Maybe it was a case of too much sunshine here in Florida, John and I felt a trip was needed. Not sure what exactly drove us, but we then made plans to visit our son and his wife in D.C. We had taken a long road trip to Texas a few months back, so this time we thought we would leave the driving to Amtrak. The first day on the train we encountered clouds and rain. Also an awesome rainbow.
Our son Dan and his wife also felt the need for a trip, so the next day after John and I arrived we drove northwest out of D.C. to Gettysburg, staying at a cute cottage in the woods. It remained cloudy and wet for the next two days- also a bit cool. Strangely, I did not long for the sunshine of Florida!
John and I had been to the Gettysburg Civil War battlefield a couple of other times in the past, but we had no issue with seeing it again. Friday afternoon it was misting and cloudy but we still tramped out to a section of the battlefield where there was a ranger talk scheduled. The ranger discussed the events which took place on Cemetery Ridge, where we stood, on the third and final day of the confrontation at Gettysburg.
While standing on the ridge the ranger pointed out a farmhouse on our left in the distance. It was the home of Lydia Leister, a widow. Her home became General Mead's headquarters on July 2nd and 3rd. Twelve thousand soldiers were brought by General Lee to break the Federal line (lead by the Union General Mead) on Cemetery Ridge. The battle started on July 1, 1863 and ended two days later at Cemetary Ridge with the South loosing. A total of 51,000 soldiers were killed over the three days. The Confederates had initially gained control of the town of Gettsyburg, but were gone by July third. Not only the countryside, but also the town had been horribly impacted by the battle.
Quite by accident on Sunday we walked by Christ Lutheran, one of the churches in Gettysburg which opened their doors to the wounded. We saw a historic marker at the church and stopped to read it. On July 1st, while the South had control of the town, a volunteer Union chaplain from Pennsylvania was entering Christ Lutheran when he was "cruelly shot on the steps" by a Confederate soldier. Quotation taken from a memorial to the man which is located in front of the church.
Too say the least, it must have been a frightening time for the townspeople of Gettysburg. Churches of the town opened their doors immediately after the battle begun to receive the wounded- Christ Lutheran was one of them, as well as Gettysburg Presbyterian (the latter church was attended by Lincoln and joined by the Eisenhowers). During and after the battle dead people as well as animals lay everywhere, and even after the dead and wounded were removed, blood stains could be seen inside as well as outside many buildings. War is hell, no doubt about it.
Within 4 months of the battle Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania commissioned local attorney David Wills to buy land for the Union dead. His home is pictured above. It was at this home where President Lincoln stayed the night before he gave the Gettysburg Address for the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery. That was in November of 1883.
We do hope to return to Gettysburg again sometime in the future. It has many historic buildings built pre-Civil War. Some of our time over the weekend was also taken at the museum in the Visitor's Center, as well as touring President Eisenhower's farm outside of Gettysburg.
No comments:
Post a Comment