The Walker Family: Gettysburg, PA

Last Friday Tyson took his Presidents' Day holiday. It actually happened during busy season, but he was not allowed to take the day off until after busy season was over, thus last Friday seemed a perfect day to take it off. We wanted to go somewhere close that didn't require a stay in a hotel and somewhere we had not been before. We settled on Gettysburg, PA. It was close (1 1/2 hours) and we had never been.

It was really amazing to go there and see where one of the most famous battles in American history took place. There were a lot of cool facts that we learned and it was just amazing how everything happened.

First off, we decided to do a personal car tour. So, a licensed tour guide drove us around in our car, telling us all the history. In my opinion, it is definitely the way to go. We could ask him any questions without feeling stupid, it was all for us instead of a huge tour, and we got great views of the entire battle ground without getting lost driving around. So, if you are thinking of Gettyburg, PA, I would recommend the guided car tour. For us, it would have been $1 more to do the bus tour. So, it was the way to go.

Our guide was actually a lot younger than almost all the other guides, not that makes a whole lot of difference. He really knew his history and you could tell that he loved telling people about it. I am going to have to get Tyson's help remember where some of the pictures were taken, but I am posting them now just to get them up! (Big THANK YOU to my friend, Regi, for letting us borrow her amazing camera! It works wonders! I want one!)

We learned that, surprising to me, Gettysburg was a planned battle spot or a spot they even thought they would meet up with each other. I guess I always thought they knew or the Union was waiting for the Confederacy there or something like that. Actually, the Union was trying to keep the Confederacy from reaching Washington, D.C., and that just so happened to be the spot where they meet up. The town (about 2,500 people at the time) had no idea this was going to happen and just got caught in the crossfire of the bloodiest 3-day battle in history. People hid in their cellars and basements until it was all over. Many of the house had cannon ball holes in them. Actually, we saw a picture of a barn that had a cannon ball hole in it just after the war. Then, our guide took us to that same barn and the hole was still there! Many of the houses have been torn down, but the barn is still up!

Also, another interesting fact was that it took 6 horses for every cannon. Thus, the horses became huge targets. The cannons also required at least 2 men. Also, the cannon balls could travel 2 miles! I was shocked when I heard that. It was just amazing to me that it could go that far. Amazing what some gun powder can do to a lead ball. I also did not realize how big the area was! I guess I always imagined just one open field where they all fought. Nope, not so. It was miles and miles and it went up and down hills with lines of troops that were literally miles long! Lee's Army was 70,000 soldiers deep, while Meade's was 93,000.

On a bit of a tangent, I cannot even imagine how the soldiers fought in their wool uniforms, with heavy artillery, in the July sun! It is so hot and humd in the summer, that I am guessing many, if not all, were dehydrated. They were also fighting almost the entire day. Guns and cannons going off produces heat. I just think I would have passed out at the beginning. I am a weakling.

Day 1 - On July 1, 1863 the two armies met up with each other in the morning and it continues through out the entire day. They started at McPherson and Oak Ridges, but eventually the Union soldiers were forced to retreat through Gettysburg to Cemetery and Culp's Hill.

Day 2 - July 2, 1863 both Generals Meade (Union) and Lee (Confederacy) arrive with the main strengths of both armies. The main parts of the armies were in two arcs: Union forces on Cemetery Ridge and Confederate forces on Seminary Ridge (to the west). The Union had secured a hill called Little Round Top, but the Confederacy fought to take that hill. They killed many soldiers, but were unsuccessful. Another part of the Confederate army attacked east of Cemetery Hill and was momentarily successful, but ended up not helping the Confederacy.

Day 3 - July 3, 1863 General Lee opened a 2-hour bombing of Cemetery Ridge and Cemetery Hill. It did little to soften the Union defensive position. Then, 12,000 Confederate soldiers charges the open fields toward the Federal center in what is known as "Pickett's Charge." General Lee lost over 5,000 soldiers in 1 hour! Thise ended the battle of Gettysburg.

Sadly, around 52,000 soldiers and thousands of horses died in that 3-day battle. After it was over, both armies left Gettysburg, leaving their dead behind. The townspeople were left to bury the dead and help the wounded that had to stay behind.

Only 4 months later, President Lincoln traveled to Gettysburg to give what is known now as "The Gettysburg Address." He had gone to help dedicate Gettysburg National Cemetery. He spoke after Edward Everett, a well-known orator of that day. Edward delivered a speech of about 2 hours. President Lincoln followed with an approximately 2-minute speech (272 words). I just think it is amazing how you don't need a lot of words to truly inspire people.

Another thing I learned is that when President Lincoln visited, not all the bodies had beenreinterred. People had been placed in mass graves and the horses burned. When the lad for the cemetery was purchased, they began the process of reinterring the soldiers. It, however, was not completed when President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. It took a few more years to 'finish.' There were some bodies that were never really found. In fact, there were human bones found about 16 years ago!

It was truly amazing to see the place of such an epic battle. It makes me sad to think that so many people died. I cannot imagine living at that time.

On a lighter note, Reed loved running around in the grass and he even honked the nose of the statue of Abraham Lincoln (Yeah, he was quick. We didn't realize what he was doing until after it was done. Sorry, President Lincoln)! Eve just hung out, drifting in and out of consciousness. It was a gorgeous day and not too busy!