Tuesday, 23 April 2019
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, USA
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Gettysburg.
Most of you will know the name.
Famous for the Civil War battle and Abraham Lincoln’s subsequent 272 word speech, which gave meaning to the sacrifice of those who died.
The battle between General Lee for the Confederate South and General Meade for the Union North took place over 3 days in July 1863. Eventually won by the Union on 3 July 1863.
51,000 soldiers dead, wounded or missing.
In three days.
51,000.
Although the Civil War continued for two more years, Gettysburg was the beginning of the end for the Confederate army, who, under General Lee, eventually surrendered at Appomattax in April 1865.
The battlefield today is big business. Set over thousands of acres, there’s a self drive tour, a bus tour, or a private guide tour. Interesting museum with many artefacts and photographs but the highlight is the cyclorama. Have been to a number of cycloramas around the world and this is, by far, the best of them. The immediate foreground is a real model of the landscape with cannon, grass, and other such things which blends in seamlessly with the cyclorama so you get that sense of it being real.
Along the self drive tour are monuments to each regiment that was placed there, cannon showing the artillery positions and yet more monuments than you can shake a stick at.
Following the Gettysburg Battle in July 1863, Abraham Lincoln made his famous speech at the cemetery in November 1863.
In addition to all that, nearby on the edge of the battlefield is the former home of President Eisenhower. First came to Gettysburg during World War 1 to train tank commanders and returned to live there. The guide, knowing I’m British, lovingly points out the signed photo of Queen Elizabeth II. And a photo of Churchill. The house is kept as it was in the 1960s, after Eisenhower had retired. Quite basic and small inside. Cracking views across the farmland to the Appalachian Mountains though.
Thoroughly interesting day.
Yet again.
Though you’ll be pleased to read that that concludes your American Colonisation, Independence and Civil War tours.
One response to “122. Gettysburg”
You have captured the essence of this place. It is amazing to see our kitchens and bedrooms have changed since the time of Eisenhower.