O.T.-Gettysburg, Pa.

Phil9N3667 · Oct 5, 2018

Went to Gettysburg last week on vacation, spent one day doing the Battlefield Museum and Auto Tour. I had forgotten a lot of the statistics of troops, deaths,etc. If you like Civil War history, it opens your eyes up to the horrors and travesties of war back in the day. If the weather had been better, we'd have enjoyed it more as it was rainy while we were there.

Goose · Oct 5, 2018

We took a tour when our daughter lived in DC. She arranged this in advance. We drove her car up from DC, and when we got to Gettysburg a guide slid behind the wheel and took us on a private tour.

We probably saw a lot more that way than if we'd been in a group tour. Very sobering.

Russ from MN · Oct 5, 2018

Yes, it's a great memorial, we visited it a couple of years ago. My great grandfather and his 2 brothers fought there for the union, the 2 brothers died there.

DRussell · Oct 5, 2018

I live about 20 miles from there. We have a CD that guides you on a car tour. Very sobering place.

Phil9N3667 · Oct 5, 2018

We did the CD Auto Tour, like I said if it hadn't been yucky weather, would have been more enjoyable. The story about Sally, the dog was nice.

Traditional Farmer · Oct 5, 2018

Did you visit one of the main 'must see' places for tractor folks Yinglings Tractor Salvage Yard?

jeffcat · Oct 5, 2018

Have done some reinacting out there. Go as a common farm hand or laborer. Makes you feel very humble. If you stand quietly by yourself and let the breeze blow across you, they will speak to you. Those three days the death toll was almost the same as the entire Nam war. There were over 72 thousand horses there. Over 3000 plus horses and mules were killed. The supply wagon train for the army of Viginia was over 17 miles long. No troops, just the supplies. Gettysburg itself was union reb union reb something like five times. There were several houses comendered. As "hospitals". Cut off your leg or arm factories. Many of the stumps were carterized with a glowing hot metal plate. These houses when returned to the owners had floors and basements just totally soaked with blood. All of the floors had to be pulled up and replaced. The mind blowing details just go on and on.

Traditional Farmer · Oct 5, 2018

My great great grandfather was there with Lee's Army of Northern VA which he was in during the war.I have letters he wrote home to my Great Great Grandmother during the war.Paper was in short supply so he'd write a page then turn it 90 degrees and write across what he had just written.

olgentdc · Oct 5, 2018

Wow Jeffcat , I wondered if anyone else got that talking to the spirits feeling .. It happened to me at Gettysburg but it was gloomey fall both times i went thru there . and then at Perryville Ky. battlefield on a beautiful sunshiney day.I Got the Chills , and it was 85 degrees . i wonder if our soldiers back then would be pleased of their sacrifices they made if they could see what has happened to our senate and congress today.

wels · Oct 5, 2018

My In-laws live in Greencastle.

Lots of civil war markers along the roads to stop and read.

tomstractorsandtoys · Oct 5, 2018

Brother inlaw lives on a farm on the Antietam battlefield near Sharpsburg MD. The house was a hospital and there are still blood stains on the upstairs floors under the carpets. I farmed some land where troops camped and also some of the land the battle was fought on. Tom

jeffcat · Oct 5, 2018

How true. First as I stood you knew you were not alone. Your other, the past couple of weeks have shown a vindictive, stupidly stubborn, Mc Carthy, distructive, crass, venomous, low life, story telling,....well the lady from Maine with her over 50 minute speach pretty much tied things up with a bow. I truly pray every single one of them gets voted out. Then trials need to send them to incarnation for at least ten years. Just my opinion but a lot of rumbling is being felt in the poles and the internet emails they are getting.

unclesilo · Oct 5, 2018

second most sobering place I have been the first was Arlington, I have no way to repay the debt owed those in Arlington and have no words for the ones that died and for those that got home. the civil war was the greatesttragedy in u.s. history my great,great granpa made it home; I have his flintlock and can't imagine the horrors that were witnessed.

Bruce from Can. · Oct 5, 2018

Genevieve and I went to Gettysburg , took a double decker bus tour of the town, and battlefields. Visited the cemetery, and cemetery ridge. And also visited the Luthren Cemenary , which was a hospital for the northern soldiers, and is an interesting museum. I was very taken a back by the very smal size of the uniforms, boots and gloves the soldiers wore. People were not nearly as big in the 1860?s

Northvale PA · Oct 5, 2018

I am about an hour east of Gettysburg. Great visit. I happened to be in Tennessee last winter and went to the Fort Donelson battlefield. About the same time of year battle was fought and rainy. Visited fredicksburg in December. Always neat to be there at the same time of year. You begin to understand the situation and conditions much better.

FinnMD · Oct 5, 2018

I live near there in north MD and have family that lives near the East Cavalry Field. Although hardly anyone ever hears about that cavalry battle, it is an amazing story of bravery by both sides. JEB Stuart vs Custer. Custer and Stuart repeatedly organized their men and had full on charges on horses bashing into each other, with horses colliding and men flying airborne. Custer had 2 different horses killed from under him while riding these advances. Crazy stuff.

teddy52food · Oct 5, 2018

My great grand father had an arm removed after being shot.

jeffcat · Oct 6, 2018

So few people understand that Gettysburg was fought right at the beginning of July. Yes folks nice dry clear hot weather. Plenty of black powder smoke, wool pants, full uniforms, you get the idea. Also no bottles of Poland spring water in your pocket. No Wendy's hamburger on the way home either. With a big Coke to suck on.

showcrop · Oct 6, 2018

Read "Killer Angels" before going.

jeffcat · Oct 6, 2018

Another time was when I stopped at Appomattox. If you walk over to the East of the courthouse the road comes up a little rise and then down a little to the courthouse. There is a snake split rail fence. Again clear day, very quiet, around 80? tempature. There you stand looking down that road with thousands of defeated southerners standing in disheveled ranks, union troops some hating the rebs and many others just saying " no. Thank God its over". You hear the low mumble of voices with the occasional sound of horse hoofs, the tinkle and clank of chains or buckles, squeak of leather, muffled foot steps and shuffling of feet. The clank against a mess kit, maybe the smell of a Rum soaked crook cigar. Maybe I was born in the wrong century.

O.T.-Gettysburg, Pa.

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