Re-Enactor Neil Buttermore Shares Insights On Battle Of Gettysburg
BY BECKY JACOBS — MIRROR REPORTER
The last of this year’s Wolcott House Museum Guild’s history lectures was held March 25 at the Maumee Branch Library, as Neil Buttermore presented “A Veteran Remembers Gettys-burg.”
Buttermore earned a bachelor of science in chemistry from Wheaton College in Illinois and a master of divinity in counseling from the Canadian Theological Seminary in Saskatchewan. He spent two years on active duty with the U.S. Army.
He now owns the memorabilia store Ancient of Days Antiques at 2505 Broadway in Toledo.
At the lecture, Buttermore appeared in full uniform as a colonel in the 1st Ohio Cavalry that participated in the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863.
His interest in becoming a re-enactor began when he saw the movie Gettysburg. He traveled to the battlefield, visiting Little Round Top, where Pickett’s Charge took place, Devil’s Den, Culp’s Hill and other locations.
Prior to 1861, the states determined their own rules and regulations. But there was an ongoing disagreement whether there should be one government or separate state governments when deciding such issues as taxation, slavery and other decisions.
The northern states opposed slavery, but the south’s economy depended on it.
In 1861, when debate had reached a peak, the southern states seceded from the union and formed the Confederate States of America with Jefferson Davis as president.
President Abraham Lincoln is quoted saying, “A house divided cannot stand,” but a Civil War with brother fighting brother erupted.
The Confederate armies realized many victories over the northern Union Army at the beginning of the war.
By 1863, Gen. Robert E. Lee took command of the army of Northern Virginia. He decided on an invasion of the north, thinking that if the south won a victory in the north, Lincoln would seek a settlement toward peace, ending the war.
This decision resulted in the war coming to Gettysburg, a small, rural south central Pennsylvania town.
Lee and his army of 75,000 began their travel north. However, on the way, Lee found out that the 95,000 men of the Union Army of the Potomac, led by Maj. Gen. George Meade, were in pursuit.
The battle broke out near Gettysburg, driving the Union forces through the streets of Gettysburg to a location south of town. Following the first day of battle the Confederates traveled from Seminary Ridge, through town and east toward the area called Culp’s Hill.
The Union forces received reinforcements and formed a formation along Cemetery Ridge and Culp’s Hill.
Lee believed his army was invincible, especially after being somewhat successful the first two days of battle.
Both Lee and Meade planned their strategies, which led to the most famous day of the American Civil War. The Union held ground and was victorious, but the two armies had between 46,000 to 51,000 casualties.
By July 4 Lee began withdrawing his army toward Williamsport on the Potomac River.
But, instead of being a true Independence Day, Lee would again assemble his army to continue the war two more years.
President Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, just months after the battle ended, in dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg.
Meade was later criticized for not pursuing Lee and his army further rather than letting them retreat.
During his talk, Buttermore showed some impressive photos of the war with accompanying maps.
Eric Beerbower, age 16, a homeschooled student from Toledo, joined Buttermore for the presentation. He was dressed as a Union sergeant, but re-enacted the part of Billy Bayly.
Billy was age 13 at the time of battle. His father was Joseph Tate Bayly and his mother Harriet Bayly. He shared that the army took over their farm and ate their food, including the animals on the farm.
His tale could probably be repeated over and over again by innocent people.
Also at this week’s lecture, Bernard Crossen was chosen the winner of the guild’s 50/50 raffle. Tickets had been sold throughout the two-month period of the lecture series.