Matt is positively one of the best all time commentators on the Civil War. He is fluent and flawless with his delivery and adds a very real intangible human element. Thank you truly
I'm amazed how this guy can remember all of that info, all those little details, with no notes or anything! That is incredible! I'm really, really impressed.
Storytelling is an ancient and honorable tradition, dating back to the days when books were rare to non-existent. The capacity of the human mind to remember things hasn't changed, but technology reduces the need, so people tend to do it less.
Gettysburg is I think, the 2nd most visited national park in America. To ranger there they take only the cream of the crop and the most learned. Multiple degrees are the norm for some of these guides and they do a great job at interpretation.
His sense of humor is terrible and it takes away from the immersion. He needs to stick to telling the story of the battle. His cringe inducing jokes need to be saved for the bar
I am so glad that I found these NPS videos. It is refreshing to see these very knowledgeable and passionate rangers describe Gettysburg and the battle that took place in 1863. Gettysburg National Military Park should be very proud of all of these rangers and their ability to paint the picture as well as they do.... I know that I am. Keep up the great work GNMP.
I came across from the UK for the 150th in 2013 and spent a couple of days looking around the battlefield and I must say that your National Park Service do a hell of a job preserving places like Gettysburg. Putting guys like Matt out, with his amusing anecdotes, to do the the field lectures is great. It takes the dryness out of the subject and creates interest in the finer details of what actually happened on the day.
I lived in Gettysburg for 25 years and have learned more watching Ranger Matt Atkinson videos along with other Park Rangers then all of the history lessons from school. We go back a few times a year and would love to know if Matt is still there and giving tours. Thank You sir for bringing history to life with your amazing tours.
My husband and I are frequent visitors to Gettysburg, traveling several times each year. We truly enjoy Ranger Atkinson's tours. He is very thorough and well informed in his tours. He involves the audience in his tours, and is very humorous, making his tours interesting. Kydos, Ranger Matt! Thanks for sharing!
Some day soon, the wife and I are going to stay near by and explore every inch of this hollowed battlefield, where SO MANY Americans on both sides died for their ideals. I do hope Park Ranger Matt Atkinson {that rebel right there :-) }, is still posted to that area, as I would love to meet him and attend one or even all of his field tours. He, IMO, is not only a wealth of historical information and little known factual items of interest, but he is a showman as well, who injects humor and tiny diversions into his presentations, which serve to assist in keeping one's interest. Also, the use of visitors, children AND adults, as visual aids to help in explaining battlefield occurrences while out on the battlefield, is something I have noticed by viewing all the available videos on this Gettysburg NPS RUclips site, is unique only to him and is quite helpful in understanding clearly the actions taken on the field by both federal and rebel forces. This as well helps in holding the interest of his audience. This man is worth MORE than his weight in gold in his service to Gettysburg National Military Park, the NPS, and the many visitors to the battlefield's areas.
+ricklude If you can, spend as much time there as possible, and cover as much of the battlefield as you can. Walk through the wood lines too. If you're able, visit the areas not closed at night. I printed out maps showing where the regiments where positioned and the fighting took place and it was a great way to orient myself on the battlefield and do some self guided touring. Cheers.
Outstanding presentations by Ranger Atkinson. The next best thing to being at the park. Excellent resource! Thank you so much for sharing your passion with the American people.
1 of my cousins and her hubby traveled to Gettysburg 6 years ago in August, 2015 from Youngstown, Ohio. They were there about a week and had Matt Atkinson give them a group tour of the battlefield starting at McPherson's Ridge where Gen. Reynolds was killed. If they'd gone there the prior year, they might've been on 1 of the RUclips vids
I had the pleasure of meeting Matt Atkinson a few years ago at GNP. He seems like a really good guy who truly enjoys his work. His videos are always quite good and understandable to a wide ranging audience.
Love watching and listening to Matt. He knows his stuff. I've never been to Gettysburg but on my bucket list. He puts you right there during the war. So much knowledge. Bet the spirits of Gettysburg sit back and listening.
Spectacular narrative of the battle of the Peach Orchard. Matt Atkinson seems to know the participants like they were his friends and speaks of them with reverence and respect. A great preserver of the history!
Many historians become so used to the complex battle they forget there are those new to this who don't know a brigade from a division and know maybe Lee and Picket and thats about it. This brought the choas down to a understandable level and introduced all the key players and the locations. The camera man is excellent in showing pans and zooms when needed for visual refrence. It was intended for everyone, not just people who read 100 books on it. Easy to understand with just enough humor to keep things moving. Great presentation.
Kudos to Ranger Atkinson! I have to brief this battle for my US Army Senior Leaders Course and he brought to life all the maps and words I have poured over. I couldn't be more excited and humbled to be able to visit Gettysburg tomorrow and present to my class a brief of the battle at the Peach Orchard. Ranger Atkinson, I won't be able to do it the justice that you have, but wish me luck.
This presentation of The Peach Orchard battle is outstanding, very well done! The NPS ranger Matt Atkinson is an extraordinary instructor---makes it all come alive, right before the viewer and visitors. Thanks for this video and the job you all are doing!!
