The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast

In this episode of The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast, Eric and Jim begin their two-part deep dive into the life and legacy of the artist turned historian, John Badger Bachelder. Outside of a participant, Bachelder is the most influential and powerful individual ever associated with the Battle of Gettysburg. So who was Bachelder, and why was he so important? Tune in and find out! If you would like t...

In this episode of The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast, Eric and Jim continue their look at Brigadier General Alfred Iverson and his North Carolina brigade. In Part Two, the hosts give another of their noted "deep dives" into what happened to Iverson and his troops at Gettysburg on July 1 and the ultimate fallout from what happened on the fields of the Forney Family that afternoon.  You wil...

In this episode of The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast, Eric and Jim start Season Three off with a look at one of the most controversial figures associated with the battle: Brigadier General Alfred Iverson. In Part One, they take a deep dive into the native-born Georgian as they detail his life and military service up to July 1. As they often do, the hosts challenge long-held views on Iverson, especi...

To close out Season Two and to celebrate the first anniversary of the show, Eric and Jim are joined by some of their friends and colleagues for The First Annual Battle of Gettysburg Fantasy Draft. While the theme of the show is somewhat lighthearted, this almost three-hour episode is full of great insights from Licensed Battlefield Guide and, at times, some spirited debate that you will not want t...

In this episode of The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast, Eric and Jim continue their two-part series on the July 2 fighting on Culp's Hill.  In Part Two, the hosts give a deep dive into battle action on Culp's Hill on the evening of July 2, involving George Greene's Union brigade and Confederate forces under Edward Johnson.   As always, special attention is given to the personalities, terr...

In this episode of The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast, Eric and Jim start a two-part series on the July 2 fighting on Culp’s Hill. Students of the battle have long lamented how the combat at Culp’s Hill is overlooked or even forgotten, but is it? And if so, why?    Part One features a detailed discussion of the terrain in and around Culp’s Hill, as well as the defenses built by Union forces. In thei...

In this episode of The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast, Eric and Jim are joined by their colleague and friend Stuart Dempsey to discuss the much-maligned and controversial role played by the Union 11th Corps during all three days of the Battle of Gettysburg. Does the traditional interpretation of "The Flying Dutchmen" hold up? Or have historians and students of the battle been mistaken? In...

In this episode, Eric and Jim explore the complex and challenging relationship between two Gettysburg icons Robert E. Lee and George Pickett. Often accounts place the events of the afternoon of July 3 as the cause of the strain in their relationship, but did the problems begin much earlier? The co-hosts delve into the life of George Pickett and take a detailed look at his relationship with Robert...

In this episode of The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast co-hosts Eric and Jim are joined by their colleague and friend Stuart Dempsey to discuss the fascinating and unique history of the Union 11th Corps before Gettysburg. Dempsey, a noted expert on the 11th Corps, explains the background of what became the 11th Corps from the European Revolutions in the 1840s to the outbreak of the Civil War, and thr...

Eric and Jim discuss the important, yet overlooked, fighting that takes place northeast of Gettysburg in the small crossroads town of Hunterstown on July 2. This cavalry action features such famous Gettysburg figures as Wade Hampton, George Custer, Judson Kilpatrick, and Elon Farnsworth. The hosts take a deep dive into the sharp rearguard action by Confederate cavalry against a persistent Union fo...

Eric and Jim continue their look at the murder and trial that shocked a nation in 1859. In this episode, they cover the death of Barton Key at the hands of Congressman Daniel Sickles, one of the most covered trials in the 19th century, and the fall out for those involved. They also fast forward to July 2, 1863, and discuss what can be learned from the Key incident in 1859 that might give insight i...

With Valentine's Day near Eric and Jim wanted to share a special story of love with their Super Fans. Of course, that story is the infamous 1859 murder of Barton Key at the hands of Congressman Daniel Sickles over the illicit affair Key was having with Dan’s wife Teresa. Part One covers the background of Sickles before the murder, his relationship with Teresa, the affair with Key, and so much...

