My year of living Rangerously

Sad Days

2012-01-03T06:55:00.000-05:00

Margaret Anderson

Mount Rainier National Park

Crazy goings-on in Washington County...

2011-12-21T15:49:00.000-05:00

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and a very familiar face,

http://weirdandwonderfulwashingtoncounty.blogspot.com/

Must finish gift wrapping now.

Mannie

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Those Missing Alexander Gardner Images:

2011-12-19T17:59:00.001-05:00

Plate 315b

Santa McClaws

Ho, ho, ho.

Mannie

Living Legend

2011-12-16T09:02:00.001-05:00

Ed Bearss, Chief Historian National Park Service;

a regular at Antietam.

Crossover Blogging

2011-12-06T12:53:00.000-05:00

Battery B, 4th US Artillery

Here's an artillery story, start to finish.

Recently, on ebay, I bought this Hong Kong knock-off of the Swoppet limber, gun, and crew. Upon arrival buyer's remorse immediately set in.

Although the castings were mirror images of the Britains originals, they were finished in a bizarre fake pewter finish. What, exactly, might have our Hong Kong friends been thinking?

Oddly, the limber was the only piece not pewterfied (or perhaps, putrefied). Two outriders and the lid to the ammunition chest were missing in this counterfeit cannon convocation.

That omission of the lid was quickly remedied with a visit to my table and band saws.

The result was a perfect fit.

Now came time to deal with that wacky metallic finish.

The bugler sounded "assembly" and all hands mustered into an oatmeal can.

All concerned were about to understand the phrase "Better living through chemistry."

Always keep those old toothbrushes around.

Stripped of their finish, a remarkable array of colors was revealed.

Keep an eye on Manny, Moe, and Jack here as you'll be seeing more of them.

Everybody got a nice coat of Floquil white primer.

Our gleesome threesome is ready for painting.

These are the outriders which were missing along with the limber lid. Fortunately I had acquired this pair earlier in their original and not-very-impressive Swoppet colors.

Using the hot water treatment. I reshaped them with different arm positions and narrowed their stance for a better seat on the saddle. Left is before and right is after.

Out came the Testors paint and the sergeant and corporal are transformed.

I finished everyone in the traditional bright toy soldier finish.

And here we go, the reclaimed detachment, fully redone and rushing into action:

It's a mighty fast and bumpy ride...

but our steadfast trio hangs on tight as the limber and gun charge forward...

over hill and dale...

The noncoms whip the horses into a lather in hopes of beating the Rebels to the high ground.

It's nip and tuck.

Arriving in the nick of time the detachment commander oversees the unlimbering

The gun is man-handled into place...

carefully sighted, and loaded with double canister awaiting the order to...

Fire!

The rebel charge is broken.

All in a day's work for Battery B, 4th US Artillery.

Buyer's remorse is gone.

Soldier on!

Mannie

Illumination

2011-12-03T20:56:00.001-05:00

Pictures > words

The 23rd annual illumination of Antietam National Battlefield; hour-by-hour.

23,110, a sobering reminder of the service and sacrifice that are, sometimes, the price of freedom.

Here's hoping you can see it one day.

Ranger Mannie

Martin Luther King jr. National Historic Site

2011-11-23T15:45:00.001-05:00

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Here's the fruit of some more of that '05 Atlanta footage.

It's cool to see a U.S. Park Ranger standing right beside Dr. King at the Lincoln Memorial.

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Oakland Cemetery: Atlanta

2011-11-23T11:14:00.000-05:00

Three days off from the park gives me plenty of time to edit video.
I shot this footage back in 2005 and put it together today. You can view it here

Hope you like it.

Happy Thanksgiving

Mannie

Kids Today

2011-11-11T19:59:00.000-05:00

Meet Victoria Nelson - Junior Ranger

Today it was my pleasure to make the acquaintance of one of the brightest, most enthusiastic kids I've ever met on the Battlefield; Victoria Nelson.

She really enjoyed the battlefield and got the most out of her visit by completing our

Junior Ranger booklet.

Not only were her answers to the questions thoughtful...

but her rendering of the McKinley monument is a real stand-out (let's hope this aspiring artist stays at it).

I suspect that one day this young lady will be turning in her Junior Ranger badge for a metal one and the green and gray uniform of a National Park Service Ranger.

Great Job, Victoria!

A Landmark Day at Your National Park

2011-11-04T17:35:00.004-04:00

It was a red-letter day today as the Park recognized Volunteer, Jim Rosebrock, the very first inductee of Antietam National Battlefield's "Volunteer Master Ranger Corps".

Jim is surrounded by his colleagues following the presentation of this very important recognition of his

considerable degree of commitment, enthusiasm, and interpretive talent in helping Antietam National Battlefield maintain its high standard of excellence.

Jim's daughter Rachel, a high school senior and also an Antietam volunteer, represents the future of our volunteer corps, and demonstrates that the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree as far as excellence, altruism, and commitment are concerned.

It really can't be overstated what a rare and noteworthy achievement this is. It was an exciting day for all of us.

Rachel showing off her dad's new shoulder patch.

A stand-out insignia for a stand-up volunteer; Jim Rosebrock.

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Trick or Treat - and how!

2011-10-29T15:48:00.000-04:00

What sounds like sporadic gunfire throughout the valley this afternoon is actually the full-leaved, and covered with four inches of heavy snow, treelimbs snapping and crashing all over the mountainside.

The Park closed early today due to the surprise snowstorm, and although I'm conked out with a cold, Susan is out in the yard with a broom saving our trees.

This one will make it through the storm.

Our maple in the backyard however...

I wasn't able to get to it in time. Most of its limbs are on the ground.

Just getting this post up was a chore as the power drops every few minutes

With the limbs drooping over the powerlines like this, we expect to lose electricity any moment now, making for a chilly night.

Halloween greetings from just north of Boonsboro.

Ranger Mannie (fighting a head cold)

The Old Ranger loses an old friend

2011-10-25T19:46:00.004-04:00

Once upon a time I worked with a group of extraordinary women. We comprised the Education Division staff of the Public Museum of Grand Rapids in Grand Rapids Michigan. Although I was the division chief, they were the ones who actually ran the show.

We were a very, very happy team, as this picture, from one of our "professional development" field trips shows. Those professional development outings generally happened twice a year and were merely a ruse to get us all out of the Museum and onto the beach of any one of Lake Michigan's more scenic beach front towns. Lunch, ice cream, beach combing and general shenanigans comprised a fun outing together.

We thoroughly enjoyed each other's company

Clockwise from lower left, Me, Joyce, Linda, Janet, and Gina. Anything I achieved during my tenure at the helm of that division I owe to these lovely women.

Long before I found myself in upper management at the museum, I was a volunteer, a Docent, and one of my first points of contact was my friend Linda Sweigart.

This blog entry comes as a result of the sad news that Linda passed away last week.

I just wanted to share, with those of you who follow this blog and have an interest in our National Parks, an opportunity to make the acquaintance of Linda and her boundless love and appreciation for the beautiful, historic, and wild areas that comprise this incredible country we live in.

In addition to being great coworkers, Linda and I were good friends. And on a few occasions she and I would team up with her niece Stacey and we'd hit the trails, making for some of the most breathtaking places along the Michigan shoreliine.

Avid campers, the three of us, we shared some really cool outdoor adventures including watching the Autumnal northern lights over Lake Michigan from a perch high atop Sleeping Bear Dune. It was chilly but we were warmed by each other's company, as well as s'mores and a jug of red wine.

That same trip we boarded a ferry that took us to remote South Manitou Island in the upper reaches of Lake Michigan, easily seen offshore from the dunes at Sleeping Bear. We spent two days exploring trails, lighthouses, ruins, chipmunk foraging habits, and generally entertaining each other.

It was on this trip that my camping name was invented "The Old Ranger"; how prophetic.

