Scourge of War Boards

O. O. Howard wrote:

O. O. Howard wrote:

Since I saw someone use a photo of the 11th PA monument for the Sallie question, I will work under the assumption that monuments are a legitimate trivia subject and ask:

Which Union monument at Gettysburg depicts a line officer standing on an axe and why?

By the way, no one has guessed on my trivia question yet. Maybe because I called it an axe. In actuality, it was probably more like a camp hatchet.

13th Vermont. Lt. Brown picked up a hatchet laying on the ground during Pickett's charge because he was under "arrest" and had his sword taken away because he had let some of his men stop to fill canteens without orders to do so.

Right on!

Yup. Lt. Brown would be the guy. Actually, I couldn't remember his name, but I know it was 13th Vt. I understand that he was able to capture a rebel officers sword, which I believe he is holding on the monument (but again - can't remember completely and it has been quite a while since I have been to Gettysburg). I was told that they wanted to put him actually holding the hatchet, but the monument commission thought it was a little grisly.

13th Vt. wasn't that the regiment that Hancock got wounded next to?

Joshua l.Chamberlain wrote:

13th Vt. wasn't that the regiment that Hancock got wounded next to?

I don't know, but it would have been in the same area at least.

Joshua l.Chamberlain wrote:

13th Vt. wasn't that the regiment that Hancock got wounded next to?

Are you suggesting Hancock's wound was actually inflicted by Lt. Brown with his hatchet in an act of retaliation against higher command for taking away his sword? :silly:

What?:blink: No I meant when his saddle was hit by a bullet the splinters shot into him.

Joshua l.Chamberlain wrote:

What?:blink: No I meant when his saddle was hit by a bullet the splinters shot into him.

It was humor. John didn't literally think Hancock was hit by an ax.

Oh no I was shocked he would suggest that about the best commander in the Army of the Potomac at that point in the battle. I need to not be so literal but it is not logical to be humorous about Hancock.

Joshua l.Chamberlain wrote:

Oh no I was shocked he would suggest that about the best commander in the Army of the Potomac at that point in the battle. I need to not be so literal but it is not logical to be humorous about Hancock.

From Hancock the Superb, "Hancock's sense of humor was as much a characteristic as his quick flashes of profane anger."

I'd hope old Winnie would get a chuckle with my joke about Lt. Brown inflicting a hatchet wound on him.