Things about Gettysburg.....
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From: Philly (Narberth)
Originally Posted by Looter,Jul 16 2006, 08:37 PM
:....We have been studying the battle of Gettysburg, for more than 10 years. The Civil War....besides the "S" is our passion..!!! No matter how much you think you know, there is no end to what you can learn....Gettysburg is the most awesome place in the Northern Hemisphere, as far as the Civil War goes.....If you take time to walk the fields, that you forefather's did...late in the evening...close your eyes..and just imagine what these people did ....
Besides having our summer only 10 miles away, G-burg is also a special place to me. My dad went to college there (did not graduate
) but was an active fraternity alumni; I went along as a kid in the 50's and still have my Battlefield map from that time 
My great grandfather fought and was wounded in the Civil War (not at G-burg) at about age 26; I have his Springfield musket
We have a copy of his diary; the original is now in the Lebanon County Historical Society and still available for purchase. I googled his name and found info about his regiment....listing every member of the group 
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From: Randolph, NJ
Originally Posted by paS2K,Jul 16 2006, 09:58 PM
My great grandfather fought and was wounded in the Civil War (not at G-burg) at about age 26; :
That is amazing. I didn't know that your great grandfather fought in the Civil War.
I'm trying to figure out whether you could have ever met him. I think not, he must have died before you were born.
Did you every hear any stories about him from your grandfather or father?
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From: Flintstone GA
If by "Civil War" you folks mean the War of Northern Aggr... I mean War Between the States then yes, we did study it extensively. 
I think it's the saddest chapter of America's history, an object lesson that some issues are so important they eventually deny compromise.
I think it's the saddest chapter of America's history, an object lesson that some issues are so important they eventually deny compromise.
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Jerry...Your plan, "Highlights" are more practical than an in-depth history lesson, on the events that happened at G-Burg.... You wouldn't have time to drive...!!! If it's in your itinerary, be sure to take them to "Little Round Top" Take a few minutes to gaze over the Valley of Death...and Devil's Den. Look at Plum Run Creek that runs between the Den and Round Top. It ran totally red, with blood, not water... While you are in town, think about how the towns people, numbering 2400 at that time, dealt with the clash of approximatly 170, 000 troops, leaving 53,000 people and more than 5,000 horses, dead and so severly wounded, that they couldn't be moved by the 11mile long, departing wagon train. There was little food left and their livestock, hogs, were having a "field-day" with the shallow graves and what was left upon the 26,000 acre battlefield....
You are so lucky to have a summer place, so near to Gettysburg....What I wouldn't give....!!! I too had relatives, on my mother's side that fought in the C-War. Not lucky enough to have diarys and letters though. That's how you learn the truth about what really went on though. Reading the letters and diarys of the people that were there...What were the men thinking on a daily basis,What were they doing....Many, many illiterate, and never been more than 10 miles away from their homes, till the years following 1861.
As General R.E. Lee said, in the afternoon of July 1st, 1863, just outside of Cashtown...."It's "ALL" in God's hands, now"......
Sorry for rambling......, this is probably not the right place for me to go on and on...Just a short History lesson, for those of you going on the drive...
Thanks for listening,
"Looter" ( Denny )
You are so lucky to have a summer place, so near to Gettysburg....What I wouldn't give....!!! I too had relatives, on my mother's side that fought in the C-War. Not lucky enough to have diarys and letters though. That's how you learn the truth about what really went on though. Reading the letters and diarys of the people that were there...What were the men thinking on a daily basis,What were they doing....Many, many illiterate, and never been more than 10 miles away from their homes, till the years following 1861.
As General R.E. Lee said, in the afternoon of July 1st, 1863, just outside of Cashtown...."It's "ALL" in God's hands, now"......
Sorry for rambling......, this is probably not the right place for me to go on and on...Just a short History lesson, for those of you going on the drive...
Thanks for listening,
"Looter" ( Denny )
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From: Randolph, NJ
Originally Posted by paS2K,Jul 17 2006, 12:25 PM
Rob, now you know that I could never have met my great grandfather if he fought in the Civil War He was born in 1836....about 110 years before me....but lived a long life until about 1915. My father was born in 1906, so he could have told some stories about him. No stories from my grandfather b/c he died young....28 years before I was hatched!
I'm not sure if great gramps attended the 50th anniversary festivities in 1913, but he would have loved it. I have a bunch of news clippings from the 75th year commemoration in 1938.....some soldiers were still alive and in their 90's
My son and I attended the re-enactment @ 125th in 1988.....quite a show. God willing, I'll attend the affair in 2013 for the 150th 
Here is a LINK to my great grandfather's regiment roster. Look for Corporal Daniel Fegan near the top of the list....
He was born in 1836....about 110 years before me....but lived a long life until about 1915. My father was born in 1906, so he could have told some stories about him. No stories from my grandfather b/c he died young....28 years before I was hatched! I'm not sure if great gramps attended the 50th anniversary festivities in 1913, but he would have loved it. I have a bunch of news clippings from the 75th year commemoration in 1938.....some soldiers were still alive and in their 90's
My son and I attended the re-enactment @ 125th in 1988.....quite a show. God willing, I'll attend the affair in 2013 for the 150th Here is a LINK to my great grandfather's regiment roster. Look for Corporal Daniel Fegan near the top of the list....
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From: New Freedom, PA
One event I can recommend if you tire of viewing monuments and statues, and would like to submerge in the local culture:
The National Apple Harvest Festival is happening during the Oct 7-8 weekend in Arendtsville, about 10 miles northwest of Gettysburg. We have been before, and if you like this kind of thing, it was well worth the trip. There are lots of exhibits, local food, local crafts, music, car shows, etc. Of course it is all things apple: apple fritters, apple dumplings, caramel apples, apple sausage (yes, apple sausage - on a stick, yet), apple jelly, apple syrup, etc. There is even a scrapple making exhibit (you don't want to know, but it has nothing to do with apples).
Rumor has it that there will be a special appearance by the Apple Queen at the pie eating contest.
More info at National Apple Festival
The National Apple Harvest Festival is happening during the Oct 7-8 weekend in Arendtsville, about 10 miles northwest of Gettysburg. We have been before, and if you like this kind of thing, it was well worth the trip. There are lots of exhibits, local food, local crafts, music, car shows, etc. Of course it is all things apple: apple fritters, apple dumplings, caramel apples, apple sausage (yes, apple sausage - on a stick, yet), apple jelly, apple syrup, etc. There is even a scrapple making exhibit (you don't want to know, but it has nothing to do with apples).
Rumor has it that there will be a special appearance by the Apple Queen at the pie eating contest.
More info at National Apple Festival
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From: Here, naturally.
Originally Posted by Matt_in_VA,Jul 16 2006, 08:42 PM
Thanks to Rob for suggesting it and Jerry for following up on this suggestion.
Although, I do not consider myself a "Civil War" buff, I at least have a rudimentry education about American History. I am amazed to learn time after time how many people do not have any knowledge of either the American Revolution or the Civil War. I guess that because I grew up in New York, I learned about the Civil War (the north won). I suppose that if I had grown up in the south, I may not have learned about it? (comments anyone?) I will use as the example what todays students (high school or college history classes) learn about the Viet Nam Conflict? Hmmm? What do you think that they learn?
Either way: This is very interesting thread and I thank you for doing it. I learned a few things that I did not know about the Battle of Gettysburg.
P.S. I still have to comment that I think that the Gettysburg Address is one of the most direct and most powerful pieces of oratory ever delievered.
