I toured the Gettysburg Battlefield today with my unit and

[MajPayne2]

I was shocked by my obviously southern republican commander commenting on how far we have come as a country. He actually said he felt proud that we have our first "black" President and it shows the country's growth. I felt that same pride as we walked the hallowed grounds where so many gave their lives for us to get where we are and it all started right there in a sense.It was my second trip and I always learn something new about the struggles of both sides. I will be taking my family back when it gets warmer and hopefully my children can understand the magnitude of what this country has gone through. Not colors of people, but all American people and how the struggles then, still affect our lives now as we saw on Jan 20th. Thanks DU!

[livvy]

1. This is one trip I distinctly remember from my childhood.

I will never forget the feelings I had as I stood there and walked around. I was only about 10, but I was very impressed and awed.

[MajPayne2]

3. Even as cold as it was

we still walked Pickett's charge and all of the Union line. Little Round Top has a way of humbling you when you think about the historical effect it could have had on the entire war. What if the south had gained that high ground and effectively won the war? Where would I be now as a black man? I quickly went to find Meade's statue that faces Lee's and thanked him.

[livvy]

7. Most definitely take your family if you get the chance.

It's sort of an ageless place in the sense that both young and old come away with strong feelings. I don't think I've ever talked to anyone who has been there that hasn't been touched by their visit.

And welcome to DU from me as well. I should have welcomed you in my first response. Actually I meant to, but forgot by the time I was done writing my response. Too bad my visit didn't guarantee a perfect memory for life! Anyway, welcome! :hi:

[asdjrocky]

2. Good on you my friend-

And welcome to DU just in case I missed you before! :hi:

It always surprises me when I'm watching Washington Journal and a fellow with a thick southern accent calls in because it always shows my inner bias. Right away, two or three words into what he's saying, I've determined that he's a good ol' boy and probably a raciest, and many of them actually show great support for our President.

I should know better, after all these years, then to judge a book by its cover, or accent.

[tabasco]

4. Why were you shocked?

You think all Southerners are racist shitheels?

[MajPayne2]

5. No

Just the fact that during the campaign he said Obama should be lynched. Thoughts?

[tabasco]

11. If he said that, he has no business being a military commander.

I held the rank of Major in the Army.

Racism was NEVER tolerated, whatsoever.

[MajPayne2]

15. Different times now with

a viable non-white candidate at the time drew out feelings that were previously withheld unless in private. He slipped. He did watch the inaugaration with me though and he says he is happy with the way things are going so far. Always keep the faith.

[bill]

6. My Great^2 Grand Dad was a Capt.

in the 7th Wisconsin. I've gotten the chills both times I've stood next to their memorial (I have an original picture from the commenceration of the monument in the early 1900's).

The whole site is haunted (in a pivotal history sense).

-bill

[MnFats]

8. It really is stunning to walk around the site, isn't it? I mean, jaw-dropping...

to think of the heroism and tragedy... and the awful, terrible cost in lives...there was a time when we didn't send our young people to war lightly

visited the site where First Minnesota filled a gap in the Union line, saving the day but taking horrendous losses.

[MajPayne2]

12. The Peach Orchard

really sparked a debate with us. Did Sickles do the right thing? I thought he did even though he disobeyed Meade's orders and almost gave the south a victory. He did have a dilemma though, try to defend the devils den or move to high ground. But I can see Meade's point of view that there is high ground everywhere. The PA monument is awesome by the way.

[Condem]

17. The genius of the Union position, MajPayne2...

....was they could rush reenforcements, quickly as needed. If the Rebs would of attacked full frontal, instead of en echelon, than the Union would have been in big trouble. The salient would have been shattered and Sickles to blame. Thank Buford for protecting the high ground and Reynolds for enforcing the strategy on 1 July. I could talk about this all night. The Wheatfield. Man, that place gives me shivers.

[Avalux]

19. Maybe you can tell me....

about the Trostle farm? I have been told the family fled suddenly when the confederate soldiers showed up; they occupied the house and then the union soldiers drove them out and took the grounds.

I'd love to hear anything you know about it - my family's home. :hi:

[Condem]

20. You can still see the cannon shots in the brick house, Avalux

You know the famous picture of all the dead artillery horses around the farm. Just east, where Barksdale's Mississipians outran their cover, there is a rock shaped like a chair. The last line of Union Artillery. MacGillvary's Battery as I remember. Stopped the charge with one blast of cannister. The rebs retreated back to the farm and the fields for the night. They were decimated. The Union didn't get it back until the Rebs retreated July 4.

