Lancaster Civil War Round Table

09/03/2025

The historic Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse in Gettysburg is undergoing restoration to preserve its deteriorating brickwork, with a capital campaign underway to fund the project.

08/25/2025

Time marches on but we have been able to maintain the Jennie Wade House so generations can learn about the events surrounding the only civilian death during the Battle Gettysburg. Here is a circa 1903 photo of the home. Note the trees that are no longer there.

08/25/2025

08/24/2025

Exciting News! "A Gettysburg Christmas 1863" will be filmed in Gettysburg! The success of the movie "A Gettysburg Christmas" has prompted actor, producer, director and writer Bo Brinkman (known for his roles in "Gettysburg" and "Gods and Generals") and his film collaborator, Kris Webb, to create a similar Christmas movie with one important change- this movie will be set shortly after the Battle of Gettysburg, in December 1863!
Kris describes the film's script as a "poignant and heartfelt Civil War drama about Gettysburg's civilian experience after the battle". The story begins in 1861 with 21-year-old Thomas McClean leaving behind his love, 19-year-old Hannah Kelly, to join the war, believing it will be short-lived. But by 1863, the optimism has vanished, and the Kelly family faces the destruction of war firsthand. "By December of 1863, Gettysburg is no longer just a name. It's a wound." Kris said. As the Kelly family shelters five runaway slaves in the attic, McClean escapes Confederate captivity with the help of a Quaker and two runaway slaves, hoping to return to Hannah by Christmas. "As Christmas Eve nears, the Kellys are left with no guarantees, only hope and faith. They become a testament to the true meaning of Christmas: love, sacrifice, the belief that even in our darkest moments, light will find its way home."
Filming of street battle scenes are planned October 10-13 and then resume in January and February 2026. We will post additional information about locations, stars and Bo Brinkman in future posts.
Fundraising efforts are currently underway; for information on the film and how to support the project, visit www.gettysburgfilmcommission.org.

08/08/2025

07/10/2025

Here is an interesting then and now comparison that occurred completely by accident. As you see below, the top image is a ca. 1890 (probably Tipton) of the Trostle barn that includes the Sickles witness tree. Flash forward 130 years and I was in the area of the Peach Orchard playing around with my new telephoto lens on my camera when I zoomed in on the Trostle barn and snapped the bottom photo. Later, when I came across the Tipton photo, I compared the two and was quite surprised that the angle and frame of my pic was nearly the same as Tipton's, just taken from much farther away, thus the magnified background. Notice the double-decker tour bus passing in front of the barn, another coincidence-I didn't even see it when taking the image. :-)

Credited to Greg Ainsworth

07/09/2025

My compliments to Tim and Andy (and William Frassanito!) for what I think is our most impactful aftermath video to date. The story of the Rose Farm’s human carnage. https://youtu.be/2h_wuukDEOY?si=LAuikmFokcaaREa4

07/04/2025

07/03/2025

Our annual walk of Pickett's Charge in commemoration of the 162nd Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Join Garry Adelman, Wayne Motts, Col. Doug Douds, ...

07/02/2025

During this open house, take the opportunity to visit the home of the widow Mary Thompson, which served as the headquarters of Gen. Robert E. Lee during the...

07/01/2025

02/09/2025