- – CIVILIAN VOICES, JUNE – NOVEMBER 1863”, PLACING YOU PRESENT LIKE NO OTHER MEANS:THE J. HOWARD WERT COLLECTION OF GETTYSBURG’S RELICS FROM THE SEVERAL SNIPINGAND ARTILLERY SITES AND GENERAL BATTLEFIELDS WHERE CHARGING CONFEDRATES SHOT TOKILL, AND, IF NECESSARY, FIGHT HAND TO HAND UNTIL OND OF THE OTHER DROPPED.Reviewed and recommended by Don DeNevi“J. HOWARD WERT’S GETTYSBURG – – A Collection of Relics from the Civil War Battle”, by BruceE. Mowday and G. Craig Caba. Schiffer MILITARY Publishing Ltd. Atglen, PA 19310: 2017, 144pages, virtually every page illustrated in color, including most of the printed narrative pages; 91/2” x 8 ½”, hardcover, $34.99. Visit, www.schifferbooks.com.Serious American Civil War enthusiasts know that J. Howard Wert, perhaps 21, had recentlygraduated from college when the armies of the North and South met face to face, perhaps adozen blocks separating them and their artilleries overlooking Gettysburg, the town. The Werthomestead was about three miles outside the city limits in the summer of 1863. J. Howard wasa militia member and supporter of the anti-slavery movement. When the Union cavalry arrived,he volunteered as a guide for General George Meade, helping position federal foot soldiers inand around the town, especially among the low forested hills in the distance. Interestingly, hecollected and labeled artifacts from the battle, including a still-hot Confederate shell that nearlysliced him in half on Little Round Top. After Lee withdrew his remaining troops, Wert continuedgathering relics of the three-day battle, many handed to him by the survivors on both sides.These included weapons, clothing, letters, furniture, and items connected to Lincoln himself.Today, Wert’s gatherings, now his private collection, are protected and cared for in a centralPennsylvania home. Here, in this book, the items can be appreciated via 120 color photographsand text about each item, as well ample information about J. Howard’s life.On page 142, there is Appendix B with 18 titles of books J. Howard Wert wrote on and aboutGettysburg. He covered just about every aspect of the battle, the aftermath, interviews with
the survivors, roles of the hospitals, a book entitled “Five Years in The Grave” (!), and another,
“Poems of Camp and Hearth” (his). J. Howard’s collection was kept intact by his son, HowardHouck Wert. J. Howard’s 1916 will declared the collection should be forever intact and notdivided. Future generations would best be served by seeing the complete collection together.
Even as you read this, the collection remains intact.
