What one thing about Gettysburg...

[pmuskett]

...would you ensure that everyone knew?

I am currently working on a course for the upcoming Guide Academy this summer. The Guide Academy is provided by the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides here at Gettysburg. It is designed to help those preparing for the guide exam. The course is not a guarantee that you will pass the exam. Details are on the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides webpage. (NPS announcement on the exam coming soon)

My topic/class covers from mid-April 1863 to June 30th, and from July 4 until mid-August 1863. So many things to talk about and cover.

My curiosity has led me too this question.

If you were teaching my topic, which is scheduled for only 4 hours. What is the one thing you would ensure that everyone, knew in the parameters of the topic?  (If I use your idea, you will get the credit.)

 

[6thMichCav]

...would you ensure that everyone knew?

I am currently working on a course for the upcoming Guide Academy this summer. The Guide Academy is provided by the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides here at Gettysburg. It is designed to help those preparing for the guide exam. The course is not a guarantee that you will pass the exam. Details are on the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides webpage. (NPS announcement on the exam coming soon)

My topic/class covers from mid-April 1863 to June 30th, and from July 4 until mid-August 1863. So many things to talk about and cover.

My curiosity has led me too this question.

If you were teaching my topic, which is scheduled for only 4 hours. What is the one thing you would ensure that everyone, knew in the parameters of the topic?  (If I use your idea, you will get the credit.)

When considering locations and terrain, the ground, trees and foliage have changed over time. Many of the rocks are the same, but not all—remember that some rocks were moved, reduced, or shifted for various purposes. That said, an "unmoved" rock is perhaps the best surviving witness to the battle.

 

[TerryB]

The battle was fought because the Union Army under Meade moved much faster than Lee expected him to, thus catching Lee's army spread out all over Pennsylvania. Lee really needed badly to get into a good position and concentrate before taking on the AoP, but that idea "went South" when Heth brought on an engagement against orders. The AoP had and held the high ground as a result.

 

[Tony Z]

The monuments were not there at the time of the battle....

 

[Tom Elmore]

One thing that covers both the front and end of the campaign is the road and railroad networks available to both armies, the major rivers and the Blue Ridge mountain range (South Mountain) in Pennsylvania and Maryland, the latter forming a barrier between the two armies and limiting east-west travel to a few important passes, all of which played a critical role in defining movements of the opposing forces and established their essential lines of communication and supply that would constrain the options available to the respective commanders.

 

[bankerpapaw]

When considering locations and terrain, the ground, trees and foliage have changed over time. Many of the rocks are the same, but not all—remember that some rocks were moved, reduced, or shifted for various purposes. That said, an "unmoved" rock is perhaps the best surviving witness to the battle.

What has floored me about the ground at Gettysburg is how the field of Pickett's Charge was used for tank training during WWI. A lot of evidence and terrain were destroyed.

 

[KianGaf]

What has floored me about the ground at Gettysburg is how the field of Pickett's Charge was used for tank training during WWI. A lot of evidence and terrain were destroyed.

Yeah its crazy how things were done in the past. The idea of the battlefield being used by the military today is crazy.

 

[Tony Z]

What has floored me about the ground at Gettysburg is how the field of Pickett's Charge was used for tank training during WWI. A lot of evidence and terrain were destroyed.

Even more so, were the German POW camps in GB and nearby area around Caledonia State Park. I recall reading how the Germans wanted to become citizens after the war.

 

[Bentonville]

Fighting in the town itself. I'd always heard 'they fought through the town' and then everything else you know. I'd stress that point.
The battle would be seen as an in the field operation only.

 

[KianGaf]

Fighting in the town itself. I'd always heard 'they fought through the town' and then everything else you know. I'd stress that point.
The battle would be seen as an in the field operation only.

Yeah the town fighting is an interesting point. The guide on the open top bus tour I took did a great job explaining that aspect.

 

[Bentonville]

Yeah the town fighting is an interesting point. The guide on the open top bus tour I took did a great job explaining that aspect.

I haven't been to Gettysburg since I was 13 so I need to go again.

 

[KianGaf]

I haven't been to Gettysburg since I was 13 so I need to go again.

I really enjoyed my visit last August. It was almost surreal touring the battlefield after years of only seeing it on tv and the internet. Its a really nice town to visit aswell.

 

[bamaman]

Yeah the town fighting is an interesting point. The guide on the open top bus tour I took did a great job explaining that aspect.

I would have discussion about whether the distance that Picketts charge had to traverse was reasonable or suicidal.

 

[Gandycreek]

The monuments were not there at the time of the battle....

I always wondered why there was no bullet holes in them !

 

[KianGaf]

I would have discussion about whether the distance that Picketts charge had to traverse was reasonable or suicidal.

A history vlogger I follow did a interesting video on Picketts charge. The video gives a good insist into the type of terrain the soldiers faced. He mainly does WW2 content but has done a few on the Civil War.

 

[infomanpa]

Fighting in the town itself. I'd always heard 'they fought through the town' and then everything else you know. I'd stress that point.
The battle would be seen as an in the field operation only.

But there was no fighting in the town during the time periods that the course is covering?

 

[infomanpa]

Make sure to use good maps illustrating the positions of the corps/divisions on specific dates. This will illustrate, for example the spreading out of the armies and their distance from each other. It certainly impacted the strategy of movement.

 

[infomanpa]

I would have discussion about whether the distance that Picketts charge had to traverse was reasonable or suicidal.

Pickett's charge did not occur during the time periods that the course is covering. The course is about the time periods before and after the main battle.

 

[rpkennedy]

...would you ensure that everyone knew?

I am currently working on a course for the upcoming Guide Academy this summer. The Guide Academy is provided by the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides here at Gettysburg. It is designed to help those preparing for the guide exam. The course is not a guarantee that you will pass the exam. Details are on the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides webpage. (NPS announcement on the exam coming soon)

My topic/class covers from mid-April 1863 to June 30th, and from July 4 until mid-August 1863. So many things to talk about and cover.

My curiosity has led me too this question.

If you were teaching my topic, which is scheduled for only 4 hours. What is the one thing you would ensure that everyone, knew in the parameters of the topic?  (If I use your idea, you will get the credit.)

I think that @Tom Elmore made an excellent point about the mountain chains (South Mountain, Blue Ridge, Bull Run Mountain, etc.) and how the armies' movements were predicated on the terrain. Also, again as @Tom Elmore pointed out, the role that railroads and supply lines had on the armies' actions before and after the battle.

I would also look at the role of the cavalry on both sides and how their actions played a role in the campaign. For example, the various battles between the two sides before the battle (Aldie, Middleburg, Brandy Station, etc.) and the clashes between Gettysburg and Williamsport (Fairfield, Smithburg, Funkstown). And how the intelligence that the cavalry provided (or didn't) influenced Meade's and Lee's decisions.

Ryan

 

[121st PA Vols]

...would you ensure that everyone knew?

I am currently working on a course for the upcoming Guide Academy this summer. The Guide Academy is provided by the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides here at Gettysburg. It is designed to help those preparing for the guide exam. The course is not a guarantee that you will pass the exam. Details are on the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides webpage. (NPS announcement on the exam coming soon)

My topic/class covers from mid-April 1863 to June 30th, and from July 4 until mid-August 1863. So many things to talk about and cover.

My curiosity has led me too this question.

If you were teaching my topic, which is scheduled for only 4 hours. What is the one thing you would ensure that everyone, knew in the parameters of the topic?  (If I use your idea, you will get the credit.)

Since it's that broad a period I'd suggest the command structure of the armies, Order of Battle down to brigade level.
That's a lot to know. But if you do, you can at a glance have insight or hints at the overall simply by brigade, division and corps location. One follows the other.