I gotta tell you guys, it is a TREAT watching the battlefield walk-throughs. I would absolutely be delighted to watch more NPS battlefield walk videos for Gettysburg or any other battlefield under NPS jurisdiction. Thank you so much for posting these!
As someone highly interested in Civil War history, especially Gettysburg I really appreciate each and every upload. I'm from South Carolina and live about fifteen minutes from Fort Sumter and can't wait to visit up there on vacation one year.
I understand. I grew up skipping school as a teenager and going swimming at the apex of the Confederate line on the North Anna River, travelled through Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Fredericksburg, learned to swim in the South Anna where John B. Gordon (under Stuart at that time) crossed (my great uncle owned 87 acres there), I could go on and on. I knew about the Civil War but I didn't know it happened there. If you love History one bit, take the trip to Gettysburg. I'm surrounded by battlefields and been to and relic hunted many (on private lands with permission only) but Gettysburg is Awesome. Chancellorsville is a big battlefield but no other I've been to has the scope of or sheer size and magnitude of Gettysburg.
18 months and counting till I get to come over and visit Gettysburg Battlefield, look forward to going on a tour with the Park Rangers , brilliant presentation Ranger Atkinson.
Matt is an amazing lecturer he puts you right in action with extreme interesting detail and respectful humor. So glad we are at peace as asingle country. Matt's a national treasure ..
I'm so glad I found these videos. They are first rate. I've been to Gettysburg before and there was no way to see all of the Ranger talks. I'm headed back tomorrow. This is a great refresher course.
Matt Atkinson was born to do this. When you're listening to him describe the battlefield you can see it almost perfectly in your mind. He puts you right there in the middle of it all. Names, dates, and even the tiniest little details. He paints a perfect picture.
I could listen to Ranger Atkinson speak about Gettysburg for a month straight, with an undivided attention span the entire time. What an articulate, knowledgeable, and detailed speaker and guide this man is! Phenomenal video too! 💯⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I live in Essex, England and I won't be able to visit Gettysburg for a good few years to come so thank-you for these videos. Matt is very entertaining and the information is interesting. Moreee!
Another fantastic presentation! Ranger Atkinson paints such incredibly vivid and relatable pictures of the action, and much of the thought behind it - he really brings the battle to life.
We visited Gettysburg and Antietam this past July were really impressed at the way park rangers bring history alive. The young ranger at Antietam described the battle so vividly that you could see the battle unfolding in front your eyes, this from the observation room on top of the visitor's center. Gettysburg is a more larger battlefield but still the rangers knew what they were talking about. The same thing happened when we visited Manassas a few years ago.
As a student of the Civil War, I've to the Gettysburg battlefield 3 years in a row in 1994. 1995 and 1996. My ancestors fought with NC units. Visiting the site was a dream of mine as a kid. Being an old boomer now , It still remains one of my most cherished memories of my life.
Matt, you bring us into the day, into the battle, into the minds, and into the souls of each man that fought at Gettysburg! I havent had rhe priviledge of walking w you on one of your tours, but please make sure u continue this telling of true history of our country. Hope to be there soon. Danny Rampey, Georgia
I cannot begin to describe my thanks to the Gettysburg NPS for their dedication to the study and description of this battle. I've watched every video (and others) that they have produced. I was there during hurricane "Sandy" but obviously the park was closed. I hope to return one day (from SC). Please keep these videos/documentaries coming. Thank you.
I'm just now finding these videos and this channel. I had the honor of doing six years of hard-core CW re-enacting in my younger days. Every young adult should get a chance to experience that. Ranger Matt and Camera Man Matt are excellent storytellers. I've only visited Gettysburg once, even though I'm a PA native. It's time to go back and walk the field again.
This is amazing video. Matt is a great story teller. So knowledgeable about the battles and players. You come away with civil war tactics and appreciation of just the confusion that a major battlefield provides. Men/horses/guns/death.... all circling around.
I really thoroughly enjoy these "presentation's". I watch them all weekend long. Especially Matt's presentation. I really like his "post war Lee" lecture. thank you for making these lectures.
16:40 the kid who knew what the Blacksox scandal has a bright future. :-). Matt is awesome, such a great performer. Rare talent he has. Hopefully I can catch one of his performances next year.
There is a video of being down range from a Napoleon cannon firing live ammo on RUclips. You can hear the shell come whirring and whistling all the way toward the camera sitting at the target. The sound of that shell coming will make your blood turn cold when you think about a whole battery firing those things at you!! Everyone should watch it. It puts a whole new perspective of what it was like to have all that artillery firing. The sound of those shells are blood curdling when you hear it. So not only do you have the boom of the cannon you also have the whiiirrrrrrrr zooooommm and scream of the shells. I had no idea they made that much noise!! Movies make it sound like fireworks but that’s not what it sounds like
Another great video full of unique content. I’m loving this video series. Thank you so much for taking the time to shoot it, and share it with all of us that thus far havent meade it down to the hallowed ground of Gettysburg. Cheers from your Yankee brother 👍👍
Matt is awesome and does his job so well....I always wanted to be a Matt at Gettysburg but life took me down a different path...I love Civil war History!!
