Gettysburg Revisited

We are back on the road.

Our destination is the Canadian Maritimes, but we have some stops inbetween.

Our first stop was Gettysburg, Pa.

Our long time blog followers might recall that we were here about 3 years ago

but we were somewhat limited in our visit due to a government shutdown that

prevented our visiting much of the battlefield.

Fortunately this time around no such limits were placed on our visit and we were

able to see the areas that were off-limits last time.

Having been happy with our accommodations the last time - we once again stayed

at The Artillery Ridge Campground.

We are in site 424 in the quiet back side of the campground with

full hookups and 50amps.

Our first stop was the Gettysburg National Cemetery where over 3,500

Union Soldiers were laid to rest.    It was here, upon the dedication of the Cemetery,

that President Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg address.

NY Memorial and graves of the Unknown of Gettysburg

Next we headed over to Culps hill, just adjacent to Cemetery hill, it marked the
North end of the Union lines.

One thing you notice upon arrival is the sheer number of memorials throughout
the park.   Each regiment and division - from both sides of the conflict-  has marked the ground where they fought - and many died.

NY 78th and 102nd infantry memorial on Culps Hill.

Next we headed over to the center of the union lines on Cemetery Ridge to visit

high water mark.   It was here on the 3rd day of the battle that the Confederates

momentarily broke the Union lines during Picketts Charge. 

The objective of Picketts Charge had been the trees in this photo.

12,500 men started across almost a mile of open ground

By the time they broke thru the Union Center, only 2,500 men were left, the

remainder retreating, dead, wounded or captured.

The 2,500 who did break thru were either killed or captured within 10 minutes and

the lines held.

Sunday we visited Little Round Top and Devils Den.

Round Top was the high ground at the southern end of the union lines and

commanded an expansive view of the battlefield.

It was also the scene of fierce fighting over the 2nd and 3rd days.

In the Panorama below #1 marks the Devils Den, #2 marks the field crossed during

Picketts Charge and #3 Cemetery hill - the Northern end of the union line.

Just below cemetery hill you can see the memorials around the High Water

mark and the Center of the Union lines.

A monument to the NY 44th from Albany, NY on Little Round Top.

The view from Little Round Top looking north along Cemetery Ridge

to the Northern end of the Union lines.

The view that a 3" gunner had from Round Top.

Tomorrow we pack up and head 400 miles north to Lake George, NY

where I will spend next week attending to some matters for work.

Once done with that - On Friday we will continue north and cross the border 

with our first Canadian stop Quebec City.