It was from the crescent-shaped safe anchorage bay of the island that the three of us, in full sunshine, watched an enormous thunderhead gather in the distance. The panoramic view was spectacular, as we watched the storm take shape perhaps 25 miles in the distance and drive its fury in front of us as if it were all on a large stage. Though the storm was far away, it provided us was some exciting Lake Michigan views. "Somebody's getting clobbered" said one of us, "Better them than us" said another.

Linda's favorite haunts were the shorelines of Lakes Michigan and Superior. One of her favorite places was Whitefish Point up in Michigan's upper peninsula. A place, regrettably, that she and I and Stacey never visited together. Though she and I saw less of each other after we left the museum, we were able to connect and say our goodbyes days before I left for the great Maryland adventure.
I'm grateful for that.

(Linda and I ankle-deep in Lake Michigan)

Linda touched the lives of countless West Michigan schoolchildren and she was loved by everyone who knew her. She had real love for old movies, old crooners, and old (and historic) places. She is easily one of the kindest and most compassionate people I've ever known, and her enthusiasm for sharing the outdoors was boundless. She was a good friend and a steady hand to hold on life's rockier trails.

The many friends she leaves behind, including those remarkable women pictured at the top of this page are absolutely bereft by her passing. And this is one of those singular moments when all who knew her want the world to stop for just a moment, and to listen to a story or two of this great and lovely spirit.

I'd say "she's gone to a better place" but that is the sort of thing Linda would simply laugh at. She believed in the here and now, and she believed in reaching out to people, being a true friend, and practicing an all-embracing stewardship of this planet and every living thing on it.

Though she has left us, she has left us better than she found us. And her legacy, for The Old Ranger, and for many, many others will be to think kind and grateful thoughts of Linda...

anytime we are in the presence of the beauty that is nature.

What a fine way to be remembered.

Linda Sweigart
1951- 2011

Celebrate friendship,
Mannie

p.s. if you'd like to see a little video that I put together a few years ago when Linda left the museum, go here. Though this was for her retirement, it's also a nice way to remember her wonderful laugh.

Archeology on the Battlefield

2011-10-17T18:58:00.000-04:00

Flourescent vests? shovels? metal detectors? purple locks? This bears investigation!

For the next month or so, a team of Archeologists is making some very targeted digs on the battlefield to help us further interpret the events of September 17th 1862. Watching them today removed most of the illusions of glamour that I may have had about their august profession. There's a whole lot of very hard work involved.

It's a team of five delightful young people who spend arduous days shoveling great amounts of battlefield into wooden frames with screen bottoms.

Clods and clumps of grass are removed and the big chunks get ground down to smaller chunks...

which are vigorously shaken through the screen until the object that caused their metal detector to beep is revealed.

Usually, it's something very pedestrian; a piece of wire, a Pepsi can, or as seen here, a nail.

Sometimes though...

Jackpot!

Never a dull moment,

just north of Sharpsburg.

Ranger Mannie

Autumn Color with the Iron Brigade

2011-10-16T17:57:00.000-04:00

As the season draws nearer its close, we were visited, this weekend by reenactors portraying the storied Iron Brigade. Ranger Christie coordinates these incredible successful and popular weekend living history programs, and she also supervises the safety issues surrounding historic weapons demonstrations on the battlefield.

Much of the success of our public program we owe to the conscientious professionalism of our loyal cadre of living historians.

Here are a few views of a lovely fall Sunday at your National Park.

This tidy little encampment was behind Dunker Church this weekend...

providing visitors with numerous picturesque vignettes.

Periodically the small but steadfast group assembled and marched off to the visitor center to provide firing demonstrations.

After which they chatted with visitors.

A very fine and satisfying season is winding down, here...

just north of Sharpsburg.

Ranger Mannie

A bright and Beautiful Autumn Day

2011-10-07T19:55:00.000-04:00

Two weeks of cold, rainy, and dreary weather have finally left the valley. In the wake of that soggy weather has been some of the most glorious days yet this year. Come along with me on a walk.

Visitors Center

Dunker Church

Roulette ice house

Roulette spring house

Roulette house through old window

Three Farms trail

Mumma sheep barn

Three Farms trail

End of summer in Mumma cornfield

West Woods hen house

West Woods Trail

Dunker Church Road

Mumma cornfield

Mumma swale

Hitchhiker

Lovely day, beautiful place.

Enjoy the light,

Ranger Mannie

Battle Anniversary in the 21st century

2011-09-17T17:48:00.000-04:00

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Just as I was about to lament the loss of my camera and its importance to this blog, and to this weekend, the social media team of the NPS comes to the rescue.

Plenty of pics of todays proceedings here at the park Facebook page. Enjoy this fantastic new initiative.

Sadly, no pictures of me...

I simply must get another camera.

It was a great day,

Mannie

To "entrench" In the academic sense, perhaps

2011-09-15T21:41:00.002-04:00

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I recently had a professor ridicule both Lee and McClellan for failing to entrench at Antietam.

Though, in this rocky place, what good six-inch deep trenches would have been is beyond me.

Much can be revealed by a visit to the battlefield. I hope to see you all this battle anniversary weekend!

Mannie

Things Fall Apart

2011-09-12T20:55:00.000-04:00

Feeling very much like Chinua Achebe is following me around today.

First, I woke up with a sore throat

Later, I bobbled my camera which hit...

this stone step.

My second small camera in as many years has met its end.

Finally, on the way home my truck conked out right in the middle of the rush-hour crossroads that is Boonsboro. Fortunately I was able to coast to the sole remaining parking spot on the curb. Towed to garage with verdict due tomorrow

What would Okonkwo say?

Oh...here's the final photo taken by my camera.

Things fall apart.

See you for battle anniversary!

Ranger Mannie

Seven Days of Rain

2011-09-10T07:36:00.003-04:00

I saw something yesterday that startled me...

my shadow.

After a solid week of rain the sun came out, on and off, for a few hours yesterday.

Suddenly everything seemed strung with diamonds.

I took advantage of the break to drive down to Burnside Bridge to get a look at Antietam Creek.

I was surprised to find that although the water was high and fast, the creek is still within its banks. North and east of us there has been a great deal of flooding.

A week of rain brings with it more than just hight water...

seems everywhere one looks...

one finds mushrooms sprouting.

Many of them are quite large and formed in fairy rings both compact:

small:

medium:

and large:

With rain continuing until next Tuesday...

the New York monument may be absorbed by this rapidly growing battlefield visitor.

Looking for sunshine,

just north of Sharpsburg,

Ranger Mannie

Landscape Turned Confusing: all turned around in the Cornfield

2011-09-02T21:14:00.001-04:00

What maps don't reveal

Reading the standard academic treatments of the battle provide a particular omniscient viewpoint, but looking at the battle from the perspective of the soldier on the ground quickly establishes the distinction between writing about history and actually making history.

Thinking about it all,

just north of Sharpsburg,

Mannie

Bull's eye for Battery B

2011-08-27T22:22:00.000-04:00

The Picture of Professionalism

This is Battery "B" 4th U.S. Artillery, the all-volunteer artillery detachment of Antietam National Battlefield. Mustered in 2009, the battery was the bright idea of Park Ranger Christie Stanczak (third from left) and has been operational for two seasons now.

Two weeks ago Battery "B" was summoned to Ford's Theater in Washington DC where they were presented with the Park Service George and Helen Herzog award for excellence as the National Capital Region's outstanding volunteer group of 2010.

These are some of the most committed, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable volunteers in the Park Service and I am proud to call them my friends and colleagues.

Cannoneers Post!

A local treasure-trove

2011-08-21T21:45:00.000-04:00

The Boonsborough Museum of History is an often overlooked gem here in the Valley

Go here to see some remarkable Antietam artifacts.

The Civil War collection is only a tiny part of the Museum's holdings. Remarkable pieces from all continents delight the visitor.

That so much of the world, ancient and modern, should find its way to tiny Boonsboro Maryland boggles the imagination.

Check it out!

Mannie

George B. McClellan just got a whole lot smarter

2011-08-07T21:57:00.000-04:00

After some 30 years of continuous showings the film "Antietam Visit" has finally been replaced at the Visitor Center.

