Touring the Battlefield

Another sunny and warm day was the forecast for today.  This would be good news since we all had plans to visit the the Gettysburg Battle Field today.    First stop however was to grab a bite to eat at the club's hospitality room.  Nan was able to get into the fashion swap seminar and buy some stuff before we even finished eating.

A few of us also checked out the repair tent, which had a bunch of cars in for service.  We could see front ends being checked, tune-ups and oil changes being completed, and head nuts being torqued after a head gasket replacement.

Eternal Light

Our group went different ways but we eventually all ended up at the National Military Park Visitor Center.  Many of us elected to use the tour bus available at the Park Headquarters.  We purchased our tickets for the Battlefield and the Eisenhower Farm.

 The tour guide on our bus was extremely knowledgeable and provided us with great information

about the Generals strategy on both sides.  How the battles raged over the three days of the encounter and the engagements leading to the end of the conflict.  The statistics of the battle were mind blowing in regard to the loss of life, both human and animal.  I was surprised to learn how many horses/mules were involved, estimates were about 80K.  A cannon and caisson required 6 horses each, so for every cannon that was a team of 12 horses.  Over 51K soldiers killed.  And one civilian lost her life.  Yes,  Jenny Wade, a 20 year old seamstress, was killed in her sisters home buy an errant bullet while baking.

We were also told that Lincoln was not the keynote speaker for the dedication of this National Cemetery, it was actually Edward Everett of Massachusetts.  He spoke for almost 2 hours, Lincoln only a few minutes, but those few minutes and 272 words live on forever.

North Carolina Monument

The tour also took us by many of the monuments erected to honor every regiment that was involved in the battle.  These ranged from fairly simple to very elaborate.

Back at the visitor center we ate and hit the gift shop before our tour to the Eisenhower Farm.  This was the only home that Ike owned.  He and Mamie bought the 175 acre farm and completely renovated the old farm house to the tune of $200K and that was in 1950.  The home is one that looks very livable.  The furnishings are all original to the family and looks like time stood still.

It was a great day for learning about one of the deadliest battles of the Civil War.

The day ended with a beautiful sunset.