Gettysburg 135th

[Imachowderhead]

I was with the 53rd VA at this reenactment, it was awesome! I saw men and women crying after the battle..

[rc648]

High Water mark for many reenactors was the 135th. Thanks for posting ! I was with my pards in a GA. unit. Got close enough to the wall to see the Federals 3-4 deep, before taking a hit. Looked around the field and cried like a baby imaging it was really 1863. Although I'm from GA. G'burg will always be special to me. Would love to see more of the 135th on yt.

[pvtvice]

You captured the battle pretty well. It was an amazing day. Seems like you concentrated on The MG in alot of the footage. You should have "panned to the left" 30 feet! During the cannonade we had hot embers landing on us. It was so loud with that Napoleon behind us (22 steps as I recall). At about 3:50 you show a relocation of troops. This actually happened before the battle started. They came up and tried to wedge in, but got rebuffed. I think they were NR. Good shootin'.

[JasperCountyNative]

We were fighting with the 11th Mississippi on the Confederate left. I remember having tunnel vision as we crossed that wide field. Seemed like it only took a half dozen steps to get to that fence that wouldn't be pushed over. After we climbed over, our ranks began falling apart as we began taking casualties and our double quick turned into a dead run until we collapsed on the stone wall bristling with union rifles. Never have I heard such a sustained rhythm of fire for so long.

[biped1of1pandemonium]

I was there in that massive blue wall. I think we we'rent far at all from where this was shot. I recognize the tattered U.S. flag. I remember standing there in ranks when this PA regt. came marching in behind us. I'll never forget them, all dusty and dingy looking, a man had shoes that were falling apart with rags wrapped around them...then I felt a sense of awe and reverence as I remembered that I had PA soldiers in the Civil War from my father's side.

[Jarhead6322]

As a reenactor, I hope and pray every day to see this at the 150th. God, how it would feel to come on line with 15,000 men abreast.

[Kanbound]

I was was there. Our group was a little to the right of this shot. Roughly in front of the 3rd cannon in the gun line. It's a sight I'll never forget. There were 17,000 men that made the real Pickett's charge and 17,000 Confederate Reenactors in the line that day.

[cap123ny]

I was the Captain of the 123rd NY, 2nd Battalion, USV at this event. For "Pickett's Charge" we portrayed a PA regiment that was at the left or the angle. My guys all had burned left hands from all the rounds we fired that day. I dont think we ever went through so many rounds at an event before or after. A tremendous expirience!

[apauditor71]

Was just thinking...anyone know what happened to the cavalry reenactor from France who borrowed a supposedly empty pistol and shot someone with a round that was in the chamber?

[rocky30337]

@apauditor71 Dude, Iwas there when that happened and I saw the shot hit the guy in the head........the guy went down but I saw him later and he seemed to be ok. As for the frenchman, all I know is that he felt like crap for what happened and really wasn't aware that it happened until later.

[SLICSfootbaby]

@apauditor71 He was told to never come back.

[JasperCountyNative]

@apauditor71

Heard he was deported.

[apauditor71]

I want to thank all the Federals at the wall for not bayonetting me when I surrendered

[crazywoman13121]

Gettysburg is a very moving experience, I looked around me at the cyclorama and noticed tears on others faces too.

[srager1]

I started to get nervous trying to load quick seeing thousands of confederate solders coming over the hill. In real life things like that happend there where muzzels loaded with more then one charge. imagin it being 100 digrees out and your all in wool not easy I will tell you. the 8th cav on the union side actually fired the first shot of the real battle and so did we. It was the best battle I was in. The 8th cav all the way Tally ho boys

[srager1]

I think its the feeling of realism and also what people went through back in those days. we where there for a week it was very hot and some times my breach loader wouldnt work it would start to over heat and I would have to wait for it to cool down to refire.

[srager1]

I am part of the 8th cav also the one who knows the person who posted the video we started the whole battle. Its hard to tell someone how you feel unless you where there. It was like you where really there like I said if you werent in it you wouldnt understand. And going back to the comment on dying its called taking a hit and yes people do.

[teddydc2]

where's the dead actors? guess it would suck to act dead for hours lol

[stigmajosh]

I was in this battle. There was no more room on the wall so they deployed us as skirmishers in the middle of the field. We fired once and were mowed down by a Confederate volley of a few hundred rifles. It was still the most amazing thing I've ever seen in a reenactment....a full scale Pickett's Charge!

[breall13]

whos got the heart now south forver

[idontknowstudios]

i went to gettysburg antietam fredericksburg spotsylvania mannasas chancelorsville and the wilderness and some museums all when i went down there IT WAS AMAZING

[mrsox1979]

union forever...................

[mrsox1979]

The union victory at gettysburg saved the union ................ god bless america

[Kerap17]

I was in that battle! Part of the long blue line. 2nd Battalion, USV - we were portraying the 72nd PA. (My unit was the 2nd RI, Co. F. - I was Capt.) My 1st Sgt. and I were literally right on the angle at the wall. Chills went up my spine when that long line of Confederates started across that field. It seemed like they were all coming straight at us at the angle - and they were! Awesome!