And not a moment too soon.

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Manassas 150 - Pomp and Circumstance

2011-07-23T20:14:00.001-04:00

Thursday morning the day started, for me, with a 6:00 a.m arrival at the park. First light revealed a parking lot filled with vehicles from parks all over the region.

Events such as this provide a great opportunity to make the acquaintance of Rangers from many different parks, which is one of my favorite things about helping out at off-site events.

The morning briefing was held at the maintainence building, and all hands were there to get "the word".

Always on the lookout for personal comfort, I found a pile of folding chairs and propped my old feet up on my pizza and Gatorade-filled cooler. "Hurry up and wait" ain't all bad if you're prepared (four years in the Navy taught me that).

After the briefing we made our way across the highway and up the trail to the park entrance.

The shimmering sun was already heating the place up, but the building excitement was growing palpable.

"Stonewall" wasn't the only mounted presence on the field that morning...

The opening ceremony was scheduled to begin a 9:15 a.m. and everywhere I looked I found preparations under way.

Practice,

practice,

practice.

The fourth estate was well represented with journalists being escorted everywhere.

Shortly after the flag went up for the morning...

an escorted motorcade roared in and the dignitaries began arriving, in this instance it was...

the Governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell (in red "power tie".

Also in attendance was the Director of the National Park Service, John Jarvis (who seems like a really nice guy by-the-way).

Even "Confederates in the Attic" coverboy Robert Lee Hodge was there.

Hodge is a huge supporter of the parks and an ardent preservationist.

I was a greeter at the bus drop off, handing out brochures, where I met many facebook friends, fellow bloggers, and other old pals.

With a large audience in attendance...

and cameras rolling...

the proceedings got underway which much pomp and circumstance including...

the Marine Corps band,

the U.S. Army's Third Division "Silent Drill Team"...

(hit "play" to watch them pleasing the crowd)

and color guard.

All of the speakers, including the governor...

where emphatic in asserting "slavery" as the foundation of the war, and civil rights as the result. A message I found both uplifting and inspirational.

And with that the Manassass 150th was officially underway.

And I got to be a small part of it all.

More tomorrow!

Ranger Mannie

Manassas 150 - Departure and Arrival

2011-07-23T07:40:00.001-04:00

If I learned anything from working the Inauguration it was to pack for survival; be as self-contained as possible. Just because you're told there will be lodging doesn't necessarially mean lodging will be there or exactly adequate. Bug spray, sun block, extra uniform, big cooler, small cooler food, Gatorade, and charged camera batteries. I'm ready to roll.

John Hoptak swung by with extra time to have a slice of cake with my wife and me and then we hit the road for the 150th.

An early start meant minimal traffic, and an hour and forty five minutes from my house we were turning into the main entrance of Manassas.

With an hour to spare prior to the 6:00 briefing John and I braved the building heat to check out Henry House Hill.

A small village of tents and canopies had been erected adjacent to the Visitor Center. The very large one to the right is the Youth Activities tent. That was my unoffical base camp where i stashed my small cooler and extra Gatorade.

That tent was also the location of some graphic art work that I did for the event:

which depicted the market value of an enslaved person over the course of his or her life.

Porta-johns have a distinctive "rumble" as they are trucked into position.

Six o'clock came and the pig briefing began. The young man in the yellow shirt was one of a small and enthusiastic cadre of social media whiz-kids that were documenting everything. They've done some really fantastic work which you can view here.

Ranger Keith is deep in supervisory thoughts as Ranger Brian catches a glimpse of my camera.

Briefing over, it was time to head to the hotel...

and jump up and down on the bed for awhile.

More soon!

Ranger Mannie

Manassas 150 - Uniforms

2011-07-22T22:24:00.000-04:00

This is the first of several installments of what I saw at Manassass National Battlefield this week.

Uniforms

I've just returned from two and a half days of Rangering at Manassas for their sesquicentennial observance.

"Hot" was the most often heard word. 103 actual degrees and a heat index of 112-115! It was really sapping to work in such heat for such an extended period of time.

Despite the exhaustion, I'm very happy to have been able to participate in this personal and professional milestone.

I was expecting to have the opportunity to photograph a wide variety of uniforms at this observance of that very early battle. I wasn't disappointed. What a range of color and cut among those earliest volunteer regiments.

There were Zouaves a'plenty

Here and there appeared a dandy.

Workaday rebels in a variety of homemade finery...

and United States Marines positively resplendent in pipeclay crossbelts and white trousers.

and, here and there, a Confederate harkening back, through his uniform, to earlier American ideals.

It was quite a show, and the effort on the part of these living history folks to portray the troops of '61 was much appreciated by all.

More soon after a much needed good night's sleep.

Ranger Mannie

Fifty year spread

2011-07-22T18:59:00.000-04:00

Me, at Gettysburg during the Centennial.

Yesterday at Manassas, for the sesquicentennial.

The cannons seem much smaller these days.

Not to make too fine a point about this Sesquicentennial...

2011-07-19T23:46:00.000-04:00

Pardon the repetition, but I'm of a mood to reprise this blog post of June 27, 2006. At that writing I had been a seasonal Park Ranger exactly one month and I was flying high. Tomorrow, as a permanent Park Ranger, I'm heading to Manassas to work the 150th anniversary observance of that battle. Add to that a milestone event from last November and you'll understand why I feel I'm flying even higher.

Look me up at Manassas.

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When I was nine a watershed event occurred for me. My mother suggested that she and I start a "Civil War scrapbook", whatever that was. Although I had no clue as to what either the Civil War or a scrapbook was, I'm pretty sure that my response was an enthusiastic "Keen!". I was always up for doing stuff with my mom. She had a real knack for making things fun.

What prompted her idea was a recurring pictorial installment in LIFE magazine celebrating the centennial of the Civil War.

She and I spent many evenings with scissors and glue designing this fabulous one-of-a-kind manuscript; my Civil War scrapbook (like, doesn't everybody have one?) which I still have.

One winter night around that same time, my dad stuck his head in the bedroom (shared by my older brother and me) and announced "If you guys keep your room clean, pay attention to your mother, and behave yourselves, I'll take you to Gettysburg this summer." I was dumbstruck! Fortunately our father didn't hold us to our end of that bargan- and that summer, he, my brother, and I were packed in the Corvair and heading toward Gettysburg and my future.(that's me...future Ranger Mannie)

That trip had a major influence on me, as did a timely response to a piece of my juvenile fanmail to Civil War historian, Bruce Catton, as well as the release of the John Wayne movie "The Horse Soldiers" and the manufacture of plastic Civil War playsets by the Louis Marx Company. This was the harmonic convergence of getting a kid, me, interested in American history in general and the Civil War in particular.

So now I find myself with a dream job at Antietam National Battlefield, our nation's most significant Civil War related national park. I give two presentations daily, always hoping to spark the imagination of the nine-year-olds in my audience. I couldn't have hoped to be in a better place with a better job. I only wish that my mother, my father, and Bruce Catton were sill around to accept my thanks.

Kids are listening...you never know what'll spark their imagination.

Manassas Milestone

2011-07-17T23:00:00.001-04:00

Well, here I am about to participate, as a Park Ranger, in the observance of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Manassas.

In 1966, after all the centennial hoopla, which I was swept up in, I asked my mother when the nation would being doing such a thing again. She replied "In the year twenty eleven, fifty years from now."

My first thought, honestly, was "I'll be dead by then."

You can only imagine my delight at still being here, though you might also note that it will be 100 degrees on Friday.

Maybe that thirteen-year-old version of me knew what he was talking about after all.

Staying hydrated, in preparation for the big event.

Ranger Mannie

I wonder...

2011-07-14T23:28:00.001-04:00

Will the miniseries "To Appomattox" be anything more than folkloric comfort food?

We've had that a'plenty already.

p.s. J.D. comments "yes".

I take that as a good sign.

Report from Area 51

2011-07-11T20:26:00.002-04:00

What the H!?

Mannie Gentile - Antietam

Karlton Smith - Gettysburg

Wait just a minute!

