Gettysburg

The kids have been studying the Civil War the past couple of weeks. This part of Maryland has been great for field trips including ones for the Civil War. A couple of weeks ago the kids and I went to Manassas where the Battle of Bull Run was fought. Last Monday we went with Eric to Gettysburg, PA only a little over an hour away. Eric was excited to go since he's read a number a books on the war and about the battle at Gettysburg. It was helpful to have him there. Also, a neighbor lent us the auto tour cd that took us all around the area and explained what happened at the stops along the way. Before the tour we went to the new visitor's center where they had a very well done museum, a short movie and the cyclorama of the Battle of Gettysburg (a circular picture of the battle painted soon after the war). It was well worth it but sadly all the details of the war got lost on me even after watching the movie Gettysburg. Here's some pictures of some of the battle fields. You can see on the right side of this picture a statue. There are statues and memorials all over honoring the different states, men, etc. The battle began west of this barn (McPherson's Barn) on the first of the three day battle.

This is the Eternal Light Peace Memorial where 75 years after the battle 1800 Civil War Veterans gathered to dedicate this monument. The following picture is the view opposite this where a battle took place.

This is the far right flank that began to crumble on the first day. The Union army was forced to retreat through the town.

If you've seen the movie, this is the Lutheran Seminary where Buford looked out over the fighting the first day.

This is the memorial to the "sons of Virginia" and that's Robert E. Lee on top. What's been interesting studying the Civil War is that my kids keep asking "what side where we on". They have come to consider themselves Virginians since we've moved to Maryland. When people ask them where they're from that's what they say not Virginia Beach or Chesapeake. They'll cheer when we cross over the Potomac back into Virginia when we go places, they'll say how much they miss Virginia. They're also really glad that we're moving back to Virginia after PC even though it's not the beach. So there you have it - my kids are self proclaimed Virginians but have had a difficult time with being a Confederate State.

Little Round Top on the left where Chamberlain and his men heroically defended the left flank which would have been devestating for the Union if they had given up that ground. Big Round Top is to the right.

Unrelated to the Battle of Gettysburg the house in the distance along the trees was Pres. Eisenhower's home.

Little Round Top.