Gettysburg Revisited

This was our 3rd visit to Gettysburg National Park (www.nps.gov/gett) not just because of its obvious history but also the beauty of the area. We had hoped to experience the gorgeous fall colors, but learned a few weeks before our arrival that this year the change of colors would be late because of the dry, hot summer…what a bummer!

Once again we stayed at the Gettysburg Battlefield Resort (http://www.campgettysburg.com/) where we camped last year and were assigned a spot in the new section complete with 50amp electric. Our site was large with tall trees (but still able to get satellite!), near the corner giving us neighbors only on one side, and directly across from the big doggie park. We planned to stay a week and had invited Russ’ sister and her husband to come spend a night or two since they live only a few hours away and had never been to Gettysburg.

Though it rained nearly all day Thurs., the forecast was for a beautiful weekend, and it did not disappoint. Terri and Bill arrived late Sat. morning, and after relaxing and some chit-chat, we headed out towards the battlefield with us acting as their tour guides. We still had the self-guided audio tour CD that we had purchased during our first trip which is narrated by authorities on the Battle of Gettysburg and gives a detailed description of the battle, bringing it to life. However, before we began the tour, we stopped at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery where not only 3,500 Union soldiers are buried but also veterans and their families from all wars. This is also the place from where President Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address in 1863. Walking through the cemetery is always a humbling experience especially with all the Unknown Soldier graves.

(You can review the history of the battle at length in the blog entry links from our first visit: Gettysburg2007, Gettysburg2007Day2, and Gettysburg2007Day3 plus here’s a link to our visit last year Gettysburg2009 as well.)

Back in the car we started the CD and over the next couple of hours toured parts of the battlefield making periodic stops. Bill and Terri were amazed at the size and number of monuments scattered throughout the park, and the history as it unfolded on the narration. There are over 1,300 monuments and memorials, some dedicated to individual regiments and brigades, many of which are located exactly on the spots where the unit fought. Some are dedicated to individual men of valor and some simply honor the men, women, and events that marked the war and the peace that followed. The Eternal Light Peace Memorial, dedicated in 1938, is most impressive with its constant flame rising from the top, and one of the inscriptions that read: “An enduring light to guide us in unity and fellowship."

When we reached the stop at Pitzer Woods, we discovered an encampment of Berdan`s United States Sharpshooters, Company C, 2nd Regiment (http://www.berdansharpshooters.com/). Referred to as a “living history” presentation, these gentlemen attempt to accurately portray the camp and military life of the gallant men who served in the Civil War. They have a deep affection for preserving history and are eager to answer any questions and share their knowledge. We had arrived in time to also view a description and demonstration of the sharpshooter’s role in the war.

We were only halfway through the CD’s presentation but were getting hungry so decided to head back to the historic Gettysburg Town Square for a bite. We enjoyed lunch at The Plaza Restaurant and then decided to check out some of the surrounding shops, choosing to finish the rest of the tour the next day. As we exited the restaurant, we spied a life-sized bronze statue of President Abraham Lincoln called the "Return Visit" standing on the corner. Located just outside the historic Wills House, Lincoln is standing next to a statue of a modern-day visitor and pointing with his hat to the second floor where it’s said that he finished writing his famous Gettysburg Address, a copy of which the visitor is holding.

The next day arrived rather lazily, and Bill and Terri decided the remainder of the tour would have to wait for another visit. They left around noon, but we’d be seeing them in a couple of days when we arrived at their place.

On Mon. Russ and I decided to get our National Park Passport Book stamped at the visitor center and check out the exhibits in the lobby. The cost to visit the actual museum and to see the Cyclorama had increased over the past year, and we chose to skip it this time since we saw both extensively last year.

After leaving the visitor center, we drove over to the High Water Mark area, the location of the climax of Pickett’s Charge. We popped in disc 2 of the CD tour, fast forwarded to that section, and listened once again in amazement to this portion of the battle. The struggle between “brothers”, who wearing their wool uniforms on a hot, humid day in July amid the thick smoke of cannon fire and artillery, and finally hand-to-hand combat, is something we can hardly imagine. There are quite a number of monuments in this area, and the largest on the battlefield is located here. Standing 110 feet high, the Pennsylvania Memorial lists the names of all 34,000 Pennsylvanians who participated in the battle, and bronze statues of the 7 Pennsylvania generals and President Lincoln stand on each side of the arches. The figure of Winged Victory graces the top of the dome, and a staircase leads to the roof where visitors can have a panoramic view of the battlefield. It is truly a magnificent structure and a fitting tribute.