Like some diabolical plot from the X-files, armies of dopplegangers in gray and green are fanning out through the park system. What's the deal? Who can we trust? Where's my survival radio?

Heading for my bunker (Just north of Boonsboro)

Ranger Mannie - the real Ranger Mannie (really)

Rare Opportunity to Tour the D.R. Miller House

2011-07-10T22:26:00.001-04:00

Rarer than a sighting of El Chupacabra comes the opportunity for visitors to tour the interior of the historic D. R. Miller house on the Antietam Battlefield.

Come this Thursday you will have that rare opportunity.

This, from my friend and colleague, Ranger Alann Schmidt:

This summer we have been highlighting some of the unsung heroes here at

Antietam, namely the staff in the Cultural Resources and Natural Resources

divisions. Every Thursday at 11:00 a program is held showing off some of

the important projects going on in the park, things that the general public

doesn’t always get to see. Yesterday the Cultural Resource folks were the

star and presented a full tour of the extensive restoration work taking

place at the D.R. Miller house. Next Thursday’s program will again focus

on the Miller house, and the following weeks will likely take a look at

other historic structures. In any case, these programs are a terrific

chance to have a truly “behind the scenes” look at Antietam. Come on out

and join us for these unique opportunities.

I've profiled the Miller house and our Cultural Resources crew in earlier blog entries , however much progress has been made since then, and this tour will be a real "don't miss" if you will be in the Sharpsburg area this coming Thursday.

They might even show you the Enfield bayonet that they found within the structure.

See you at the park...them 'em Mannie sent you.

Leading the Preservation Charge

2011-06-19T22:54:00.002-04:00

Andrew Druart.

If you think that all of the boy heros of the Civil War were at the Battle of New Market, you haven't met Andrew Druart.

Andrew visited the park today and came along on my tour. He's a leading light in the battlefield preservation movement raising nearly seven thousand dollars on the website that he started for other kids interested in the Civil War. He's a great kid and a delight to talk with.

After an afternoon with Andrew, I think that the future of our battlefields is in very good hands.

Ranger Mannie

A new face on the Battlefield

2011-06-18T22:51:00.000-04:00

Today I met Eve.

Eve's rider, Mark, is one of the Park Rangers up at South Mountain State Battlefield Park. I'm happy to say that we'll be seeing them both from time to time this season at Antietam.

Always making new friends, just north of Sharpsburg.

Ranger Mannie

New Lincoln stereoscopic view found

2011-06-15T08:20:00.000-04:00

Spotted on the battlefield:

Night Fire video

2011-06-12T18:27:00.000-04:00

Here's a little video of last night's action:

Night Firing!

2011-06-12T00:03:00.002-04:00

Wow!

Artillery weekend this year included something new to Antietam National Battlefield, a night firing of a section of guns.

As the photos demonstrate, it was very dramatic.

You've simply got to stop missing this stuff!

Still blinking, just north of Sharpsburg.

Ranger Mannie

Artillery Weekend!

2011-06-10T22:50:00.000-04:00

The guns arrived today:

Three demonstrations tomorrow (Saturday) during visiting hours, plus a campfire program and night firing starting at 8:30 p.m.

I hope to see you there.

Scrambling for my earplugs,
just north of Sharpsburg.

Ranger Mannie

Smoke on the Battlefield

2011-06-07T18:02:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday afternoon I saw the most incongruous thing; a flaming hay wagon driving down Dunker Church Road. By the time it got halfway down Smoketown Road the driver knew that something was amiss.

Perhaps this can be the new derivation of the name "Smoketown Road".

No one was hurt.

Keeping a nose out for smoke,

Ranger Mannie

The History Channel's "Gettysburg": one last thing

2011-06-02T17:39:00.001-04:00

Ridley Scott, call your office.

(context here)

Gettysburg, on the History Channel

2011-05-31T12:32:00.004-04:00

Gettysburg,

through the eyes of

The History Channel's visioning of Gettysburg was pretty ridiculous as both history and narrative. Riddled with inaccuracies and oversimplifications, it is poorly edited to the point that I was two minutes into the show that followed it before I realized that it had ended.

Beyond the issues of "button counting" the authenticity of weapons and uniforms (which I find secondary to the narrative) there was an odd aspect of disassociation to it, as if it had been filmed in another country (apparently it was) much like a spaghetti western, with the actors merely aping what they imagined the American Civil War to be - Vaqueros del yanqui en una guerra con los payasos rebeldes.

In this telling of the battle, seems Rufus Dawes did all of the heavy lifting, just as J.L. Chamberlain was portrayed doing in the Ron Maxwell visioning of Gettysburg in his film of the same name. Poor George Sears Greene gets slighted again by less-than-rigorous scriptwrtiers.

Oddly enough, there were some very fine historians attached to the program, though in a manner that seemed quite detached , almost as if the producers felt the need to intersperse the narrative with built-in snack and beer breaks for the action-oriented set. ( I really like Peter Carmichael, by the way, I met him at the park once and he seems like a really nice guy). I'd rather have listened to a panel discussion of those learned individuals on the subject without the cgi bells and whistles that did so little, otherwise, to advance the show.

All that being said, the over-the-top art direction really is fun to watch. It's garish and surreal, circus-like almost. Reminding me frequently of the work of one of my very favorite directors, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the mind behind such treasures as A Very Long Engagement and Delicatessin. There, however the enjoyment stops. The effort was very, very bad as History but good as an exploding pinata filled with gumballs, confetti, and tiny monkeys in bellhop uniforms, and that clearly ain't history.

I did approach the program with some skepticism, not particularly optimistic regarding the abilities of the History Channel to actually convey history to a popular audience, in prime-time at least, if Pawn Stars, American Pickers, and other such programs are any indication of the credibility of the producers at the History Channel. As fun to watch as those programs are, they do precious little to advance the historic narrative, beyond Chumley's obvious paucity of information regarding just about every object that walks through the doors of the pawnshop. Similarly, if Larry the Cableguy, is viewed as the arbiter of American History, then I think, alas, that it's time to sell your savings bonds and learn Chinese.

The one hope I did advance to others regarding "Gettysburg" was that perhaps it would serve as a catalyst of enquiry for younger viewers, sparking their interest and guiding them toward lifetime learning. Sadly, the late time slot (on a school night) and the graphic depiction of violence (there are still many parents to whom that is objectionable) may have precluded any substantial audience of young people.
Seems that precious little history found it's way to the "History" Channel last night.

Regrettably, it seems a lost opportunity for an important public outlet- the History Channel - to really advance the exploration and discussion of the American Civil War, in a meaningful manner, in this sesquicentennial era.

Memorial Day in Sharpsburg - 3

2011-05-28T22:31:00.000-04:00

Family obligations caused me to miss the parade today however, Susan and I did mange to get to Sharpsburg for Ranger Alann's National Cemetery walk.

Right at six in the evening Alann strode through the cemetery gates to a waiting group of about 18 visitors.

As the evening shadows lengthened, Alann regaled us with stories of the battle, the development of the cemetery, and the lives of many of the individual soldiers buried there.

Like a pied piper, Alann set the pace, and his audience followed him throughout the grounds, all very interested in the stories and obviously appreciative of Alann's easy delivery style and knowledge of the subject.

Everyone clearly enjoyed the 45 minute presentation.

Alann even hung around afterwards to help out a couple of Junior Rangers to qualify for their badges.

It was a delightful way to bring this Memorial Day Saturday to a close.

Mannie

Memorial Day in Sharpsburg - 2

2011-05-27T09:54:00.000-04:00

Every year, in preparation for Memorial Day, the Children of Sharpsburg Elementary School place flags at each of the graves at the Antietam National Cemetery.

The cemetery is awash with stars and stripes as kids in blue tee shirts steadily make their way down the marble rows...

planting flags at each stone...

with measurement as precise as a fourth-graders foot can be.

With plenty of adult supervision from parents, teachers...

and Rangers,

these boys and girls of the Antietam Creek Valley...

remind us through their actions...

that there is a difference between unknown soldiers and forgotten soldiers.

