DAY 3 of our journey:
Today we are on our guided tour of the Battlefields of Gettysburg. I’m going to attempt to retell what our guide, John, told us so I may be able to make sense of the great amount of facts he shared before I publish this. I’m going to try to be as clear as I can.
Culp‘s Hill, the barb of the fishhook shaped battle set up.
South wanted to shake up Lincoln for him to stop his plan to abolish slavery. Lee was on his way to attempt to capture Harrisburg. Yankees had the high ground. They would win, Confederates would lose.
South would be on a downward slide and never catch up.
Days 2 and Day3 of the Battle of Gettysburg : Yanks fight off Rebels. General Lee was over optimistic. He tried riskier things. Culps Hill supply road. Lee tried for 11 hours to capture the supply road. Never did
General Burnside was canned for losing to Lee in Fredricksburg so his part here was minimal. Infantry markers lined the hill as we climbed.
Confederates needed 10,000 more soldiers than they had.
Gen George Greene commanded. 15 Yankee soldiers buried in West Warwick.
Seeing the cliff this was on, it is easy to see how difficult it was for the Confederates to climb while being shot at.
EAST CEMETERY HILL
Leaving the fish hook to Straightaway. A Mr Sousa came with Lincoln in the Marine band to Gettysburg. John Philip SOUSA was his son. We all know the Patriotic music he created! My 3rd grade classes sang them well with the Veterans as their audience!
We Traveled along the defense line of Cemetery hill. Conf pushed Yanks back on the first day but they pushed them back to the best hill. Yanks took the Hill having the advantage of the ridges and hills–as their best defense.
Looking at the whole first days battlefield:
The battles covered 10 Square Miles .
Eternal light for Peace
High tech cannon for the time used by the Yankees.
DAY 1 QUAZI CONFEDERATE WIN: YANKEE DEFEAT MORE THAN CONFEDERATE VICTORY
A cannon at the RI statehouse has a half cannonball sticking out it. Up until a few years ago, gunpowder was still in it. The opening was dented so the ball could not fit completely.
Seminary Ridge:
Pickets charge , 5,000 infantry, a catastrophe for the South. Lee Wants to attack Cemetary Hill . The Confederates are doomed.
The Confederates were heading towards Cemetery Hill, an open Field. 13,000 conf troops , not enough soldiers only 200 break through the Yankee field.of fire-cannons and rifles.
North Carolina’s Monument seen below was designed by the same sculptor has as Mt Rushmore.:
Each summer, the statues are coated in hot wax to preserve them and prevent them from oxidation (turning green). Amazing!
Little Round Top in the distance
56 year old General Robert E Lee: Virginia’s monument:Viewing Pickets Charge:
Confederates never made it to Little Round Top.
Rocky, Little Round Top with Yankee protection
Irish Brigade monument (New York Group)
Colonel Chamberlain of the 20th Maine lost many men Little Round Top as attacked by Confederates . He ran out of ammo and orders a banonet charge. Both sides lost 30%of his manpower.
From the top of Little Round Top looking down:
Devils’ Run:
Devils Run Above
Many from Bristol County, RI are Remembered Here
Pennsylvania State Monument
Browns Battery Prov RI
Arnold’s Battery from Providence, RI
All in all , this was an amazing experience. Thank you Shirley and Kevin for your guided car tour and the Mellman’s private tour guide. We needed both to get a better grasp of what happened here.
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