Gettysburg, The Driving Tour

We were expecting to move our show to Gettysburg, PA, so that we could study the area in more detail, but at the last minute decided to stay in Harrisburg and drive to G-Burg and tour the battlefield by car. A stop at the Visitors Center allowed us to visit the Gettysburg Foundation Museum, which was great. The entire timeline of the days leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg, the three days of battle, and the days after, is displayed in great detail. It's amazing to note that the entire scenario has been studied down to the minute. The movements of each unit of soldiers is well documented, and the locations of troop movements is precisely known. This is probably one of the most studied battles of the Civil War.

The Visitors Center store sells CD's that detail a driving route through the battlefield, and we wanted to purchase one of those, but our car doesn't have a CD player! We've been told that those are being phased out, but for only a few dollars more "we will install one for you". Nope. So we thought we were stuck, but the lady at the checkout told us about an iPhone app that is a duplicate of the CD and will play through the speakers in the car. Wonderful! We downloaded the app, put in a code (you know, the one we paid $29.95 for) and set off to visit the battlefield. Our map told us to go to stop number one, so we headed in that direction while starting the app on the phone. Whoops….nothing. We stopped and fiddled with both the phone and the car radio….nothing. After about an hour of sitting in a restaurant parking lot, we decided to forgo the phone and use the paper map provided free at the Visitors Center (!). Off to number 1…..McPherson Ridge.

The Battle of Gettysburg started at about 8:00 am on July 1, 1863, as Union Cavalry confronted Confederate infantry advancing east along Chanbersburg Pike. Heavy fighting spread north and south along this ridge line as more forces from both sides arrived.

This is the McPherson barn that saw the beginning of the battle. It is in use today.

Gettysburg is strewn with monuments and memorials to Generals, Colonels, battalions and regiments from every Union state. Some are large, and some are small, but all are impressive.

The Lutheran Seminary on Seminary Ridge consisted of only one building at the time of the battle, but that building provided a cupola where Union commanders could survey the battlefield. The seminary continues to prepare young people for a life of ministry.

Along West Confederate Avenue, just south of Seminary Ridge, a rock wall provided needed protection for Confederate artillery.

Confederate artillery bombarded Union troops across the field for 2 1/2 hours on the morning of July 3rd.

The infamous Wheatfield left over 4,000 dead and wounded from both sides as it changed hands seven times before the end of July 2nd.

This tree bears mute testimony to the "High Water Mark" for the Confederacy. It marks the deepest incursion of the southern troops into Union territory. After surviving the run across open ground amongst cannon fire and a hale of bullets, the South was stopped near this tree, and the remaining men were forced to surrender. It was the beginning of the end for the Confederacy.

This rock wall, known as "The Angle" because of the 90 degree turn it makes, is just adjacent to the high water mark, and provided scant cover for troops from either side.

The house barely visible in the center distance was the home of President Dwight D. Eisenhower after he left the Presidency, and continued to be Mamie's home after her husband died. It is now a National Monument, but President Eisenhower's beloved Black Angus cattle still roam the ranch (They are the tiny black spots in right center).

We spent more than two hours driving around the battlefield, and could have spent more, but the threatened rain finally appeared about dark, forcing us to retreat. We did not have a chance to walk downtown Gettysburg, where many buildings show the effects of cannon fire and bullet holes. All of the building that were in town at the time of the battle are marked with a bronze plaque, and have been maintained in pristine condition.