Gettysburg NMP looking for man who reportedly vandalized Little Round Top

Source: FOX 43
Author: James Corrigan

Published: September 15, 2025

GETTYSBURG, Pa. — Gettysburg National Military Park officials are asking for the public’s help after a monument on Little Round Top was vandalized.

According to the park, a visitor reported hearing the sound of scratching and scraping between 5 and 6 p.m. on Sunday on the New York “castle” monument at Little Round Top, one of the most significant sites of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. 

The visitor followed the suspect and was able to take a photograph, which has since been shared by the park on social media.

“Some major vandalism had occurred,” said Jason Martz, communications specialist for Gettysburg National Military Park. “By the looks of it, it had been with a pocket knife.”

Officials say the letters "LJR" were carved on the side of a plaque on the monument, which was erected at the site 132 years ago to honor Union soldiers from New York who helped repel Confederate attacks during the battle.

“This is truly sacred ground,” Martz said. “This is an entire space dedicated to those who fought and died here. And so, this is really the last place that I would think that anyone would truly take time to desecrate in any way, shape or form.”

The incident comes after a rock at the site was defaced in August of 2024

Martz says damaging a monument itself is especially troubling because of the history and memory it represents.

More than 50,000 soldiers were killed or wounded during the Battle of Gettysburg, and Martz says protecting these monuments is a way to honor their sacrifice.

“Really, what it comes down to is defacing the memory of those who fought and died — the memory of those who lived to then memorialize those who did fight and die here,” Martz said.

Gettysburg National Military Park is urging anyone who recognizes the individual in the photograph to contact its anonymous tip line at 888-653-0009.

Battlefield BookFest Is Coming to Gettysburg!

Get ready for an unforgettable weekend of history, storytelling, and celebration at our new Battlefield BookFest! We’re thrilled to announce this year's event will take place November 14-15, 2025, at the Adams County Historical Society in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

This exciting event will bring together renowned historians, award-winning authors, and passionate readers for a unique experience that blends compelling talks, exclusive book signings, and conversations about the past that shaped our nation.

Learn more & Register on Thursday, September 18

Highlights include:

• Presentations by Scott Hartwig, Dr. Carol Reardon, Will Greene, Patrick O'Donnell, and more.

• Book signings and meet-and-greets with your favorite authors such as William A. Frassanito and yours truly. 

• The presentation of the American Battlefield Trust Prize for History. 

• Our live Ultimate GettysNerd Game Show 2.0!

What is the Ultimate GettysNerd Game Show 2.0?

You asked for it, and we are bringing it back to you live and bigger and better than ever…the Ultimate GettysNerd Game Show 2.0! Do you think that YOU are the ultimate Gettysburg buff? Do YOU constantly tell your friends and family about the battle, the personalities, and the town of Gettysburg?

Well, put your knowledge to the test by going head-to-head with other Gettysburg buffs to see if you are the ultimate GettysNerd! Join us on the evening of November 14 (as part of the Battlefield BookFest), for our second annual Ultimate GettysNerd Game Show contest.

Learn how YOU can enter the Ultimate GettysNerd Game Show 

Relive the 2024 GettysNerd Game Show on YouTube

Tickets Available This Thursday, Sept. 18

Tickets for both events will be available here to purchase beginning this Thursday, September 18, 2025.

Tickets for Battlefield BookFest and the Ultimate GettysNerd Game Show events will be sold individually, and packages will also be available.

Don't Miss Your Early Bird Discount!

Use code Battlefields10 to save 10% on your ticket order.  This offer expires October 10, 2025, so act fast!

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this one-of-a-kind celebration of history and literature, as well as our Ultimate GettysNerd Game Show. If you have questions about the events, please contact us at events@battlefields.org.

Best regards,

Garry Adelman  
Chief Historian 
American Battlefield Trust

Gettysburg's Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse Trustees announce capital campaign

From The Gettysburg Connection

September 2, 2025 by Charles Stangor

The Board of Trustees of Gettysburg’s Evergreen Cemetery today announced a capital campaign for preservation work in and around the cemetery’s historic Gatehouse.