Eric and Jim continue their deep dive into Barlow’s Knoll. In this episode, they turn their attention to the fighting in and around what is today referred to as Barlow’s Knoll and the impact it has on July 1. They likewise delve into the famous Barlow – Gordon Incident and sort out what is a myth and what is reality. Of course, as they have from the very start, the hosts tackle a wide array of que...

Eric and Jim return for the start of Season Two of The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast with a deep dive into the often-overlooked fighting around what is commonly known as Barlow’s Knoll. In this first of two parts, they discuss the Blocher Family, who lived on the property during the battle, and the history of the nearby Adams County Almshouse. They also delve into the background of Major General Fr...

Episode 12 is a special holiday bonus episode brought to us by Santa Sickles himself!   In this episode, Eric and Jim are joined by their friend and colleague Garry Adelman to discuss his 2003 book The Myth of Little Round Top. Why does Little Round Top loom so prominently in the history of the Battle of Gettysburg, and has this always been the case? Likewise, how was the fighting that occurred th...

To close out Season 1 of The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast, Eric and Jim are addressing their broadest topic yet as selected by you, the listeners (Super Fans!).  Episode 11 looks at Gettysburg Books and the Historiography of the Battle of Gettysburg and the impact it has had and still has on the way we view and interpret the battle. They discuss the essential primary sources that serve as the foun...

Widely regarded as one of the smartest and most accomplished individuals from the South during the Antebellum era, North Carolina native Johnston Pettigrew led his brigade from the Old North State through some of the most ferocious combat of the Civil War. Join Eric and Jim as they delve into the role played by Pettigrew and the troops under his command during the Gettysburg Campaign with a partic...

In Episode 9 of The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast: The Killer Angels and Gettysburg "a.k.a. The Movie" - Part Two,  Eric and Jim do a deep dive into the 1993 Ted Turner-produced historical film epic Gettysburg! Or as many fans and students of the battle call it "the movie." The hosts discuss what the film gets right, what they got wrong, bad beards, and the impact it had on the...

In Episode 8 of The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast, Eric and Jim delve into the background of the 1974 Pulitzer Prize-winning historical novel "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara and the 1993 film adaptation "Gettysburg." To many students of the battle the novel and "the movie" bring out strong emotions in how they depict the Battle of Gettysburg and a number of the p...

For Episode Seven of The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast, Eric and Jim are joined by their friend and fellow Licensed Battlefield Guide Wayne Motts to discuss the life of Brigadier General Lewis Armistead. In addition to being a Licensed Battlefield Guide, Wayne Motts is the CEO of The National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and the author of a 1994 biography on Armistead. In 2015, he c...

Eric and Jim attempt to delve into one of the most commonly asked visitor questions they receive as Licensed Battlefield Guides at Gettysburg: What was Lee thinking to order Pickett's Charge? This episode focuses on the planning that went into one of the most famous military attacks in history and the thought process behind it. What was the objective? What was the attack aiming for? Was this a...

Eric and Jim continue their dive into the actions in and around the Sherfy's peach orchard. In this episode they delve into some of the most intense, yet overlooked fighting at the Battle of Gettysburg. They also cover what became of the property after the battle, and answer listener questions. If you would like to donate to the show, you can do so via the following: A one-time donation on Pay...

The first of a two-part series which will focus on the ferocious, yet often overlooked, fighting in and around the Peach Orchard owned by Joseph Sherfy and his family. In part one, Eric and Jim give background on the property and discuss the plans of General Robert E. Lee and his army for the Peach Orchard and the Emmitsburg Road on July 2, 1863. They also detail and discuss the motivations for Ma...

In Episode Three, Eric and Jim delve into the often-asked question of "what if Jackson were at Gettysburg?" While not an alternative history episode the premise is to use the question as a means to compare and contrast Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and Richard Ewell in their roles as commanders of the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. Would the battle have been differ...

Eric and Jim take a closer look at one of the most critical days in the Gettysburg Campaign: June 28, 1863.  The hosts detail the circumstances of George Meade taking command of the Army of the Potomac, Robert E. Lee discovering the location of Union forces and a terrible day for J.E.B. Stuart.  Also, questions from listeners about June 28 and the events surrounding it are answered. If you would l...