This weekend my girlfriend and I are going camping in Pennsylvania, and on our way back to DC we're going to spend a day in Gettysburg. Has anyone ever been that could offer some advice on the best way to see the battlefield? I realize one could spend 3-5 days at the battlefield and not see it all. Any "must sees"?

(04-11-2014 09:34 AM)Morkai Wrote:  This weekend my girlfriend and I are going camping in Pennsylvania, and on our way back to DC we're going to spend a day in Gettysburg. Has anyone ever been that could offer some advice on the best way to see the battlefield? I realize one could spend 3-5 days at the battlefield and not see it all. Any "must sees"?

I have been there but it's been 40+ years. My grandparents lived up in PA and we made that stop a couple of times, as well as seeing a couple of Little League World Series games.

My memory says it wasn't much different than Shiloh or Vicksburg other than the enormity of history because of the speech.

I have only been once and that was a very quick trip (about 2 hours) so I can't offer a whole lot. What I did see was well worth the trip. You really need to see Little Roundtop where Chamberlain made his stand, the Angle, Cemetery Ridge, Devil's Den, Peach Orchard. The list is long.

They offer different levels of tours. Depending on your budget, they range from a tour guide in the car with you for $65 to the self guided tour with the map from the visitors' center. I was looking into these because we were planning a trip for this fall, but it got postponed.

It's really a beautiful area. Enjoy.

I wish I had seen this earlier. Gettysburg is by far the best experience of any Civil War Battlefield as far as sites.

1. Standing in the woods in front of Seminary Ridge, and looking across to the "clump of trees" on Cemetery Hill. You can see pretty much exactly what the Confederates saw as they commenced Pickett's charge. A couple hundred yards to the left of those trees is where the University Gray's were blown out of existence. They were a regiment of students from Ole Miss that suffered 100 percent casualties on that day. The next time we play the Rebels and their band plays "From Dixie With Love" it may take on an entirely new meaning.

2. The views from Little Round Top looking down to Devil's Den and Devil's Den looking up are both incredible. Try to find the area on the left side of Little Round Top (the far left of the union line) where Col Joshua Lawrence Chamberlin held off southern attacks and saved the union from being flanked. He won the Medal of Honor for his actions on that day.

3. The cemetery and the area where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address is amazing. The actual spot is disputed. There are markers there though, and it is appropriate to leave a shiny Lincoln Penny as a token of esteem.

There are of course a million other sites, those are just the first that come to mind.

My brother is writing the definitive book on the University Greys. He has been researching them for twenty years. They actually made it to Bryan's Barn, and he has finally documented that. They began their march across the field and had about five men pick up their flag as each flag bearer was killed, and one of the last was about 16 years old. There is a gorgeous statue of one of the Greys looking over the field on the road where they began their attack as part of Pickett's Charge and a plaque at the place where they crossed the fence at Bryan's Barn. A few years ago, these memorials were placed as the last monuments allowed at Gettysburg, with a large contingent of Mississippians in attendance, including several descendants of the brave boys who gave their lives on the field that day. There were one or two Greys who survived. Only one boy returned to his class at the Univ. of Mississippi to give the commencement address. I had the privilege of walking over that field of glory at Gettysburg where these boys made their final stand and were mowed down by the Union fire, all students together, never to return to school.

The story of Jeremiah Gage, one of the Greys, is one of the saddest of all. He was killed by a cannon ball as he waited to cross the field; he hastily wrote out a farewell letter to his family and girlfriend, pressed it to his wound, and died. This letter is housed at Ole Miss today, and there is a stained glass window in Ventress Hall commemorating the bravery of the Greys.

These two monuments are well worth a visit. I also enjoyed the shops in the little town and especially the bookstores. I wish every American student could visit Gettysburg and learn how this cataclysmic event formed and changed our nation.

The recent tree clearing project has opened up sight lines that have been blocked or years.

As mentioned, the view up to Little Round Top from Devil's Den and vice versa are very nice. Even more so if you can read a bit about it before your trip to Gettysburg.

Tours of all cans are available, but considering your time constraints, you may want to consider renting a CD for a self guiding auto tour.
They also have bike tours and segway group tours.

