Today we had only two stops and they were GREAT! We went first the famous battlefield of Gettysburg and then a stop in Amish country for some fantastic eatin', sight seein', and more eatin', some shoppin' and cheese. Lactose intolerant need not apply.
Gettysburg Battlefield - The Battle of Gettysburg was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. The battle involved the largest number of casualties of the entire war and is often described as the war's turning point. Union Major General George Meade's Army of the Potomac defeated attacks by Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, ending Lee's attempt to invade the North.
Amish Country - The Amish are a group of traditionalist Christian church fellowships, closely related to but distinct from Mennonite churches, with whom they share Swiss origins. The Amish are known for simple living, plain dress, and reluctance to adopt many conveniences of modern technology.
Per usual, a map of our wanderings, this time through Pennsylvania:
Gettysburg Battlefield
Having lived in Pennsylvania for a couple of years while in graduate school, this blogger is very partial to Gettysburg. I took an inordinate number of pictures here and have tried to winnow it down some but have indulged a little. Forgive the volume.
Some historians argue that the battle that took place here was the turning point in the Civil War and quite possibly made possible the "United" part of The United States of America. For had the South won this battle, and then quite likely the Civil War, the result would have been a divided country with little unity. We would have looked much more like South America or Europe. Things would have been very different than they are now.
We had an AMAZING guide, Dave Richards, who guided us through the battlefield. He was captivating and did such a nice job of interpreting, not just describing, what happened on this hallowed ground.
Boarding our bus in the morning for the battlefield. Not sure if I had captured a pic of the bus yet so wanted to make sure it made the cut
First stop, visitors center for a quick video to orient and a look at some really cool artifacts from the battle
More guns. There's always room for more guns :-)
Inside the visitor's center museum where the battle was recreated through artifacts, videos, and imagery
Spencer and Thayer taking it all in
Savannah managed to compensate for her iPhone withdrawal by finding the largest interactive tablet in the whole place
Lily enjoying the interactive exhibits
Watching a video representation of the battle
General Grant's actual sword...Very neat
Having run out of modern currency to distribute to the students for lunches, Mrs. Horne resorts to using Civil War era money.
Walking along what would have been the southern most line of the Confederate army toward Longstreet Tower for an overlook of the battlefield.
Here learning from amazing guide, Dave Richards, about the beginnings of the battle, how both sides met by happenstance and what tools of war they used as well as the logistics of moving huge armies around. Just scratching the surface here regarding all we learned.
Actual canon from the battle of which there were hundreds. The barrel is original but the wood has been replaced by steel to avoid deterioration over time. Range: up to two miles with amazing accuracy. Interestingly, the infantrymen were likewise extremely accurate with their rifles, routinely hitting targets at 200 yards. Sharp shooters were accurate at up to a mile. Incredible considering their scopes were a maximum of 2x magnification. Helps to be pretty much born with a gun in your hand.
Another view from near Longstreet Tower
Sam with the battlefield behind him
Built in 1895, this 75' tower provides a commanding view of the battlefield and surrounding area.
Of course we climbed to the top, and what a view!
Savannah, Mary, Lily, Emily at the top of Longstreet Tower
View of Little Round Top and Big Round Top hills in the distance where so much action took place
Rapunzel, er, Lily in the tower.
More tower views
Gabe and Sam with Confederate Avenue in the background. This is on the outskirts of where the battle took place.
Looking down from the tower at some of our fearless leaders
Kate, Courtney and Laura on a rock fence along Confederate Avenue
A picture of the home where President Dwight Eisenhower retired. It is very near the tower we climbed off of Confederate Avenue. He loved to be near this battlefield and often entertained heads of state by leading tours of the battlefield. A kindred Civil War buff.
After visiting the tower, we drove a little way into the battlefield and hiked down to Devil's Den, a boulder-strewn Gettysburg Battlefield hill used by artillery and infantry (e.g., snipers) during the Second Day of the battle. After fierce battle, the Confederates captured this location and used it to launch sniper attacks and subsequent ground assault on Little Round Top. So bloody was the battle here that the little stream running at the base of the rocks (see next pic) ran red with blood and was given the name the Bloody Run.