For Mishawaka Post: Up through WWII, a brigade was several regiments "braided together." The regiment was a maneuver unit as well as a principal administrative unit. From the Revolution to the Civil War, the regiment would be the primary unit to take care of the soldiers and was the major focus of loyalty and spirit. A soldier would sound off that he was from (as an example) Company A of the 69th New York Infantry (the "fighting 69th") of "The Irish Brigade" in Webb's Division. In those early days, the battalion was a temporary unit to use as a "battler" to be handled by the regimental commander as his (usually three) battalions. The Regimental Commander had "field grade" officers, majors, to lead those battalions in combat. After WWII, as the U.S. Army reorganized for modern war in NATO Vs Warsaw Pact combat, the Army realized that regiments were too unwieldy (think tanks and APC's) for mechanized combat. So the brigade with maneuver battalions was born. The regiment became an office with a regimental flag. There are some regiments still. Each U.S. Army division has an Armored Cavalry Regiment. The 82nd Airborne Division has Parachute Infantry Regiments. The Marine division is comprised of Marine regiments. The British are deep into the "regimental system" with famous regiments that have history going back centuries. I was in the Marine Corps in Vietnam and the Army in Iraq so I got deep into this.
Tip Boxell Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge in this interesting post. More importantly, thank you for your service and sacrifice, sir.
This is awesome. I’ve been to Gettysburg and have studied it quite a bit but I don’t think I could ever know as much as Matt. I love the way he presents the information. That man must absolutely love his job.
Great and highly entertaining presentation! I lost my sense of direction a little at the first, but pulled up a satellite photo-map and followed along. One thing that I didn’t know was that the Peach Orchard was relatively “high ground” - it now makes more sense, that Sickles kind of defied orders in creating a salient from the Union lines. Oh, and hadn’t seen that one particular monument at the Trostle Farm, but knew what it was immediately: It’s a gigantic Minié-Ball 😂!
Matt you express the same emotions I have when I stand on a civil war battle field or I read the history of the fight. I bet you also like a little time alone on those fields. It's not unpatriotic to have feeling for the men on both sides of the battle field. It makes you an American. Thank you for what you have done to help tell this story.
Matt is a walking history book. History is not just dates and statistics, it is all the stories. That why when people say, "Oh, I hated history", it boggles my mind. I love a good story.
Good video. One of my distant ancestors won the MOH capturing the battle flag of General Kershaw later in the war. It was interesting to hear this account of Kershaw at Gettysburg. He was in the Ohio cavalry Sayler's Creek along with George Custer and his brother who also won the MOH. My ancestor returned to farming after the war and did not suffer the same fate as George Custer and his relatives in the 7th Cav at the Little Big Horn. What Sickles did at Gettysburg reminds me a lot of what Custer did at the Little Big Horn. They chose the ground to fight on poorly. It's true the confederates could have placed their cannons on the mound of the peach orchard. It's also true the confederate artillery would have been in full view of the union artillery in a crossfire. The irony of the peach orchard is Barksdale who "won" the day died in the process while Sickles lived to be 94 years old.
If you plan to visit Gettysburg, researching what happened at each location will enhance your experience exponentially. I wish these videos were available prior to my visit five or six years ago.
This was an excellent presentation. I happen to agree with General Sickles' decision to move forward and occupy the Peach Orchard. Yes his corps was wrecked, but this forced the rebels to fight well ahead of the critical ground. Which, (IMO) saved the Federal position at Little Round Top and Cemetery Hill. By the time Longstreet's men got there they were spent and did not have the momentum to take the ground.
Matt's the best! He reminds me of a drill sergeant I had in Army boot camp with his wry sense of humor. Sure Dan Sickles likes the position he occupied but I've never seen such an exposed position with absolutely no cover.
I have to disagree with your "no cover" comment. The terrain is actually quite defensible. His challenge was that he didn't have enough men to man the line of choice. He would have needed 20,000 men. With that said, his position was "exposed" as you stated because both flanks were in the wind. The line is elevated with great lines of fire. In an era void of indirect fire, occupying elevated terrain is paramount. There are a few salients which are undesirable (including the peach orchard), but Sickles concentrated his available artillery to bolster those points. With the lines occupied, he also had interior lines, which is highly desirable if he would have had 20k men. Please note that we are always reminded that Sickles is not a professional soldier, however, his subordinates were quite professional and capable. They knew how to occupy the terrain to its best advantage.
pizzafrenzyman I do know that Sickles asked Meade repeatedly about where exactly he was to locate. Meade didn't think much of Sickles so basically ignored him until he sent I think General Hunt over to look at things. About 5 minutes after he arrived the attack happened and Hunt basically said it was too late to do anything.