And it happens every year, just east of Sharpsburg.

Here's a little video.

Ranger Mannie

Memorial Day in Sharpsburg - 1

2011-05-26T07:44:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week I got a call from the head of maintenance to come to the National Cemetery with my camera.

Upon arrival, I heard a voice from above:

A new halyard was being installed on the flagpole.

All in a day's work for some, though not for me, I'm happy to say.

New Market Battlefield Park

2011-05-25T21:10:00.000-04:00

I'll be posting more on this later. For right now, here's one photo that, for me, sums up the efficacy of the self-guided tour map and brochure, of that otherwise outstanding facility.

Brass tacks

2011-05-25T18:58:00.002-04:00

This, I like!

New Gettysburg movie on the History Channel

2011-05-25T18:29:00.002-04:00

Remember the movie The Horse Soldiers with John Wayne? I watched it again last night, it remains a favorite. The dialogue is clever and the history is oddly familiar if not quite accurate. Nonetheless, as a kid, it sparked my imagination, made me a lifetime learner on the Civil War, and that is the really noble purpose of such pieces of entertainment.

Enter Gettysburg on the History Channel this Memorial Day weekend. If the insignia on the Hardee hat is any indication there should be plenty of grist here to keep the mills of the blogosphere running. Go to the link, see what you think, then spill some ink. I'll be interested in the variety of reviews that come in.

Here's the hunting horn insignia of the infantry as worn on the regulation Hardee Hat:

Here's the crossed rifles insignia from the History Channel film Gettysburg:

(click on it to examine closely)

And here's that same, exact insignia as found on the six dollar kid kepis from China:

Perhaps this is one of the consequences of having Larry the cable guy help make history one day at a time.

As for me, I'll be thinking of all the nine-year-olds who may be avidly watching it, warts and all, with unjaundiced eyes, who will be the historians, avid tourists, and park rangers of tomorrow.

Here's hoping.

Mannie

Nice Blog

2011-05-08T09:42:00.000-04:00

I met John Banks today at Antietam, he's a really nice guy with a very cool blog which you can see here

Staff Ride!

2011-04-30T22:23:00.000-04:00

This week provided a vivid reminder of why the Park was created in the first place. Established by the War Department in 1890, Antietam, as one of the original five National Military Parks, was mandated to provide instructional venues for the education of military officers and cadets. This role and tradition continue to this day as evidenced by the three military 'staff rides" we hosted over the course of 48 hours.

The first group of 240 were medical personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force, seen here, zooming toward the theater. George Wunderlich of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine gave them a tour with a special emphasis on the role of the medical service at Antietam.

The second group that day was comprised of about seventy 48th Division reservists who toured the field for several hours with Range Mike.

For which they were very appreciative.

Mike was a Lt Colonel in the Army himself and has a great affinity for these groups. Here, he receives a gift of appreciation from the leader of the group.

The third staff ride arrived yesterday and was made up of seventeen members of the U.S. Marine Corps.

It was quite a sight to see their vehicles convoying onto the grounds and parking just below Dunker Church. Although "lean, mean, fightin' gyrines" they were very pleasant and I enjoyed a very relaxed and informative conversation with the warrant officer in charge of the group.

The vehicles themselves provided quite an attraction for visitor during their six hour stay.

these Marines really enjoyed a two-hour talk given by Antietam Park Historian, and their fellow-Marine, Ted Alexander.

Staff Rides are a great tradition which continues here at Antietam National Park, and provides us with the opportunity to give back, just a little, to those who give so much for all of us.

Ranger Mannie

Grand Rapids Sesquicentennial Event

2011-04-17T09:22:00.004-04:00

For me, a return to Michigan, is a return to where my childhood interest in the Civil War took root. And here I was, two days following the 150th anniversary of the opening guns, back in Michigan, a guest speaker for the Grand Rapids Historical Society. The subject? Antietam.

The view from our room took in the north end of town. Grand Rapids is bisected by the Owastanong River (called by non-natives the "Grand").

The river is a focal point of the city, and has been made that way in the last twenty years in a very conscious and laudable manner by the city planners. The new convention center (right) and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (left) follow the modern trend of facing the river, a river which in previous generations was merely a dumping ground for the many factories and foundries of the "Furniture City".

On the morning of the evening of my talk I did a half hour television program at the local PBS affiliate; WGVU. It was a very pleasant, very brief, 26-minute "History 101" class with the young and affable host, Patrick Center

Here I am next to that other Park Ranger from Grand Rapids Michigan, Jerry Ford.

Really!

On the evening of my talk I was informed that it was the largest audience ever (SRO no less), they even had to set up an overflow room with a simulcast. Apparently I still owe a lot of people money in West Michigan.

My old friend from museum days and president of the Grand Rapids Historical Society, Gina Bivins opened the show, and I was introduced by my friend and the vice president of the Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table John Gelderloos.

The talk was very well received, and it was positively amazing to look out into that audience and see so many familiar and friendly faces, even my very first boss was in the crowd.

There were some kids in the audience, and considering that they are in the position that I was fifty years ago on the eve of the centennial, I gave them special attention

Whether folks had come out just to catch up with me or to learn about Antietam, either way, it was a wonderful event and I promised all in attendance that they'd appear on my blog.

It was an altogether delightful evening. At supper afterwards at the good old Cottage Bar, even the mayor, George Heartwell, stopped by to say hello.

I guess, sometimes, you can go home again.

Back in Boonsboro,

Ranger Mannie

Grand Rapids Sojourn

2011-04-13T19:44:00.000-04:00

We left the rain behind around Pittsburgh and it was sunny and smooth sailing all the way to Michigan. Twelve hours exactly. I'm showing Susan around and she already witnessed me getting a hug from another woman (won't be the only incidence, I think )my old public access TV and museum pal Theresa Tome.

This is where I'll be speaking tomorrow evening.

This is where I used to work.

Our hotel is within walking distance from just about everything.

It's nice to be back for a visit.

Spreading the Civil War gospel to the midwest,

Ranger Mannie

Opening Guns

2011-04-12T15:57:00.000-04:00

Go here

See you in Grand Rapids!

2011-04-04T22:20:00.004-04:00

Leaving the Valley next week to visit the old stomping grounds and give a show.

Link here

Mannie

John Hoptak: Mountain Man

2011-03-20T17:03:00.001-04:00

Yesterday 38 enthusiasts joined John Hoptak up on South Mountain for a two-hour tour of the Crampton's Gap Battlefield. South Mountain, an important battle in Lee's 1862 Maryland campaign, has long been overlooked by Civil War publishers. With the recent release of John's newest book The Battle of South Mountain, this critical fight finally gets its due. John has filled a gap in the knowledge base of the campaign and has quickly become the "go-to guy" on all things South Mountain.

The weather was crisp and perfect on this day before the first day of Spring as we rallied at Gathland State Park in the shadow of the War Correspondents arch. Following John's intro and overview we piled into vehicles and caravanned to our first stop.

John outlines the Confederate defenses far to our front at the base of South Mountain from the front yard of the Martin Shafer house, sixth Corps headquarters, from which General William B. Franklin directed operations. The house is on the Jefferson Pike, One mile east of Burkittsville.

The tour proceeds to the village of Burkittsville. Cramptons Gap, our destination, looms in the distance.

No Blair witch sightings were made during the course of our time in and around Burkittsville (yes, it's that Burkittsville).

This is the panorama looking north from the cemetery in Burkittsville along the Middletown Road. The treeline in the distance was the right flank of the Union attack. Picture the road as the Union battleline which would sweep left toward the South Mountain.

Author, historian and fellow blogger, J.D. Petruzzi takes in the vista.

John leads us over Route of the 4th Vermont through the David Arnold Farm. Confederate defenders were swept from the field in the distance and made their pell mell scramble of retreat up the mountain with the Yankees in hot pursuit.

The details are all contained here, in John's newest book. A definitive account of the battle which will fill a conspicuous gap in any Antietam Campaign bookshelf.

