Anybody been to Gettysburg?

vhcat70

New member
Feb 5, 2003
57,418
38,482
0
Longstreet didn’t seem to have his heart in Gettysburg. His slow reversal on the second day, when time is of the essence has always been dumbfounding to me.
He told Lee he wanted to flank Union to his right/Union left & attack their supply train to Cemetery Hill/Ridge. Lee vetoed Ls & lost the battle. Given that, I'd say Lee more so didn't have his heart in it. Glad that was so.
 

JumperJack

New member
Oct 30, 2002
21,997
65,619
0
Yes. Be prepared to do some walking. It depends on how big a history buff you are. A few hours probably for an average visitor, a couple days for somebody who really wants to explore it all.

Do a ghost walk. Corny but fun.
 

Nubb16

Active member
Jun 30, 2005
128,714
10,038
67
Ive been a couple times when I was younger and I loved it. Disclaimer. I have a history degree and have loved history all my life. You can tour it and it is really fun as well as touring DC
 

vhcat70

New member
Feb 5, 2003
57,418
38,482
0
I've been to the battlefield where a great-great-granddad was killed: Piedmont (VA). Minor in the grand scheme - 5500 Confed, 8K Union - & it's farm land with just a single historical marker, but it still got him killed. Buried in nearby Staunton National Cemetery. Much easier to be descended from survivors than from fatal casualties.
 

Bill Derington

Well-known member
Jan 21, 2003
21,348
39,163
113
He told Lee he wanted to flank Union to his right/Union left & attack their supply train to Cemetery Hill/Ridge. Lee vetoed Ls & lost the battle. Given that, I'd say Lee more so didn't have his heart in it. Glad that was so.

I was speaking on Longstreets reversal of his troop. Not just turn around and go the other direction, but complete reversal that took several hours.
Lee didn’t know what was out there on his flank as Stuart was still missing. Looking back, yea he should’ve, but July 2 1863 Lee didn’t know. He was also concerned about being cut off from his supply train.

Anyway, it’s a fascinating place with so much history.
 

vhcat70

New member
Feb 5, 2003
57,418
38,482
0
Went around 4 score and seven years ago

Then went to Hershey and drown in chocolate
Actually, Lincoln was historically inaccurate with his characterization of "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation....", as the USA didn't exist as a single nation until the Constitution went into effect in 1788. The Revolution was about independence from Britain, not creating a multi-state country. People hardly thought beyond their own town & county & state at most until after the constitution went into effect & still didn't grasp the full meaning for another generation.

Under the previous Articles of Confederation in effect since 1781, with nothing binding at all before that document, each state was its own nation with its own currency, tariffs, & foreign relations. Each state had one vote & to pass anything required a unanimous vote. Being an American didn't exist.

That was unworkable & things were falling apart, A few good men - Washington, Hamilton, Madison & John Jay in particular - literally plotted to get a Constitutional Convention called, a document created, & then passed. Exciting story about which coincidentally I just finished reading a book about two days ago.

Net, the GA ought to have opened with, "Three score and fifteen years ago....".
 

starchief

New member
Feb 18, 2005
10,137
43,980
0
I went there on my honeymoon two score and 16 years ago. I'm not saying that was a long time ago but you could still smell the gunpowder at the time.
 
Last edited: