My husband and I, with our love of history, spent our 10th wedding anniversary in Gettysburg in Dec 2011. We stayed at a historic B&B that arranged private tours of the battlefield. Our tour guide was incredible. 2 or 3 hour tours were available, we took the 3. Our guide took us through the battle chronologically, driving to each battle site. But at the end of that 3 hours, with my husband and I so entranced and asking so many questions, we had just reached Little Round Top, so still had about half the battle to go. Thankfully our guide didn’t need to be home until 3 that day and said for lunch and $25/hour we could take the time he had left. One of the best days I ever spent. BTW I think the high temp that day was 10 degrees F, very different from the July heat on those terrible days.
Well stated Kevin. In my early visits to Gettysburg it seemed only natural to go to those safe and familiar places that many of us are so used to hearing/reading about. However, my last trip 2 years ago involved going to the Bliss farm where only the foundation remains. You can't help but thinking about the poor residents fleeing their home (hopefully), then having it unfortunately being in no man's land, repeatedly contested by both sides until it was finally burned by the (Union) troops sent to protect and/or defend it. Then, I thought about why that part of the battlefield is only preserved a couple hundred feet farther beyond the house and why there is modern housing built on what certainly was part of the battle! I appreciate your posts as it causes me to think beyond the obvious, re-examine what I think I know, and seek out more sources to help improve my knowledge. For that, I thank you!
Thank you for this somber reflection. On our last trip we visited Antietam and Gettysburg. As a recovering Virginia lost causer I didn’t visit the lee statue but did stand where the Pickett-Pettigrew assault began and contemplated how steep it was, how hot the day was, how heavy the wool uniforms were for all combatants. Then we drove to the Meade monument (because we’re old) and I thought of the men in blue, shouting, “Give them Fredericksburg!” and defending that line.
They saved our country and its representative democracy. Will we be able to do as much?
Yes, if we try and stay committed as long as it takes.
I often think of Susan B. Anthony, who fought for the vote for most of her life and died before the goal was reached; Ida B. Wells, who spent her adult life fighting the increasing backlash against African American civil rights; and abolitionists, who must have despaired after the Dred Scott decision. They kept fighting. We must.
My husband and I, with our love of history, spent our 10th wedding anniversary in Gettysburg in Dec 2011. We stayed at a historic B&B that arranged private tours of the battlefield. Our tour guide was incredible. 2 or 3 hour tours were available, we took the 3. Our guide took us through the battle chronologically, driving to each battle site. But at the end of that 3 hours, with my husband and I so entranced and asking so many questions, we had just reached Little Round Top, so still had about half the battle to go. Thankfully our guide didn’t need to be home until 3 that day and said for lunch and $25/hour we could take the time he had left. One of the best days I ever spent. BTW I think the high temp that day was 10 degrees F, very different from the July heat on those terrible days.
Well stated Kevin. In my early visits to Gettysburg it seemed only natural to go to those safe and familiar places that many of us are so used to hearing/reading about. However, my last trip 2 years ago involved going to the Bliss farm where only the foundation remains. You can't help but thinking about the poor residents fleeing their home (hopefully), then having it unfortunately being in no man's land, repeatedly contested by both sides until it was finally burned by the (Union) troops sent to protect and/or defend it. Then, I thought about why that part of the battlefield is only preserved a couple hundred feet farther beyond the house and why there is modern housing built on what certainly was part of the battle! I appreciate your posts as it causes me to think beyond the obvious, re-examine what I think I know, and seek out more sources to help improve my knowledge. For that, I thank you!
You are very welcome, James. Thanks for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment.
Thank you for this somber reflection. On our last trip we visited Antietam and Gettysburg. As a recovering Virginia lost causer I didn’t visit the lee statue but did stand where the Pickett-Pettigrew assault began and contemplated how steep it was, how hot the day was, how heavy the wool uniforms were for all combatants. Then we drove to the Meade monument (because we’re old) and I thought of the men in blue, shouting, “Give them Fredericksburg!” and defending that line.
They saved our country and its representative democracy. Will we be able to do as much?
Yes, if we try and stay committed as long as it takes.
I often think of Susan B. Anthony, who fought for the vote for most of her life and died before the goal was reached; Ida B. Wells, who spent her adult life fighting the increasing backlash against African American civil rights; and abolitionists, who must have despaired after the Dred Scott decision. They kept fighting. We must.
Thank you for the reminder of these heroes, who remained faithful.
Yes.
Hi Suzanne,
Glad to hear that this post resonated with you. As to your final question I will refrain from venturing a guess.