I'm proud to have John as a colleague and friend.

Happy Spring everybody!

Ranger Mannie

Soundtrack of the Centennial: part one

2011-03-09T15:27:00.000-05:00

Our "pea-pickin' cousin" provided much of the background music of my childhood.

Mannie

A Centennial Memory

2011-03-06T16:23:00.000-05:00

It was 1962.

I was ten, and even though every nickel counted in my family, my parents made an enormous investment in my future.

Thanks to Frank and Helen for the greatest possible career, had they only lived to see it.

Mannie

The Last Doughboy

2011-03-03T22:36:00.000-05:00

An era ends, with the passing of America's sole remaining veteran of the Great War

Frank Buckles, A.E.F.

(photo by David DeJonge)

More information here

I'm so pleased to have made his acquaintance.

Mannie

An afternoon with Dan Sickles.

2011-02-26T23:35:00.000-05:00

This afternoon Susan and I joined friend and fellow Park Ranger John Nicholas at that park north of us to hear to hear a Ranger talk regarding the colorful career of General Daniel Sickles delivered by Gettysburg Park Ranger Matt Atkinson. I'd heard a lot about Matt, he seems to have a very devoted following and I'm always looking to learn from other Rangers.

Matt did not disappoint.

With his easy going style, good humor, and solid knowledge of his subject, he revealed a great deal about Sickles the man, the politician, and the legend, and provided some new insights that needed to see the light of day.

Before we knew it, the hour had slipped by and the capacity crowd in the theater at the Gettysburg Visitor Center was erupting in thunderous applause.

Matt is, quite simply, one of the best speakers I've encountered in a National Park setting; and I should know as I work with the best of the bunch. If you get a chance this season, be sure to swing by Gettysburg and catch his act. He is altogether an outstanding interpretive Ranger.

Hangin' on to the high ground,

Mannie

Blackpowder and Balmy Weather!

2011-02-17T18:59:00.004-05:00

My paucity of postings, prompted by a pared-down posse of Park Rangers, is here precipitously pre-empted pending the proximity of powder; black powder particularly.

This week I attended "class II (non-firing)" black powder training. It was really fun and quite informative.

With the upcoming sesquicentennial observations, service-wide, the number of living history opportunities will be greatly increased. To that end, I requested this training so's I could be a little more handy to the park.

Park Ranger John Reid, the historic firearms maven from Manassas organized this short course to familiarize about twelve participants from area NPS facilities in the history, technology and safe-handling of blackpowder firearms.

John brought examples of both percussion and flintlock longarms for demonstration. He has really cool stuff and is incredibly knowledgeable.

Everybody was quite engrossed with John's easy style and encyclopedic mastery of his subject.

Period attire was encouraged as demonstrated by this gaggle of skulkers.

I, however, though far less meticulous in authenticity, was much more attentive to duty.

Following the classroom session John demonstrated the loading and firing "in nine times' as they'd say back in the day...

then we all took a turn at burning some powder.

We got to choose between percussion arms or...

as Issac and K.C. so ably demonstrate...

a flintlock too!

ka-BLAM!

A fun, instructive, and safe time, was had by all.

Getting ready for the 150th!

Ranger Mannie

Winter Returns to the Valley

2011-01-26T17:51:00.000-05:00

Winter is back with a vengeance here in the Cumberland Valley.

This photo was taken in my driveway at about five o'clock this afternoon:

Seriously.

Thinking Spring, just north of Boonsboro,

Mannie

Aren't you boys a little old...?

2011-01-23T19:59:00.000-05:00

This group of four Junior Rangers posed with John Hoptak and me today in front of the Visitor Center. Although the upward age limit for a Junior Ranger is twelve-ish we let these altruistic Penn State lads slide, as they are participating in a fund-raiser to fight childhood cancer.

I just better not see them on my doorstep this Hallowe'en.

Trying to keep warm, just north of Sharpsburg,

Ranger Mannie

Haunted Antietam

2011-01-23T19:47:00.002-05:00

A skeptic no longer.

.

More Centennialist Thinking*: part one

2011-01-05T10:37:00.000-05:00

NEW!

I've been going through my books as a way to prompt Civil War Centennial memory. As a kid I was swept away by the Centennial observance and glommed on to as much of the literature and ephemera of the moment as I could. Though much of it has since fallen by the wayside, some gems remain.

These three items came from the first trip to Gettysburg, I think I was eleven, in 1963 or '64.

This booklet by Frederick Ray whetted my appetite for what would later become the graphic novel.

Back when finances were pretty tight for my family, my mother, nonetheless, mailed off to the Government Printing Office for these booklets. She was actively encouraging my interest it the moment of the Centennial as well as the larger ideas of the War.

These two, I purchased.

Here's a typewritten insert for the Gettysburg booklet that I bought for myself (25 cents) while visiting the park from Michigan. It is headed "New Park Facilities".

Hmmmm. the more things change, the more they stay the same.

As I remember, the Cyclorama building hadn't opened yet. Still one of my favorite buildings.

The State of Michigan (and all others, I'd guess) printed their own sets of Centennial booklets and pamphlets, some of which are pretty good resource material. Michigan's were referred to as "the blue books".

Life magazine compiled their pictorial features of that period in a bound form. Filled with some really fine illustration art which helped fire my imagination.

Two nights ago my wife and I watched the profile of Robert E. Lee on American Experience. I'm hoping the the imaginations of a new generation of future Park Rangers will be so fired over the next four years.

See you at the battlefield,

Ranger Mannie

* regards to Dimitri

Landscape Turned Black

2010-12-30T21:27:00.000-05:00

Video here

See you in the slow lane.

Ranger Mannie

Civil War Art: The Centennialist School

2010-12-28T12:07:00.006-05:00

As my friend Jerry Berta says: "It's time to buy art".

The onset of the Civil War Sesquicentennial should have us all bracing for a veritable tsunami of cliched and mediocre Civil War-themed art from the usual suspects. As we draw further and further from the original event, the soldiers which appear among the canvases of leading CW artists of today have more the look of reenactors than of scrawny CW soldiers. Enormous energies are expended on the minutiea of uniform detail or forced pathos rather than thoughtful composition.

The art of the Civil War Centennial was often similarly hackneyed, relying more on cliches and the marketing opportunities of the moment than painterly skill, aesthetics, and the evocation of thought or emotion. Here is a typical example of one such piece of "Centennialist" art.

Mannie Gentile (1952-)

Untitled, 1961

Pencil and crayon on newsprint, 8 1/2" x 11"

Artist's collection

Scene depicts Federal cavalrymen advancing through what appears to be an abandoned Confederate artillery battery.

Interpretation by Design

2010-12-21T14:17:00.000-05:00

Ranger Mannie sez:

"My arm is slightly longer than this."

Earlier this year we had a group of very knowledgeable visitors post some very nice things about how we do things here at Antietam.

I work with very talented people.

Mannie

Here We Goooooooo!

2010-12-20T18:12:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Digital History for this image:

What are you wearing to the sesquicentennial?

Informal Poll

2010-12-17T20:56:00.000-05:00

Doctor Samuel Mudd. Do you think he was in on it?

Passage

2010-12-09T20:47:00.001-05:00

One thing that I always find gratifying, both as a teacher and as a parent, is when young people come to realize that they are part of something bigger than themselves, and start to think about what they can do to make a contribution. When kids discover altruism, they become better people and the world is a better place because of them.

One of these young people, Jimmy Rosebrock, showed an interest in the larger world early on, first as a Boy Scout and then as a volunteer at Antietam National Battlefield. Below is a picture of Jimmy, who, along with his dad (another Antietam Volunteer), provided a Civil War honor guard for the transfer of the remains of a young New York soldier (recovered two years ago in the Cornfield area of Antietam National Battlefield) to Saratoga National Cemetery.

(Jimmy, facing the camera, Jim, his dad with back to camera.)

Today marked the return of Jim after a four-month absence from the Park. The erstwhile kid has returned...

a US Marine.

