The battle of Gettysburg took place over a period of three days; July 1-3, 1863. The Confederate army of Northern Virginia under the command of General Robert E. Lee had left the Shenandoah valley only a few weeks earlier. To this day it remains unclear exactly what Lee hoped to accomplish by invading Pennsylvania. We do know that he was attempting to relieve some of the burden put on Virginia farmers by having two large armies living off the land in that state. He also believed that if he took the war into the north, the northern people would not have the stomach for it any longer and would eventually sue for peace. Unfortunately, for him, it had the opposite effect. Lee may have also held out hope that by invading northern soil and winning a great battle there, it might be possible to bring the great European powers to recognize the legitimacy of the Confederacy. The objective, however, was uncertain. How far north would his army go? He hinted to one of his subordinate Generals, one legged Richard Ewell that Harrisburg might be captured. General Hooker, Lee's northern counterpart had heard a rumour that Pittsburgh was Lee's objective. Whatever the intent the two armies met quite by accident at the crossroads of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. The Confederates, outnumbering the Federals pushed them back to a defensive position. Both sides had numerous casualties on this first day of the battle, but the confederate army held the field at days end. The Union losses included a highly esteemed corps commander, Major General John Reynolds who was shot off of his horse early on in the battle. The Confederate army was poised to strike a decisive blow against their northern foe, but darkness set in.
Day two saw both armies swell with reinforcements. The army of the Potomac was now commanded by Major General George Meade, a West Pointer whom Lee believed would be somewhat cautious. Meade's army took up positions along a line of hills and ridges in what has been described as a fish hook. It was a comfortable but dangerous position for the left flank of the army was exposed and vulnerable at a couple of hills known as the Round Tops. Also, one of the Corps commanders Major General Daniel Sickles, a political General, decided without orders to move his men out in front of the rest of the army in the belief that securing the hill in front of him would give his men a better position to place their artillery. however, this left a gaping hole in the center of the union line that the Confederates could possibly use to split Meade's army in two. The fighting was fierce on this second day. Despite Sickles errant use of military tactics the confederates were unable to take advantage of this blunder. They were also stopped in their tracks by fierce resistance on the Union left on Little Round Top which was being defended by Vincent's Brigade. A bayonet charge led by Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain of the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment basically ended the Confederate attack on that side of the battlefield.
Day three of the action at Gettysburg culminated in a desperate frontal attack ordered by General Lee on the Union center at a place known as "The Angle" This has come down in history as the infamous "Pickett's Charge" named after the Confederate General George Pickett who led one of the three Divisions against the Union lines. The assault failed miserably. This ended any chance that Lee's army would have to claim victory in the battle. The next day, Lee's army started their move south toward Virginia. They would never again have the chance to invade the north.
Gettysburg today is nothing like it was back in 1863. It is now a destination for tourists. it is unlike any other battlefield that I have ever been to. Most battlefields that have been designated as National Parks, or State Parks are located in areas that are far from the burgeoning influence and corruption of Corporatism. To be sure, there are visitor centers that sell books and other souvenirs, but these are part of the National Park Service. There are also battlefields located in places that are now metropolis' like the Revolutionary War battlefields of Long Island, Savannah, and Trenton. Suburbia has inevitably encroached on these places. However, Gettysburg is different...This is, for instance, a Kentucky Fried Chicken standing in no man's land where thousands of soldiers charged across the field during Pickett's charge. Where is the respect? Do big chain Corporatists have any? Not when it comes to money I would guess. I suppose that it could be worse...At least it is a KFC with an image of a Colonel...even if he is a fraudulent one...It could be a McDonald's...with a clown and a hamburgler running across the battlefield! Or... worse yet... a Subway... with an image of Jared in his little green Subway shorts charging across the field along with thousands of Confederate ghosts toward the Union lines. I guess Colonel Sanders isn't so bad after all.
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