To The Sound of Guns
Several years ago when Jared and his family were still in Kentucky he gave me a copy of Michael Shaara's "Killer Angels", an historical novel of the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1-3, 1863. It whetted my interest in the Civil War and particularly the events before and after Gettysburg. I became familiar with place names like Cemetary Hill, Seminary Ridge, Little Round Top, The Angle, Devil's Den, etc. I read about Meade, Lee, Longstreet, Pickett, Heth, Early, Hancock, Chamberlain, Buford, and Hunt and many, many others.
Finally I decided to quit reading about it and just go. I traded in some frequent flyer miles (Thanks, Capitol One!) and Peggy and I took off on my pilgrimage to the site of the biggest battle of the Civil War.
Here, Peg and Abe are enjoying a moment together. This is at the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center. We began our visit there to gain an overview of the battlefield and the general timeline of events.
The battle actually started to the west of Gettysburg when Confederate troops ran into John Buford's calvary. Expecting to only meet local militia, the Rebels were greatly delayed in reaching Gettysburg by the defensive tactics employed by Buford. This action gave time for Major John Reynolds I Corps to reach the fighting, and although greatly outnumbered by the Confederates, especially since Early and Rhodes had joined the fray, It allowed the Union time to reach the battlefield and occupy the high ground to the east and south of Gettysburg, and ensured that what Lee hoped would be a small engagement would instead turn into a major showdown.
This statue of Buford portrays him as a dashing calvaryman, peering toward the west, waiting for the gathering storm.
Scattered throughout the battlefield are hundreds of monuments and markers, each honoring regiments, brigades, divisions, men, and areas of conflict. The above monument shows a calvaryman holding a Spencer repeating rifle.
A 12-pounder Union Napolean still stands ready to defend the United States Army. Cast of bronze, these smooth-bore cannon could fire a 12-lb spherical solid shot, a hollow, exploding fragmentation shell, grape, or cannister, the latter two are what we would call a shotgun load, spraying iron balls at close range as the enemy closed.
By July 3, the third day of the battle, the lines of defense of the Union had coalesced into the familiar "fish hook" pattern seen here. By adopting a defensive position and allowing Lee to attack him, Meade was able manage his men and resources much better than Lee, whose HQ was several miles from the battlefield and whose troops had much great distances to cover to get iinto position.
But by skipping ahead to the third day of battle we are missing a bunch of the action. John Reynolds, Major General in charge of the left wing of the Union Army was able to take advantage of the time bought by Barlow's men and bring the 1st, 3rd, and 11th corps into play. Not long on the battlefield, Reynolds was struck in the back of the head or neck by a ball and instantly killed.
Somebody still remembers him today as is evidenced by this poem left neat the monument to Reynolds shown above. Reynolds was only one of nine general officers killed at Gettysburg. No other action claimed more.
The first day's hostilities ended with the Rebs pushing the Federals back through Gettysburg, but then forming and maintaining Culp's Hill and Cemetary Hill, the high groung that meant so much to Bulford.
Our day ended with some great burgers at the Blue and Gray Bar and Grill, and then a not-so-spooky ghost tour,it was a little lame.
See any auras, anyone? Neither did we! More Gettysburg history and impressions coming in the next post!
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