Gettysburg Battlefield

So many men fought.  So many lives were lost.  We were struck by the enormity of this horrible event.  We toured the battlefield with Bob and Pink in our own vehicle with an auto tour CD.  The battlefield covers 25 square miles and was the turning point of the Civil War.  At the end of three days in July 1863, 51,000 soldiers were dead, wounded and missing.  We thought it was interesting that this battle wasn't planned.  The two armies touched by chance on June 30,1863.  Neither side knew the other was there but it ended up being one of the bloodiest battles in Civil War history.

Cannon pointing out to the battlefield

Hole in the side from a cannonball

Virginia Memorial showing Gen. Robert E. Lee

The park has recreated the battles using monuments and statues that depict where individual battles took place.  To look out over the battlefield and see markers and monuments gives you an idea of how big it was. There were cannons lined up on the ridges pointing in the direction of the battle.  Sound effects on the CD made it more realistic.  It was a very moving experience and you could almost hear the ghosts of the North AND the South.

After our tour was finished, Pete and I took some personal time to get some much needed things done, such as a haircut.  We had a very nice afternoon together and topped it off with a great pizza and glass of wine at a little Italian restaurant in Gettysburg.

We left this morning for Philadelphia and are in a KOA about 45 miles from there.  The four of us took a short drive this evening across the Delaware state line for dinner and to say we were there.  We've decided we can't say we've been to a state unless we at least have a meal there.  Delaware makes number 17 for Pete and me on this trip.

Tomorrow we will go to Philadelphia to see some of the historical landmarks and monuments.  We are certainly learning a lot about the history of our country.  I love it!  Cheers!