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Great Sage of the Sea
Posts: 877
| Subject: Battle of Gettysburg - 145th Anniversary
Today is the 145th anniversary of Pickett's Charge, the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863.
Remembering those who fought and died during the bloodiest battle on American soil.
To Remember |
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Plankowner
Posts: 9165
Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: RE: Battle of Gettysburg - 145th Anniversary
Bad day. as many lost their lives as in all of Viet Nam in 3 days.
Probably the best depiction of Picketts Charge was done by Ted Turner in his Movie Gettysburg.
Click here for the Pickets Charge Scene
Find the link for part #4 to see the end of the scene. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1431
| Subject: RE: Battle of Gettysburg - 145th Anniversary
Historical Facts: Antietam was the bloodiest single day battle of the Civil War fought on September 17, 1862. Gettysburg was fought over three days. Gettysburg was not the turning point of the Civil War. That occurred with the fall of Vicksburg which gave the North control of the entire Mississippt River and cut off supplies to the South from Texas and the Gulf Of Mexico. Gettysburg caused a tremendous loss in personel and supplies to the South which she could not recoup, but Vicksburg was the fatal blow to Southern hopes of independence from the North.  
Edited by RCK 2008-07-03 10:54 AM
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1796
Location: Albany, GA. | Subject: RE: Battle of Gettysburg - 145th Anniversary
Those were some of the bravest men. Stepping out into that Wheat field, most knowing they wouldn't reach the other side. No matter what one thinks of their cause, their bravery can never be questioned. If you have the time, and are near Gettysburg, go look out across that field at the hights on the other side. Then ask yourself if you would have stepped out? |
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Plankowner
Posts: 9165
Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: RE: Battle of Gettysburg - 145th Anniversary
I took the time at the Hagerstown USSVI convention to run up for the day. I've looked across the distance and agree. Some nerve. The movie snip I posted was shot on that exact same field. The only time the park service has ever allowed anything like this to be filmed there at Gettysburg on the actual locations. It is awesome to stand where these men stood and try and imagine what it was like. Humbling. |
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Master and Commander
Posts: 1431
| Subject: RE: Battle of Gettysburg - 145th Anniversary
I've been to Gettysburg and Antietam. Standing in Bloody Lane you can understand the problem that the Union soldiers had as they marched toward the fence rail and the problem the Confederates had as the Union troops got close to the Lane. The Union soldiers were silhouetted as they came to the crest of the first rise in the land and were slaughtered there,but then the disappeared into a depression that hid them until they topped the second rise which was only about a hundred yards from the Confederates who were in the Bloody Lane. The Union troops were using "Buck and Ball" ammo that laid waste to the Southerners. They didn't understand the importance of the topography of the land would play in the battle. Gettysburg,on the other hand, was dominated by Culps Hill, Cemetary Ridge and Little Round Top. Lee didn't understand what he was facing when he sent Pickett forward into the cannons. Prior attacks had been throw against the Union right and the left. Part of this lack of understanding was caused by Jeb Stuart who was out gathering Union supply wagons rather than keeping tabs on the Union forces. The battle was the reverse of what happened to the Union at Fredricksburg. Lee was facing an impregnible line when he sent Pickett's men up the center with no cover for the mile to "Angle" and their death. Longstreet did not oppose Lee's plans the day before the charge but he knew it would fail before the Rebs ever set forth. |
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Battle of Gettysburg - 145th Anniversary
