Excelsior Mess Reunion, Gettysburg- Saturday, September 20, 2025

      Scott didn't have a great time last night, but this morning started much better.  After breakfast, we took a leisurely drive to Little Round Top.  The last time we were here, Julie didn't want to even get out of the car there because her knee hurt so.  This time, she was movin' and groovin'.  We even went up in the "castle" of the 44th New York Monument and enjoyed the view with Abby.  We needed a restroom break, so we had a brief stop at the National Park Service Visitor Center.

    We then went to Ayres Avenue at the "top" of the Wheatfield where the first event of today's reunion was to take place.  We drove around the area a little and didn't see anyone that looked like who we were looking for, and Scott had jokingly said he wondered if this was even the right weekend.   Shortly after 10:00, people started to arrive and we got to see a bunch of old friends that we hadn't seen in a while.  Everyone looked so much older, but of course, we do too   There were some who were easy to recognize and some who were harder to place, but then, it seems like a few people were having a problem placing us as well.   Just a partial list of those in attendance would include Capt. Jim F., Sgt. George S., Don B., Mike V., Brian O., Bob J. and others.

    A tour was given by David G., a guy Scott doesn't think he has met before from the 140th NY.  His tour was a professional grade look at the way the 64th New York was engaged in the Wheatfield.  The 64th New York was a sister regiment of the 154th New York historically because they both drew heavily from Cattaraugus County.  It was the regiment that was re-enacted by Capt. F and many others in the Excelsior Mess originally.  The Wheatfield is a portion of the Gettysburg battlefield that is notorious confusing action to follow and has been nicknamed the "whirlpool of death" as a result.  David did a great job of walking us through the fight, starting at the ridge at the top of the Wheatfield and walking us towards the stone wall at the bottom, refering all the time to quotes from George Whipple, Martin Sigman, and Co;. Daniel Bingham, with references to Capt. Henry Fuller as well-- all names that Scott knew.  Some of the less able-bodied members took cars up to the 64th New York Monument on the crest Brooke Avenue, but Scott was among those who walked that distance.  Once there, we heard about the climax of the fight for the 64th, and of course, the mortal wounding of Captain Fuller.  One thing that Scott had never seen before was Brooke's rock, a tall narrow stone that stands a short distance away in the trees, downhill from his brigade's line.  Brooke later said that he stood on the rock during the battle in order to see over the crest of the hill to the fight, and he came back and marked the stone with an "X" that is still visible today.  A few people tried it out by climbing on top of it.  Scott took a detour away from the rest of the group in order to see the memorial that was placed to show the spot where Capt. Henry Fuller was left to die after his mortal wound.  But while we were still at the 64th's monument, all of the guys present gathered in front of it for a picture together.

    Julie had started with the tour at the top of the Wheatfield, but she had been planning on taking Abby away from the group.  After taking some pictures, Julie and Abby went out to the Gettysburg outlets to do some shopping.   Julie bought some things for Anna's upcoming baby shower.  Abby used her own money to buy a new baby doll which she named Lillian.  (She is Elinora's sister, according to Abby.)  Eventually Scott called them on a borrowed cellphone to let them know that the tour was done and that he was ready to meet them at the Irish Brigade monument.  Julie said that she had just promised Abby that she could play on the playground at Burger King and that after picking Scott up, they should go back to BK to let Abby play.  Scott was fine with that since it was well past his usual lunchtime and he was getting hungry.

    The Burger King that we were at was on York Street, near our hotel, but neither is in a very convenient place to get to the battlefield.  We continually commented on the crowds of people that have taken over the town, and the traffic around the town square was crazy today.  We stopped and did a little shopping near the square, but gave up after a couple of stores mainly because the three of us were tired and there were just too many people.  We went back to the hotel to rest in the air conditioning.  

      The next part of the Excelsior Reunion was dinner at the restaurant known as The Mansion House 1757 in Fairfield, about a 20 minute drive from Gettysburg.  Just before the meal, a waitress accidentally dumped an entire iced tea almost directly on top of Scott.  The waitresses were very apologetic, but Scott's shirt and shorts were damp for the rest of the night and his camera temporarily stopped working.   Before dinner, we went around the room and each unit read a list of their members who had passed away.  So many of us have passed.  Dick R., Gene D., Orton B., Ben M., just to name a few.  Scott not only mentioned the 154th names, but he had asked Dave B. for a list of the 155th members who should be mentioned, since he noticed that there probably wasn't going to be 155th representation there today.   George S. read from the original flyer that was used to announce the meeting that formed the Excelsior Mess back in 1985.   By the time that the food came out, the stories and reminiscences were flying.  Julie didn't think that Abby would sit for the entire meal, so she took her to a nearby pizzeria and playground to let her have some fun.   She had originally planned on picking Scott up at 7:00, but Scott talked her into coming in and joining the party.  Many people were happy to see her and Abby was sweet and behaved.  The party started breaking up, about an hour later, and we ended up being the last to leave the room.  

    We headed back to our hotel.  Abby had been hoping for some ice cream and we were able to get her some at the Dairy Queen by our hotel before we came up and settled in for the evening.