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The day I stood and walked on ground that I only read .......

A

Anonymous

Guest
about, where brave men fought and died many years earlyer, Pickett's Charge on July 3rd 1863, Gettysburg.
I finally got to visit Gettysburg in 2001, I will never forget it and plan on going back, I enjoyed my trip to Gettysburg and hope everybody gets to see it at least once.
The battle field is spread over 27 miles, there are over 1000 Monuments and cannons at Gettysburg, I roam around for two days and didn't see it all but I read all the writings about the history of the Monuments as I went from Monument to Monument.
Being at Gettysburg was a thrill for me, it was early fall and a light mist was falling and not many people were there those two days, as I stood in front of the Virginia Memorial at Seminary Ridge of the Army of Northern Virginia I thought about Pickett's charge and the 12,000 men who walk across that open field.
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I stood there on Seminary Ridge where General Lee ordered General Longstreet to open up with his cannons to soften up the union line and take out the union cannons at Cemetery Ridge, most of this cannon fire missed the union line and landed behind the line saving the union cannons.
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I decided to make that charge myself at a quick step so I could get a sense for what those 12,000 men felt and saw as best I could. This is what the Army of Northern Virginia saw that day after they stepped out of the woods, they had to make it across this open ground to make it to the union line.
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And General Meade and the Army of the Potomac waited for them, this was the unions field of fire.
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As I made my way across this open ground with a light mist of rain hitting me in the face I stopped often to relish the moment and ground that I stood on, I was the only one out there and all I could hear was the wind blowing across the field, at this point I got pretty caught up in where I was and stood, I looked back to where these men started from then looked forward to where they had to get and was in total awe of these brave men, they were sitting ducks but kept moving forward to the union line even tho they were getting cut to piece's by the union cannons from Cemetery Ridge and little round top and big round top!
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As I kept moving forward the union guns were getting bigger and bigger and couldn't help to think there was hell to pay that day, hard to believe some of Pickett's men made it to the Angle, Brians Barn and the Copse of trees but once they did you should've seen what was waiting for them, two thousand rifles and point blank cannon fire.
The high water mark, the bloody Angle, this was the union line where some of the General Lees Army of Northern Virginia made it.
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When they reached the bloody Angle they got passed some of the cannons and the first line of union troops but were cut down as they moved forward, I stood on this ground and said, what makes such great men do great things in the face of death, I will never forget Gettsyburg and the brave men that fought on both sides those three days, they made us what we are today, one nation, America!
General Ray
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We took a vacation to Tennessee to visit some kinfolks. While there, we went to the Shiloh battle field for a day. I do not remember much about the visit other than it was big and we did not see all of the area. I did find a rifle bullet, and I still have it somewhere in a box or drawer. One of these days I would like to visit Shiloh again. Thanks for posting this story. Please have a great day! Kelley (Texas) <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":)">
 
...can tell how a man feels when they know your family's blood was spilled there!
The air is most times thick, when I was alone there. As I was in the very house where Jackson died after being shot by his own men, it gave me time to really realize just a bit of where I came from. ("Jackson lost his left arm and I have lost my right," General Lee said.)
We just take so much for granted. Many do not realize that in a four-year war we lost over 10 times the number we lost in SE Asia.
My Gr, Gr, Great grandfather and two of his brothers spilled blood in that war. A gr,gr,gr,gr uncle, Chaney Alfred Garrett, was captured at Vicksburg, reduced to skin and bone, ate horse meat and no tellin what else...and survived its seige so very long ago.
I have not been to Gettsburg. But some day I surely hope to see that "hallowed ground."
I just know that freedom has NEVER been free, especially here at home, one hundred and forty-five years ago. <><
Arkie John
 
I, too, visited Shiloh when I was about 12 years old. I distinctly remember all the individual graves of the yanks, but I ALSO remember that our boys were all in MASS graves to this DAY!
I vowed that IF I ever became anyone of power, that I would have them ALL placed in individual graves of honor.
I never attained that kind of power, but my will has not changed. I don't know why Mississippians stand for to this day. Those men deserve to be honored at least as much as the yanks were--All Americans deserve that honor!
If I lived in Mississippi, I would do all I could to right that huge wrong...and I would not stop until I saw it accomplished!
Arkie John
 
I too, walked that field in 2002 for the third time. It never ceases to bring a tear when I think of the loss of lives on both sides. Brave young men fighting for what they felt in their hearts was a just cause. I was the lucky one, I had a guide with me who has made a study of the battlefield and with his help learned where Vermonters stood and died at the angle. I salute all those there for their bravery.
Dave
 
you for sharing it with us, and describing your emotions.
Our son is finishing his second year at VMI, and along with a great education, they believe in keeping their history well known. Each year the guys all take the trek as the soldiers of long ago did, at the Battle of New Market. VMI keeps their promise of "any man that is sent into battle will forever be rememembered for each and every soldiers sacrifice". I thought this in itself was very commendable, and touching.
We have come to know Virginia well in the past two years, but still look forward to the next two. It is a beautiful state, full of history!
I have no doubt that Nathan will make a fine soldier! But it scares me to death! I feel as though I am a very patriotic person, and we need men like this, but when it is your son, while you are proud, you are afraid!
Anyway, I really enjoyed this post! <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":)">
 
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