Jim is very sure of himself, very poised, and very much the same delightful guy we've all come to so appreciate. His family, and his park family are all very proud of him.

And, doesn't it figure, he's showing up at the Park on this, his last weekend of leave, to volunteer.

The kids are alright.

Mannie

Benefits Package

2010-12-08T17:19:00.000-05:00

There are many great things about being a Park Ranger, and this chilly weather reminds me of one:

very cozy Ranger socks!

Staying warm, just north of Sharpsburg.

Mannie

22nd Annual Antietam Illumination

2010-12-04T20:31:00.000-05:00

Arriving at the Park today I was greeted by the sight of legions of busy volunteers .

This army of 1200 happily gathers every year.

They lay out the 23,110 luminaria which commemorate the casualties of the Battle of Antietam

As the last of the luminaria were placed, volunteers and guests convened at the Maryland monument for the 4:15 dedication ceremony.

The proceedings were opened by a choir and an invocation by that great friend of the Park (and my friend), Rev. John Schildt.

Park Superintendent, John Howard gave the opening remarks to a gathering that was fully aware that this is John's final Illumination as a Park Ranger.

John retires at the end of this year but his legacy of excellence will continue on for a long long time, as anyone in the audience would agree.

Despite the chilly temperatures there was a great deal of warmth being directed by the volunteers toward a superintendent who presided over seventeen Annual Illuminations. It was a moving afternoon of remembrance.

At a certain point, the fading afternoon light was slowly overtaken by the glow of the luminaria.

Candles in rank upon rank, representing the fallen of Antietam stretch across the battlefield for miles.

As visitors spare a moment to remember,

Just north of Sharpsburg.

Mannie

(here's a little video from a previous year)

The happy couple

2010-11-26T13:09:00.000-05:00

Never Happier

2010-11-20T20:26:00.007-05:00

Dunker Church

(photo by Marleen Brooks)

Susan, Rev John Schildt, Mannie

(photo by Mary Berger)

(photo by Marleen Brooks)

(photo by Mary Berger)

Ike greets us with a shower of autumnal leaves

(photo by Dave Maher)

(photo by Mary Berger)

November 20th, 2010

Antietam National Battlefield

...just north of Sharpsburg,

Ranger Mannie

Things Change

2010-11-07T19:35:00.002-05:00

When You've been out sick for three weeks there's bound to be some changes upon your return.

I was winding up this beautiful first afternoon back when I glanced out to the parking lot and saw a delightful sight.

"Oh yeah..." said a colleague "there are now horse and buggy tours of the park."

Some things bear closer investigation.

I went out and introduced myself to Bill Licliter and Laurie Atkinson from Bonnymeed Farm over in Shepherdstown. Sure enough They are the new authorized tour livery for the park.

Buzz, the horse, sensed that I was sniffing around for a free ride...

which Laurie graciously offered.

This little wagon is made of oak and simply, though nicely appointed with comfortable seats...

plenty of springs, and rubber tires (or tyres) for a nice smooth ride.

In keeping with the Park's move toward sustainability...

it's also very fuel efficient.

With Bill at the reins, I was given a delightful spin north on Dunker Church Road.

I'd never seen Philly Brigade Park from quite this vantage point.

Thanks to this short ride I learned that there's an interesting similarity between Park Rangers and horses;

every day, we make new friends.

It is so good to be back.

clip-clopping along, just north of Sharpsburg,

Mannie

This looks interesting:

2010-11-03T13:30:00.002-04:00

Discovering the Civil War at the National Archives

Wedding postponed

2010-10-30T22:30:00.000-04:00

Due to an unexpected week-long stay in the hospital (I have a staph infection in my knee) the wedding has been move back to Nov 20.

The soon-to-be newlyweds reside, patiently and happily, just north of Boonsboro.

Mannie

In hospital

2010-10-25T05:50:00.000-04:00

He all, no posts and no pics for awhile. This Ranger has a nasty staph infection in his left knee and has been in Washington County hospital since Friday. Doctors are still in chin-scratching mode. No estimate of when I get out of here.

An unpleasant turn of events considering that I've got a wedding - MINE - to get to next Sunday.

Here's hoping!

Mannie Room
now giving tours of room 7003

On the Town! Rangers Gentile and Hoptak.

2010-09-22T22:09:00.003-04:00

My two favorite Park Rangers swung by the Naval History Center in Washington DC this morning.

The USS Barry, a Vietnam-era destroyer remains at the Navy Yard as a ceremonial platform and museum ship.

The Yard has cannons everywhere and I got into a hasty arms escalation with John...

who thought he had trumped me with this sixteen-incher,

until I opted for quality and quantity.

The inside of the museum building is bright, airy, colorful, and chockfull of really cool stuff...

including some of my favorite things:

ship models,

helmets,

and more ship models.

On this cutaway model of a Sumner class destroyer, I was able to show John where I lived and worked during my time aboard the U.S.S. Dehaven in 1973-74.

And in this twin 5-inch 38 caliber gun house,

I was able to show him where I nearly lost my life way back then, as the "hot shell man".

But he wasn't listening. He was too busy being menaced by...

some sort of undersea robot-monster thingy.

What a fantastic museum facility.

.

Joseph L. Harsh: rest in peace

2010-09-20T22:09:00.000-04:00

Grown men look foolish when they cling to the opinions they formed as nine-year-olds, yet those childish opinions, especially regarding the Civil War and the conduct of the generals involved remain in no short supply among many grown men.

The masterful scholarship of Joseph L. Harsh, a man I never met, collided with my nine-year-old notions upon my arrival at Antietam five years ago. Reading Harsh's assessment, cool, rational, and filled with a remarkable humility, caused me to reassess my indoctrination especially as regards the abilities of George B. McClellan.

"Life is short, ambiguity is long" is a wonderful Harsh quote that should keep all historians, and history enthusiasts on their guard lest their smug allegiance to folklore cause them to end up looking like callow nine-year-olds walking around in grown men's shoes.

It's a sad loss for the craft and rigor of history, though the Antietam trilogy he left behind will serve generations of future historians who chose to listen.

Joseph L. Harsh was laid to rest last Friday September 17, in Hagerstown. The 148th anniversary of the battle that he shed such light upon for this former nine year old boy.

.

Battle Anniversary: best one yet

2010-09-19T07:53:00.001-04:00

This weekend was my fifth battle anniversary as a Ranger, and this was the one that will be the most memorable.

Friday started out with a very enthusiastic Ranger Dan (returned for the weekend) posting the many public programs operated out of the visitor's center.

Ranger Snyder kicked the day off with his outstanding power-point on battlefield preservation.

He was preaching to a packed house.

Rangers Baracz, Snyder, and Hoptak then got the all-day hike underway from the New York monument.

They had well over a hundred happy hikers in attendance.

On Saturday I joined Ranger Baracz for the hike up Nicodemus Heights. Initially I came along as his radioman, but he also asked me to do a brief presentation on artillery, which I'm always happy to do.

Here I'm working on my upper-body strength with a 3 inch Hotchkiss shell (clearly, a skeptical Brian thinks I've got my work cut out for me).

Then the hike got underway in ernest with about a hundred participants making the two mile trek which included Nicodemus Heights and Hauser Ridge.

The anticipation builds as the hikers climb the heights, and then turn around...

To appreciate the view Stuart's horse artillery had of the Union 1st Corps.

I led the two-hour battlefield tour and still had time to attend local historian, Reverend John Schildt's wonderful twilight tour of the National Cemetery.

With 85 people in tow, John told the story of the men who fought and died on September 17, 1862 with great knowledge, humility, and compassion. It was an outstanding talk.

But the highlight of this battle anniversary, came just about a half hour before John's cemetery walk when Susan gave me the answer I was hoping for when...

I asked her to marry me.

Iron Giant

2010-08-28T20:38:00.000-04:00

Here's a little cross-bloggial pollination from my toy soldier blog. I have a thing for artillery you know.

(click on the pix for larger versions)

Several years ago I traveled to Fort Foote just south of Washington DC to see the Giant Rodman guns emplaced there during the Civil War to bar the Potomac as a Confederate route of attack.

