Gettysburg, PA

Cemetery Ridge

Cristin and I traveled to Pennsylvania Dutch country the first weekend of May for her cousin's wedding in Maytown, PA.  We flew into Harrisburg, the state's capitol, the early morning the day before the wedding. We decided to spend the afternoon at Gettysburg. I have long wanted to see the National Military Park here where the epic Civil War battle was fought.  It represents the largest battle ever fought in the western hemisphere and resulted in 51,000 casualties and was the turning point of the Civil War.

The First Minnesota Infantry monument as seen from the top of the
Pennsylvania State monument. Little Round Top is the high point
visible in the distance.  

We toured the excellent museum and took a guided 2-hour bus tour of the battlefield. We then drove up to Cemetery Ridge to check out closer the First Minnesota Infantry Regiment monument and the State of Pennsylvania monument.  These monuments are located near each other at what was the center of the Union line, the area targeted by Pickett's famous and ill-fated charge on Day 3 of the battle.

On day 2, Confederate forces nearly broke through the Union lines here. The 262 men of the First Minnesota were ordered to make a suicide charge into an on-rushing force now estimated to be at least 5 times their number. They suffered 215 casualties but were able to protect the line and Union artillery positions for the precious minutes it took for reinforcements to arrive. The 83.1 percent casualty rate stands to this day as the largest loss by any surviving military unit in U.S. history during a single day's engagement.  

The inscription on the First Minnesota monument is here.
The Pennsylvania State monument is in the background. 

The Pennsylvania State Monumentt is the largest at Gettysburg.
Over 34,000 Pennsylvania troops fought here.

On day 3, the 47 survivors of the First Minnesota were by ill-chance placed  nearby at  "The Angle", the only location along the Union line in which Pickett's forces briefly broke thru.   Another 17 men died. A second, smaller  Minnesota monument marks this location.  This is also the location referred to as the 'High Water Mark' because it marked not only the furthest the Confederates penetrated on Day 3, but also marks the beginning of demise of the Confederacy.



The Angle



The High Water Mark

Little Round Top protected the Union's left flank while Culp's Hill protected the right flank. Some of the most intense fighting occurred at these locations as Lee's forces tried in vain to overrun the flanks.

Little Round Top.  The Wheat Field battleground is below.

The view towards Gettysburg from the viewing tower at Culp's Hill

The museum is one of the best I have ever visited, but we only had an hour to hurry thru it. We also checked out the Cyclorama, a very unique 360 degree painted panorama of Pickett's Charge that has been enhanced with multi-media special effects and also includes a diorama.  Hard to explain, you have to see it.

General Lee's traveled with this bed, bureau, and medicine chest.  This is just one
of the many incredible artifacts on display in the museum. 

Here is slide show with additional pictures. Click on the small arrow or "play" button to advance.