HGAC’s Educational Speakers Program: “Gettysburg Shadows”

Prepare to have your assumptions about the Battle of Gettysburg challenged! HGAC’s Educational Speakers program on Tuesday, May 16, will feature Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Ralph Siegel, who will present a talk entitled “Gettysburg Shadows.”

This free program will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the historic G.A.R. Hall on 53 East Middle Street in Gettysburg, PA 17325. Doors open at 7 p.m.

The focus will be on the sweeping command decisions made by Gettysburg battle commanders – with a new perspective intended to question assumptions enshrined in many of popular books. Why did Lee ignore Longstreet? Why did Ewell fail to attack? How did Meade win?

Siegel credits the concept of “Shadows” to the writings and tours of legendary Harper’s Ferry Chief Historian Dennis Frye and his book, “Antietam Shadows.”  Siegel’s talk takes Frye’s concepts and his appetite for challenging convention, and applies these “shadows” to Gettysburg.

Ralph Siegel has been a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park since 2004. He has conducted hundreds of battlefield tours for all manner of visitors, groups and military classes from around the United States, and is the co-author of “Peach Orchard: A Gettysburg Battlefield Guided Tour.”