5-1-10 Gettysburg

It was time to make a pilgrimage to Gettysburg. We had both read the Shaara book and wanted to make the connections between the story and the land. A nice day, sort of overcast but that kept it from getting too hot. Early enough in the season that the Park was not swamped. We first went to the Visitor's Center (relatively new, rebuilt) and decided against seeing the movie, preferring instead to explore the real thing. We bought a CD at the gift shop that we played in the car as we drove to the locations of the battles. that was a very good purchase.

We had been to Gettysburg a long time ago when the kids were small and I have always remembered the vast expanse of the shallow valley that Pickett's charge streamed across (The charge is also called Longstreet's Assault on the older monuments in the park. The picture is Sue with Longstreet's statue, hidden in a roadside glen). Having read the Shaara book, it meant more to see the monument to Armistead (South), where he fell only a short distance from where his longtime friend Hancock (North) had been wounded during the advance. Armistead had been so concerned about coming face to face with his old friend but in the end they were spared that tragedy.

But the other locations meant a lot more - Little Roundtop where the Union left flank was tried and Maine's Chamberlain became a hero for leading his troops in a charge when their ammunition was about gone. This against Alabamans who had not slept for almost 2 days, had no water, no shoes, but were nevertheless charging a well defended position up a hill. (The picture is taken from the South's point of view.) Amazing. Seeing all the places really made reading the book important.

And finally, we learned about Father Corby, who blessed the men of the Northern Irish Brigade (started with 3000 men, only 600 left to start this charge) and gave them absolution before they marched into the hell of the Wheatfield and The Peach Orchard. The CD we bought notes that he is said to have told them, after blessing them, that the Catholic Church does not offer a Christian burial to any soldier who is shot in the back, so to make sure they were always facing the enemy. (I can't find any corroboration of that anecdote.) How well they responded! Only 400 returned. Father Corby later went on to be the third President of Notre Dame, nominated for the Medal of Honor, and he is buried and has a statue at Notre Dame. Interesting sidelight.