Matt is positively one of the best all time commentators on the Civil War. He is fluent and flawless with his delivery and adds a very real intangible human element. Thank you truly

I'm amazed how this guy can remember all of that info, all those little details, with no notes or anything! That is incredible! I'm really, really impressed.

Whatever they pay Matt Atkinson and Gary Cross, it is not enough. These 2 are modern day Gettysburg legends

matt has become something of an internet star. with good reason, his delivery is that of an excellent teacher

Ranger Matt, your sense of humour is brilliant. History comes to life... Appreciated.

I am so glad that I found these NPS videos. It is refreshing to see these very knowledgeable and passionate rangers describe Gettysburg and the battle that took place in 1863. Gettysburg National Military Park should be very proud of all of these rangers and their ability to paint the picture as well as they do.... I know that I am. Keep up the great work GNMP.

Some day soon, the wife and I are going to stay near by and explore every inch of this hollowed battlefield, where SO MANY Americans on both sides died for their ideals. I do hope Park Ranger Matt Atkinson {that rebel right there :-) }, is still posted to that area, as I would love to meet him and attend one or even all of his field tours. He, IMO, is not only a wealth of historical information and little known factual items of interest, but he is a showman as well, who injects humor and tiny diversions into his presentations, which serve to assist in keeping one's interest. Also, the use of visitors, children AND adults, as visual aids to help in explaining battlefield occurrences while out on the battlefield, is something I have noticed by viewing all the available videos on this Gettysburg NPS KZfaq site, is unique only to him and is quite helpful in understanding clearly the actions taken on the field by both federal and rebel forces. This as well helps in holding the interest of his audience. This man is worth MORE than his weight in gold in his service to Gettysburg National Military Park, the NPS, and the many visitors to the battlefield's areas.

This park ranger, Matt Atkinson is sooooo wonderful to follow. He should have is own show!

Love this guys presentation

I lived in Gettysburg for 25 years and have learned more watching Ranger Matt Atkinson videos along with other Park Rangers then all of the history lessons from school. We go back a few times a year and would love to know if Matt is still there and giving tours. Thank You sir for bringing history to life with your amazing tours.

1:40 No laughs at Pickett's Buffet, "Just charge it"???? Comedic GOLD

Man, Ranger Atkinson makes me want to take a trip up there and hear him tell these live! What a storyteller!

I had the pleasure of meeting Matt Atkinson a few years ago at GNP. He seems like a really good guy who truly enjoys his work. His videos are always quite good and understandable to a wide ranging audience.

Outstanding presentations by Ranger Atkinson. The next best thing to being at the park. Excellent resource! Thank you so much for sharing your passion with the American people.

Love watching and listening to Matt. He knows his stuff. I've never been to Gettysburg but on my bucket list. He puts you right there during the war. So much knowledge. Bet the spirits of Gettysburg sit back and listening.

My husband and I are frequent visitors to Gettysburg, traveling several times each year. We truly enjoy Ranger Atkinson's tours. He is very thorough and well informed in his tours. He involves the audience in his tours, and is very humorous, making his tours interesting. Kydos, Ranger Matt! Thanks for sharing!

Spectacular narrative of the battle of the Peach Orchard. Matt Atkinson seems to know the participants like they were his friends and speaks of them with reverence and respect. A great preserver of the history!

18 months and counting till I get to come over and visit Gettysburg Battlefield, look forward to going on a tour with the Park Rangers , brilliant presentation Ranger Atkinson.

As a student of the Civil War, I've to the Gettysburg battlefield 3 years in a row in 1994. 1995 and 1996. My ancestors fought with NC units. Visiting the site was a dream of mine as a kid. Being an old boomer now , It still remains one of my most cherished memories of my life.

this dude has fun with history

Kudos to Ranger Atkinson! I have to brief this battle for my US Army Senior Leaders Course and he brought to life all the maps and words I have poured over. I couldn't be more excited and humbled to be able to visit Gettysburg tomorrow and present to my class a brief of the battle at the Peach Orchard. Ranger Atkinson, I won't be able to do it the justice that you have, but wish me luck.

edge of my chair, stirring, heartbreaking, the horses and their innocence moved me to tears.

I live in Essex, England and I won't be able to visit Gettysburg for a good few years to come so thank-you for these videos. Matt is very entertaining and the information is interesting. Moreee!

There is a video of being down range from a Napoleon cannon firing live ammo on KZfaq. You can hear the shell come whirring and whistling all the way toward the camera sitting at the target. The sound of that shell coming will make your blood turn cold when you think about a whole battery firing those things at you!! Everyone should watch it. It puts a whole new perspective of what it was like to have all that artillery firing. The sound of those shells are blood curdling when you hear it. So not only do you have the boom of the cannon you also have the whiiirrrrrrrr zooooommm and scream of the shells. I had no idea they made that much noise!! Movies make it sound like fireworks but that’s not what it sounds like

My grandfathers name was Horace Pope Foster. He was in the 17th MS. It’s an honor to hear the story and get an idea of what he went through with Barksdale. Fascinating

I gotta tell you guys, it is a TREAT watching the battlefield walk-throughs. I would absolutely be delighted to watch more NPS battlefield walk videos for Gettysburg or any other battlefield under NPS jurisdiction. Thank you so much for posting these!

As someone highly interested in Civil War history, especially Gettysburg I really appreciate each and every upload. I'm from South Carolina and live about fifteen minutes from Fort Sumter and can't wait to visit up there on vacation one year.

I'm so glad I found these videos. They are first rate. I've been to Gettysburg before and there was no way to see all of the Ranger talks. I'm headed back tomorrow. This is a great refresher course.

Watching this from Sweden. Wow, what a guy!

Many historians become so used to the complex battle they forget there are those new to this who don't know a brigade from a division and know maybe Lee and Picket and thats about it. This brought the choas down to a understandable level and introduced all the key players and the locations. The camera man is excellent in showing pans and zooms when needed for visual refrence. It was intended for everyone, not just people who read 100 books on it. Easy to understand with just enough humor to keep things moving. Great presentation.

Mr. Atkinson is better than sliced bread. Thanks Matt.

We visited Gettysburg and Antietam this past July were really impressed at the way park rangers bring history alive. The young ranger at Antietam described the battle so vividly that you could see the battle unfolding in front your eyes, this from the observation room on top of the visitor's center. Gettysburg is a more larger battlefield but still the rangers knew what they were talking about. The same thing happened when we visited Manassas a few years ago.

Matt is an excellent guide, I really enjoyed his tour.

Matt is an amazing lecturer he puts you right in action with extreme interesting detail and respectful humor. So glad we are at peace as asingle country. Matt's a national treasure ..

This is amazing video. Matt is a great story teller. So knowledgeable about the battles and players. You come away with civil war tactics and appreciation of just the confusion that a major battlefield provides. Men/horses/guns/death.... all circling around.

Matt’s passion is awesome. Love these tours.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Mr.Atkins july 2 2023. Can't wait till next year.

This presentation of The Peach Orchard battle is outstanding, very well done! The NPS ranger Matt Atkinson is an extraordinary instructor---makes it all come alive, right before the viewer and visitors. Thanks for this video and the job you all are doing!!

Matt Atkinson was born to do this. When you're listening to him describe the battlefield you can see it almost perfectly in your mind. He puts you right there in the middle of it all. Names, dates, and even the tiniest little details. He paints a perfect picture.

Thank you so much for these great videos. We are very grateful for everything you do!

Absolutely love Ranger Matt's presentations. Spent a week in Gettysburg years ago and was fortunate enough to attend a few of his tours.

This man does such a fine job in his presentation. a joy to listen to. Cheers from Canada.

I can't tell you how much I enjoy and appreciate these video walks. Thank you NPS and especially Matt.

Ranger Matt is a National Treasure awesome guy. Love randomly running into him and his groups out on the Battlefield!

Great video. Very informative with a sense of humor. I’ve been to the area many times but never on a guided tour

I cannot begin to describe my thanks to the Gettysburg NPS for their dedication to the study and description of this battle. I've watched every video (and others) that they have produced. I was there during hurricane "Sandy" but obviously the park was closed. I hope to return one day (from SC). Please keep these videos/documentaries coming. Thank you.

Great job Matt! You are a great teacher!

Matt, you bring us into the day, into the battle, into the minds, and into the souls of each man that fought at Gettysburg! I havent had rhe priviledge of walking w you on one of your tours, but please make sure u continue this telling of true history of our country. Hope to be there soon. Danny Rampey, Georgia

Absolutely sensational presentation of the Peach Orchard and the command decisions from both sides. Matt Atkinson is the best!!!

I could listen to Ranger Atkinson speak about Gettysburg for a month straight, with an undivided attention span the entire time. What an articulate, knowledgeable, and detailed speaker and guide this man is! Phenomenal video too! 💯⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A reminder that the most important part of "history" is "story".

I'm just now finding these videos and this channel. I had the honor of doing six years of hard-core CW re-enacting in my younger days. Every young adult should get a chance to experience that. Ranger Matt and Camera Man Matt are excellent storytellers. I've only visited Gettysburg once, even though I'm a PA native. It's time to go back and walk the field again.

Thank you so much for this! I'd been having problems sleeping, and this video fixed that.

This is awesome. I’ve been to Gettysburg and have studied it quite a bit but I don’t think I could ever know as much as Matt. I love the way he presents the information. That man must absolutely love his job.

I love these videos. He really knows how to explain the battle.

This gentleman knows his history. Thank you, sir for an excellent presentation!

Another great video full of unique content. I’m loving this video series. Thank you so much for taking the time to shoot it, and share it with all of us that thus far havent meade it down to the hallowed ground of Gettysburg. Cheers from your Yankee brother 👍👍

16:40 the kid who knew what the Blacksox scandal has a bright future. :-). Matt is awesome, such a great performer. Rare talent he has. Hopefully I can catch one of his performances next year.

For Mishawaka Post: Up through WWII, a brigade was several regiments "braided together." The regiment was a maneuver unit as well as a principal administrative unit. From the Revolution to the Civil War, the regiment would be the primary unit to take care of the soldiers and was the major focus of loyalty and spirit. A soldier would sound off that he was from (as an example) Company A of the 69th New York Infantry (the "fighting 69th") of "The Irish Brigade" in Webb's Division. In those early days, the battalion was a temporary unit to use as a "battler" to be handled by the regimental commander as his (usually three) battalions. The Regimental Commander had "field grade" officers, majors, to lead those battalions in combat. After WWII, as the U.S. Army reorganized for modern war in NATO Vs Warsaw Pact combat, the Army realized that regiments were too unwieldy (think tanks and APC's) for mechanized combat. So the brigade with maneuver battalions was born. The regiment became an office with a regimental flag. There are some regiments still. Each U.S. Army division has an Armored Cavalry Regiment. The 82nd Airborne Division has Parachute Infantry Regiments. The Marine division is comprised of Marine regiments. The British are deep into the "regimental system" with famous regiments that have history going back centuries. I was in the Marine Corps in Vietnam and the Army in Iraq so I got deep into this.

These rangers are the history teachers we all wanted. This series should be mandatory studies for all students.

I really thoroughly enjoy these "presentation's". I watch them all weekend long. Especially Matt's presentation. I really like his "post war Lee" lecture. thank you for making these lectures.

This guy is truly amazing, he paints a picture of heroism, and how war is hell...my hatt is iff to Mr Atkinson

Matt, your "work reflects your attitude", nice job. Thanks

I love these by Ranger Atkinson. He reminds me of Don Knotts.

That was an incredible description of the Battle at the Peach Orchard! When I go to Gettysburg next Thursday with my good friend Terry, We shall walk the path General Barksdale and his Brave men took as they charged so gallantly through these fields!!

Matt's the best! He reminds me of a drill sergeant I had in Army boot camp with his wry sense of humor. Sure Dan Sickles likes the position he occupied but I've never seen such an exposed position with absolutely no cover.

Superb presentation. Thank you Mr. Atkinson.

