Being there . . . . for a special addendum-supplement to, “Firestorm at Gettysburg – – Civilian
Voices, June – November 1863”, by Jim Slade and John Alexander, published in 1998 by the
incomparable Schiffer Publishing Company’s Military Unit. See yesterday’s “Being there . . .”
column. In this reviewer’s opinion, “Firestorm at Gettysburg” is the best book yet compiled,
written, and published about the 2,500 town citizens trapped between the Union and
Confederate armies totaling more 170,000 troops. Of course, all Civil War buffs, bar none, know
of that frightening plight good, ordinary, God-fearing people were caught up in. Virtually all
managed to survive, hiding wherever they could find covered space. Soon, word spread that
less than 2 ½ miles away, 6,000 graves had to be dug for the Union and Confederate dead
scattered about. Another 3,000 larger graves were anticipated for horses and mules, although
most of the dead horses were set afire. Whether true or not, some claimed the odor reached
Washington, D.C.
A VERY, VERY SPECIAL ADDENDUM TO YESTERDAY ‘S REVIEW OF “FIRESTORM AT GETTYSBURG
- – CIVILIAN VOICES, JUNE – NOVEMBER 1863”, PLACING YOU PRESENT LIKE NO OTHER MEANS:
THE J. HOWARD WERT COLLECTION OF GETTYSBURG’S RELICS FROM THE SEVERAL SNIPING
AND ARTILLERY SITES AND GENERAL BATTLEFIELDS WHERE CHARGING CONFEDRATES SHOT TO
KILL, 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 Bruce
E. Mowday and G. Craig Caba. Schiffer MILITARY Publishing Ltd. Atglen, PA 19310: 2017, 144
pages, virtually every page illustrated in color, including most of the printed narrative pages; 9
1/2” x 8 ½”, hardcover, $34.99. Visit, www.schifferbooks.com.
Serious American Civil War enthusiasts know that J. Howard Wert, perhaps 21, had recently
graduated from college when the armies of the North and South met face to face, perhaps a
dozen blocks separating them and their artilleries overlooking Gettysburg, the town. The Wert
homestead was about three miles outside the city limits in the summer of 1863. J. Howard was
a 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 in
and around the town, especially among the low forested hills in the distance. Interestingly, he
collected and labeled artifacts from the battle, including a still-hot Confederate shell that nearly
sliced him in half on Little Round Top. After Lee withdrew his remaining troops, Wert continued
gathering 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 central
Pennsylvania home. Here, in this book, the items can be appreciated via 120 color photographs
and 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 about
Gettysburg. 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, Howard
Houck Wert. J. Howard’s 1916 will declared the collection should be forever intact and not
divided. Future generations would best be served by seeing the complete collection together.
Even as you read this, the collection remains intact.
