Founders

 As a native of Chambersburg, PA, Tracy Baer has developed a strong interest in local history, with a particular focus on the American Civil War. He has spent much time researching and studying the resources available to better understand the war’s effects on the area and the area’s effects on the war. He conducts walking tours of historic downtown Chambersburg and driving tours of Franklin County sharing the area’s rich past. 

Growing up in Chambersburg gave ample opportunities to travel to nearby Gettysburg where Tracy became a Licensed Battlefield Guide in 2016. While providing tours on all aspects of the battle, he has a strong interest in Day 1 and the Aftermath. Being able to touch people’s hearts by connecting them with the past, and sometimes reacquainting them with an ancestor who fought on that hallowed ground is a very important aspect of guiding. 

Tracy is a past officer and long-time member of the Cumberland Valley Civil War Roundtable. He frequently gives presentations, both remotely and in person, to roundtables and other organizations.             

Licensed Battlefield Guide Jasan Hileman is an avid Civil War historian and past president of the Cumberland Valley Civil War Round Table. He serves as a member of the management team for First Energy’s Potomac Edison Company in Williamsport, Md.  A volunteer fire fighter with a specialty in advanced rescue, Jasan incorporates a background of quick decision making, emergency response and the use of available resources to protect lives in his battlefield tours.  

Britt C. Isenberg is a native of Millersburg, Pennsylvania. He has been a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park since 2014. His writing and photography has been published in numerous Civil War periodicals. Britt is the author of The Boys Fought Like Demons (2016), a regimental history of the 105th Pennsylvania Infantry, coauthor of Gettysburg’s Peach Orchard with James A. Hessler (2019), which won the 2019 Bachelder-Coddington Award, and author of The 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry: From Gettysburg to Appomattox (2022). His tours at Gettysburg have also been featured on PCN-TV and C-Span History. He resides with his wife and daughter near Gettysburg.

Donald Vandergriff (U.S. Army retired) is an award-winning teacher, writer, and lecturer who specializes in military leadership education and training. He served 24 years as a Marine, Tennessee Army National Guard enlisted, and U.S. Army Armor officer. After retiring from the U.S. Army, he worked for their Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC) Forward with a focus on leader and soldier development. He has also been a consultant and guest speaker at NATO, the U.S. Military Academy, and several law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Baltimore Police Department.

Michael Lentz brings to being a guide at Culpeper a passion for history and telling stories. His working career includes being radio disc jockey for a country radio station, and being a political operative and a legislative staffer at the state level.  Originally from Colorado, he developed a love for history from a young age. He graduated from Colorado Mesa University with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. After his time in politics he moved to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania to pursue becoming a licensed battlefield guide at Gettysburg.

Garrett Shipley is a guide for horseback trail rides. Garrett has been working with horses since 2011 and has trained horses for trail and Civil War reenacting. He has been a Reenactor since 2010 and now lives in Culpeper, VA working on a horse farm training horses. He enjoys going out on trails at Brandy Station and sharing its history.