The race is still on!

The Gettysburg National Military Park has been busy on the actual Little Round Top, completing the paved path around the New York monument (the castle) and finishing the path all the way to Hazlett’s Battery’s monument. They have even returned the cannons to their places!

Progress continues on the Little Round Top diorama at Civil War Tails, too! The Park Service began the rehabilitation of Little Round Top at the end of July 2022, but we at Civil War Tails didn’t decide to actually race them until October. (And no, the Park Service doesn’t know we are racing them. It is just for our own motivation and amusement.)

In November, we installed the first of Hazlett’s artillery on the crest. Gun #1 is firing, and Gun #2 is being loaded.

We also installed the limbers for Guns #1 and #2.

Limber for Gun #2:

Limber for Gun #1:

In December, we painted and installed the Confederate officers and flags. (Click on an image to see the caption.)

By February 2023, we were finishing installing Companies A and G of the 140^th New York:

…with, of course, the elixir that powers our progress—coffee!

From December to February, we were also busy painting the Union flags. Each regiment has both national and regimental colors. The 140^th New York has an unusual regimental flag, with a different design on either side. Many thanks to Mr. Brian Bennett for his research and artwork of the flag, so I could tell what I was looking at in photos of the original flag!

The two sides of the 140^th New York’s regimental colors:

Click on an image for the caption.

On March 28, 2023, the 2,000^th cat was placed on Little Round Top as we finished installing the line of the 44^th New York and 16^th Michigan.

We ended up with extra kneeling infantrycats in various poses related to loading and firing their rifles. So, we got creative with how to use them up, when we needed standing Union and advancing Confederate soldiers, not kneeling.

Quite a few were able to be used as “falling after being shot.”

Others are tending their wounds.

Surprisingly, we found we could use some as stretcher bearers, either picking up wounded on the battle line or dropping them off at the aid stations.

In May, we began installing the eight companies of the 140^th New York that paused on the crest to form into line before left-obliquing to join Companies A and G. Of course, just like the other Union soldiers, they need corps badges painted on their kepis before installation.

May:

June:

July:

In early July, we also finally finished the ground cover!

Before and After: