AC's Gettysburg GG 2013 TR

[momof3kids-Yvonne 596]

There are roads in Michigan?

I just thought there was a bit of scattered cement between the potholes.

Oh and I am really enjoying your Gettysburg tour as the girls and I just recently finished studying the Civil War.

[Total Joker ... TJ 203]

:pc:  :pc: 

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

Great updates.  I love all the photos.  I will be going back over them later after my headache goes away and read the small print.  It will be like I really went if someone asks me questions.  You know, because that kind of stuff always comes up in everyday conversations.

 

Also love Second Breakfast.  I think my family is part Hobbit because we all love Second Breakfast or Second Dinner.

 

If you go up against Stupid Judy, Ellen, or Einstein in Gettysburg trivia, you will be all set.

 

I usually graze and eat all day......so Second Breakfast was nothing!

 

I can spot you a Mickey waffle pic

 

 

Thanks!

 

Love all the pictures. The one with your son reading The Gettysburg Address is great.

 

Definitively will be making a trip to Gettysburg.  

 

Michele

 

Thanks Michelle.

 

That is one of my favorite pics.

 

I love that he loves reading and learning about new topics.

 

Late but in

 

Glad to have you here Nicki!

 

Michigan roads don't suck, they blow.

I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it.

PS I'm in. I've been looking forward to this report and would have been here sooner if it weren't for the driver errors.

 

Nothing to be sorry about. 

 

They do blow.

 

Glad you're in!

 

There are roads in Michigan?

I just thought there was a bit of scattered cement between the potholes.

Oh and I am really enjoying your Gettysburg tour as the girls and I just recently finished studying the Civil War.

 

The roads would be better if they were dirt and we used horses and wagons.

 

I am glad you are enjoying it!  More to come.

 

:pc:  :pc: 

 

Is that second one for me?

 

Is it Magic Kingdom popcorn?

 

I would love some.

[Beckers 1,136]

I thought of you today!

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

We've been to the museum/visitor's center in Gettysburg a couple of times, but it was in old building -- nothing like this one!  Really enjoyed your pics!

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

We are making our way outside to head back to our truck for the auto tour of the battlefield.

 

First we stop for a couple pics with Honest Abe:

 

 

 

 

Next we jump in the truck, pop in the CD and head for the first tour stop.

 

From NPS.gov:

 

The tour/battlefield map:  http://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/upload/GETT%20brochure.pdf

 

All intitial descriptions of each tour stop are directly from the NPS.gov map/guide.

 

First stop: McPherson Ridge

 

July 1, 1863

McPherson Ridge The Battle of Gettysburg began about 8 a.m. to the west beyond the McPherson barn as Union

cavalry confronted Confederate infantry advancing east along Chambersburg Pike. Heavy fighting spread north and south

along this ridgeline as additional forces from both sides arrived

 

 

 

 

 

This is where Union General John Reynolds was killed as he led the Iron Brigade out of McPherson Woods:

 

 

A few more pics from McPherson Ridge:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The RR tracks were not there at the time of the battle but the Railroad cut was complete.  This unfinished railroad bed cut through McPherson's Ridge.  Union troops charged and captured hundreds of Confederates who were exposed in the ravine.

 

Moving on to tour stop #2:  Oak Hill/Eternal Light Peace Memorial

 

 

Eternal Light Peace Memorial

At 1 p.m. Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes’s Confederatesattacked from this hill,threatening Union forceson McPherson and Oak ridges. Seventy-five years

later, over 1,800 Civil War veterans helped dedicatet hismemorial to “Peace Eternal in a Nation United.

 

The memorial was dedicated in 1938 during the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

 

The event was attended by 200,000 people and FDR gave the keynote address.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking back towarrd the Chambersburg Pike and McPherson Ridge from Oak Ridge:

 

 

 

Next update:  tour stop #3....

 

 

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

I thought of you today!

 

A PBR truck!  I couldn't do that job.  I might drink all the profits!

