Monroe County Civil War Roundtable

THE MILITARY AND MEDICINE AT GETTYSBURG’S GEORGE SPANGLER FARM

Author and Michigan native Ron Kirkwood spent eight years researching the George Spangler farm in Gettysburg and has written two books on it: “Too Much for Human Endurance”: The George Spangler Farm Hospitals and the Battle of Gettysburg, which was published in 2019, and the sequel “Tell Mother Not to Worry”: Soldier Stories from Gettysburg’s George Spangler Farm, in 2024. Militarily, Kirkwood argues that George Spangler owned the most important farm to the Union victory in the Battle of Gettysburg with its location, roads, size and Powers Hill. Additionally, the farm was of critical importance medically with two major hospitals on the property caring for a total of almost 3,000 men. His presentation focuses on both aspects of the farm, including the heroism and suffering of the men and women in the two hospitals.

Kirkwood is retired after a 40-year career in newspapers and magazines including USA TODAY, Baltimore Sun, Harrisburg (PA) Patriot-News, Midland (Mich.) Daily News and Cadillac (Mich.) Evening News. Ron edited national magazines for USA TODAY Sports, was NFL editor for USA TODAY Sports Weekly and managed the Harrisburg copy desk when the newspaper won a Pulitzer Prize in 2012. He is a native of Dowagiac/Sister Lakes, Mich., and a graduate of Central Michigan University, where he has returned as guest speaker to journalism classes as part of the school’s Hearst Visiting Professionals series. Ron and his wife of 48 years, Barbara, live in the deer-filled countryside outside of Pittsburgh but they have returned to her hometown of South Haven every month for the last 17 months.