[cap123ny]

Howdy Kerap! I was there as well, 2nd Battalion USV. We were to your left at the break point, my 123rd NY also portrayed a PA unit. We were told to "wheel right" into the oncoming Rebs as happened historically and were needlessly butchered.

[Kerap17]

Forgot to say, I'm Gary McCullough.

Do you know of anyone that has that video they were selling of that reenactment? Stupid me forgot to order one. I've been out of the hobby for 10 years now, since moving to PA. I do miss it. Is Colonel Heim still involved?

[cap123ny]

@Kerap17 Howdy Gary! I remember the 2nd RI very well! Yup, I have the video. I can make you a copy if you like. I was the Captain of the 123rd NY in the 2nd battalion, USV. "Retired" myself in 2002. I believe Col. Heim and Col. Laimo are both also "retired". Steve

[JasperCountyNative]

@cap123ny

In this particular battle, we drew lots to determine our "fate", but we didn't pay much attention to them as most of us "historically" didn't survive. We were fighting with the 11th Mississippi from the University.

[thestevoundead1]

cool vid i want to go to gettysburg and reenact it looks like fun

[NewHemingway]

I was there on the Federal side. I actually fell asleep during the artillery barrage and my pard woke me up freaking out pointing across the field. One of the craziest fucking things Ive seen.

BTW, I didnt feel so bad that I fell asleep when I found out some of the guys on Cemetary Ridge did the same thing during Picketts Charge.

[sgtreddawg]

I was there too. I was the 1st Sgt of the 7th South Carolina Volunteers. We were at the Little Round Top and Pickett's Charge (among others). When you would feel your hair stand up....that's what you were there for.

[HHFD50]

Best reenactment I was ever in.

[psychedpagan]

i was there back then. i'll never forget crossing that field. never forget that damned ditch we had to cross after the fence.

[carthagertw]

Were you told to fall down "Dead"?

[AS02474]

That was the best battle re-enactment that I've ever been in. Because I volunteered to fill canteens before the battle, I was chosen to make it to the stone wall and get "captured." because of that I was able to see the charge from both the Confederate and Union perspectives. What a show!

[josephhopkins1]

This is awesome! I was at that reenactment. Brings back a lot of memories. I was 10 years old at the time of this. If I figure out how, someday I might post videos of footage we had. We had like a whole hours worth. Very nice video.

[yark72]

That would be awesome.

[Rosey13]

This is so cool. I like the music you choose too.

[presidentalfan]

I was there for the 135th as a re-enactor. It was a blast. The song suits the battle. Camera work is staggering. Had to get glasses after watching. At the times of 5:08, 7:17, and 7:40 there is someone trying to imitate a wounded soldier, but it sounds like a "dying constipated mule"!

[yark72]

Sorry about the glasses. LOL I was in this battle a mile from the right of the camera in line with the infantry. My friend taped this for me.

[ww2fans]

thats lots of people 0_0

[purrkittypurr]

Hollywood warewolf my partner also took part in that march, he says it was the greatest experience he will ever have in re-enacting.

[FcK2420]

how do you decide who dies:D ?

[confederateBattery1]

as what i have heard is that you don't feel like your tired you act you were killed.

[hollywoodwerewolf]

I was one of the 11,000 Confederates who charged across that field that day. It was perhaps the greatest moment in my short reenacting history. I made it almost to the wall and then fell. I stood after the shooting was done and along with several dozen other Rebs shook hands with the Yanks on the other side. Great day.

[grant135a]

I was there too, at the angle. There were quite a few amazing "moments" that weekend, not the least of which was seeing those waves of butternut and gray coming across the field at us. Afterwards, grown men were sitting on the field, overcome with emotion, some crying their eyes out, for what they had just seen and taken part in. That was probably the "high water mark" of my reenacting years.

[USSRman45]

What's the song called that the Union band is playing?

[brokenspears]

Wow, I haven't seen any youtube footage of the 135th besides the video that was put out by the event. Takes me back, I'll be up there in Gettysburg for a week, right after the At High Tide event. Haven't been since the 135th and I'm looking forward to enjoying my stay!! Thanks for the posting! -8th OVI, National Regiment

[yark72]

High Tide was only down the road from this one. I went to that one, but would of loved to been to the second one too.

[jayhoop82]

Nice to see the 135th on you-tube :D i was there, in the 1st Virginia, as one of the skirmishers in advance of the main line. Was 16 at the time, and travelled all the way from england to take part :)The sight of the Union line as we advanced was awe inspiring!

[buglerdan]

hey this is a great video i wasnt on the field that day but was a spectator and i loved it.ill be on that field this year though!! and ill be looking forward to it!!

[srager1]

Nice one I was with you on this one Tally Ho! 8th cav it was fun had a good time what a week

[onelolifepvte]

WOW! Thanks for the memories! I've only had the pleasure of participating in two G-burg events...this one and the 125th Anniv. in '88, and those two were probably the largest. The Road to Gettysburg song was also used in the 125th Anniv. video by Classic Images. Thanks for posting this.