The Real History Lesson

Over the last 3 weeks I have known that this trip was upon me.  I got a book from the library called Gettysburg and it was written by Newt Gingrinch and William Forstchen.  The book starts on July 1st early in the morning, the first day of three of the Battle of Gettysburg, and chronicles the thoughts of the Generals leading both the Union and Confederate Armies, it explains strategy and positioning, it gives a bit of background information and lead up.  But what it does terrifically is explain in graphic detail the fighting and the injuries, hand to hand combat, the way people were taken prisoner, they way horse teams of 6 pulled artillery and limbers - despite even if a horse had its leg blown off....  The way the bullets zipped across the field ripping into legs and skulls.  The gruesome sounds in the field hospitals.  So even though I am not a history buff with this content, I was well enough aware of what was in store for the day's tour.

The southern Confederate army had entered Gettysburg and secured its position north of town, whereas the northern Union army had entered Gettysburg from the south of town.  The town has about 10 entrances/exits to it in all of the cardinal directions.  Positioning was key.  It was really important where to fight geographically to gain the upper hand.  Culp's Hill, Cemetery Ridge, Seminary Ridge, Baltimore Pike, Rock Creek, Steven's Knoll, and so on - These were all many landmark locations in an area about 5 square miles were bloody battles took place.  Each spot had a significance of one way or another for both sides, but finally on July 3rd the battle end with the infamous Pickett's Charge.  General Pickett, in his first ever combat role, marched 13,000 Confederates soldiers about 1 mile across an open field straight into Union fire.  In the end over 6,000 of these men were killed, and the charge was futile.

The tour guide kept a steady narration for 2 hours on the bus.  We started driving down the main street and he identified several houses that were still being used that were around in 1863.  Many of the houses served as hospitals were the injured and shot were taken to recover or have an amputation.  Many of these hospitals/houses served both Confederates and Unionist.  To this day there are still many blood stains, bullet holes, and even canon balls that are visible.  As the tour went on the guide, Dave, pointed out many other places of historical significance; farms that were used as headquarters for generals, roads that had 55 miles worth of soldiers marching on it, and trees, streams and creeks that still provide shade and water as they did 155 years ago.  He knew his stuff.

There is quite the effort to restore the battle grounds to as much as their original condition based on pictures and text.  So orchards have been replanted, fences rebuilt, houses and barns fixed, and modern buildings such as a car dealership had to be moved.  The battle field has enormous monuments (1,320) and statues commemorating brigades, companies, and division who fought in the battle.  As far away north as Maine was represented, as well as as far south as Texas.  There were hundreds and hundreds of them or different shapes and sizes.  The largest monument by far was the Pennsylvania monument which has the names of over 30,000 troops.  150,000 soldiers actually fought in all on both sides, there was over 7 million bullets shot, and 52,000 were killed, injured or captured during this 3 day battle.

There is simple too many facts and interesting points to mention.  I think amazingly the single greatest accomplishment was only 1 civilian death during the battle.  A young girl was inadvertently shot in the back by an errant bullet and was killed.  There were 2500 citizens in Gettysburg around this time and many hid in their basements and cellars over the 3 days.  That seems like an accomplishment.  But the sad fact was the needless war took its toll on the entire nation.  The battles were horrific and more people died from infectious disease then by bullets.  It would only last another year and one half or so before the Confederates conceded defeat.  There were many battles, but none as significant as Gettysburg.

During the tour there were a number of people reenacting canon fire, and a number of people were camped out and marching and shooting muskets.  It happens 365 days a year probably, but every July 4th there is an enourmous set of events marking the end of the battle with quite the display of reenacting.  Gettysburg gets over 1 million visitors a year usually.