 

We've been to the museum/visitor's center in Gettysburg a couple of times, but it was in old building -- nothing like this one!  Really enjoyed your pics!

 

The visitor center and museum were very nice.  Definitely worth the time.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

The driving tour sounds great.  We did a driving tour of Yorktown battlefield several years ago and I enjoyed it. 

 

Seeing the eternal peace memorial makes me think about where we are headed as a nation today.  I hope future generations don't visit battlefields and memorials from our time on Earth. 

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

Tour Stop #3:  Oak Ridge

 

Union soldiers here held stubbornly against Rodes’s advance. By 3:30 p.m.,however, the entire Union line from here to McPherson Ridge had begun to

crumble, finally falling back to Cemetery Hill. When the first day ended, the Confederates held the upper hand. Lee decided to continue the offensive,

pitting his 70,000-man army against Meade’s Union army of 93,000.

 

 

 

 

McLean House and Barn:

 

 

As a young Union soldier named Rudolf Schwartz entered this barn to flush out sharpshooters, he witnessed his brother amongst several Confederate prisoners being taken to the rear.  The soldiers embraced and then parted ways.  The Confederate brother was escorted to the rear.  Later the same day Rudolf Schwartz was killed in action.

 

Pics from the Observation tower overlooking Oak Ridge, McLean House and Barn, and Barlow's Knoll:

 

 

 

 

Next, we head toward Seminary Ridge while en route to Tour Stop #4, the North Carolina Memorial:

 

 

 

Lutheran Theological Seminary:

 

 

There shoudl be more pictures of the Seminary and Gettysburg College later in the TR.

 

Now we arrive at Tour Stop#4, the North Carolina Memorial.

 

July 2, 1863

North Carolina Memorial

 

Early in the day, the Confederate army positioned itself on high ground here along Seminary Ridge, through town, and north of Cemetery and Culp’s

hills. Union forces occupied Culp’s and Cemetery hills, and along Cemetery Ridge south to the RoundTops. The lines of both armies formed two parallel “fishhooks

 

 

 

 

 

 

The memorial statue above and below is located at the general spot where North Carolina soldiers exited the woods and headed toward the Union center at the copse of trees at the beginning of Pickett's Charge on day three of the battle, July 3, 1863.

 

 

 

 

 

Next we will head to Tour Stop #5, the Virginia Memorial, which is also located along Seminary Ridge.......

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

The driving tour sounds great.  We did a driving tour of Yorktown battlefield several years ago and I enjoyed it. 

 

Seeing the eternal peace memorial makes me think about where we are headed as a nation today.  I hope future generations don't visit battlefields and memorials from our time on Earth. 

 

We did a driving tour of Yorktown when I was a kid.  I enjoyed that one as well.  I would like to go back to see Yorktown, Jamestown, and Williamsburg.

 

As to your other comment, I couldn't agree more.

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

Next up is Tour Stop #5, the Virginia Memorial:

 

Virginia Memorial

The large open field to the east is where the last Confederate assault of the battle, known as “Pickett’s Charge,” occurred July 3

 

 

 

 

 

You may or may not know, but General Robert E. Lee was Lincoln's first choice to lead the Union Army should war break out between the North and South.

 

Although Lee wanted the Union to be preserved, he could not bear the thought of fighting against his native Virginia and therefore declined. 

 

 

 

 

Now we are headed to Tour Stop #6, Pitzer Woods:

 

Pitzer Woods

In the afternoon of July 2, Lt. Gen. James Longstreet placed his Confederate troops along WarfieldRidge, anchoring the left of his line in these woods.

 

 

At the top of the extremely tall observation tower, you can read about and see President Eisenhower's house and farm.  This served as the Presidential retreat during his administration and also as his retirement home:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking south:

 

 

 

 

You can see Little Round Top and Big Round Top in the distance:

 

 

 

Next up, Tour Stop 7, Warfield Ridge:

 

Longstreet’s assaults began here at 4 p.m. They were directed against Union troops occupying Devil’s Den, the Wheatfield, and Peach Orchard,

and against Meade’s undefended left flank at the Round Tops.

