Our next stop was Gettysburg PA, and the driving tour of the Gettysburg National Military Park.

I had been there as a youngster, but barely remembered it. It's quite moving. You try, but it's hard to imagine what it must have been like to fight there in such a bloody battle. It's similar to Vicksburg, but on a much larger scale. I recommend both if you're ever in the vicinity of either.

Some photos...

A Confederate artillery placement near Seminary Ridge

Little Round Top. It's hard to imagine Confederate soldiers charging up that easily defended hill. The story of the battle is here. Col. Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine Infantry rained down fire on Col. William Oates and his 15th Alabama Infantry as they tried to advance on the hill. Col. Oates, quoted from the link: "To stand there and die was sheer folly; either to retreat or advance became a necessity."

A Union artillery placement near Cemetery Ridge

Monument to 1st NY Light Artillery, assigned to Battery K to fight off Pickett's Charge at Cemetery Ridge.

Gen. George Meade, appointed command of the Army of the Potomac only three days before the battle of Gettysburg.

The Tennessee Memorial

The North Carolina Memorial

The Virginia Memorial, with Gen. Robert E. Lee astride Traveler

The Louisiana Memorial, the most artistic in our opinion.

The Pennsylvania Memorial

Another view of the Pennsylvania Memorial in the distance, with the U.S. Regulars monument to the right.

The National Cemetery

The Lincoln Gettysburg Address Memorial

The soundtrack running through my head was my favorite Steve Earle song, Dixieland (lyrics reproduced without permission and apologies to Steve Earle):

I am Kilrain and I'm a fightin' man and I come from County Clare
And the Brits would hang me for a Fenian so I took my leave of there
And I crossed the ocean in the "Arrianne" the vilest tub afloat
And the captain's brother was a railroad man and he met us the boat
So I joined up with the 20th Maine like I said my friend I'm a fighting man
And we're marchin' south in the pouring rain and we're all goin' down to Dixieland

I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine and we fight for Chamberlain
‘Cause he stood right with us when the Johnnies came like a banshee on the wind
When the smoke cleared out of Gettysburg many a mother wept
For many a good boy died there, sure, and the air smelled just like death

I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine and I'd march to hell and back again
For Colonel Joshua Chamberlain - we're all goin' down to Dixieland

I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine and I damn all gentlemen
Whose only worth is their father's name and the sweat of a workin' man
Well we come from the farms and the city streets and a hundred foreign lands
And we spilled our blood in the battle's heat
Now we're all Americans

I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine and did I tell you friend I'm a fightin' man
And I'll not be back this way again, ‘cause we're all goin' down to Dixieland