Following in the Footsteps of Daring Civil War Soldiers

Summary

A personal narrative about the author's visits to Gettysburg National Military Park, reflecting on the Civil War, their own ancestry, and the impact of the battlefield on their understanding of history.

Abstract

The author shares a profound connection to the Civil War through their ancestry, with an ancestor who fought for the Union and a great-grandfather who died as a Confederate prisoner of war. The article details two trips to Gettysburg National Military Park, highlighting the emotional and historical significance of the battlefield. The vastness of the park and the number of unknown soldiers buried there serve as a sobering reminder of the war's toll. The author's daughter, though less interested in history, accompanies them on their quest to capture the perfect sunrise photograph among the monuments, symbolizing the enduring legacy of the war and its soldiers.

Opinions

The author has a deep appreciation for history, particularly the Civil War, as evidenced by their emotional connection to the battlefield and their ancestors' involvement.
The size and scope of the Gettysburg National Military Park are described as "incredible," emphasizing the scale of the conflict and the sacrifices made by the soldiers.
The author values the personal stories and the human element behind the statistics of the Civil War, noting the individual tragedies among the 620,000 casualties.
There is a sense of reverence for the unknown soldiers buried at Gettysburg, acknowledging their sacrifice and the recognition they receive from a higher power.
The author's passion for photography is evident as they seek to capture the essence of the battlefield's history and the beauty of the sunrise, despite their daughter's lack of shared enthusiasm for historical sites.

Survival was on every soldier’s mind

Nearly 3.5 million soldiers fought in the Civil War. Of that number, 620,000 would never see their loved ones again. Many of those buried on both sides are unknown, but to God.

I have an ancestor from Pennsylvania (edited) who wore the Union Army’s blue at Gettysburg and a great-grandfather who died in a prisoner of war camp wearing the gray of the Confederate Army — two weeks after Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his forces to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox.

I learned of both men while visiting the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center last September.

The sheer size of the battlefield is incredible. The Gettysburg National Park covers 6,000 acres and is little more than half of the 11,000 acres where fighting occurred.

Last year was my second trip to Gettysburg. In 2022, my daughter and I drove to Amish Country in Lancaster, PA, for a four-day Memorial Day weekend. We spent four hours in Gettysburg, and I was hooked. I knew I’d be back.

During our second trip in September, we spent two days in Gettysburg, enough to learn about my ancestors on opposite sides of the war.

We spent hours walking and driving around the battlefield. Briana doesn’t have my appreciation for history. Still, she stuck with me even as I ran around the battlefield monuments to find an ideal spot to capture sunrise before returning to Massachusetts later in the morning.

I found it.

Thanks for reading.

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