York Town Square

Part of the USAToday Network

Famed civilian combatant John L. Burns one of ‘Faces of Gettysburg’: Linked in with neat history stuff, June 1, 2012

‘Old hero of Gettysburg’
burns-L
John L. Burns is known as the ‘old hero of Gettysburg,’ a heralded civilian fighting man in the Battle of Gettysburg. Equally famed photographer Timothy H. O’Sullivan captured Burns, wounded in action, in this image now in the Library of Congress. The image is part of the ‘Faces of Gettysburg’ slideshow on ydr.com’s Media Center. See other Civil War-era photo collections at the Media Center. Also of interest: How Gettysburg celebrate the 50th anniversary of the battle.

Neat stuff from all over … .

The Exchange might be York County’s oldest bulletin board, put up by ydr.com in the mid-2000s.

Many of the threads on this old-fashion board – a precursor to the likes of Facebook – are intriguing.

One of the best recently discussed those who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington.

One Exchanger wrote: “This job requires unbelievable dedication and anyone who Is selected deserves this nation’s admiration.

20 years ago: The Golden Venture, a ship with human cargo from China, ran aground off New York in 1993. Ydr.com’s Mike Argento takes a look at how the prisoners – 154 who ended up in York County Prison – are faring today: “Many lives remain in limbo.”

Website of note: Civil War aficionados – a growing number nowadays – will enjoy this site with a name that even intrigues: Eric Wittenberg’s ‘Rantings of a Civil War Historian.’ It is subtitled: ‘Bringing Obscurity into Focus.’ Love that.

In one post – ‘My Current Project’ – he writes about his fascination with Union cavalry Gen. John Buford, brought to life by actor Sam Elliott in “Gettysburg.” Eric is embarking on a book on Buford at Gettysburg.

“I have been researching this for more than 20 years, and I am confident that this is going to be a quality project. In many ways, it’s like visiting with an old friend, and I’m enjoying coming back to what has always been my first love with respect to the Battle of Gettysburg.”

farmHistory mystery hamlet: This scene is from Pierceville, York County. Can you locate this site? Have you ever been there? (More info here: http://bit.ly/15l6gnw).