Hi All,
We spent today exploring the history of the epic Civil War battle at Gettysburg through visitor center programs and touring the battlefield itself.
From July 1 to July 3, 1863, 70,000 Confederate troops faced off against 93,000 Union troops. The Visitor Center has an outstanding film narrated by Morgan Freeman that introduced the events leading to the Civil War and a summary of the important battles.
The next exhibit is an enormous circular painting depicting the final phase of the battle. At 377 feet long and 42 feet high, this 1882 Cyclorama painting by French artist Paul Philippoteau is stunning. Before coming to Gettysburg it was displayed in the Cyclorama in Boston.
The VC includes an extensive museum collection of artifacts and multimedia presentations for each of the three days of the battle. This photo wall of Union casualties was particularly poignant.
The auto tour of the battlefield starts along Seminary Ridge where Confederate artillery nearly turned the tide on the first day of the battle.
Near the end of the auto tour we saw the view from Cemetery Ridge where the Union soldiers repelled the final Confederate assault. After a two hour artillery barrage, 12,000 rebels came out of the woods a mile away to attack the Union position. A valiant but unsuccessful attack.
A national cemetery was created near the battlefield. Massachusetts statesman and orator Edward Everett was invited to speak at the dedication on November 20, 1863. President Lincoln was invited to make additional remarks as appropriate.
Everett spoke for two hours. Then Lincoln was introduced. In two minutes he delivered the " Gettysburg Address ".
Afterwards, Everett said to President Lincoln, "I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of this occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes ".
Love,
Sandy & Carl
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
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