The rest of the Gettysburg pictures (and no, these aren't even half of the ones I took)!


( More Gettysburg pix!! )

We woke up, eating breakfast at the hotel.  After loading up the car, we returned to the battlefield for about three more hours, starting where we left off just north of Little Round Top and continuing through the rest of the Union side.  We left about 3pm and drove an hour northeast to Elizabethtown to visit my cousin.  Mom was staying at a bed-and-breakfast, so she checked into her room, only to discover that the toilet would not flush and there was not a phone in her room.  Stephanie met us at the B&B, and we waited for Mom to get ahold of the housekeeper to remedy these two problems. 

After that, we headed into Lancaster and had dinner at Applebee's.  She works as a light operator at a Christian theater called Sight and Sound, and was able to get us free tickets.  Even though I am not Christian, I enjoy the stories and this theater is amazing - seven stories tall, with sets reaching four stories tall, advanced special effects, and the stage reaching around on both sides. They incorporate live animals of all types, flying tricks, and items hanging above the audience.  The show we saw was called "In the Beginning," and told the story of Creation, Adam and Eve, and Cain and Abel.  Truly stupendous.  After the show, she took us backstage and explained how the sets and effects worked.  We then returned to the B&B and dropped off Mom, and then the two of us went to her apartment, where we got caught up and showed off pictures.

I didn't get any pictures of the theater, because I forgot to grab my camera.  The Gettysburg pictures from this day are being split into two posts, because of the number of them.


( Gettysburg pix! )

After a nice and relaxing breakfast at Perkins (where I had a waffle with strawberries) we headed over to the battlefield to see the new Visitors' Center, that just opened last year.  What a huge change from the old one!  We had been to Gettysburg eight years ago, and I could immediately tell a lot had changed, for the better.  The new center is in a different location and features a much larger museum section, a wonderful bookstore and gift shop, and most importantly, the newly restored Gettysburg Cyclorama painting, created in the late 1800's and fully restored to its glory.  Over 300 feet long and 30 feet high, the painting takes you into the center of the High Water Mark of Pickett's Charge on the last day of the battle.  I had seen the painting before, but the restoration was simply breathtaking - the colors and figures just pop off the canvas.

We spent all afternoon at the center, and then headed into town to eat at the Farnsworth Inn, a bed-and-breakfast we had stayed at last time.  They have delicious period fare, and reservations are required because it is so popular.  I had their specialty, the game pie, which consists of turkey, duck and pheasant in a thick sauce with mushrooms, all in a flaky crust.  We also had Jennie Wade bread (yeast bread named after the only civilan casuality of the battle), spoon bread with apple butter, cinnamon apple relish, and a fresh garden salad.

After dinner, we headed to the battlefield so I could take pictures.  We did complete the driving tour the last time we were here, but I never get tired of being there.  They had changed the route of the driving tour, so I did get to see different monuments.  I would love to photograph every single monument and sign on the field, but that would take a week in itself!  Of course, this would suit me perfectly well, as I love being here.  We started on McPherson's Ridge, northwest of the town, then headed north to Oak Ridge, east to Barlow Knoll, then through town to head south to Seminary Ridge (where the Confederate army was stationed), and then over to Little Round Top, where I focused on the 20th Maine monument.  This regiment and their commander at the time, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, have been major points of study for me, as well as the Gettysburg Campaign itself.  Since night was falling fast as I left the 20th Maine, we decided to quit for the day and finish up on Friday.

It was hard for me to not post every picture I took, but I restrained myself.  :)  For those interested in learning more, I have over 200 pictures on my personal webpage, with explanations and fun little facts.  I also highly recommend the movie "Gettysburg" and the book it was based on, "The Killer Angels."