We just returned from Gettysburg this week 9/2/19. It was our first time there and we were over whelmed with the size of the battle field. It is hard to imagine the fighting that went on and the site of all those who died on both sides. We also got to view the last day of the "100 days of Taps", very emotional to hear. Everyone should view this place, men died on both sides fighting for what they believed. I'm not happy that Americans fought Americans, but they did and the results are history. With the courage displayed on both sides, we are a hard country to defeat when we are together. JN
Thank You for sharing your eperience at Gettysburg. I've never been except in these videos which of course helps me to somewhat understand the enormity of what took place which makes me wonder why there was no other way. 600 thousand or more lost on both sides in those 4 yrs. of the best and bravest that America has ever produced. Hard to believe we have ever been the same and seeing of what has become of this place. - I doubt if either side would have made the sacrifice at such a terrible cost!
You lucky devil!! I need to go because it’s so hard to take in the size of the place in pictures and videos. Our minds want to compress it into a small space so we can visualize and digest it. But it’s several miles one end to another and just no way to take it in unless there in person. Do you have kids or a spouse who really isn’t into this stuff?? I’m afraid my wife and daughter would drive me nuts while I spend every second in awe lol. I want to be on every tour possible and I’m afraid they might poop in my fruit loops lol 😂 if you know what I mean
@@JohnnyRebKy My wife saved for 2 years so we could go. It was a surprise birthday present. She's was not into it like I am, but was a good trooper and let me view what I liked. It's great to have someone who will do that for you. You need to go, the battlefield is 25 square mile large. You need to take the bus trip to get a great view of what, when, and where it all happened. I'm 75 and will never go again, but am so happy I did. Good luck.
These videos were good ideas. Only been to Gettysburg once on a school field trip but didn't get to see much...been dying to go back...really enjoying these videos. I laughed so hard when I got the George Thorogood joke by the way!
That was an incredible description of the Battle at the Peach Orchard! When I go to Gettysburg next Thursday with my good friend Terry, We shall walk the path General Barksdale and his Brave men took as they charged so gallantly through these fields!!
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
Matt is positively one of the best all time commentators on the Civil War. He is fluent and flawless with his delivery and adds a very real intangible human element. Thank you truly
I'm gay too buddy 😂😂😂
matt has become something of an internet star. with good reason, his delivery is that of an excellent teacher
I'm amazed how this guy can remember all of that info, all those little details, with no notes or anything! That is incredible! I'm really, really impressed.
The Gettysburg guides are an elite group of professionals.
Storytelling is an ancient and honorable tradition, dating back to the days when books were rare to non-existent. The capacity of the human mind to remember things hasn't changed, but technology reduces the need, so people tend to do it less.
It's part fascination of the subject, passion and repetition. Just like a good teacher.
Gettysburg is I think, the 2nd most visited national park in America. To ranger there they take only the cream of the crop and the most learned. Multiple degrees are the norm for some of these guides and they do a great job at interpretation.
The Black Sox Scandal portion of the video at 16:56 sounded a little bit fake. Perhaps that kid was given a clue to respond to that question?
Ranger Matt, your sense of humour is brilliant. History comes to life... Appreciated.
His sense of humor is terrible and it takes away from the immersion. He needs to stick to telling the story of the battle. His cringe inducing jokes need to be saved for the bar
You are part of a small minority. Matt is the most requested guide at Gettysburg.
@@melodymakermark He's so by popular demand, sir. There's always 1 idiot in the group who knows no better than to make an asinine comment as such
He’s extremely knowledgeable, but if you think he has any discernible sense of humor you gotta get out more. 😂
Whatever they pay Matt Atkinson and Gary Cross, it is not enough. These 2 are modern day Gettysburg legends
Totally agree!
He should try and learn the boy's real names though, imo. He sounded a bit condescending.
He's an amateur who's only education is the movie.
Darin Weeks - I just now found these videos, 3 years late. You are quite right.
Really? i don't remember any of that info from the movie.
I had the pleasure of speaking to Mr.Atkins july 2 2023. Can't wait till next year.
Man, Ranger Atkinson makes me want to take a trip up there and hear him tell these live! What a storyteller!
I am so glad that I found these NPS videos. It is refreshing to see these very knowledgeable and passionate rangers describe Gettysburg and the battle that took place in 1863. Gettysburg National Military Park should be very proud of all of these rangers and their ability to paint the picture as well as they do.... I know that I am. Keep up the great work GNMP.
I came across from the UK for the 150th in 2013 and spent a couple of days looking around the battlefield and I must say that your National Park Service do a hell of a job preserving places like Gettysburg. Putting guys like Matt out, with his amusing anecdotes, to do the the field lectures is great. It takes the dryness out of the subject and creates interest in the finer details of what actually happened on the day.
Rich Rodeman I
@@chrisbarlow9741 No doubt, Mr. Barlow👍 That's certainly correct concerning Ranger Atkinson
Please stop leaning on that cannon😢
I lived in Gettysburg for 25 years and have learned more watching Ranger Matt Atkinson videos along with other Park Rangers then all of the history lessons from school. We go back a few times a year and would love to know if Matt is still there and giving tours. Thank You sir for bringing history to life with your amazing tours.
