July 12, 2012 -- Gettysburg

The battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War, and the war's bloodiest battle, with 51,000 casualties. 51,000 casualties in 3 days! Although we have visited the Gettysburg National Military Park before (2-3 times), the park has been renewed and renovated in recent years. Much of the nasty commercialism (billboards within sight of the cemetery) has been removed. Each time we have visited and have stood at the field where Picketts charge took place, a sense of reverence, and appreciation for the sacrifice given, an amazement at the sheer courage (or was it idiocy?) takes hold of us.

Behind the wall where Union forces waited for Confederates to attack from the tree line in the distance (3/4 mile away)(Picketts Charge)

We stopped at the visitor center after having slathered up with sunscreen. The day was hot and humid (par for the course on this trip). Our first order of business was to walk over to the National Cemetery where the Gettysburg dead were buried, and then over to the place where the Union forces met a force of 12,500 Confederate soldiers that had marched over open fields for three-quarters of a mile (see photo above). The Confederates suffered 50% losses on this one battle. This was at a time when Sharpshooters had rifles that could pick off an enemy within 1000 yards, and cannon fire could reach 2 miles. Amazing.

Up on Big Round Top hill at the Union position looking down to Devils Garden (the rocky area in the distance) where the rebels were

Then we decided to take the auto tour of Gettysburg, that takes you to all the significant places in the 3 day battle. We were able to stand at the top of Cemetery Ridge and look down across the fields to the tree line where the Confederates (a mile long attack line) emerged to try and take the center of the Union line.  Open fields, fences running across them, trenches and berms make it hard to believe the Confederates thought they could succeed.  A few rebels and their commander actually made it over the stone wall at the top before they were repulsed.  Also looking up the hill from where the Confederates charged was sobering, "What were they thinking?"  There were many stops like this, Little Round Top, the Wheatfield, the Devils Garden to name a few.

To those who believe that the Civil War is a chapter of our history that is done and closed, an incident occurred that proved otherwise to us. As we were coming back from viewing Culp's Hill, one of the stops on the auto tour, a man approached Ray and asked him to take his picture. Sure! No problem! Absolutely! The man handed his camera over to Ray, and then proceeded to his trunk and pulled out a large Confederate flag. He stretched it out with his arms, and stood in front of one of the monuments there with a big grin, and ready for his picture. Snap! The south lives, and the civil war lives on--not as bloody, but just as real.

Getting towards evening, we decided to leave Gettysburg and head for our stop for the night at York, PA, about 45 minutes away. The GPS took us down a back road that took us through small towns and rural rolling farmland-very picturesque. All of a sudden, a large sign appeared telling us that the road was closed ahead. Since there were no detour signs, we figured it must just mean that a side road was closed. Over the next rise, we discovered that, no, the road we were traveling on was closed--no detour signs, no optional roads to follow. So, we turned around and took a side road a little way back off the road we had traveled, and let the GPS take over. Sure enough, we were routed back to the main road and were on our way. BUT--a few miles along, the same "Road Closed" signs loomed. And again, there were no detour instructions. Again, we took a side road, meandered through farmland, and then, thanks to GPS, came back to the main road. I guess they just assume that if you're on these roads, you must know how to get around. We're just thankful that the ways around the closed road sections didn't take us many miles astray of our destination.

Tomorrow: Longwood Gardens!