The “Gatehouse Preservation Project” will involve painting of the exterior bricks (which were painted at the time of the Civil War battle in 1863) as well as an improved entrance way, ceremonial gardens and three informative wayside exhibits for visitors.

“The Gatehouse is one of the most famous architectural landmarks associated with the Battle of Gettysburg, but it is now 170 years old, and we want to make sure it is here for many more generations,” said Gettysburg native Brian Kennell, superintendent and caretaker of the cemetery. “It was painted from 1855 through 1966, when, like many brick buildings in Gettysburg it was sandblasted to remove the multiple layers of paint. Deterioration of the bricks since that time led the board to make this preservation decision.”

The Gatehouse was built to represent the gates of heaven as a symbolic entrance to the newly formed cemetery. The Italianate structure of brick and stone was originally painted rustic red with cornice-work of dark chocolate brown. It became iconic to historians and visitors after it was damaged by shot and shell during the battle.

New garden areas will be placed around the Gatehouse property, including the Marianne Moore Garden, honoring Gettysburg’s Pulitzer Prize-winning poet who is buried at Evergreen. Wayside exhibits will inform visitors of the cemetery’s beginnings, the history of the Gatehouse, as well as battlefield preservation work begun shortly after the battle by David McConaughy, Evergreen’s first president.

The goal of “The Gatehouse Preservation Project” campaign is to raise $250,000 to restore the historic Gatehouse, and install informational wayside exhibits and gardens, with additional funds to be held to address the future care of the Gatehouse for generations to come.

Painting of the Gatehouse will begin this fall, and the improved Gatehouse entrance area from Baltimore Street to the parking area is expected to be completed in 2026.

For more information, visit evergreencemetery.org.

Donations to the campaign may be made online.

Checks can be made payable to Evergreen Cemetery Preservation Fund. Mail to Evergreen Cemetery, 799 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA  17325.

Gettysburg NMP Deer Management Program Will Run September thru March

GETTYSBURG, PA— Gettysburg National Military Park (NMP) and Eisenhower National Historic Site (NHS) will conduct lethal removal of white-tailed deer as part of the White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement between September 2025 through March 2026. This action addresses the over-browsing of native vegetation and agricultural crops and is a management strategy that supports long-term protection, preservation, and restoration of critical elements of the cultural landscape and other natural and cultural resources while maintaining a healthy deer population at both park units. The cultural landscapes of both park units are fundamental resources and are critical to the interpretation of the events that took place at each park.  

Hunting is not permitted inside the two parks--only qualified federal employees will take part in the effort to manage the deer populations affecting the parks. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services will be doing the work under an inter-agency agreement with the National Park Service (NPS). NPS closely coordinates all activities associated with implementation of the plan with the Borough of Gettysburg, surrounding Townships including Cumberland, Mount Joy, and Straban, state law enforcement officials, and with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

In June of 2017 the Pennsylvania Game Commission designated a new Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Area which has recently been expanded to include all of Gettysburg NMP and Eisenhower NHS. For this management season, culled deer will be tested for CWD, and once negative CWD tests are confirmed, all venison will be donated to local area food banks and non-profits via United Way of Adams County.

www.nps.gov

Army Expo '25 - 13-14 September Carlisle, PA

JOIN US for Army Expo '25 -

13-14 September 9:0 0AM-5:00 PM

950 Soldiers Drive, Carlisle, PA

Army Expo '25 is a free, family-friendly eventthat hosts more than 7000 guests annually. It promises an unparalleled experience, blending military history, cutting-edge technology, and thrilling demonstrations and is expected to draw thousands of visitors.

Army Expo '25 is a free, family-friendly eventthat hosts more than 7000 guests annually. It promises an unparalleled experience, blending military history, cutting-edge technology, and thrilling demonstrations and is expected to draw thousands of visitors.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL SCHEDULE

​Aerial Spectacle: Witness the breathtaking precision of West Point Parachute Team, the Black Knights, as they perform heart-stopping aerial demonstrations.​​

Historical Reenactments: Over 300 reenactors will bring Army history to life, spanning multiple eras and offering visitors a unique glimpse into the past.​​

Military Machinery: Get up close to an impressive array of military vehicles and tanks from World War II, showcasing the evolution of Army technology with live demonstrations.​​

First Oval Office Project: A replica of General George Washington’s Revolutionary War tent will be available for exploration.

