Gettysburg

We spent 4 days at Gettysburg, I could easily spend 3 or 4 more. If you love history, American History you need several days. So much to see, read and explore and much needs to be done on foot.
The bloodiest and most costly battle of the Civil War. After 3 days of fighting 51112 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing. One civilian was killed, Jennie Wade.
I'm not going to write an essay on Gettsyburg, I will express this point. Gettysburg was a major turning point in the Civil War and if the South had been victorious at Gettysburg the north may have had to come to a peaceful surrender. What would have happened? No one really knows. I'm certain our country and the world would be different today.
As I walked several of the battle scenes I could visualize the movements of the troops, but no one can feel the fear, bravery, pain and heartache they must have experienced.

Eternal Light Peace Memorial on Oak Hill. Dedicated in 1938

 

Barlow Knoll(small green knoll in center of photo), one of first locations of fighting at Gettysburg. Confederate forces over ran Union forces. Union retreated to Cemetary ridge.

 

Artillary protecting south side of Cemetary Ridge. Where cannons set today were the original locations for artillary during battles as well as the fences and rock walls.

 

Little Round Top. If Confederate forces could take this location they could place their artillary there and attack Union forces on Cemetary ridge and block one of the main roads. After many attempts to take Little Round Top and horrific fighting at The Devils Den, Warfield Ridge the Confedrate forces fell back. Many battles in this area were so intense specific areas were named, "Valley of Death", "Bloody Run", "The Slaughter Pen".

The Devils Den is the group of rocks on the left side of the knoll in the center of above photo. Many famous photographs of Gettysburg dead soldiers were taken here. 

Warfield Ridge

 

One of the 100's of monuments erected at battle sites by various groups, states.

 

 
 
 
 

The Wheatfield, where on the second day witnessed some of the heaviest fighting of the entire Civil War, as contested ground exchanged hands several times.

Charges and counter charges left this field and surrounding woods strewn with over 4000 dead and wounded.

 

 

Rock wall in Wheatfield, Peach Orchard area. Rocks walls were rocks from farmers field and all walls are still in original locations.

 

Peach Orchard in the distance in route to the Wheatfield.

A quote from a Union soldier at the Peach Orchard, "battle a perfect Hell on earth, never perhaps to be equaled, certainly not to be surpassed, nor forgotten in a man's lifetime. It has never been effaced from my memory, day or night, for fifty years."

 

Rock wall at Wheatfield

 

Trostle Farm. Several farms were engaged in Gettysburg. Some used as headquarters, hospitals and shelter. Most were damaged and some destroyed. This old barn still bares scars from Gettysburg.

 

Pickett's Charge or the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy". It marks the apex of the Confederate army during the war.

Confederate forces along Seminary Ridge and Union along Cemetary ridge. Photos above and just below were taken from Cemetary ridge(Union) looking toward Seminary(Confederate) ridge, the green tree line in the distance. In the above photo find the white dot(Lee's & Virginia army monument). Just to the left of the monument is where Lee had 12000 troops charge Union forces after a two hour cannonade from 150 Confederate cannons and over 100 Union. The roar could be heard in Baltimore. The Union soldiers held their fire until Confedrate soldiers crossed the fence line then the great bloodletting began. The only part of the confederate attack that surged over the Union wall were troops led by General Lewis Armistead. As he surged the wall he placed his hat on his sword and rallied the men, "Give them the cold steel boys". Soon after he was mortally wounded, the Confederate assualt lost it's momentum and began to disintegrate.

Cannon guarding Union stronghold, Cemetary ridge. Looking towards Seminary ridge.

 

Tree's and fence line at Seminary ridge

 

 

 

Here is where I walked up the from Seminary ridge to Cemetary ridge. Walking in the footsteps of 12000 Confederate troops of "Pickett's Charge". The clump of trees on the right was the target for Confederate force charge.

Green cannons were Napolean cannons and had no rifling the darker thinner looking cannons like  the one several photos above had rifling making them much more accurate.

 

Cannons guarding Seminary ridge

General Meade, the roof of his original headquarters can be seen at the base of the monument. Meade's horse was shot 7 times, but still out lived him.

General Lee on his horse "Traveler". Monument is tribute to Virginia Army and is located where Confederate forces began "Pickett's Charge" from Seminary Ridge

 

Monument at Military Cemetary on Cemetary Ridge

Where President Lincoln delivered the "Gettysburg Adress".

 

100's of these markers in the Cemetary. Someone's son, husband, father. So sad.