He gave a pickets charge tour I was on 2 summers ago, signed my book! He’s probably still there
My husband and I are frequent visitors to Gettysburg, traveling several times each year. We truly enjoy Ranger Atkinson's tours. He is very thorough and well informed in his tours. He involves the audience in his tours, and is very humorous, making his tours interesting. Kydos, Ranger Matt! Thanks for sharing!
Some day soon, the wife and I are going to stay near by and explore every inch of this hollowed battlefield, where SO MANY Americans on both sides died for their ideals.
I do hope Park Ranger Matt Atkinson {that rebel right there :-) }, is still posted to that area, as I would love to meet him and attend one or even all of his field tours.
He, IMO, is not only a wealth of historical information and little known factual items of interest, but he is a showman as well, who injects humor and tiny diversions into his presentations, which serve to assist in keeping one's interest.
Also, the use of visitors, children AND adults, as visual aids to help in explaining battlefield occurrences while out on the battlefield, is something I have noticed by viewing all the available videos on this Gettysburg NPS RUclips site, is unique only to him and is quite helpful in understanding clearly the actions taken on the field by both federal and rebel forces. This as well helps in holding the interest of his audience.
This man is worth MORE than his weight in gold in his service to Gettysburg National Military Park, the NPS, and the many visitors to the battlefield's areas.
+ricklude If you can, spend as much time there as possible, and cover as much of the battlefield as you can. Walk through the wood lines too.
If you're able, visit the areas not closed at night. I printed out maps showing where the regiments where positioned and the fighting took place
and it was a great way to orient myself on the battlefield and do some self guided touring. Cheers.
hallowed, not hollowed. Although so much cannon shot fell on it back then.
Outstanding presentations by Ranger Atkinson. The next best thing to being at the park. Excellent resource! Thank you so much for sharing your passion with the American people.
1 of my cousins and her hubby traveled to Gettysburg 6 years ago in August, 2015 from Youngstown, Ohio. They were there about a week and had Matt Atkinson give them a group tour of the battlefield starting at McPherson's Ridge where Gen. Reynolds was killed. If they'd gone there the prior year, they might've been on 1 of the RUclips vids
Talk about a day late and a dollar short😂😂 haha
I had the pleasure of meeting Matt Atkinson a few years ago at GNP. He seems like a really good guy who truly enjoys his work. His videos are always quite good and understandable to a wide ranging audience.
Love watching and listening to Matt. He knows his stuff. I've never been to Gettysburg but on my bucket list. He puts you right there during the war. So much knowledge. Bet the spirits of Gettysburg sit back and listening.
This park ranger, Matt Atkinson is sooooo wonderful to follow. He should have is own show!
Love this guys presentation
Spectacular narrative of the battle of the Peach Orchard. Matt Atkinson seems to know the participants like they were his friends and speaks of them with reverence and respect. A great preserver of the history!
1:40 No laughs at Pickett's Buffet, "Just charge it"???? Comedic GOLD
Many historians become so used to the complex battle they forget there are those new to this who don't know a brigade from a division and know maybe Lee and Picket and thats about it. This brought the choas down to a understandable level and introduced all the key players and the locations. The camera man is excellent in showing pans and zooms when needed for visual refrence. It was intended for everyone, not just people who read 100 books on it. Easy to understand with just enough humor to keep things moving. Great presentation.
Kudos to Ranger Atkinson! I have to brief this battle for my US Army Senior Leaders Course and he brought to life all the maps and words I have poured over. I couldn't be more excited and humbled to be able to visit Gettysburg tomorrow and present to my class a brief of the battle at the Peach Orchard. Ranger Atkinson, I won't be able to do it the justice that you have, but wish me luck.
This presentation of The Peach Orchard battle is outstanding, very well done! The NPS ranger Matt Atkinson is an extraordinary instructor---makes it all come alive, right before the viewer and visitors. Thanks for this video and the job you all are doing!!
I gotta tell you guys, it is a TREAT watching the battlefield walk-throughs. I would absolutely be delighted to watch more NPS battlefield walk videos for Gettysburg or any other battlefield under NPS jurisdiction. Thank you so much for posting these!
As someone highly interested in Civil War history, especially Gettysburg I really appreciate each and every upload. I'm from South Carolina and live about fifteen minutes from Fort Sumter and can't wait to visit up there on vacation one year.
I understand. I grew up skipping school as a teenager and going swimming at the apex of the Confederate line on the North Anna River, travelled through Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Fredericksburg, learned to swim in the South Anna where John B. Gordon (under Stuart at that time) crossed (my great uncle owned 87 acres there), I could go on and on. I knew about the Civil War but I didn't know it happened there.
If you love History one bit, take the trip to Gettysburg. I'm surrounded by battlefields and been to and relic hunted many (on private lands with permission only) but Gettysburg is Awesome. Chancellorsville is a big battlefield but no other I've been to has the scope of or sheer size and magnitude of Gettysburg.
18 months and counting till I get to come over and visit Gettysburg Battlefield, look forward to going on a tour with the Park Rangers , brilliant presentation Ranger Atkinson.
You go yet?