[Avalux]

21. Fascinating.

If you don't mind, I'd like to PM you to discuss further - not tonight because I'm about to log off but maybe tomorrow. I am interested in the details of the battle surrounding the farm; for those 3 days and you seem to know quite a bit. I've read Sickles was wounded near the barn (the building with the cannonball holes). They used the house as a hospital. :hi:

[Condem]

22. Been there too many times to count, Avalux.

Please do. It's a subject I never grow tired of.

[MnFats]

27. there were

not to

[snowbear]

9. I don't think it will be long before ALL of our troops love and respect their Commander in Chief...

.
.




--

[bill]

10. My Great^2 Grand Dad was a Capt.

in the 7th Wisconsin. I've gotten the chills both times I've stood next to their memorial (I have an original picture from the commenceration of the monument in the early 1900's).

The whole site is haunted (in a pivotal history sense).

-bill

[Avalux]

13. My family's farm is on the battlefield - did you see it?

Trostle Farm, near Little Round Top:

http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/tstops/tstd2-14.htm

The barn still has cannonball holes in it; family lost everything in the war; all the orchards were destroyed. What happened there was horrific and we can never forget the price so many Americans paid (north and south).

:hi:

[MajPayne2]

16. I DID SEE IT! :)

Still standing and preserved. They are doing major work to make the battlefield like it was back then.

[Avalux]

18. Cool! Yes, it makes me happy they are doing so much work.

Of course the house and grounds are historic sites now. I've often wondered what it was like for them (the Trostle family), I've always been told the family had to flee suddenly; even left food on the table because of the confederate soldiers. The house was used as a makeshift hospital. My father has researched and has a lot of historical information, maybe one of these days I'll write a book. Very proud to have such a connection to Gettysburg.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[janx]

14. Here:

Edit: Who is that guy, second from the left? He lost his life and the lives of two of his sons. After that, President Lincoln gave Luther's wife some decent land in Missouri. ;-)

[Zomby Woof]

23. I absolutely have to make the pilgrimage

My 3x great-grandfather took part in 'Pickett's Charge'. The sacrifices made by all that day should never be forgotten.

At least until I can visit, my name appears at the new vistors' center, as a founding contributor to the Gettysburg Foundation.

To a new birth of freedom! :patriot:

[JVS]

24. I'm proud of the asswhooping that the North dealt those rebel shitbags at Gettysburg.

[unhappycamper]

25. I've visited many of the CW battlefields over the last 10 years or so.

Gettysburg is considered the 'gold standard' for CW battlefields. Some of the other CW places that have moved me:

Shiloh (been there 4 times already)
Antietam
Chattanooga
Petersburg
Chancellorsville
Wilderness
many of the sites around Richmond

[QueenOfCalifornia]

26. Welcome to DU MajPayne2

When I lived in the D.C. area I visited most of the nearby battlefield sites - I also would take day trips to some of the many historical locations that are there. I have always been very aware of the history of the places I visit and I was very moved when visiting Gettysburg. I hope that you will not forget your self made promise to take your family - these kind of things stick with a person and instills a love of history in a person.
The true horrific nature of the Civil War is captured in these old photos - It is a valuable collection and every single person who cheerleads a war from the sidelines should see them: http://www.old-picture.com/civil-war/Gettysburg-Casualties.htm

As a nation a bit less than half of us have come a long way - the other part is still listening to Rush Limbaugh.

[renate]

31. wow... an amazing collection

Thank you very much for the link--I'll send it to some family members who are really interested in the Civil War. (The other collections of photos also look fascinating--I'll make a cup of tea and browse through the England ones right now.)

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

28. Raises hand : Why were so many Civil War battles fought in National Parks?

:silly:

I have a friend who swears this question was asked in a tour group she was in and the poker faced guide answered

"Because of the restroom facilities."

[kwassa]

29. My great-grandfather fought there, and survived or I wouldn't be writing this

he saw action on the first day of the battle.

We visited Gettysburg, discovered where he had been stationed by looking through history books in the store their, and then visited the part of the battlefield where he fought.

He was later wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness, but survived.

[democracy1st]

30. Hi MajPayne2 was it smaller in size compared to what you were expecting ?