The Gettysburg Feeling

[W. Richardson]

@W. Richardson - How am I just now reading your post?!? I could feel the emotion in your words and it took me back to the way I have felt so many times standing on a battlefield, touching a historical artifact or indeed even viewing a historical document placed behind glass. It's difficult for me to express the magnitude of those moments. I have often looked around at others and whispered to my husband how sorry I felt for them because they didn't appear "to get it." My husband has often whispered back, "Don't let yourself worry about them. Just experience the moment yourself." And I have many times. Misty eyed and all.

I do understand your feelings as well, and powerful at times they are. Eleanor Rose you have that special bond with history, that many do not have. Most members here on CivilWarTalk have that bond with history too. We should count ourselves among the lucky. Many people travel to museums, battlefields, and other historical places and, see history and go "oh yeah, cool, let's move on", but you FEEL history.

Respectfully,
William

 

[Southern Unionist]

...

 

[JerseyBart]

Standing on Cemetery Hill watching the monuments of Generals Hancock and Howard calming and rallying "the troops" as they retreat from Day One's battles.

 

[Irishtom29]

Right on. There is no place like Gettysburg.

Chickamauga is far more creepy. And my wife, who didn't mind Vicksburg, Gettysburg and other battlefields found Chickamauga oppressive and morbid and wanted to cut out. So we cut out.