#21- Gettysburg battlefield: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
"Though the battles have long ago ended and the sound of cannons and muskets is but a distant memory, there are some souls who are still waiting for the call to “Retreat” – and for them, it may never come...."
I don't know who said this, but I love it. Close to 50,000 men lost their lives during the 3 day battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. Many of them still linger. Soldiers can still be seen marching in formation. Sounds of the battle can be heard and the cries of the wounded and dying are unmistakable. Some even say they can still smell the faint odor of death. Of everywhere we've visited so far, this is actually the one place I would love to see and probably not freak out... given my obsession with all things civil war. I am all about seeing the ghost of a soldier! As I was reading about Gettysburg, I found it interesting that not one person ever got the feeling of evil surrounding the battlefield. There is only the feeling of overwhelming sadness. Makes perfect sense. You'd be sad too, if your leg got blown off by a cannon. Or if you were bayoneted through the butt as you're running for your life. I want to look that up. I want to see if that is included in any of the casualties. Disease, amputations, infections, and bayonets through the butt. There had to be at least one guy that happened to. I bet it sucked.
I look forward to seeing you this spring and having a lovely Sunday afternoon picnic on the battlefield of Gettysburg. Maybe we'll have some soldiers join us. As long as they leave their bayonets behind. because I don't want a bayonet in my behind....like that one guy...
*footnote*
I strongly recommend watching the movie "Gettysburg" if you want an incredibly realistic portrayal of the battle. It's amazing! Pay special attention to Jeff Daniels as Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the hero of Gettysburg and credited with changing the course of the war. He was my favorite character.
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