Matt is an amazing lecturer he puts you right in action with extreme interesting detail and respectful humor. So glad we are at peace as asingle country. Matt's a national treasure ..
I'm so glad I found these videos. They are first rate. I've been to Gettysburg before and there was no way to see all of the Ranger talks. I'm headed back tomorrow. This is a great refresher course.
Matt Atkinson was born to do this. When you're listening to him describe the battlefield you can see it almost perfectly in your mind. He puts you right there in the middle of it all. Names, dates, and even the tiniest little details. He paints a perfect picture.
edge of my chair, stirring, heartbreaking, the horses and their innocence moved me to tears.
I could listen to Ranger Atkinson speak about Gettysburg for a month straight, with an undivided attention span the entire time. What an articulate, knowledgeable, and detailed speaker and guide this man is! Phenomenal video too!
💯⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
this dude has fun with history
I live in Essex, England and I won't be able to visit Gettysburg for a good few years to come so thank-you for these videos.
Matt is very entertaining and the information is interesting. Moreee!
#Freemantle
Are there any counterpart videos about English battles which can be accessed that have a docent leading it?
Absolutely love Ranger Matt's presentations. Spent a week in Gettysburg years ago and was fortunate enough to attend a few of his tours.
Absolutely sensational presentation of the Peach Orchard and the command decisions from both sides. Matt Atkinson is the best!!!
Another fantastic presentation! Ranger Atkinson paints such incredibly vivid and relatable pictures of the action, and much of the thought behind it - he really brings the battle to life.
We visited Gettysburg and Antietam this past July were really impressed at the way park rangers bring history alive. The young ranger at Antietam described the battle so vividly that you could see the battle unfolding in front your eyes, this from the observation room on top of the visitor's center. Gettysburg is a more larger battlefield but still the rangers knew what they were talking about. The same thing happened when we visited Manassas a few years ago.
Chancellorsville is that way too. Incredible tour.
Matt is an excellent guide, I really enjoyed his tour.
As a student of the Civil War, I've to the Gettysburg battlefield 3 years in a row in 1994. 1995 and 1996. My ancestors fought with NC units. Visiting the site was a dream of mine as a kid. Being an old boomer now , It still remains one of my most cherished memories of my life.
Matt, you bring us into the day, into the battle, into the minds, and into the souls of each man that fought at Gettysburg!
I havent had rhe priviledge of walking w you on one of your tours, but please make sure u continue this telling of true history of our country.
Hope to be there soon.
Danny Rampey, Georgia
MATT. YOU. PUT. US THERE......HOW DO YOU. RETAIN. ALL THIS. TO REACH. THE PEOPLE. THE. WAY. YOU DO.... .!!!!!!!!!!THANK YOU. SO. MUCH.....!!!!!!!!!😊
Watching this from Sweden. Wow, what a guy!
Thank you sir for your superb analysis, and conveyance of it to us who have the privilege to view it and hear it on youtube! Amazing and insprational!
What terrific story teller! Enjoyed it very much. Thank you for posting.
I cannot begin to describe my thanks to the Gettysburg NPS for their dedication to the study and description of this battle. I've watched every video (and others) that they have produced. I was there during hurricane "Sandy" but obviously the park was closed. I hope to return one day (from SC). Please keep these videos/documentaries coming. Thank you.
Matt, your "work reflects your attitude", nice job. Thanks
I'm just now finding these videos and this channel. I had the honor of doing six years of hard-core CW re-enacting in my younger days. Every young adult should get a chance to experience that. Ranger Matt and Camera Man Matt are excellent storytellers. I've only visited Gettysburg once, even though I'm a PA native. It's time to go back and walk the field again.
Amazing pesentation Ranger Matt Atkinson i could watch your pesentations all day so interesting
Mr. Atkinson is better than sliced bread. Thanks Matt.
Better than sliced bread tastes without angry hornets swarming you.
This is amazing video. Matt is a great story teller. So knowledgeable about the battles and players. You come away with civil war tactics and appreciation of just the confusion that a major battlefield provides. Men/horses/guns/death.... all circling around.
I can't tell you how much I enjoy and appreciate these video walks. Thank you NPS and especially Matt.
Ranger Matt is a National Treasure awesome guy. Love randomly running into him and his groups out on the Battlefield!
This man does such a fine job in his presentation. a joy to listen to. Cheers from Canada.
I really thoroughly enjoy these "presentation's". I watch them all weekend long. Especially Matt's presentation. I really like his "post war Lee" lecture. thank you for making these lectures.
Superb presentation. Thank you Mr. Atkinson.
i would love to visit the battlefied to explore the history and ghost hunt
Thank you so much for these great videos. We are very grateful for everything you do!
This gentleman knows his history. Thank you, sir for an excellent presentation!
I love these by Ranger Atkinson. He reminds me of Don Knotts.
16:40 the kid who knew what the Blacksox scandal has a bright future. :-). Matt is awesome, such a great performer. Rare talent he has. Hopefully I can catch one of his performances next year.
These rangers are the history teachers we all wanted. This series should be mandatory studies for all students.
