2007 Gettysburg Reenactment, a day of destiny
I didn’t feel like putting much time into a plan for this weekend, so I copped out and went the simply route: visiting Gettysburg Battlefield. I know how to get there and my way around it. Simple. Of course, it didn’t even occur to me that it’s the first weekend in July!! Gettysburg, one of the most significant and well-known battles of the Civil War, holds one of the largest annual reenactments in the country around its anniversary… this week. Duh. I’ve never been, but have wanted to. My problem is it always slips my mind. It hasn’t been that high on my priority list, I guess you’d say. Well, it turned out I managed to stumble upon the small town’s biggest event. I found a small shop in town to pick up a ticket and rushed over to the site, which is not on the battlefield itself.
Gettysburg 144th Anniversary Civil War Battle Reenactment, Three Days of Destiny
The three-day event started yesterday, so I made it to day two. Tomorrow will be the big conclusion with a reenactment of Pickett’s Charge.
Living History Village
Union Infantry on the march
Confederate General Robert E. Lee
I reached the reenactment site quite early, which had its advantages. There wasn’t any traffic getting into the parking lot, my spot was close to the gates, and there wasn’t a line to get into the site. So, with all my free time before the battle, I walked through the sutler area and Living History Village, which was nice without the crowd. The sulter area is just a row of time-period or Civil War-related merchant tents, which certainly attracted a number of people later in the day, but it’s not my cup of tea.
The Living History Village was rather interesting. Union and Confederate officers set up tents in their respective ‘army camps’ and were available to answer questions about ‘themselves,’ the battle and/or the war in general. The beloved Robert E. Lee was perhaps the most popular person there. He was being tugged every which way for pictures. On a somewhat odd note, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was in attendance. I’m not sure if he was a ghost or what, considering he had been killed about two months before Gettysburg. There were also a few educational exhibits set up to show life in the army camps and how the soldiers lived.
Union and Confederate infantry and cavalry troops mingled throughout the area, which was cool. Infantry columns marched through a couple times on their way back to the Union camp. Cavalrymen and their horses were scattered around as well. Great photo opportunities.
Civil War Medicine Demonstration
Civil War Medicine Demonstrations
The main exhibit series within the Living History Village was the Civil War Medical Demonstration area, with various programs taking place. I stopped at the several stations within the “Civil War Hospital System,” to listen to a few talks by the ‘doctors’ and ‘nurses.’ Emergency medicine and trauma surgery have come a long way. Their methods and procedures, along with the equipment and tools used, could make you cringe.
In addition to the educational stations, there were also two “Activities Tents,” situated on opposite ends of the area. Various lectures and talks were scheduled in the tents throughout the day. In the morning, the Union and Confederate generals held open discussions, as well as Q&A sessions, in their respective tents.
Custer’s Trap – The Battle of Hunterstown
Union Cavalry charge
The victors
Each day has two battle reenactments scheduled. The first of the today was a cavalry battle titled Custer’s Trap – the Battle of Hunterstown,. Union BG George A. Custer set a trap along the narrow Hunterstown Road, with concealed dismounted Cavalrymen lining both sides of the passageway. He led a company of Union cavalry in a small charge at the Confederates enticing them to follow the unit’s retreat. The Confederates funneled into the narrow road only to have hidden Union artillery and soldiers open fire on them.
Being the naïve reenactment beginner, I was banished to the fringes of the battle viewing area. Even thought I was one of the first spectators to arrive, I didn’t save myself a space along the battlefield. Well, I had no way to saving a space, rookie mistake I guess. Next year I’ll have to remember to bring a lawn chair or at least a blanket. The viewing area was completely clear when I arrived, so I could have had a great seat, wherever I wanted. However, as it was, I had to make do with whatever opening I could find. Turned out those openings were both very far away from the action and at least seven rows of people back. Oh well, now I know.
After the battle I decided to head out. I wasn’t really prepared for the event and had my fill. I needed a break from the brutal sun and just wanted to get away from the commotion. The crowd quadrupled near the beginning of the reenactment and seemed to still be growing as the second one approached, so I skipped out. Next time I’ll at least know what I’m getting into.