Read a bit first and it will help your understanding of the battle. You may just want to pick one of the 3 battle days to focus on for your tour. The battlefield is quite large and can get confusing without some prior knowledge my opinion.

http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/14/g...ield-tours

http://www.segtours.com/

Do not miss Cavalry Field on the eastern flank if you go to Gettysbrug. I happen to believe that JEB Stuart's division was supposed to attack the 'clump of trees' from the other direction just as Pickett's Charge went in, because that was classic Lee nee Napoleon nee Hannibal and is the only explanation for an otherwise suicidal attack.

I didn't get to spend much time there, but found it a beautiful setting, for such a pivotal point in American history. There was a great reenactment at Shelby Farms back in the 90's. Quite compelling.

(04-12-2014 11:39 AM)KRB Wrote:  I didn't get to spend much time there, but found it a beautiful setting, for such a pivotal point in American history. There was a great reenactment at Shelby Farms back in the 90's. Quite compelling.

I think that was Fredricksburg, I was there for it and you're right, it was great.

(04-11-2014 09:34 AM)Morkai Wrote:  This weekend my girlfriend and I are going camping in Pennsylvania, and on our way back to DC we're going to spend a day in Gettysburg. Has anyone ever been that could offer some advice on the best way to see the battlefield? I realize one could spend 3-5 days at the battlefield and not see it all. Any "must sees"?

Buy the cd and drive to the designated markers and listen- You should go to Sharpsburg too on your way back..

(04-12-2014 03:17 PM)TigerBill Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 11:39 AM)KRB Wrote:  I didn't get to spend much time there, but found it a beautiful setting, for such a pivotal point in American history. There was a great reenactment at Shelby Farms back in the 90's. Quite compelling.

I think that was Fredricksburg, I was there for it and you're right, it was great.

You could be correct. I took my Father In Law. He told me it was Gettysburg. It was pretty cool, whichever battle it was.

(04-12-2014 05:08 PM)KRB Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 03:17 PM)TigerBill Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 11:39 AM)KRB Wrote:  I didn't get to spend much time there, but found it a beautiful setting, for such a pivotal point in American history. There was a great reenactment at Shelby Farms back in the 90's. Quite compelling.

I think that was Fredricksburg, I was there for it and you're right, it was great.

You could be correct. I took my Father In Law. He told me it was Gettysburg. It was pretty cool, whichever battle it was.

I think they were going to do Pickett's Charge but there weren't enough Confederates so they had the Yankees charge and get cut down.

(04-12-2014 04:58 PM)callemasIsee-em Wrote:  

(04-11-2014 09:34 AM)Morkai Wrote:  This weekend my girlfriend and I are going camping in Pennsylvania, and on our way back to DC we're going to spend a day in Gettysburg. Has anyone ever been that could offer some advice on the best way to see the battlefield? I realize one could spend 3-5 days at the battlefield and not see it all. Any "must sees"?

Buy the cd and drive to the designated markers and listen- You should go to Sharpsburg too on your way back..

Sharpsburg, definitely.

(04-12-2014 05:08 PM)KRB Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 03:17 PM)TigerBill Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 11:39 AM)KRB Wrote:  I didn't get to spend much time there, but found it a beautiful setting, for such a pivotal point in American history. There was a great reenactment at Shelby Farms back in the 90's. Quite compelling.

I think that was Fredricksburg, I was there for it and you're right, it was great.

You could be correct. I took my Father In Law. He told me it was Gettysburg. It was pretty cool, whichever battle it was.

I was there. Another really cool reenactment is at Brice's Crossroads in Mississippi. Very moving and well done. I have an ancestor buried there.

In Western Kentucky where I'm from originally. Columbus Belmont State Park. Civil war battlefield, that is really neat. Confederate General Polk, had a one mile chain constructed and placed across the Mississippi river. It was to keep the Union troops from using the river to supply the Union troops in the western theater.

Links of the chain, and huge anchor still remain there. Park is located on high bluffs looking over into Missouri. Only about 2 and a half hours from Memphis. One of General Grants first battles. Really neat little park.

