas in the park you would like to address?

A. I believe the impacts of our improvements on Little Round Top and Devil’s Den relate to providing a high-quality visitor experience and resource protection to ensure those resources are available to future generations in good condition. For example, at Little Round Top heavily eroded trails have been stabilized, circulation patterns have been improved, individuals with mobility issues (whether considered handicapped or not) will now be able to visit the hill, breastworks have been rehabilitated, new wayside exhibits are being installed, some social trails have been removed and others have been formalized, providing access to areas of the hill and monuments that haven't been accessible in years, designated bus parking has been added and gathering spaces have been formalized to reduce off-trail use and facilitate the many groups that visit. Our next large scale rehabilitation effort will focus on the National Cemetery.

40th New York Monument is in a water-prone area.Photo Craig Swain, HMdb.org

Q. Some people have been concerned about beavers forming ponds/lakes along Crawford Avenue. The park in 2019 said they are native to Plum Run and it was monitoring potential impact on Devil's Den and Little Round Top. What is the current situation with that?

A. Beavers are not new to the park and have taken up residence off and on in the Plum Run area for many years - this is a natural process. The park is managing them in accordance with NPS policy and the Cultural Landscape Report for Little Round Top, which recommends that the Plum Run riparian corridor be managed to promote species diversity while ensuring vegetation does not block key historic views from Plum Run Valley to the face of Little Round Top. The NPS has identified all historic resources within this area as well as potential impacts to those resources from the presence of beavers. We are monitoring those potential impacts and taking action as appropriate to address them. In 2023, we installed devices called "beaver deceivers" to de-water a portion of the pond that had formed due to infringement on the 40^th New York Infantry Monument and the subsequent inability of park visitors to access the monument. We will continue to monitor and take action as necessary and appropriate.

Q. The press release says you had 18 ancestors who fought for the Union. Do you know from which states some of them hailed?

A. The majority were from Pennsylvania. I have just begun to research my family this far back but it appears my family touched many facets of the war. To date, I have identified two individuals – Cyrus Heister and Washington K. Hiester who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg -- both with the Pennsylvania infantry, 93^rd  and 151^st regiments respectively. (The superintendent notes the names Heister and Hiester were sometimes used interchangeably.)

William C. Hiester (131^st regiment, Pennsylvania infantry) died at Fredericksburg at age 19. At age 18, Daniel M. Heister mustered into the 101^st regiment just in time to be captured at Plymouth, N.C., and spend the rest of the war in Andersonville prison. One family member served in the Pennsylvania Senate during the war. One was designated a mustering officer, with the rank of major, by the governor in 1863, and mustered into service eight regiments of volunteers (they assembled at an encampment called Camp Hiester in Reading. One was a judge in Dauphin County who adjudicated claims associated with damages caused by Confederates during the war.

Lastly, Dr. Joseph Hiester treated Capt. Henry W. Freedley, who commanded the 3^rd United States Infantry at the Battle of Gettysburg. (Hiester's grave at right, photo courtesy of Findagrave contributor 47099775)

Freedley was severely wounded in the leg and Hiester arrived in Gettysburg shortly after the battle to tend to him on the floor of the David Wills House (now NPS property), where Abraham Lincoln later stayed on the night of November 18, 1863, and completed writing the Gettysburg Address. Cool stuff!

Postscript: I asked Superintendent Heister about Hiester’s daughter, Maria, whom Freedley had written before and after the battle. The officer called her a friend, but was there more to the relationship? “Maybe it was a long-distance romance between two people in their 30s, one a homemaker, one a soldier,  who had known each other since childhood and she waited for him as he travelled extensively with the military -- until he broke her heart and married someone nearly 20 years her junior.” Maria apparently never married and Henry was wed just a few months before his death in 1889.