Our fantastic guide describes Devil's Den and the surrounding area:
Devil's Den
Climbing around the rocks at Devil's Den with Little Round Top in the background. This is the view a Confederate sniper would have had of the hill.
Another view across Slaughter Pen toward Little Round Top
If only this sign were in place during in 1863 we could have avoided the whole mess. Looking at Little Round Top from Devil's Den
We next ventured onto Little Round Top where arguably the most important event of the entire battle took place when Colonel Joshua Chamberlain and Strong Vincent were charged with holding the left flank of the hill "At All Hazards", leading Chamberlain at one point when all appeared to be lost to order his troops to "fix bayonets" and engage in hand-to-hand combat with the advancing southerners. This was the final push that forced the South to retreat and allowed the North to hold the critical high ground. Had the Union left flank been penetrated and Little Round Top lost, it would be safe to say the North may have lost the Battle of Gettysburg and the Union.
Signage at the decisive battleground on Little Round Top
Mr. Richards sharing his vast knowledge with us on Little Round Top
Memorial of the 20th Main that was led by Colonel Joshua Chamberlain located on the left flank. Sooooo cool for a Civil War geek.
Hopefully, the only shot of the blogger (with his son) on this blog - couldn't resist with this monument to the 20th Main though.
Looking down at Devil's Den from the top of Little Round Top
On top of Little Round Top
It really is a beautiful place. So striking when considering how many lives were lost here
Isabelle
From Little Round Top we headed to the location of Pickett's Charge.Pickett's Charge was an infantry assault ordered by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's Union positions on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863, the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Its futility was predicted by the charge's commander, Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, and it was arguably an avoidable mistake from which the Southern war effort never fully recovered psychologically. The farthest point reached by the attack has been referred to as the high-water mark of the Confederacy.
The charge is named after Maj. Gen. George Pickett, one of three Confederate generals who led the assault under Longstreet.
Heading to the battlefield where Pickett's Charge took place
Allyson and Kyli at Cemetery Ridge, the Northern army front at the location of Pickett's Charge
At this location, Mr. Richards read to us a quote by Colonel Joshua
Chamberlain who was an English professor during the war and went on to
fame and glory by holding the left flank at Little Round Top. The quote
very eloquently captures the essence of this hallowed battlefield and
why it has such meaning to us. It was a little windy so forgive the background noise at the end:
Last stop for us was the cemetery that Abraham Lincoln so famously dedicated with the Gettysburg Address
On the most likely spot where Lincoln actually stood to offer the dedicatory address at Gettysburg our Carden Students recite those great and inspired words for the second time this trip:
After a wonderfully memorable visit to Gettysburg, we were off to Amish country, and frankly a little back in time as well, but in a good way. The students enjoyed learning from our very knowledgeable bus driver, Bob, and Mrs. Lund and Horne about the Amish people's simple, devout lifestyle.
Uhhh, where do you put the nozzle?
Invading the Amish village
Show us to the food and crafts!!
Would that I possessed the genius of words to describe the splendor that welcomed us at this Amish gastronomic paradise. I felt like the rat, Templeton, from Charlotte's Web who came upon the smorgasbord at the country fair. Remember that catchy little tune and scene? It's the closest I can come to expressing my feelings toward this place called Kitchen Kettle.
Here's the clip that captures best my feelings toward this place:
Again, speechless...
Mr. Wirthlin was equally tongue-tied, mostly because his mouth was full of jam and cheese.
Isabelle and Anneliese out in the streets of the Amish village
Anneliese giving into peer pressure to buy jam
This says it all, Mr. Wirthlin and Mr. Hamilton (who were still in the Cheese Shack "sampling" aged cheddar) begged Mrs. Lund and Mrs. Horne to schlepp their purchases back to the bus so they could continue their lactose adventure. Too heavy to be carried, they had to rent a wagon to manage the transport. Can't wait to see the overweight baggage fees that will be incurred on Friday.
That's all for today, folks. Tomorrow, we're off to Valley Forge and Independence Hall for our last day of the tour.
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