(04-12-2014 11:58 PM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 05:08 PM)KRB Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 03:17 PM)TigerBill Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 11:39 AM)KRB Wrote:  I didn't get to spend much time there, but found it a beautiful setting, for such a pivotal point in American history. There was a great reenactment at Shelby Farms back in the 90's. Quite compelling.

I think that was Fredricksburg, I was there for it and you're right, it was great.

You could be correct. I took my Father In Law. He told me it was Gettysburg. It was pretty cool, whichever battle it was.

I was there. Another really cool reenactment is at Brice's Crossroads in Mississippi. Very moving and well done. I have an ancestor buried there.

I own some land not too far from Brice's Crossroads that was the family farm. My grandfather would get furious when rifle barrels would damage his plow shares.

(04-14-2014 12:26 PM)TiggerFan Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 11:58 PM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 05:08 PM)KRB Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 03:17 PM)TigerBill Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 11:39 AM)KRB Wrote:  I didn't get to spend much time there, but found it a beautiful setting, for such a pivotal point in American history. There was a great reenactment at Shelby Farms back in the 90's. Quite compelling.

I think that was Fredricksburg, I was there for it and you're right, it was great.

You could be correct. I took my Father In Law. He told me it was Gettysburg. It was pretty cool, whichever battle it was.

I was there. Another really cool reenactment is at Brice's Crossroads in Mississippi. Very moving and well done. I have an ancestor buried there.

I own some land not too far from Brice's Crossroads that was the family farm. My grandfather would get furious when rifle barrels would damage his plow shares.

Interesting.

(04-12-2014 11:58 PM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 05:08 PM)KRB Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 03:17 PM)TigerBill Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 11:39 AM)KRB Wrote:  I didn't get to spend much time there, but found it a beautiful setting, for such a pivotal point in American history. There was a great reenactment at Shelby Farms back in the 90's. Quite compelling.

I think that was Fredricksburg, I was there for it and you're right, it was great.

You could be correct. I took my Father In Law. He told me it was Gettysburg. It was pretty cool, whichever battle it was.

I was there. Another really cool reenactment is at Brice's Crossroads in Mississippi. Very moving and well done. I have an ancestor buried there.

Is that the same as the Shilo reenactment? My wife is from Corinth, I should know that.

(04-14-2014 02:03 PM)Tiger46 Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 11:58 PM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 05:08 PM)KRB Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 03:17 PM)TigerBill Wrote:  

(04-12-2014 11:39 AM)KRB Wrote:  I didn't get to spend much time there, but found it a beautiful setting, for such a pivotal point in American history. There was a great reenactment at Shelby Farms back in the 90's. Quite compelling.

I think that was Fredricksburg, I was there for it and you're right, it was great.

You could be correct. I took my Father In Law. He told me it was Gettysburg. It was pretty cool, whichever battle it was.

I was there. Another really cool reenactment is at Brice's Crossroads in Mississippi. Very moving and well done. I have an ancestor buried there.

Is that the same as the Shilo reenactment? My wife is from Corinth, I should know that.

Not the same

Thanks for all the suggestions. We did the self-guided audio tour. We were there for about 6 hours, and could have stayed for much longer, and would have if we had the option. Little Round Top and Devil's Den were incredible, just as everyone said. Seeing The Angle on the line of Pickett's Charge was also amazing. Looking over the flat meadow and imagining a line a mile wide of men marching towards you must have been a harrowing sight.

It's a very moving and somber place. I'm very happy to have had the opportunity to go - the Park Service has done a great job maintaining the battlefield.

An interesting aside - we learned that Devil's Den was named so because a popular legend among the residents of the town of Gettysburg at the time was that the rocks were the home of a great serpent. You probably know that snakes are often associated with the devil, hence "Devil's Den". Well, when we were walking on a trail up the rocks of Devil's Den to get a better look at Little Round Top a three-foot (maybe longer) black snake slowly slithered right across the trail about 10 feet in front of us into the tall grass.

My girlfriend snapped a couple of photos, and many more of the battlefield. Maybe I'll post them when she gets around to downloading them from her camera.

As promised - snake. Anyone know what kind this is?