After an amazing breakfast at the South Court Inn we rolled back onto the road. It was quite foggy so we made the decision to head up the Shenandoah Valley below the cloud and fog instead of going back to the Skyway. We left Virginia, rode briefly through West Virginia and Maryland before arriving in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania by noon.
Our first stop:
I have never visited Gettysburg before and Tom last visited when he was a small boy. I was eager to learn more about the historic battle that unfolded here in 1863. The visitor center was the best place to start and here we watched a well done film, "A New Birth of Freedom" narrated by Morgan Freeman and then viewed the Gettysburg Cyclorama depicting Pickett's charge on day 3 of the battle. This was a moving experience as you are completely surrounded by this huge painting which was painted in 1880 by Paul Philippoteaux. The painting is 377 feet in circumference and 42 feet high. We then spent several hours in the museum proper before heading into Gettysburg itself to find our accommodation.
Thursday, October 2nd.
The afternoon found us heading to the Soldiers National Cemetery and we were lucky enough to arrive just as a Park Ranger started a tour. This gave us great insight into the founding of the cemetery at a time when dead soldiers from the battle were still lying unburied. It is, of course, also the site of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. It was a sombre visit.
Tens of thousands of men and boys were killed or wounded during the three days of battle. The enormity of the loss is made apparent by the markers for all the unidentified soldiers:
Just one section; and only Union Troops are buried here.
As the shadows began to lengthen we carefully rode our bikes around the battlefields.
So scenic today but the site of such a bloody battle all those years ago.
The view, looking like an oil painting this afternoon, from Little Round Top. This was the pivotal ground held by the Union Troops that resulted in them being victorious at the end of the day. The Devil's Den, from where the Confederate Troops made their assault on the high ground, can be seen on the left:
Looking up to Little Round Top from the low ground:
The curious boulders that lie at Devil's Den:
There are many Memorials placed all around the battlefields. Placed to remember the many regiments from all over the States:
It was a memorable and moving day.
Hi Tom & Vicky,
ReplyDeleteWell, you're off! Good luck winging it. You going to post a map of your planned trip like last time? (although I know the plans have changed)
Love,
Jim