First Shots on McPherson Ridge - Ranger Chuck Teague

The battle of Gettysburg began on the morning of July 1st, 1863 in the fields and woods northwest of Gettysburg. The fighting would eventually surge across farm land owned by Edward McPherson. Join Gettysburg National Military Park Ranger Chuck Teague for a look at the opening stages of the battle of Gettysburg on McPherson Ridge.

[peterclague]

Great to see the places of legend, makes it all come alive after years of looking at maps and the films.Great from across the pond 👏🇮🇲

[drad]

Outstanding lecture. I just found these park service lecture tours and can’t stop watching. Great informative rangers . Can’t wait to watch them all and then make trek to Gettysburg. Once there, to do it over again live and on location. Thank you National Park service .

[billlaconte]

My name is William LaConte. I am a corporal in the 6th Wisconsin volunteer reenactors. I attended the 145th anniversary battle of Gettysburg reenactment on July 1st, 2008. 145 years to the day later. My fellow Blacks Hats and I visited the railroad cut. Just to stand there and quietly remember the men who fought there. It was more than 90 degrees and around 90% humidity. Just as it was back on the day of the battle. We were walking around near McPhersons property when a gentleman passed by and recognized that we were Iron Brigade reenactors by our tall black hat. He said he was Mr. McPherson. Maybe he was a descendant but he invited us to walk into the woods. So we somberly went in and we were struck by how eerily quiet it was. And we saw bullet holes in some trees. Never will forget it, that day.

[faulltw]

Thank goodness the person holding the camera changed position. The guy in the background squirming around was driving me crazy. :)

[jamesporter]

I'm going to correct pronunciation again, it's Scotch/Irish, it's Scottish/Irish. Scotch is what you drink, Scottish is the nationality.

otherwise, it was a good battlefield talk

[Bocephuz]

outstanding. first time I have watched one of Teague's ranger walks and it was thoroughly entertaining and enlightening. Seeing the inside of the barn as well as the solider's inscriptions was icing on the cake

[decimated]

45:45 wow he allows the attendees to have a quiet moment inside the barn to imagine the wounded men who lay there until they died or were treated

[davidh]

I have thoroughly enjoyed all these Ranger talks at Gettysburg. Thanks, NPS!

[LZRDWZRD]

Very informative (beats reading the Wikipedia article any day). Great video!

[philiphorner]

A+ I recall long ago reading about the rail cut fight and General Reynolds loss. Very nice to get an on site explanation of the entire fight there that day.

[natedorney]

"Militia hell... It's those damn black hatted fellows"

[cwb]

Very Interesting..Thank you for Posting..

[cammarks]

Visited Gettysburg a couple of weeks ago and we were pleased to see that Lee's HQ was by itself instead of being surrounded by the hotel. Wish we could have caught some of the Parks Service lectures while we were there. Good job Ranger Teague.

[francissullivan]

GOD BLESS both CONFEDERATE and UNION troops KIA, DOW,and WIA ..we were and ALWAYS will be BROTHERS.

[phred]

My GG Uncle, Judson Stevens, fought at McPherson's Farm with Buford. He was a prolific and lucid letter writer and wrote of the event. He was a member of the 8th Illinois Cavalry. He describes the great haste in which they dismounted and began almost immediately to engage. He had a Spencer carbine which he described as "lovely" and that he could see the Confederates quite easily coming across the field. He was behind a stone wall and fought all day. Both he and the horses were well lathered and thirsty in the heat.

[francissullivan]

OUTSTANDING park ranger..Wealth of information..concern for the tourist and his grave firm solemn RESPECT for the dead.

[demianhaki]

First Monty Python and now this: Terry Gilliam is an excellent Park Ranger!

[CrazySC]

One day after I retire, I would absolutely LOVE to become a battlefield guide. I'm an insufferable civil war buff and think it would be wonderful to give back to the community as a guide.

[marymoriarity]

All this rangers video tors are superb

[willoutlaw]

Good job by the narrator and his cameraman. The cameraman shows the surrounding land as well as the narrator. This Ranger focuses on the battle rather than engaging in personal experiences (in Mississippi), snide remarkes, invective, and ill timed attempts at humor.