THE ADVENTURES OF NICO AND NATALEE: Gettysburg 150 years

Friday, July 5, 2013

Gettysburg 150 years

After the short stop in Columbia, we headed south to Gettysburg. July 1-3, 2013 marked the 150th anniversary of the greatest battle fought on American soil. Dad brought Jason and I here years ago, probably multiple times, however, this time, visiting as an adult, the experience was so different. The strategy the armies had to use in order to attack each other was quite amazing. Warfare was so much different then than it is now. There was so much blood shed and lives lost. It was literally brother against brother in some instances. Looking out onto the what had been the battlefields 150 years ago, it was so surreal to imagine what horrors occurred right where we were standing. I feel like I got a new perspective and learned so much about Gettysburg. Luckily my Dad is basically a Civil War expert and he was able to easily describe where the armies had been, what direction they were heading, who was leading them and what their demise was.

It was so fun seeing so many people dressed up and in character as if we were still in the mid 19 century! I have a funny feeling many people in the area do this on a daily and regular basis...what I wouldn't give to be able to walk around in a Scarlett O'Hare dress for a day!

My Dad was especially happy to have his picture taken with General Lee!

The Confederate Military uniform...very uncomfortable.

Silly guys pretending to be Abe Lincoln

Dad had his picture taken with Armistead and Pedigree, the two Confederates who got the furthest North during the battle of Gettysburg.

Proud that Texas played its own part in not just the battle of Gettysburg but the Civil War as a whole.

This memorial is of Armistead and Hancock at the High Water mark within the National Cemetery

Approximately where within the National Cemetery where President Lincoln gave his forever famous speech..."Fore scores and 7 years ago..."

In front of the visitor's center

Statue of Wadsworth...my Dad had his picture taken here 56 years ago.

Natalee and Mommy at Pickett's Charge.

Dad at Pickett's Charge

Dad and Nico at Pickett's Charge

Union soldiers marching down the road

Alexander Webb

PA Memorial with Meade and Reynolds names on it.

Union encampment

Cemetery Hill

North Carolina Memorial on the Confederate Line

Nico at a canon on the Confederate Line

Texas Memorial located on the Confederate line

Memorials for MN and PA

High Water Mark: memorial indicating the most northern point in which the Confederate armies got to during the battle (although where Armistead fell is the most northern point)