( Gettysburg photos )

We left our unsatisfactory stay at the Hampton in the morning and drove north to the battlefield of Antietam.  A gray and rainy day greeted us as we left, and stayed with us until evening.  This rain prevented me from getting many pictures of the battlefield, since I do not yet have a rain shield for my lens and I had to keep wiping water drops off the filter every time I took a picture.  The battlefield itself was very sobering to see; it is in very good shape, with very little development, so you can really get a feel for what the Union and Confederate soldiers actually saw when they fought here September 17, 1862 - the bloodiest day of the Civil War, with over 25,000 casualties.

We started at the visitors' center, where we watched a film and went through the small exhibit hall.  Following this, we went to the observation area where a park ranger gave a 30 minute overview of the battle.  From there, a stop at the gift shop was mandatory, where I purchased two more books.  We headed to the car, munching on some snacks for a late lunch, and then followed the signs for the driving tour.  This was one battle Mom actually understood pretty well, since it only occurred over one day and the path of the fighting was very linear.  There were lots of deer that ventured out at dusk; I saw a couple of stags and about twelve does.  We stopped at a McDonald's for a quick dinner, and then drove up to Gettysburg, arriving at the hotel around 10pm.


( Antietam pictures )

We slept in again this morning, and after refueling, we had lunch at a local spot in Fredericksburg called Sammy T's.  The food was pretty good, but not the greatest (I had a chicken parmesan sandwich) and the non-smoking section was half the size of the smoking section and regulated to the back of the restaurant, with a separate entry off a side street.  I felt like a second-class citizen!  I've been spoiled by Ohio being smoke-free.

After lunch, we visited a cat-themed store, and then went to the Battlefield visitors' center, watched the 20 minute introductory film, and took a 35 minute tour of Marye's Heights with a ranger.  I purchased two books, some postcards, and a keychain at the gift shop, and then spent some time on Marye's Heights and the cemetery.  Unfortunately, very little of the battlefield here has been preserved - there are few monuments, and there has been a lot of development and new growth since 1862.  What is still here is still haunting and beautiful, but it does lose some of its impact.

I had also purchased the driving tour, and we completed the circuit, which included a house in town that was there in 1862, Chatham (which served as Burnside's headquarters), Marye's Heights (where the Union regiments that fought in this area were slaughtered), and Prospect Hill (where another large engagement was fought).

We ate dinner at another local place, this one named Brock's.  Very good food - I had Caribbean jerk chicken with mashed potatoes and stringbeans, and a slice of strawberry cheesecake for dessert - but the service was slow.  The food came out nice and hot, though.

We returned to our hotel - the Hilton Garden Inn - and repacked the souvenirs we had purchased up to this point.  Bedtime followed, knowing we had to be up early for the drive to DC in the morning.


Marye's Heights - the scene of intense fighting.  Confederates were entrenched behind this stone wall, in a sunken road that runs behind and the high ground behind them.  Wave after wave of Union troops attempted to take the hill, but were beaten back every time, with severe casualties.  The ratio of Union casualties to Confederate was 8:1 - the most lopsided ratio in the entire war.

( Photos )

I had this idea a few weeks ago, and the more I think about it, the more I really want to do it.

I am thinking of taking a road trip by myself next year (depending on finances and how much vacation I have) over two weekends and a week (so 8-9 days).  I would like to see some more Civil War and historical sites, and maybe meet up with some of my LJ friends!  I am concentrating on Pennsylvania (to see my cousin and to make another stop at Gettysburg), Virginia (so many Civil War sites to choose from), and North Carolina (more good CW sites and the home of the Biltmore Estate).  I haven't done any research yet, but I plan on doing that soon.  In the meantime, I am asking those of you who have lived or are currently living in any of those states, or have visited there before, for some recommendations (both good and bad) on places to see, restaurants, and inexpensive but nice hotels.  If you know of any festivals or events happening, feel free to volunteer that info as well.  I am looking at either June or July for this trip, although I am leaning more towards June.

Thanks in advance!!  And you are welcome to pass this on to others who might have ideas.


Paging ninebrandy  (for Virginia) and mishlai  (for North Carolina), and everyone else!