 The full schedule will be available soon.  

 Learn more at: https://ahec.armywarcollege.edu/.

 For inquiries:  USAHEC@army.mil

New Lincoln Statue to be Dedicated in D.C.

By Chris Mackowski on August 31, 2025 of The Emerging Civil War

A new statue depicting President Abraham Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation will be dedicated in Washington, D.C., on September 22, 2025—the anniversary of the event. The dedication is being held as the kickoff to the Grand Reopening of the African American Civil War Museum, set for mid-November.

Jeffrey Boutwell of the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia offers the details. Click here to see the post.

From the press release:

As the kickoff to the Grand Reopening of the African American Civil War Museum, an inspiring new statue of President Abraham Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation will be unveiled on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 11 A.M. outside the museum.

The outdoor event will feature live music, Civil War re-enactors in period dress, and guest speakers.

The date of September 22nd was chosen to mark the anniversary of Lincoln’s 1862 Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which warned the states that had seceded in 1861 to return to the Union or face the freeing of enslaved people on January 1, 1863. Lincoln issued the final Proclamation, freeing millions and calling for the enlistment of Black soldiers. By the end of the Civil War, more than 209,000 United States Colored Troops (USCT)—many of them formerly enslaved—had fought for the Union, helping secure victory.

The USCT is the central focus of the museum’s expanded 16,000-square-foot space, set to reopen on Veterans Day, November 11, 2025. Through exhibits, programs, and educational resources, the museum tells the story of the men who faced extraordinary obstacles, including the threat of re-enslavement if captured, yet served with honor and distinction.

The new statue was designed and sculpted by noted artist Stan Watts of Salt Lake City, Utah, who is scheduled to attend the unveiling. It will stand on the walkways outside the museum, symbolically linking President Lincoln to the Black soldiers and sailors who helped preserve the Union. The dedication event is chaired by the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia, a 90-year-old organization devoted to preserving Lincoln’s legacy. The Civil War Roundtable of DC has also partnered with the Museum to make this event possible.

***********

The museum is located across Vermont Avenue from the African American Civil War Memorial, which bears the names of all 209,145 USCT soldiers who served in Union forces. Since its opening in 1998, the memorial and museum have honored their sacrifice and kept their stories alive. The centerpiece of the memorial is a nine-foot bronze statue entitled The Spirit of Freedom. It is at the corner of Vermont Ave, 10th Street , and U Street NW, a short distance from the Museums entrance on Vermont Ave NW. It is surrounded by a wall of honor listing the names of all who served in the USCT.

With its extensive collection of photographs, documents, and artifacts, the museum offers visitors a powerful lens into the lives of the USCT and their families. It also connects past and present through its Civil War Descendants and US Colored Troops databases, providing a living link between the soldiers of yesterday and their descendants today.

The African American Civil War Museum is housed in the historic Grimké Building, once home to abolitionist and lawyer Archibald Grimké (1849 – 1930). He was born into slavery in South Carolina and became the second African American to graduate from Harvard Law School. The Museum is a private, nonprofit institution and receives no federal funding.

“Philadelphia in the Civil War” - a Free Zoom Program Sun, Sept 7th at 1pm

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC (G.A.R.) CIVIL WAR MUSEUM & ARCHIVE

Presents a Free Zoom Program

 Sunday, September 7, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.

 “Philadelphia in the Civil War”

 By James Paradis

 The program will observe the city at the outbreak of the war.  It will examine key men and women on the home front and the battlefield.  We will also discuss some of the regiments and soldiers from Philadelphia, the hospitals, the naval contributions from Greater Philadelphia, and the famous Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon.

 Dr. Paradis has served for many years on the board of directors of Citizens for the Restoration of Historical La Mott, which preserves the site of Camp William Penn, the first and largest training camp for Black soldiers in the Civil War.  He served as historical consultant and narrator for the documentary film, "Black Soldiers in Blue: The Story of Camp William Penn," released in 2009.  In 2011 the NAACP of Cheltenham, PA awarded him a Certificate of Recognition for his contributions preserving African American history. Author of Strike the Blow for Freedom: The 6th Regiment of US Colored Infantry and African Americans and the Gettysburg Campaign,

To reserve a virtual seat for this outstanding presentation, reply by e-mail to garmuslib1866@gmail.com

 You will be sent a link with a password that will enable you to access the program within 24 hours of the start of the presentation. 

