Wednesday, August 23 – After a pretty good rain last night here in Gettysburg, PA, the humidity finally disappeared making our sightseeing a little more enjoyable! We started the day near the center of the battlefield visiting General Mead's Headquarters, the Copse of Trees (General Lee's target destination during the battle), many of the thousands of markers spread-out on the battlefield, and the largest battlefield memorial, the Virginia Memorial.
To the Minnesota solders who gave their lives.
Confederate troops led by Brigadier General Lewis Armistead temporarily broke through Union lines and crossed the wall just west of the Copse of Trees in what has come to be regarded as the high point of Confederate military achievement in the war.
Copse of Trees.
In the next photo, the Copse of Trees are on the far left. The farms in the background were there during the War.
High Water mark.
The Virginia Memorial is one of the few that visitors can climb. A circular stair case up 57 steep steps leads to a viewing platform. It is located at the site where the major Confederate charges took place, and the place where Lee realized the battle was lost after three days of brutal fighting.
Can you see Marsha way up there?
After touring the central battlefield area, we moved to the southern end of the battlefield. Again, we saw some amazing statues.
A memorial to the soldiers and sailors of the Confederacy.
The famous area in southern end of the battlefield is know as Little Round Top. This high area was another area of fierce fighting during the battle.
A view of what a Confederate army saw when they were looking up at the rocky Little Round Top.
We were told by our guide how the Union Army was able to bring the cannons and supplies up to this rocky area. It was fascinating.
At the top of Little Round Top.
Bronze statue of Chief Engineer Gouverneur K. Warren watching for the Union Army.
Approximately 653 cannons were assigned to the two armies (372 to the Union Army and 281 to the Confederate Army) in the Gettysburg Campaign, and today there are approximately 370 cannons that sit on the battlefield. This is a cannon that they had to drag up the back of the hill.
From the top looking down on The Valley of Death.
Closer look at Devil’s Den.
We enjoyed another informative Ranger led walking tour of this area. As mentioned earlier, all these Ranger tours are excellent. We recommend taking in as many as any visitor to the area can manage.
NOTE: In yesterday’s post, we forgot to mention that Marsha visited the Mennonite Information Center. The Center has a one-of-a-kind documentary film called “Who are the Amish?” and a movie entitled “We Believe.” She said they were excellent! There is a full-size reproduction of Moses’ Tabernacle. She attended an hour lecture tour that explained the history, construction and spiritual significance of this symbolic dwelling place of God among his people. Marsha loves reading her Bible and really enjoyed the lecture. She highly recommends a stop at the Mennonite Information Center.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day.