What terrific story teller! Enjoyed it very much. Thank you for posting.

Matt is the most interesting teacher. And with a sense of humor to boot. Have you ever been a history professor?

Matt is a great teacher. Thank you sir!

Thanks for the video

These videos were good ideas. Only been to Gettysburg once on a school field trip but didn't get to see much...been dying to go back...really enjoying these videos. I laughed so hard when I got the George Thorogood joke by the way!

Excellent. Thank you. Would love to hear details about Berdan's sharpshooters on this day in perhaps another video. :)

Matt Atkinson is one of my favorite Rangers in Gettysburg, I will try and schedule his walks always interesting and knowledgeable .

Amazing pesentation Ranger Matt Atkinson i could watch your pesentations all day so interesting

Hornets analogy...right spot on!

Top notch. Tactical details are fascinating

This is the second video I've seen by Ranger Atkinson. I really appreciate his expertise. And he has a great ability to explain-- "Corps-Division-Brigade-Regiment." He's insightful- comparing Longstreet to being like George Foreman (big, can take a punch, but can deliver a devastating counter punch). A man with a sense of humor, I like his delivery. Appropriately reverent, but at the same time ("Junior and fake Orioles fan over there) funny. My only concern is that I think Ranger Atkinson is a bit of a Southern sympathizer! Thanks for the great presentation.

Please make more videos like this! Thanks you so much.

Outstanding! Thank you.

Matt is very good at this. Excellent job.

This was an excellent presentation. I happen to agree with General Sickles' decision to move forward and occupy the Peach Orchard. Yes his corps was wrecked, but this forced the rebels to fight well ahead of the critical ground. Which, (IMO) saved the Federal position at Little Round Top and Cemetery Hill. By the time Longstreet's men got there they were spent and did not have the momentum to take the ground.

If you plan to visit Gettysburg, researching what happened at each location will enhance your experience exponentially. I wish these videos were available prior to my visit five or six years ago.

Great video. Matt is one of the very best.

Good video. One of my distant ancestors won the MOH capturing the battle flag of General Kershaw later in the war. It was interesting to hear this account of Kershaw at Gettysburg. He was in the Ohio cavalry Sayler's Creek along with George Custer and his brother who also won the MOH. My ancestor returned to farming after the war and did not suffer the same fate as George Custer and his relatives in the 7th Cav at the Little Big Horn. What Sickles did at Gettysburg reminds me a lot of what Custer did at the Little Big Horn. They chose the ground to fight on poorly. It's true the confederates could have placed their cannons on the mound of the peach orchard. It's also true the confederate artillery would have been in full view of the union artillery in a crossfire. The irony of the peach orchard is Barksdale who "won" the day died in the process while Sickles lived to be 94 years old.

I like how the guide personalizes the battle participants with their names and motivations.

Great job Ranger Matt. I would be so honored to listen to one of your history lessons.

Very interesting video. Thank you for sharing it will all of us.

Absolutely fantastic to listen to, i was captivated , bravo

It’s not just remembering the facts it’s telling the same story with enthusiasm all day long every day

I love watching these videos........this guy cracks me up.

Thank you sir for your superb analysis, and conveyance of it to us who have the privilege to view it and hear it on youtube! Amazing and insprational!

It's a modern miracle! Matt with a Hat ;-) Well done man.

Great presentation Matt!

Matt is awesome and does his job so well....I always wanted to be a Matt at Gettysburg but life took me down a different path...I love Civil war History!!

Nice presentation Matt!

Another fantastic presentation! Ranger Atkinson paints such incredibly vivid and relatable pictures of the action, and much of the thought behind it - he really brings the battle to life.

Great and highly entertaining presentation! I lost my sense of direction a little at the first, but pulled up a satellite photo-map and followed along. One thing that I didn’t know was that the Peach Orchard was relatively “high ground” - it now makes more sense, that Sickles kind of defied orders in creating a salient from the Union lines. Oh, and hadn’t seen that one particular monument at the Trostle Farm, but knew what it was immediately: It’s a gigantic Minié-Ball 😂!

Fantastic job by matt!

excellent as always..