 

 

 

 

 

Do you see the ski mountain in the above picture?  According to a tour guide (at the top of the observation tower) the mountain in the distance, just to the right of the ski mountain, belongs to the United States Department of Defense.  He stated the Pentagon moves operations there in the event of a National Emergency, such as after the Pentagon was attacked on 9-11.  He stated that is the reason for the antennas at the top of the mountain.  Admittedly, my picture sucks, but there were visible antennas.  He also stated those antennas have line of sight to Camp David and therefore the country's defense operations can continue from inside the mountain.  I am not sure if any of that is true, but it was interesting nonetheless.

 

I was able to find a wikipedia page related to this topic:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_Rock_Mountain_Complex

 

I saw it does refer to this complex as the "backup Pentagon" and shows its proximity to Camp David.

 

Very interesting.

 

Next up, Tour stop #8, Little Round Top...............

[alexwyattmommy 181]

Great information so far.  Looking forward to more,

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

Sweet.  We didn't do the audio tour.  We did a bus tour so it's interesting to see if from your perspective

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

Now for Tour Stop #8, Little Round Top:

 

Quick action by Brig. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren, Meade’s chief engineer, alerted Union officers to

the Confederate threat and brought Federal reinforcements to defend this position.

 

 

 

Looking toward Devils Den:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I knew from previous research that Michigan regiments fought at Little Round top so I searched until I found there markers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Post, Devils Den........

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

Tour Stop 8a, Devils Den:

 

Devils Den is a "additional" stop on the tour.  I wanted to see it, so we stopped and I am glad we did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the most famous pics of the Civil War was apparently staged according to the info below.....the area where the picture was taken is in the next photo below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next five pics are from Tour Stop #9, The Wheatfield and Tour Stop #10, The Peach Orchard.............the only Wheatfield and Peach Orchard referred to as proper names.

 

The Wheatfield

Charge and counter charge left this field and the nearby woods strewn with over 4,000 dead andwounded.

 

The Peach Orchard

The Union line extended from Devil’s Den to here, then angled northward on Emmitsburg Road

Federal cannon bombarded Southern forces crossing the Rose Farm toward the Wheatfield until about 6:30 p.m., when Confeder

ate attacks overran this position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next tour stop:  The Pennsylvania Memorial......

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

Great information so far.  Looking forward to more,

 

Just posted a couple more updates!

 

Sweet.  We didn't do the audio tour.  We did a bus tour so it's interesting to see if from your perspective

 

DS really wanted to do the bus tour, but they said they only got out at the Peace memorial and just drove through everything else without stopping.

[Beckers 1,136]

Do you see the ski mountain in the above picture? According to a tour guide (at the top of the observation tower) the mountain in the distance, just to the right of the ski mountain, belongs to the United States Department of Defense. He stated the Pentagon moves operations there in the event of a National Emergency, such as after the Pentagon was attacked on 9-11. He stated that is the reason for the antennas at the top of the mountain. Admittedly, my picture sucks, but there were visible antennas. He also stated those antennas have line of sight to Camp David and therefore the country's defense operations can continue from inside the mountain. I am not sure if any of that is true, but it was interesting nonetheless.

I was able to find a wikipedia page related to this topic:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_Rock_Mountain_Complex

I saw it does refer to this complex as the "backup Pentagon" and shows its proximity to Camp David.

Very interesting.

Next up, Tour stop #8, Little Round Top...............

This is interesting. On Saturday Adam needed a nap so we drove around to get him to fall asleep in the car. We made a left out of Granite Hill and went towards the mountains and could see the snow paths. We were just randomly going on roads and made a left on to one that winded a little bit up a mountains and then came to an abrupt stop. There was a concrete barrier that said visitor parking and the place had Barbed wire and fences galore. Looked like the way a prison would be protected.

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

Just posted a couple more updates!

