Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Well after a couple of long days at HersheyPark, everyone slept in late. After lunch we decided to take a ride. We drove along through the farmlands and headed south towards Gettysburg.

Now for a short history lesson. Gettysburg is best known for just three days of time, July 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 1863 - the Battle of Gettysburg. Each year nearly 2 million people visit this site, the largest battlefield shrine in America with over 1,000 monuments and cannon and over 40 miles of scenic avenues. They come to see for themselves the spot where thousands fought and died for their "cause", the spot where President Lincoln spoke and still speaks to us today.
How did this battle start? General Lee’s Army was traveling north. Maj General Meade's Union Army were pursuing them. Lee ordered several brigades to travel east to check their location and to forage for supplies for his troops. Northwest of the town of Gettysburg they met. A skirmish ensued and as the battle heated, word was sent back to both commanders that the enemy was found and reinforcement troops proceeded to the area. Over the next 2 days Lee’s army converged onto Gettysburg from the west and north while Meade’s army arrived from the south and southeast. Thus a battle never planned occurred simply by circumstance.
July 1, 1863
As southern forces continued a relentless attack and launched an all-out offensive which drove the Union forces through the streets of Gettysburg to a defensive line south of town. Thus, after the first day of battle the 5 mile Confederate line traveled from Seminary Ridge through the town and eastward toward the area called Culp's Hill. As additional Northern reinforcements arrived on the field, they occupied a 2 mile defensive position commonly referred to as a fishhook formation along Cemetery Ridge and Culp's Hill.
July 2, 1863
While simultaneous attacks were supposed to have occurred on Culp's Hill and Cemetery Ridge, the attacks took place six hours apart and were unsuccessful. Though Union forces held onto Culp's Hill, the Confederate forces did drive back the Union troops in areas referred to as the Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, Valley of Death and Devils Den with a staggering amount of casualties. The Confederate advance of the right flank had initially succeeded but was stopped by heroic efforts of Union forces in an area known as Little Round Top.
Having been basically successful in 2 days of battle with the Union army, General Lee, believing his army was invincible and undefeatable, decided to attack what he thought to be the weakest position of the Union line the next day. At the same time General Meade held a council of war with his Corp commanders and decided to remain in a defensive position for the battle anticipated the next day. Thus the decision made by both commanders would lead to one of the most famous days of the American Civil War.
July 3, 1863
The third day of battle began with another unsuccessful attempt to take over and occupy Culp's Hill. Meanwhile, a mile east of Gettysburg a Confederate Cavalry of 6,000 troopers held orders to attack the Union rear. Union cavalry with a strength of 5,000 confronted them in a hot firefight that contained and turned the Confederates back.
12,000 Confederate soldiers marched from Seminary Ridge in parade dress formation to launch a famous, heroic attack upon the Union center, forever ingrained and immortalized in history as Pickett's Charge. Union forces watched their soon to be combatants in awe. They admired the intense patriotism and desperate dedication of the men before them. Still, once within range, the Union artillery hit and mowed down the columns of men like blades of grass. Two out of three Confederate soldiers would not return.
Retreating back to Seminary Ridge, General Lee waited and upon seeing General Pickett and realizing the defeat that occurred, advised Pickett to reform his division in the event of a Union counterattack. Pickett, looking at Lee responded, "General Lee, I have no division." With these words, and after 3 days of devastating carnage, the battle ended with the Confederates being defeated and retreating back to Virginia the next day. Sadly, the horrors of the war would continue for another two long, bloody years.
When the armies marched away from Gettysburg they left behind a community in shambles and more than 51,000 killed, wounded, and missing. Wounded and dying were crowded into nearly every building. Most of the dead lay in hasty and inadequate graves; some had not been buried at all.
This situation so distressed Pennsylvania's Gov. that he commissioned to purchase land for a proper burial ground for Union dead. Within four months of the battle, reinterment began on 17 acres that became Gettysburg National Cemetery.
When the cemetery was dedicated on November 19, 1863, less than half the Union battle dead had been removed from their field graves. On the program was a guest, President Abraham Lincoln whose remarks lasted only two minutes. The Gettysburg Address has become known as one of the supreme masterpieces of eloquence in the English language.
The speech transformed Gettysburg from a scene of carnage into a symbol, giving meaning to the sacrifice of the dead and inspiration to the living.
Today the cemetery is the final resting place for over 6,000 honorably discharged servicemen and their dependents from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War.

While in the battlefields, you can not help be taken in with what happened here. Dennis, Vicki, and Nicholas really enjoyed the visit reading many of the plaques and monuments. Mikayla decided to annoy everyone with a blade of grass she found - tickling everyone with it and then turning them into various things. After viewing several of these monuments, we drove to Boyds Bear Country. We visited the nursery of bears and the pet adoption center. Then the kids were able to 'make their own animals' after clocking in for work. The kids decided on what qualities they wanted their animals to have: bravery, laughter, love, friendship, and imagination.

We stopped for dinner at Pike's restaurant. Dennis was able to try Yuengling which is a local beer brewed in America's Oldest Brewery in Pottsville, PA. Next our adventures brought us to the Outlets at Hershey. The kids enjoyed some shopping.

Finally we headed back to the campground. Dennis made a campfire. As we enjoyed the fire and smores, Nicholas told the story of the 'Humming Man'. But, when he tried to sneak around the camper to scare Cortney, Cortney hid next to the tent. Kathy sat in Cortney's seat so Nick would think she was still there. As he snuck up - Cortney jumped out and scared Nicholas!

After updating the blog everyone went to bed!

Now the trivia contest for the day:
1. Who is the only Gettysburg citizen killed in the Battle of Gettysburg?
2. What was the dogs name that the monument of the 11th Pennsylvania division is dedicated to?

Answer these questions and you could win a prize.

Memere we are still waiting for some of your comments.....hope you are enjoying the blog!