Great video. Matt is one of the very best.
Matt’s passion is awesome. Love these tours.
There is a video of being down range from a Napoleon cannon firing live ammo on RUclips. You can hear the shell come whirring and whistling all the way toward the camera sitting at the target. The sound of that shell coming will make your blood turn cold when you think about a whole battery firing those things at you!! Everyone should watch it. It puts a whole new perspective of what it was like to have all that artillery firing. The sound of those shells are blood curdling when you hear it. So not only do you have the boom of the cannon you also have the whiiirrrrrrrr zooooommm and scream of the shells. I had no idea they made that much noise!! Movies make it sound like fireworks but that’s not what it sounds like
Another great video full of unique content. I’m loving this video series. Thank you so much for taking the time to shoot it, and share it with all of us that thus far havent meade it down to the hallowed ground of Gettysburg. Cheers from your Yankee brother 👍👍
"Meade" it down to ... Gettysburg"? Nice unintentional pun, Chad.
Matt is the most interesting teacher. And with a sense of humor to boot. Have you ever been a history professor?
Matt is awesome and does his job so well....I always wanted to be a Matt at Gettysburg but life took me down a different path...I love Civil war History!!
For Mishawaka Post: Up through WWII, a brigade was several regiments "braided together." The regiment was a maneuver unit as well as a principal administrative unit. From the Revolution to the Civil War, the regiment would be the primary unit to take care of the soldiers and was the major focus of loyalty and spirit. A soldier would sound off that he was from (as an example) Company A of the 69th New York Infantry (the "fighting 69th") of "The Irish Brigade" in Webb's Division. In those early days, the battalion was a temporary unit to use as a "battler" to be handled by the regimental commander as his (usually three) battalions. The Regimental Commander had "field grade" officers, majors, to lead those battalions in combat. After WWII, as the U.S. Army reorganized for modern war in NATO Vs Warsaw Pact combat, the Army realized that regiments were too unwieldy (think tanks and APC's) for mechanized combat. So the brigade with maneuver battalions was born. The regiment became an office with a regimental flag. There are some regiments still. Each U.S. Army division has an Armored Cavalry Regiment. The 82nd Airborne Division has Parachute Infantry Regiments. The Marine division is comprised of Marine regiments. The British are deep into the "regimental system" with famous regiments that have history going back centuries. I was in the Marine Corps in Vietnam and the Army in Iraq so I got deep into this.
Vietnam era naval vet... thank you for your service.
Tip Boxell Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge in this interesting post. More importantly, thank you for your service and sacrifice, sir.
indy_go_blue60 Thank you for your service & sacrifice, sir.
Excellent presentation! I thought for sure he was going to end saying Dan Sickles didn't have a leg to stand on.
Matt Atkinson is one of my favorite Rangers in Gettysburg, I will try and schedule his walks always interesting and knowledgeable .
This is awesome. I’ve been to Gettysburg and have studied it quite a bit but I don’t think I could ever know as much as Matt. I love the way he presents the information. That man must absolutely love his job.
Love watching true history
Matt does a very good job and involves the kids and families
Great job Matt! You are a great teacher!
Great and highly entertaining presentation! I lost my sense of direction a little at the first, but pulled up a satellite photo-map and followed along.
One thing that I didn’t know was that the Peach Orchard was relatively “high ground” - it now makes more sense, that Sickles kind of defied orders in creating a salient from the Union lines.
Oh, and hadn’t seen that one particular monument at the Trostle Farm, but knew what it was immediately: It’s a gigantic Minié-Ball 😂!
Matt you express the same emotions I have when I stand on a civil war battle field or I read the history of the fight. I bet you also like a little time alone on those fields. It's not unpatriotic to have feeling for the men on both sides of the battle field. It makes you an American. Thank you for what you have done to help tell this story.
Very interesting video. Thank you for sharing it will all of us.
Matt is a walking history book. History is not just dates and statistics, it is all the stories. That why when people say, "Oh, I hated history", it boggles my mind. I love a good story.
Thank you so much for this! I'd been having problems sleeping, and this video fixed that.
The Gettysburg park rangers are skilled and knowledgeable. And they're very entertaining. Thanks all of you. .
Great job Ranger Matt. I would be so honored to listen to one of your history lessons.
Good video. One of my distant ancestors won the MOH capturing the battle flag of General Kershaw later in the war. It was interesting to hear this account of Kershaw at Gettysburg. He was in the Ohio cavalry Sayler's Creek along with George Custer and his brother who also won the MOH. My ancestor returned to farming after the war and did not suffer the same fate as George Custer and his relatives in the 7th Cav at the Little Big Horn.
What Sickles did at Gettysburg reminds me a lot of what Custer did at the Little Big Horn. They chose the ground to fight on poorly. It's true the confederates could have placed their cannons on the mound of the peach orchard. It's also true the confederate artillery would have been in full view of the union artillery in a crossfire. The irony of the peach orchard is Barksdale who "won" the day died in the process while Sickles lived to be 94 years old.
