October 25
I didn’t sleep much last night. It may have been in anticipation of today’s visit. Gettysburg was unexplainable - horrible, sad, tragic, and, like many battles and wars, a waste of human life, talent, and treasure. It was a failure of leadership, a failure to achieve consensus and a failure to embrace change. But yet, here we acknowledge and commemorate the young men who are called to arms to carry out our nation’s policies. Whether wearing blue or grey, they were carrying out their mission for America.
Our friend, Lou, drove us along the path that Lee took as he left Chambersburg. Lou was a thorough and detailed guide. We entered the battlefield and he drove us around the 18 miles of roads through the almost 20 square times of battlefield. As the days’ events were explained, one had difficulty soaking it all in. The pastures and village, home of the Lutheran Theological Seminary and some of it overlooking the Eisenhower farm, were almost idyllic in the fall setting. But the horrors of the battle are what define this town. In three days, there were 51 thousand casualties, far more than DDay or any other day. In one hour, there were 5 thousand casualties in the hand to hand battle of Pickett’s charge. The High Water Mark marks the point at which the Confederates were repulsed and Lee began his retreat. Sadly, the carnage would continue for two more years.
There is no statue of Lincoln here. The focus is on the soldiers. There are hundreds of monuments from states and locales honoring the regiments of brave young men that were sent to fight for principles. For the Confederacy, it was for state’s rights. For the Federalists it was to preserve the Union. But we all know the true reason for this battle and war. The foundation of the southern economy was slave labor. All 51 thousand causalities were incurred here because, somehow, it was felt by one side, that to own slaves was a God given right. Unfathomable.
I didn’t sleep much last night. It may have been in anticipation of today’s visit. Gettysburg was unexplainable - horrible, sad, tragic, and, like many battles and wars, a waste of human life, talent, and treasure. It was a failure of leadership, a failure to achieve consensus and a failure to embrace change. But yet, here we acknowledge and commemorate the young men who are called to arms to carry out our nation’s policies. Whether wearing blue or grey, they were carrying out their mission for America.
Our friend, Lou, drove us along the path that Lee took as he left Chambersburg. Lou was a thorough and detailed guide. We entered the battlefield and he drove us around the 18 miles of roads through the almost 20 square times of battlefield. As the days’ events were explained, one had difficulty soaking it all in. The pastures and village, home of the Lutheran Theological Seminary and some of it overlooking the Eisenhower farm, were almost idyllic in the fall setting. But the horrors of the battle are what define this town. In three days, there were 51 thousand casualties, far more than DDay or any other day. In one hour, there were 5 thousand casualties in the hand to hand battle of Pickett’s charge. The High Water Mark marks the point at which the Confederates were repulsed and Lee began his retreat. Sadly, the carnage would continue for two more years.
There is no statue of Lincoln here. The focus is on the soldiers. There are hundreds of monuments from states and locales honoring the regiments of brave young men that were sent to fight for principles. For the Confederacy, it was for state’s rights. For the Federalists it was to preserve the Union. But we all know the true reason for this battle and war. The foundation of the southern economy was slave labor. All 51 thousand causalities were incurred here because, somehow, it was felt by one side, that to own slaves was a God given right. Unfathomable.
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