Why do you come to Gettysburg?

[ole]

Well, gentlemen, I strongly suspect that princess came and went, but it is a worthy subject. When you swing your head around and there, just at that slight rise, you can see the bayonets, and then the heads, and then the upper bodies, and then the entire line of the advancing enemy. A mystical moment.

That slight rise exists exists on all battlefields. It might be 50 or 100 yards away, but there it is, and you can see them coming. Stand in that ditch they call a road at Antietam. There is the rise in front of you. Soon, they will be in full view.
Ole

[samgrant]

Originally Posted by ole

That slight rise exists exists on all battlefields. It might be 50 or 100 yards away, but there it is, and you can see them coming. Stand in that ditch they call a road at Antietam. There is the rise in front of you. Soon, they will be in full view.
Ole

Ole, I didn't know you were a poet!


"That slight rise exists

exists on all battlefields.

It might be 50 or 100 yards away,

but there it is,

and you can see them coming.

Stand in that ditch they call

a road at Antietam.

There is the rise in front of you.

Soon, they will be in full view."




Bravo!

[whitworth]

I visited twice. Only on school history field trips. The second time we started walking onto the battlefield and realized we had been there, so we returned to field headquarters, a restaurant, serving cold beers on a warm afternoon.

A number of years later I met a graduate of a woman's college in nearby Maryland. She was incredulous that I actually knew of its existence.
Of course, I assured her, I had been there.

We "raided" that college, after we left our Gettysburg battlefield headquarters.

[samgrant]

Originally Posted by whitworth

.

A number of years later I met a graduate of a woman's college in nearby Maryland. She was incredulous that I actually knew of its existence.
Of course, I assured her, I had been there.

We "raided" that college, after we left our Gettysburg battlefield headquarters.

Whit, enough about your pick-up lines, ("I had been there!", I can imagine how she was stimulated.) and your sexual conquests at your "Gettysburg battlefield headquarters"!

[relichound]

Gettysburg has always fascinated me.
It is the largest battle of the war in terms of casualties, and in the opinion of many is one of if not the most decisive battle of the war.

It is a well preserved site where a real sense of what happened there can still be seen and felt.

It is a place that means more to me because I had kin who fought there, as did my wife.

[ole]

Welcome to this board, relichound. This is a great site to visit and talk. The board also has a feature called "Meet and Greet." Introduce yourself there. We really do like new people.

Ole

[cw1865]

I've been to many Civil War battlefields and in my opinion Gettysburg is the holy grail. At some point the people decided that the most important thing that would EVER occur in Gettysburg!

Most people go to Gettysburg in nice weather and that is when I go, and the countryside is picturesque. The actual battlefield is well preserved and has many vistas (ie. Little Round Top), interesting topographical features (ie. Devil's Den). The battlefield itself is a manageable size for one person to conceive.

The monuments. You could even say that there might be TOO many monuments at Gettysburg. But what the proliferation of monuments does tell you is that Gettysburg was extremely important to the people who fought there.

The greater area. You have to remember that outside of Gettysburg is the rest of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia inlcuding wineries, Hershey Park, Antietam, Harper's Ferry and plenty of other things to do.

The town of Gettysburg. When I stay in Gettysburg, I stay at the Brafferton (I am not affiliated with the Brafferton) which is a bed and breakfast owned by the Codori family prior to the Civil War which is a short walk from the square that is the center of the town. This is an excellent setting for a number of reasons. First, you're surrounded by 'history', second you're surrounded by people who are interested in history and usually interested in Civil War history, and last but not least its different from the Florida 'Holiday Inn' 'industrial' theme park vacation.

[J_Man0507]

I visit Gettysburg for the reason that standing in the presence of history awes me. I get the same way at all battlefields I visit, but I love Gettysburg for the reason that imagining all that went on there is just breathtaking. I get the same way at all battlefields though: Antietam, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, all amaze me because of the sacrifice and the blood spilled on these spots.

[Dred]

When we were still living in Alexandria, VA my wife an d I would visit Gettysburg about once every other month or so. I would always hit up the sutlers to gear up for reenactments. We had a deal... I get something for my impression and my wife gets jewelry lol Anyways each time we would visit one specific section of the park and stay in that area all day, getting as much information as we could. Even with modern developement it has stayed one of the best preserved battlefields there is. There is something awe inspiring about such beautiful scenery in a place of such terrible destruction.

[ole]

Dred:

You're in Tulsa now? You're officially Trans-Mississippi and are now required to turn your attention to the Western Theatre. Discard your Antietam/Gettysburg/Manassas foofoo and delve deeply into THE WESTERN THEATER.

It's not for me to apologize for the distances you might have to travel, but, hey, you're a Westerner now, get over it. Western people talk in time, not distance. You'll get used to it eventually. (How far? is "bout haff ar thet way.")
Note: Sooner directions are no better than you'd get in ol' Virginia. Get a good map.

Kindest regards and welcomes.

Ole