I've been fascinated with these guns ever since and have frequently thought of making a scale model of one.

Well, now armed with a woodshop the time seemed right. This cannon project, like the previous one started with a nice poplar blank locked into the wood lathe.

Scale drawings guided every move...

and measurement.

Remove enough wood and the barrel reveals itself.

By keeping the ends of the blank attached to the barel, I had the dead center indicated which made boring out the barrel really easy, not to mention accurate.

Here it is, right on the money.

Back to the lathe to turn the trunnions...

which, after shaping with a small drum sander...

were glued and clamped into position.

This Rodman gun has six wheels, two to return the gun to battery after the recoil caused it to slide up its inclined frame (thus absorbing the force of the recoil), and four large casters upon which the carriage travels along semi-circular tracks.

Again, I kept the stock ends intact to provice stable, square footings for accurate drilling and cutting.

As the upper part of the carriage took shape it was time to drill out shallow holes for the rivets.

When working in 54mm scale, to find a variety of rivets one need look no further than the nearest shotgun shell. Number 8 size shot was ideal for this project.

A drop of super glue will keep all rivets firmly in position.

Finally, it came time to make and assemble the twin I-beam recoil frame.

The large pivot wheels were glued and clamped, with weight, into position. Note that they are at a slight angle to each other, describing the arc'd tracks they will travel along.

The elevation lock was shaped by machine and by hand.

And glued into place at the rear of the upper carriage. The holes correspond with holes in the base of the breach. These were used for elevating the barrel and locking it into place.

To balance the barrel on its trunnions, I drilled a hole in the underside of the breech and filled it with shot, adding and subtracting until a perfect balance was achieved.

At that point white glue was dripped into the hole and cured overnight, locking the shot into place.

The subassemblies were then moved to the paint booth for two coats of satin black paint.

Then it was time to turn my attention to the fortification that would place the gun in a context. I chose to represent the handsome brick, stone, and mortar seacoast fortifications typical of the period.

Making an embrasure with a HSS hand-chisel was a real pleasure.

The various pieces of wood were then glued and clamped together.

Finally the gun is in context with the pivot tongue (forward) visible and the traversing rails executed in white styrene and superglued to the deck.

The pristine coat of black paint was weathered at this point by dry brushing with shades of gray, white, and graphite.

The pivot tongue captures a pin within the wall. This allowed the gun to move left to right while staying captured upon its rails.

The styrene rails were rubbed with powered graphite and polished until they looked like shiny steel. The deck was painted brick red and a "peach" prismacolor pencil laid out the mortar between the bricks.

The stone work around the embrasure was made with wood putty textured and painted to look like granite.

Moving the finished piece out into the daylight reveals a satisfying project completed.

Homestead safe from raiding gunboats, and I'm left to ponder...

about what the next project might be.

Those we meet along the way...

2010-08-28T07:30:00.001-04:00

The class of 2010

(the best yet)

Yesterday was the last day for our two seasonals, Maura and Dan.

We'll see them again.

Snake Handling: Four approaches

2010-08-13T19:58:00.001-04:00

A week ago I posted this photo of Ranger Holly cooly, and professionally relocating a black rat snake from the Visitor Center back to the great outdoors:

Not to be outdone, her colleagues used todays opportune visit by a second, larger black snake to demonstrate their techniques for dealing with our reptilian friends.

Ranger Maura assumes an Edvard Munch posture:

Ranger John recalls big-game hunter and writer Robert Ruark,

Ranger Alann, always amused by animals, springs into Robert Capa mode:

It's always something, at your National Park.

Enjoy your parks,

Mannie

A very cool blog indeed!

2010-08-10T22:32:00.001-04:00

No sooner did I get started on my latest project, a miniature 15 inch Rodman gun, but did I get a heads-up regarding an incredibly cool blog out there showcasing the restoration efforts of the U.S.S. Monitor.

Check it out here or go to my links for regular updates.

Really fascinating stuff.

Friends at Fox's Gap

2010-08-07T22:18:00.001-04:00

The place I live is characterized by beautiful vistas and lots of Civil War history.

Only a few miles from my house is Fox's Gap, an important part of the September 14, 1862 Battle of South Mountain.

After work this evening several of the Antietam crew and friends gathered up at Fox's Gap for a really cool tour by Park Ranger and good friend John Hoptak.

Rosemary, Maury, Ranger Maura, Ranger John, and Jim.

John provided us with a really delightful and informative evening on the mountain, explaining the frequently overlooked, but crucial fight that occurred here as part of Lee's 1862 Maryland campaign. John's encyclopedic knowledge and outstanding teaching style brought a clarity as well as an immediacy to those events of 148 years ago.

Although John may be a brainiac...

I am much larger than him.

What could be better than spending a beautiful evening up on South Mountain surrounded by really good friends?

Mannie

Just another battlefield day

2010-07-31T22:18:00.001-04:00

My day started with the sound, and sight, of a two-seater flying lawnmower in the sky above my yard. Very curious.

Upon arriving at the battlefield I was very nearly spritzed by Ike as he watered the flowers. A very close shave.

Securing my lunch in the breakroom, I saw a black rat-snake emerge from behind the refrigerator. Utterly unexpected.

Then I watched as Ranger Holly quite fearlessly (though gently) relocated the snake to a more appropriate habitat. How hugely humane.

Later, I swore I saw Union soldiers once again at Burnside Bridge. Evocatively ethereal indeed.

Finally, I went spelunking in the very secret and very much off-limits "Lost Ranger" caverns deep beneath the visitor center. How singularly suspenseful.

Only to be chased out by an enormous hornithopter bee (hornithopterious hymenoptera). How incredibly...

bogus.

Actually these last two pics are of the interior of groundhog holes, in case you've ever wondered how our subterranean battlefield friends live.

Every day's an interesting one, just north of Sharpsburg.

Mannie

Safety First!

2010-07-26T22:41:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, a Ranger just has to end the tour early.

Our record-breaking heatwave, as well as yesterday's tour, both came to an abrupt end as this thing came rolling through the valley:

Keeping a weather eye, just north of Sharpsburg,

Mannie

Antietam Secrets - Revealed!

2010-07-22T22:11:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder why the cicadas around the Battlefield are such good singers?

Its 'cause they carry their own sheet music!

Enjoying the music, just north of Sharpsburg.

Mannie

Landscape Turned... Chrome!

2010-07-20T23:09:00.001-04:00

The Packard club rolled through the battlefield yesterday in a nostalgic parade of the days when Detroit was still a dynamo of production and a city of such global importance that it simply went by "Detroit USA"

The Packards spanned several decades of production and were a visual picnic.

About twenty of these classic rides showed up in the morning. The owners watched the film, visited the bookstore, and mobbed (in the good way) Ranger Hoptak's orientation talk.

I have a real soft-spot for the heyday of Detroit as the motor city. I was raised in a GM family, my father, mother, and eventually, my sister all worked for Chevrolet in Saginaw.

As I was growing up it was simply a given that all of my classmates and playground friends had at least one parent who worked in "the shop".

Ask a kid where his dad worked and the answer would seem cryptic to an outsider:

"Grey Iron"

"Four"

"Two"

"Parts Plant"

"Steering Gear"

"Transmission"

We all knew exactly which was which.

We knew at which kids' houses you had to be quiet during the late morning as it was the home of a second shift worker, and third shift? forget about playing over there, you can come to my yard.

This parade of vintage cars brought something else to mind for me. Generally, I ask visitors if they've ever been to Antietam before. Now, at the risk of anthropromorphizing these classic automobiles, I'm inclined to wonder the same thing about them.

Chrome-rich, sheet metal beauties, with functional bumpers, vent windows, and powerful (powerful!) engines. Sure, these cars are emblematic of many things that may be wrong with our consumerist society, but still...

they are so evocative of the prosperity that once upon a time was so accessible to many in my former home state of Michigan, and the labor of both of my parents which helped to get me, eventually, to where I am today...

just north of Sharpsburg.