About the Author

A life-long interest in the Civil War eventually led Michael Bell to focus on the history of the 11th Corps of the Army of the Potomac, including its ancestry in the Shenandoah Valley campaign of 1862 and as the 1st Corps of Pope’s Army of Virginia. Bell is a collateral descendant of five Union soldiers (none of whom served in the 11th Corps), while numerous cousins served as officers and soldiers in blue and gray, sometimes fighting on opposite sides in the same battle. He is a member of the American Historical Association; in addition, he is licensed to teach social studies in Virginia secondary schools. Bell resides in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

4 Responses to About the Author

  1. Tom B. says:
    9 January 2012 at 10:29 PM

    Dear Mr. Bell,
    First off – what a great blog-site and a much needed subject at that. In all honesty – I’ve always given the 11th Corps a short passing glance – until – just recently I found on the Gettysburg Daily site a virtual tour of the 11th Corps at Gettysburg by LBG Stuart Dempsey, which truly opened up my eyes. Then, an introductory to your blog by Eric Wittenberg’s blog – well – I guess the 11th Corps has sparked my interest !! Bottom line – thanks so much for your time and effort in this presentation – I’ll be a follower of this blog for sure.

    Tom B.

    Reply
    • 11thcorps says:
      10 January 2012 at 5:42 AM

      Thanks for your comments. I had a similar experience, although for me it was two books (one on Chancellorsville and one on the first day at Gettysburg) that altered my perceptions of the 11th Corps and the story that is usually told of those men. Always good to welcome another follower!

      Reply
  2. thomas marracino says:
    27 March 2012 at 2:19 AM

    My name is Tom, I work in G-burg and attend penn state in the American studies prog. I have a profound interest in the fight down in culp’s medow at the base of culps hill. The 41st. N.Y. and the 33rd. Mass. were not the only units to fight there. The 153rd. Pa. was the first unit sent to that field at sun up, and at 2:3o the 41st. an 33rd.were sent out to support the 153rd. . The payroll record show that the day before the battle the 153rd. mustered for pay an there were 910 men present for pay, if true this would make the 153rd. the largest regiments in the battle. However there are other accounts that place thier number at 630 men, still a large unit. The 41st. had roughly 23o men an the 33rd. had about 280 men.If you total both the 41st. an 33rd. you have 500 men plus the low end number for the 153rd.of 630 men you have a comined strength of 1,150 men fighting in the low land medow if you go with the high end number for the 153rd. you get 1,480 men. This would leave Gen. Ames barely 500 men to defend brickyard lane his main battleline.In Gen. Hayes after action report he would state that “when we advanced at sundown and crested the hill to his front (were modern day Keavhaffer school stands today)there down in the lowlands of culps medow was the first union battleline, a considerable body of men”. After breaking this line his men would break through the second battleline at brickyard lane an finally take the third line on top of the hill. Now to get to the point,I have found were the Harvest of death photos by A.Gardner were shot and it is on the Culp farm in the medow. The men dead in the photo are from the 41st.N.Y. the 33rd.Mass and the 153rd.Pa..So if the next time you come to G-burg an you want to see the site I would be GLAD TO SHOW YOU WERE THIS ALL HAPPENED. You can call the Budget Host Three Cronws Motor Lodge an ask for Tom…m

    Reply
    • 11thcorps says:
      27 March 2012 at 9:14 PM

      Thanks for your comments! I always find this area of the battlefield to be almost entirely “unvisited” since you pretty much have to park at Stevens Knoll (where there’s room for 3 vehicles at best) and walk down to the avenue in front of East Cemetery Hill.

      Reply

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