 Deadline for signing-up is Noon, Saturday, September 6, 2025

 As a lover of history, you know how critical it is to keep history alive, especially today.  We very much appreciate your continued support for the GAR Civil War Museum & Archive

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC MUSEUM & ARCHIVE
8110 Frankford Ave. (Holmesburg - N.E. Philadelphia), 19136
 www.garmuslib.org

Eisenhower National Historic Site’s 2025 World War II Weekend, 9/19-21

GETTYSBURG, PA— Join Eisenhower National Historic Site (NHS) staff for our annual World War II Weekend from September 19 to 21. The focus of this year’s event will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II by focusing on the people, events, and legacies of 1945. Park rangers, guest speakers, living historians, and partner organizations will bring the events of 1945 to life through three days of interactive programming, tours, and activities for visitors of all ages.

Programming begins the evening of Friday, September 19, and continues throughout the day on Saturday September 20 and Sunday September 21. Due to an abundance of caution, Eisenhower NHS will be closed on Friday September 19 during the set-up of the on-site living history camp.

Visit the website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/eise/world-war-ii-weekend.htm

 Event highlights include:

Notable guest speakers and historians: Pulitzer-Prize winning historian and author Rick Atkinson will speak Friday evening at the Gettysburg National Military Park (NMP) Museum and Visitor Center (free tickets are required, see website for details). On Saturday and Sunday, speakers at Eisenhower NHS will focus on a variety of topics including General George C. Marshall, the U.S. Marine Corps, the island of Iwo Jima, the Women’s Army Corps, surviving the Kamikaze, the flight of the Enola Gay, and a conversation with Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower on the afternoon of Sunday, September 21. A full list of speakers and topics is available on the park website. 

  Ranger-Guided Walking Tours of WWII burials in Gettysburg National Cemetery: At 5 pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, park rangers will offer guided walking tours of Gettysburg National Cemetery, exploring the stories of the 590 fallen World War II soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines buried there. Each evening’s program will have a different focus. Friday night’s theme is stories from the Pacific Theater. Saturday night will focus on casualties from the European Theater. Sunday night will cover those who fought and died in 1945 at the war’s end. Meet at the Taneytown Road entrance to Gettysburg National Cemetery.

  1945 Living History Camp at Eisenhower NHS: Visit American and Allied units, as well as groups depicting life on the Homefront, to explore the people and events of 1945. Park rangers will lead guided walking tours of the living history camp throughout the weekend.

  Family Activities and Programs at Eisenhower NHS: Kids can pick up a family activity booklet when they arrive, take part in activities throughout the camp, and visit the Family Tent for a special World War II-themed prize. 

  Special 1945 Museum Exhibits: Visit the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center to see exhibits from Naval History and Heritage Command, U.S. Museum of the Navy, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, and Eisenhower NHS. These exhibits explore the people, events, and legacies of 1945, including baseball during World War II.

  Eisenhower Home Tours: Free tours of the only home that Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower ever owned are available on both Saturday and Sunday of World War II Weekend.

  Please visit our website for more information: www.nps.gov/eise.

 How to visit Eisenhower National Historic Site during World War II Weekend:

Weather permitting, free on-site parking for passenger vehicles only will be available at Eisenhower NHS in a farm field accessible from Emmitsburg Road, Business Route 15. For GPS, use 250 Eisenhower Farm Road.

  Eisenhower NHS will have accessible parking on-site throughout the weekend.

  Bus groups must book shuttles from the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center, located at 1195 Baltimore Pike. Visit the Gettysburg Foundation website or call 877-874-2478 to make reservations.

All National Park Service World War II Weekend programming is free of charge. Outdoor programs are weather dependent.