If you plan to visit Gettysburg, researching what happened at each location will enhance your experience exponentially. I wish these videos were available prior to my visit five or six years ago.
This was an excellent presentation. I happen to agree with General Sickles' decision to move forward and occupy the Peach Orchard. Yes his corps was wrecked, but this forced the rebels to fight well ahead of the critical ground. Which, (IMO) saved the Federal position at Little Round Top and Cemetery Hill. By the time Longstreet's men got there they were spent and did not have the momentum to take the ground.
I’ve always felt the same.
Matt's the best! He reminds me of a drill sergeant I had in Army boot camp with his wry sense of humor.
Sure Dan Sickles likes the position he occupied but I've never seen such an exposed position with absolutely no cover.
I have to disagree with your "no cover" comment. The terrain is actually quite defensible. His challenge was that he didn't have enough men to man the line of choice. He would have needed 20,000 men. With that said, his position was "exposed" as you stated because both flanks were in the wind.
The line is elevated with great lines of fire. In an era void of indirect fire, occupying elevated terrain is paramount. There are a few salients which are undesirable (including the peach orchard), but Sickles concentrated his available artillery to bolster those points. With the lines occupied, he also had interior lines, which is highly desirable if he would have had 20k men. Please note that we are always reminded that Sickles is not a professional soldier, however, his subordinates were quite professional and capable. They knew how to occupy the terrain to its best advantage.
pizzafrenzyman I do know that Sickles asked Meade repeatedly about where exactly he was to locate. Meade didn't think much of Sickles so basically ignored him until he sent I think General Hunt over to look at things. About 5 minutes after he arrived the attack happened and Hunt basically said it was too late to do anything.
I like how the guide personalizes the battle participants with their names and motivations.
Matt is a great teacher. Thank you sir!
Matt is very good at this. Excellent job.
Excellent. Thank you. Would love to hear details about Berdan's sharpshooters on this day in perhaps another video. :)
Great video. Very informative with a sense of humor. I’ve been to the area many times but never on a guided tour
A reminder that the most important part of "history" is "story".
HIS story. Mankind is just an actor in a cosmic event.
Disagree it is clearly "ist"
Matt is awesome as a ranger and I would love to go on one of his tours
We just returned from Gettysburg this week 9/2/19. It was our first time there and we were over whelmed with the size of the battle field. It is hard to imagine the fighting that went on and the site of all those who died on both sides. We also got to view the last day of the "100 days of Taps", very emotional to hear. Everyone should view this place, men died on both sides fighting for what they believed. I'm not happy that Americans fought Americans, but they did and the results are history. With the courage displayed on both sides, we are a hard country to defeat when we are together.
JN
Thank You for sharing your eperience at Gettysburg. I've never been except in these videos which of course helps me to somewhat understand the enormity of what took place which makes me wonder why there was no other way. 600 thousand or more lost on both sides in those 4 yrs. of the best and bravest that America has ever produced. Hard to believe we have ever been the same and seeing of what has become of this place. - I doubt if either side would have made the sacrifice at such a terrible cost!
You lucky devil!! I need to go because it’s so hard to take in the size of the place in pictures and videos. Our minds want to compress it into a small space so we can visualize and digest it. But it’s several miles one end to another and just no way to take it in unless there in person. Do you have kids or a spouse who really isn’t into this stuff?? I’m afraid my wife and daughter would drive me nuts while I spend every second in awe lol. I want to be on every tour possible and I’m afraid they might poop in my fruit loops lol 😂 if you know what I mean
@@JohnnyRebKy My wife saved for 2 years so we could go. It was a surprise birthday present. She's was not into it like I am, but was a good trooper and let me view what I liked. It's great to have someone who will do that for you. You need to go, the battlefield is 25 square mile large. You need to take the bus trip to get a great view of what, when, and where it all happened. I'm 75 and will never go again, but am so happy I did. Good luck.
This guy is truly amazing, he paints a picture of heroism, and how war is hell...my hatt is iff to Mr Atkinson
These videos were good ideas. Only been to Gettysburg once on a school field trip but didn't get to see much...been dying to go back...really enjoying these videos. I laughed so hard when I got the George Thorogood joke by the way!
I got the George Thorogood line Matt 😊
Great presentation. My Gt Gt Grandfather fought in the Wheatfield/Stony Hill area with a Pennsylvania Infantry.
Brilliant. Simply brilliant! Thank you (again) Ranger Atkinson. And that’s from a Yankee!😊
That was an incredible description of the Battle at the Peach Orchard! When I go to Gettysburg next Thursday with my good friend Terry, We shall walk the path General Barksdale and his Brave men took as they charged so gallantly through these fields!!
GOD BLESS THE MEN LIKE MATT AT OUR PARKS OF OUR HISTORY NEVER WILL ONE THING BE REMOVED NEVER AMEN ...
I love these videos. He really knows how to explain the battle.
Top notch. Tactical details are fascinating
Please make more videos like this! Thanks you so much.
Hornets analogy...right spot on!
It’s not just remembering the facts it’s telling the same story with enthusiasm all day long every day