Since it was still only noon, I decided to drive through part of the battlefield on my way out of town.
This morning’s Flickr set: reenactment pics
Gettysburg National Military Park
I walked through the National Cemetery early in the morning while I waited for the reenactment site gates to open. In the afternoon I drove the road looping around the two Army’s second and third day positions on Seminary and Cemetery Ridges.
Gettysburg National Cemetery
Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address Memorial
The cemetery is always one of the more peaceful places to visit at the battlefield. The centerpiece to the cemetery is the original Soldiers National Cemetery, where the battle’s Union dead lay in a semi-circle around the Soldiers National Monument. White standard military headstones line the outskirts of the cemetery marking the numerous post-Civil War graves from the Spanish-American War to Vietnam, as the cemetery is now closed to new burials.
There are a few artillery unit monuments and markers in the cemetery, among other memorials. There are two memorials honoring President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, given at the cemetery’s dedication. New York has a large state monument towering over her soldiers and there’s one of three battlefield memorials honoring Union MG John F. Reynolds, killed on the first day of the battle.
Gettysburg Battlefield
~Seminary Ridge~
Confederate Artillery positioned along Seminary Ridge
Virginia State Monument
There are relatively few Confederate memorials on the battlefield and most are general state monuments on South Confederate Avenue, which runs along the Rebel line on Seminary Ridge. It’s my understanding that the lack of unit memorials is due to both the lingering bitterness between the North and South following the war as well as the financial situation of the Confederate states. While the Confederate units couldn’t necessarily afford to erect individual monuments, the battlefield commission also wasn’t keen on approving such memorials on the Pennsylvania battlefield. There are plenty of artillery pieces marking battle positions and Army of Northern Virginia unit markers lining the road to properly denote significant troop movements, but it does lack the personal touch the Union position have.
North Carolina and Virginia have two of the largest memorials on Seminary Ridge, marking the starting position of the state’s units for the battles’ third day. The two states played significant roles and paid a significant price in the entire battle and particularly in the infamous “Pickett’s Charge,” which took place in the field in front of the monuments.
View of the battlefield from the Longstreet Observation Tower
The Longstreet Tower generally seems to overlook the July 2nd battlefield, including the Wheatfield and the Round Tops. It also has a bird’s eye view of the Eisenhower National Historic Site, the former home of the US President, to the rear. I’ve never been, but I’m sure I’ll make it over there at some point.
~Little Round Top~
Union BG Gouverneur K. Warren statue
Little Round Top is one of the most popular spots on the battlefield, or at least it was today, made famous by the movie Gettysburg. Union BG Gouverneur Warren set up the positions’ impromptu defense on the Union’s left flank just in time for a Confederate attack during the second day of the battle. The engagement between Col. Vincent Strong’s four Union regiments and BG Evander Law’s Alabama Brigade is often considered the turning point in the day’s action. It was here Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain led the 20th Maine in a desperate bayonet charge to repulse the attacking Alabamans. The rocky hill has several scattered memorials and a great view of the battlefield.
~Cemetery Ridge~
Pennsylvania State Monument
As the road loops around the Round Tops it becomes Hancock Ave and traces the Union line along Cemetery Ridge. In comparison to the opposing side of the battlefield, this one is covered with unit memorials.
My last stop for the afternoon was the Pennsylvania State Monument, a huge white marble memorial positioned near the center of the Confederate attack on July 3rd. The memorial is very impressive. The base is covered with bronze plaques listing the state units and the names of their lost servicemen from the three day battle. It also has small statues of prominent Pennsylvania figures, as well as President Lincoln. Most of the statues are of Union Generals, such a Meade and Reynolds, however the Pennsylvania Governor at the time is also represented.
By that time I was tired. The sun was draining and I was just ready to head home. All in all, a great day peaking into the past.
The afternoon’s Flickr set: battlefield photos
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