William Blake Exhibition Catalog 2022 - Flipbook - Page 9
M ar ines at Gett ysburg
BY: GySgt THOMAS WILLIAMS
Every American is familiar with the iconic battle fought in
The 5th and 6th Marines left Quantico for Washington, DC by barge
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War. Some are even
on the morning of June 19, 1922. The 10 th Marines, accompanied by
aware that two Marine officers and the “Presidents Own” Marine Band
tanks and motor transport units traveled overland to join the infantry
accompanied President Abraham Lincoln to Gettysburg in November
at a tent camp erected on Haines Point and named Camp Lejeune. That
1863 to dedicate the National Cemetery there. However, few people are
evening the Marines passed in review for the President, marking the first
aware of the long-term relationship the Marine Corps has had with the
time since the Civil War that troops had paraded on the grounds of the
historic site. Although Marines did not participate in the 1863 battle, 59
White House.
years later they would re-create many of its epic engagements. In 1922
Col. Smedley Butler would march the garrison of Marines from Marine
The combined force advanced toward Gettysburg in easy stages,
Corps Base Quantico, Virginia to the hallowed fields of Gettysburg.
stopping for successive nights in Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Ridgeville,
Conducted as a training exercise, but more importantly to raise public
Frederick, and Thurmont. The veteran 5th and 6th Marines, covered with
opinion and awareness, the Marines would travel to the National
dust from their march from Thurmont, arrived on the Gettysburg field
Battlefield and reenact many aspects of the original battle. Ultimately
midday on June 26. The infantry was preceded by the elements of the
over 100,000 spectators would come to witness this monumental event,
Motor Transport Corps, the Signal Corps, a Naval Medical Detachment,
including the President of the United States.
and the Military Police. They advanced to their camp south-southwest of
town, between Confederate Ave. and Emmitsburg Pike [Road], suitably
The summer of 1922 was a busy one for the Marines at Quantico. The
named Camp Harding.
Marine Corps East Coast Expeditionary Force was preparing for their
annual maneuvers. Aware of the favorable publicity generated by the 1921
Unfortunately, the 26th was marred by a tragic event that cast a pall
maneuvers conducted on the Wilderness battlefield, Brigadier General
over the entire exercise. While maneuvering over the Marine camp in the
Smedley Butler was determined that the 1922 Gettysburg outing would
company of three other aircraft, the plane of Captain George Hamilton
exceed all expectations. With politicians in Washington again looking to
suddenly nosed over, slipped into a tail spin and crashed on the farm of
eliminate the Marine Corps, President Warren Harding was persuaded
William Johns, near Steinwehr Avenue. Captain Hamilton was killed
to attend, guaranteeing national press attention.
on impact while his mechanic, Gunnery Sergeant George Martin died
7
