THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG--
On July 1, 2, 3 of 1863, over 165,600 men of the massive
armies of the North and the South came together at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for
the climactic battle of the Civil War!
Note the impressive painting of the battle action at Railroad Cut by
artist Dale Gallon.
The
Union side had 93,921 men on the field while the South had 71,699 men. General George G. Meade was in command of the
Union forces with General Robert E. Lee commanding the Confederate forces.
Gettysburg is infamous for the largest number of casualties in the Civil
War. Casualties, meaning killed,
wounded, captured or missing, were over 51,000 including 7863 men killed in
action—a truly ghastly number for a 3 day battle! * 23,000 casualties on the Union side and
28,000 on the Confederate side! In
addition at the end of the battle, the small town of Gettysburg was nearly in
ruin with wounded and dying men from both sides being tended in virtually all
the buildings and homes of the town. Many dead still lay on the battlefield
with farmers and townspeople burying as many as they could. Over 3000 horses
were killed in the battle and later were burned, with the great stench causing
sickness to the townspeople.
Gettysburg train station where Lincoln arrived |
The Gettysburg National Military Park is 5000 acres or
approximately 9 square miles. The
historical battlefield was 11,500 acres so there are ongoing public and private
efforts to acquire more of this sacred ground before encroaching
development.
There are 466 battle monuments and 367 tablets in the park to memorialize many of the units that fought for both the North and South. There were 631 cannon on the battlefield during the battle; a large number remain, placed along the 24 mile Auto Tour Route. Gettysburg was the 4th Civil War Battlefield to become a National Park.
There are 466 battle monuments and 367 tablets in the park to memorialize many of the units that fought for both the North and South. There were 631 cannon on the battlefield during the battle; a large number remain, placed along the 24 mile Auto Tour Route. Gettysburg was the 4th Civil War Battlefield to become a National Park.
The largest Battlefield memorial is the
incredible Pennsylvania state memorial 110 feet tall crowned by the Goddess of
Victory and Peace. Statues of 5
Pennsylvania Union Generals including Commanding General George G. Meade line
the perimeter in addition to Pennsylvania wartime Governor Andrew Curtin and
President Abraham Lincoln. 90 bronze tablets list all 34,500 Pennsylvania
soldiers who served during the Civil War.
Our RV in front of Vermont Memorial |
Following
are several images we made on the Battlefield.
Most are impressive unit memorials but there are also shots of cannon,
fences, farmhouses and barns.
The hopeful Eternal Light Peace Memorial was
dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938 “To Peace Eternal in a
United Nation” on the battle's 75th Anniversary!
Eternal Light Peace Memorial |
Barns and Cannons |
6th New York Cavalry Memorial with bronze battlefield scene |
11th Pennsylvania Infantry Memorial and plaque of casualty numbers |
Memorial to the Grand Army of the Republic 11th Mississippi Infantry Regiment Memorial |
Up on Seminary Ridge, the Lutheran Seminary
was in session during the Gettysburg battle and many of its buildings have
memorial tablets. The Seminary's main
building at that time, Schmucker Hall, was turned into a major field hospital
during July through September 1863 treating over 600 Union and Confederate
soldiers. It is now the Seminary Ridge
Museum of the Gettysburg battle.
Seminary Church Schmucker Hall |
One of my favorite memorials is the
North Carolina Memorial sculpted by Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount
Rushmore National Memorial. Several tablets tell the story.
North Carolina had 125,000 men fighting for the Confederacy and 25% of
them were killed during the War.
North Carolina Memorial and tablet |
View of the battlefield towards town from North Carolina memorial |
The Virginia Memorial honors its soldiers and
the Confederacy's commanding general, General Robert E. Lee, astride his
favorite horse, Traveler. Lee watched
Pickett's Charge near here
The Louisiana State Memorial is also moving
with a dead soldier at its base and a soaring figure above symbolizing the
“Spirit of the Confederacy.”
The Visitor Center Museum offers many exhibits of battlefield artifacts, an optional movie “A New Birth of Freedom” and the optional Cyclorama bringing to life with a light and sound show the 377 foot painting of Pickett's Charge. Park Rangers conduct numerous free programs throughout the Park and you can even hire a Licensed Battlefield Guide to ride along with you through the Battlefield.
The 24 mile Auto Tour has 16 major stops but many more are
possible,depending on your state origin and interests. Lin's father's side of the family all come
from North Carolina and Virginia (Confederate) while his mother's side were all
from New York (Union) accounting for his interest in the Civil War.
Gettysburg is a fascinating place to visit but sad also from
the brother killing brother aspect of our Civil War. The Battlefield today at
sunset with its many open spaces, forests and rocky hills, farmhouses and barns
is actually beautiful and peaceful, in contrast with the carnage that occurred
here 152 years ago!
Our next blog will take you to Gettysburg's other national
treasure, the Eisenhower National Historic Site, the farm and home of President
and General Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife Mamie. In addition, a short tour
of the Lincoln Train Museum, also in Gettysburg, where President Lincoln,
portrayed by skilled character actor, Jim Getty, takes you through U.S. history
on Lincoln's funeral train back to Springfield, IL.
*Busey and Martin, Regimental Strengths and Losses at
Gettysburg 2005
**National Park Service Gettysburg National Military Park
visitor brochure
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