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Today was Gettysburg day for us. Memorial
weekend here in the US.
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Straight to Gettysburg historic site and museum.
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Started off with a movie narrated by Morgan
Freeman which summarized the events leading up, the reasons for and the
chronology of the American Civil War 1861 -1865. Basically it found it’s
beginnings in the election of Lincoln to the presidency in 1861. He wanted to
end slavery and prevent it’s spread westward as the United States grew. South
Carolina seceded from the union and sparked a confederation with 5 other
southern states. They appointed Jefferson Davis as their first President and so
America had 2 sitting presidents. Robert E Lee headed up the Confederate Army
and General Meade the Union army. When the Confederates threatened to take
Pennsylvania by force, the Union Army (USA) decided to fight back and thus
began the three day conflict in July 1863 in Gettysburg.
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Gettysburg saw about 50,000 casualties (about
8,000 deaths) The rest Injured or missing.
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We headed up to a ‘Cyclorama’ which was painted
in the 1888’s…. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING… It
was refurbished in 2002 for a cost of $5million. Inch by inch using razor
blades and Qtips. The detail was
astonishing.
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Bought a 3 cd set of an auto tour and set off
for about 4 1/2 hours around the battlefield. To stop and read all of the 1400
monuments would be days !!!!
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To relate all the heart-renching details and
stories would be too much. But we would
recommend anyone to do this tour. Some highlights:
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Confederates attacked from Seminary Ridge
against the union army on Cemetery Ridge (known as Pickett’s charge)
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Highest loss of life in any single day in
American history.
o
Brothers fought against brothers, friends
against friends
o
If Stonewall Jackson (under Robert E Lee) had
not been killed before Gettysburg, one wonders if the result would have been
different and hence life as we know it in North America.
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One of the key success factors for the Union was
the recruitment of freed black slaves into military service a much need boost
to the numbers .
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Attacks and counter attacks were numerous
(especially at Little Round Top, a strategic
high spot that the confederates tried to take and failed.
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Only one civilian casualty (a woman, Jenny Wade
who was baking in her kitchen at the time)
o
Gettysburg was the pivotal point in the civil
war, yet it continued on for 2 more years.
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Derek and I were moved by this day of immersing
ourselves in the American Civil War. We knew little about it before but came
away almost exhausted, yet enthralled by the enormity of the event.
Some Photos from the day:
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| The spot Where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address.. (inscribed on righthand panel) |
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| the Etrenal Flame |
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| Sally., the regimental dog who stayed with dead member of Pennsylvania regiment until the remaining members returend and found her almost starved... she refused to leave them behgind. |
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| Untion cannons on Cemetery Hill.. aimed at Seminary Hill |
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| Derek on phone to UK Derek from Little Round Top |
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| Please step away from the phone.... or else!!!!! |
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| On top of Little Round Top.... Rccks that have quite a story (UK Derek?????) |
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| general Robert E Lee atop his hore Traveller |
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| The famous rocks from Little Round Top (Devils Glen?) |
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| Trostle Fsrm- (with Cannon ball hole in roof preserved (saw original photo with dead animals in front. |
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| Big Round Top... Not as strategic beacuse of tree coverage. |
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| Pennsylvania monument to soldiers |
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| Culps Hill Look out over battlefields (Confedereate hill) |
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| On Top of Culps hill Lookout tower |
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| Waiting patiently at Culps hill. |
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| Ready, Aim..... Fire |
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| Derek once again in line of fire |
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Back to camp and BBQ’d some chicken we bought
earlier in the day … delicious. And then
the heavens opened…. What a quick storm… we saw the guy across the way folding
up his awning and pulling in his pushouts… turned out he had an advanced weather
warning system phone app… must get that!!!!
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