“Over a Wide, Hot . . . Crimson Plain”: The Struggle for the Bliss Farm at Gettysburg, July 2nd and 3rd, 1863

The Savas Beatie Essential Gettysburg #1

by Elwood Christ, James A. Hessler (Forward)

Few visitors to the Gettysburg battlefield take note of the peculiar grassy rise in the fields southeast of the town between Seminary and Cemetery ridges. It was there that the Bliss home and barn once stood, between the lines in a no-man’s-land during the largest battle of the Civil War. The 60-acre farm witnessed back-and-forth bloody clashes that began on the morning of July 2, 1863, as a fitful episode between skirmishers and ended in a small but important combat all its own. The fight played an oversized role in the overall battle and directly impacted the massive rolling Confederate assault later that afternoon.

In a bit more than 24 hours, the back-and-forth Bliss farm combat would attract at least 10 Union and Confederate regiments, draw heavy artillery fire, disrupt the seemingly unstoppable Confederate assault moving northward against Cemetery Ridge, and kill and wound hundreds of men. This study is based on official records, letters, diaries, and other unpublished archival sources. A new foreword by award-winning author and Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide James Hessler opens this facsimile edition, which originally appeared to great acclaim in a small print run in 1994.

Elwood Christ’s extraordinary “Over a Wide, Hot . . . Crimson Plain”: The Struggle for the Bliss Farm at Gettysburg, July 2nd and 3rd, 1863 remains the only book ever published on the subject.

Genres: Civil War

240 pages, Paperback

Published July 15, 2023

Reviews

[Mark Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide and historian Elwood Christ has written the definitive study of the action at the Bliss Farm on July 2-3, 1863, a small but important part of the famed Battle. In a detailed account, Christ documents the specific action that led to the barn and home changing hands ten times over the course of approximately 30 hours.

Using first hand accounts from a variety of participants from both sides, Christ humanizes the struggle between the soldiers as they attempt to gain an advantage and eliminate the threat posed by the snipers using the barn. Detailing both the tactics and strategy, the reader is able to picture the back and forth action through the eyes of the men moving through the fields and dodging the flying bullets and artillery shells.

More than just an account of the action, this book provides Christ’s analysis and belief that the struggle for the Bliss Farm proved to be an important factor in the Confederate army’s inability to breakthrough the Cemetery Ridge line on both the second and third day of fighting. Christ’s understanding of the ground and his use of various accounts from a wide spectrum of participants makes for a compelling argument that the engagement on the Bliss property have not received the attention it likely deserves.

While the narrative itself can be a bit dry at times, this work is a must read for all serious students of the Battle of Gettysburg.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Struggle for the Bliss Farm at Gettysburg is a quick read that provides details about a portion of the famous battle people rarely visit or discuss. We all know Little Round Top, Devil's Den, and, of course, Pickett's Charge, but how many people know the Bliss Farm? Not many. In fact, the battlefield guides in this book acknowledge they really don't take people out to the site of the Bliss Farm nor mention it. In fact, I am preparing for the licensed battlefield guide exam and hired guides to learn from them. They all told me the same thing: they rarely go to the Bliss Farm or mention it unless it comes up or their guest had an ancestor in a regiment.

Elwood Christ was a battlefield guide who wrote this book in the early 90's. He wanted to bring attention the importance of the Bliss Farm and the consequences this part of the battle had on both sides. Christ made me think about it and I must say the Bliss Farm played a part in the Union victory. It is a light read and you can get through it quickly.

[Rick Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elwood Christ's book has a particular draw for me as I have an ancestor that served with the 12th New Jersey Infantry, one of the key units during fighting at the Bliss Farm.

This is a detailed account of the action at the Bliss Farm and the units involved from both the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia. Christ also includes human interest stories as well as information in the appendix about the Bliss family.

This is a good book and provides insight into the actions on and around the Bliss Farm on July 2 and 3, 1863.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a Civil War buff and have read a number of books about Gettysburg, but I have hardly heard of the Bliss Farm except in passing. Also, I am from Delaware and saw that two Delaware regiments were involved at the Bliss Farm fighting so decided to pick up a copy of this book.
It was an intriguing book, but almost reads like a long essay (the text of the book is only 88 pages long). And it was bit annoying at times, there are typos and even incomplete sentences. It could have used a stronger proof-read.
There are nice bios of various participants throughout the book which helps with the lessor known personalities. The fighting at the Bliss Farm was really only a long and intense skirmish but not a major part of the Gettysburg battle. It was an important part of the battle though, to decide who would control this part of the field. The area would change sides multiple times.
A very sad part of the story involves the Bliss family who owned the farm and who had to flee when the troops arrived there, leaving dinner on their table. When they returned to their farm after the battle, they found their farm completely destroyed. The Union Army had burned the house and barn to the ground to prevent their use by the Confederate Army. Despite decades of legal efforts by the Bliss family, the U.S. Government refused to reimburse the family due to a legal technicality and never helped them in any way.
The book does bring to light a lessor known part of the battle and is worth reading.

[Eric Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happen to be one of those who think Gettysburg is massively overly-covered and who doesn't want to buy any more Gettysburg books. Then I come across another Gettysburg book and can't stop myself from buying it.

In this case, this book is a fine addition to the Gettysburg literature: very detailed, with first person stories and backgrounds of the important commanders involved, finishing with a look at how it ties in with the larger picture. Well worth your time.

[George Schneickert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short highly detailed battle chronology of back and forth events around the William Bliss farm at Gettysburg on 2-3 July 1863. I thoroughly enjoyed it.