 

 

DS really wanted to do the bus tour, but they said they only got out at the Peace memorial and just drove through everything else without stopping.

 

 

we took the one out of town.  he stopped at about 5-6 places 

[DaveInTN 3,247]

There are a lot of conspiracy theories regarding Raven Rock Mtn.  NWO type stuff.  Watch out for the black helicopters.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Cool pics!! Lovin the report!

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

This is interesting. On Saturday Adam needed a nap so we drove around to get him to fall asleep in the car. We made a left out of Granite Hill and went towards the mountains and could see the snow paths. We were just randomly going on roads and made a left on to one that winded a little bit up a mountains and then came to an abrupt stop. There was a concrete barrier that said visitor parking and the place had Barbed wire and fences galore. Looked like the way a prison would be protected.

 

Interesting Indeed.

 

we took the one out of town.  he stopped at about 5-6 places 

 

Gotcha.  We only looked into the one at the Visitor Center.

 

There are a lot of conspiracy theories regarding Raven Rock Mtn.  NWO type stuff.  Watch out for the black helicopters.

 

What have you heard?  Or can't you say?

 

Cool pics!! Lovin the report!

 

Thanks Carol!

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

Next tour stop:  Pennsylvania Memorial

 

Pennsylvania Memorial

Union artillery held the line alone here on Cemetery Ridge late in the day as Meade called for infantry from Culp’s Hill and

other areas to strengthen and hold the center of the Union position.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our next stop will take us to the Tour Stop at Culp's Hill and the gigantic observation tower:

 

Spangler’s Spring/Culp's Hill

About 7 p.m., Confederates attacked the right flank of the Union army and occupied the lowerslopes of Culp’s Hill. The next morning the Confederates were driven off after seven hours of fighting.

 

 

 

 

 

Next stop:  East Cemetary Hill:

 

East Cemetery Hill

At dusk, Union forces repelled a Confederate assault that reached the crest of this hill. By day’s end, both flanks of the Union army had

been attacked and both had held, despite losing ground. In a council of war, Meade, anticipating an assault on the center

of his line, determined that his army would stay and fight.

 

 

 

On the way to the next tour stop we took these pics:

 

 

 

 

 

Next:  The High Water Mark....

[alexwyattmommy 181]

It is a great trip so far.  This was on our list for this summer, until we realized it was the anniversary year.  Will have to be another year.

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

Next Stop:  The High Water Mark

 

High Water Mark

Late in the afternoon, after a two-hour cannonade, some 7,000 Union soldiers posted around the Copse of Trees, TheAngle, and the Brian Barn,

repulsed the bulk of the12,000-man “Pickett’s Charge” against the Federal center. This was the climactic moment of the battle. On July 4, Lee’s

army began retreating.

 

Total casualties (killed,wounded, captured, andmissing) for the three days of fighting were 23,000 for the Union army and as

many as 28,000 for the Confederate army.

 

The point just prior to Pickett's Charge is regarded as the high water mark.  The CSA army was at its apex just prior to that failed strategy.

 

Lee would never again have the ability to mount such an offensive strategy in a northern state.

 

The failure of Pickett's charge is widely regarded as the point where the southern army had to retreat and fight a mostly defensive war for the remainder of the War Between the States.

 

 

 

 

Here we are at the "Copse of Trees" which was the location of the Union center, just prior to the beginning of Pickett's Charge:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you look in the above pictures, squinting your eyes very carefully, you will see a wood line on the horizon........that is where Pickett's charge began.

 

I can't imaging trying to cross that much open ground with Union cannon fire reigning down.  What a nightmare.

 

 

 

 

 

Another look at the woodline, where the CSA troops emerged to attack the Union center:

 

 

Next stop:  The Soldiers National Cemetary.........

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

It is a great trip so far.  This was on our list for this summer, until we realized it was the anniversary year.  Will have to be another year.

 

Thanks.

 

I would love to be there at the 150th.....it sounded like they had a lot of things planned for visitors during those three days.