GETTYSBURG PA 5/31-6/3/2011

On Tuesday, 5/31, we headed north towards Gettysburg, PA.  We love crossing into different states.  There is a sense of accomplishment in knowing you have passed into a different political region.  Sometimes there is a marked change in the roads and the countryside, sometimes, not.

After a stop at Wal-Mart and a construction detour, we found our RV park for which we had reservations.  It was a nice park.  While here we also visited a RV store for parts to fix some broken things on the trailer and to tour a few Class C RV's with the idea of someday changing rigs.  But our main purpose for being here was to visit the historical Civil War Battlegrounds and museums of the area.

And we began that afternoon and evening upon which we arrived.

 We found that there was an overwhelming amount of information to process and an equally overwhelming amount of sites to put in order and to visit.  There are also over 1300 monuments to read!  We decided to purchase  CD and book tour guide.  Though it cost a little, it came highly recommended by several people as the best way to see the battlefields.  We took it home and began reading the book and other pamphlets we picked up.

 The next morning, June 1, we began our tour of the battlefields where on July 1,2,and 3 of 1863 the armies of the Confederate States of America and the United States of America fought a decisive battle where the tide of the Civil War was turned.  Over 50,000 soldier's lives were lost or seriously altered in those three days.

 As we used our CD tour guide that Wednesday, June 1, from 11:00 AM until 8:30 PM; as we slowly drove from site to site, reading all the plaques and walking all the battle areas; we gradually began to get a picture of the horror, destruction and death that took place during those three days so long ago.

  Though now, all appears as a peaceful park surrounded by beautiful countryside, we realized how horrible things were those three days.  This is Little Round Top where the left flank of the Union Army took a heroic stand on July 3, the last day of the battle.

Here on Little Round Top and Big Round Top, both being on the left flank of the Union Army was told to hold at any cost.  And a high cost it was for both armies on that July 3rd, 1863.

 Rocks and crevices such as this became shelters and traps as the battle raged.  Lives were lost defending small pieces of land.

 What once was a raging hell is now a peaceful park, surrounded by the peaceful sounds of nature.

 From behind these rock walls Union troops fought of continual rushes of Confederate forces, who bravely came up the hill in waves, attempting to dislodge the dug in Union troops.  Finally, when the Union troops were out of ammunition, they were commanded to fix bayonets and charge over the walls in hand to had combat to decisively drive of the stunned Confederate forces.  It was frightening to just be standing here and wondering what it must have been like.

 Across the Valley of Death from the Little Round Top was the Confederate stronghold, Devil's Den.

 From here Confederate Sharp Shooters plucked off exposed Union Troops over on Little Round Top.

  Little Round Top as viewed from Devi's Den.  We learned that Sharp Shooters were named such because they used a special long ranged rifle designed by a man, Berdan Sharp.  Though may other types of rifles were used, the word, Sharp Shooter came from this rifle.  If you have sharp eyes, you can see our truck parked below.

From Devil's Den, Sharp Shooters plied their trade.  And some paid a heavy price for doing so.

 A picture over 150 years ago taken in the same spot.

 The local citizens paid a price for a battle being fought near their town and on their farms.  This barn was lucky to receive only one hit from a cannonball, while some were completely destroyed.

 But amongst all the monuments and historical markers decrying the horrors of warfare, we found one lone monument showing the compassion of a lone soldier that, during a heated battle noticed a tree that had taken many hits from cannon and rifle fire.  Below on the ground he saw a robin's nest that had been knocked from its lodging in the branches of the now decimated tree.  Braving the constant barrage of flying shrapnel and shells, this private scooped up the nest with the babies still in it and replaced it in the tree.  This monument stands on the place where the tree was and commemorates his compassion.

One of the many memorials erected by the many states that contributed men to these battles.  Each state set one up to honor her boys that fought in Gettysburg.  This was Pennsylvania's.

 Atop Big Round Top there was a tower that gave a wonderful view of the surrounding area.  Climbing to the top.....

 ... we had a magnificent view.  Can you see our truck below?

 Towards the evening we were finally at the center of the last battle where General Lee, who up to this battle had been decisively besting the Union Troops, attempted a last ditch effort to end the battles and completely beat the Union Troops.  Though many lives had been lost in the previous two days of fighting, here in this final battle close to 8,000 troops were lost in a 45 minute battle.  The Confederate troops were soundly defeated and the next day, the Confederates retreated. 

 Towards this clump of trees, across a mile wide field, the Confederates marched shoulder to shoulder, attempting to break through the center of the line of the Union Troops and hoping to divide them in half and thus defeat them.

 It was with saddened awe that we walked around for about an hour, silently reading and thinking.  How terrible war is!!!

 The next day, we spent all day in the Visitors Center Museum, learning more of the devastation two armies brought not only upon themselves but to the small town of Gettysburg.

 There was a display depicting the numbers of men each state and territory contributed to the war cause. Many states had men enroll in both armies.  Here it is shown that Oregon had 1810 sign up in the Union Forces and none in the Confederate Forces.

 Our friend that we learned so much about on this visit.

  In the evening of June 2, we were excited to have Luke drive up for another visit.  Together we toured the grounds of where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg address and dedicated the cemetery where the Union troops that had died here were to be buried.

 This monument marks the place where Lincoln gave his address and stands at the head of the cemetary.

 As the day faded away and the night waxed strong, we stopped for dinner at Friendly's Restaurant and another wonderful time visiting with Luke.  Excellent food and supreme sundaes!

 Thus, after three days, our very educational and emotional visit to Gettysburg, PA has come to a close and we move on the Thousand Trails Preserve near Hershey, PA.