Help Ensure a New Visitor Center for Vicksburg

It isn’t often that I write to American Battlefield Trust supporters urging them to support legislation that would decrease the size of a national battlefield park, but the Vicksburg National Military Park Boundary Modification Act is a very special case. By transferring 11 targeted acres to the State of Mississippi, it will enable the construction of a brand new, and much needed, visitor center for the battlefield and surrounding historic community.

Vicksburg National Military Park is the most visited cultural site in Mississippi, welcoming more than 400,000 visitors in 2024. But its cramped 1960s-era visitor center is no longer up to the task of interpreting and orienting so many people to one of the Civil War’s most important campaigns.  

That’s because when the Park was first created in the 1890s, it focused only on the 47-day siege; but thanks to more recent legislation, the park’s preservation and interpretation footprint has expanded to encompass the full campaign, including critical battlefields like Champion Hill, Chickasaw Bayou, Port Gibson and Raymond. Vicksburg National Military Park deserves a state-of-the-art facility with the space, technology and infrastructure to tell the full story of the Vicksburg Campaign.  

Thanks to a collaborative effort spearheaded by the state of Mississippi and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, with further assistance from Vicksburg National Military Park and Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign – all fully supported by the American Battlefield Trust – a new Vicksburg Civil War Visitor Center is scheduled to open its doors in 2028.

This will do far more than showcase the park. It will serve as a gateway to the region’s rich history, guiding visitors through stories beyond the siege, encouraging them to explore further and connecting them with information about all that the area has to offer – battlefields, museums and solid southern hospitality. With around 200,000 visitors expected to explore the new facility each year, the economic benefits will everberate across the area.  

Please take a moment and sign our letter to your United States Senators and Members of Congress, urging them to support the Vicksburg National Military Park Boundary Modification Act (S. 1016 and H.R. 4467,

Sincerely,

Jim Campi
Chief Policy and Communications Officer
American Battlefield Trust

Harriet Tubman’s Civil War Legacy Comes to Life in Free Gettysburg Program on Sept 12

Sept. 12, 2025

 GETTYSBURG, Pa.—Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Foundation are pleased to co-host a free public event spotlighting Harriet Tubman’s extraordinary role as a Union military leader and freedom fighter during the Civil War. On Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at 7 p.m. in the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, acclaimed historian and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black will present a program centered on her acclaimed book COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War. Complimentary tickets are required and may be reserved at GettysburgFoundation.org.

While Harriet Tubman is widely known for her escape from slavery and courageous work on the Underground Railroad, COMBEE sheds light on her overlooked service as a spy for the U.S. Army. Fields-Black’s groundbreaking research brings to life the 1863 Combahee River Raid in South Carolina, an audacious mission that liberated more than 700 enslaved people. The book received the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in History and the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize.

A direct descendant of a soldier who fought in the Combahee River Raid, Fields-Black reveals how Tubman led a network of spies, pilots and informants—many of them freedom seekers themselves—to orchestrate the largest slave rebellion in U.S. history. The 1863 raid freed 756 enslaved people from seven rice plantations along South Carolina’s Combahee River. Drawing from newly examined records, Fields-Black brings to life the individuals who carried out the mission and those who emerged from it, illuminating the resilience of a community and the enduring power of Tubman’s leadership. Learn more about Fields-Black and her works.

COMBEE will be available to purchase, with a signing to follow the program. Admission is free with a reserved ticket. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited. For reservations and event details, visit GettysburgFoundation.org.

Opportunities are available for the public to become involved in supporting the Gettysburg Foundation’s mission of preservation and education in partnership with the National Parks at Gettysburg. The Gettysburg Foundation invites the public to join the Friends of Gettysburg, its membership arm of the organization offering member benefits, including exclusive programming for First Corps level members throughout the year.

Friends of Gettysburg’s First Corps Weekend Event: Stories of Courage and Freedom

The Friday evening program with Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black also kicks off the Friends of Gettysburg’s First Corps Weekend Event, with special programming September 12-13. While the Friday evening talk is open to the public, Saturday’s exclusive program focuses on the untold history of Black life, resistance and resilience in and around Gettysburg and requires active First Corps membership and reservations. First Corps Weekend Event reservations include the Friday program.

More information about the Friends of Gettysburg and membership benefits is available at GettysburgFoundation.org/Friends.