This is a monument to the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry, standing near the center of the Union Line, where they beat back the Confederate troops during the final battle of Gettysburg, called "Pickett's Charge."
You can see a low stone wall, which rebel troops were attempting to climb over on that July day. Each little white stone marker shows the left and right flanks of various units assigned here. In the distance, you can see the row of dark trees, almost a mile away, from which the Confederate troops began their advance across the exposed fields to assault the Union line (yesterday's shot).
There were 458 members of this Pennsylvania unit serving on the morning of the battle. By the evening, only 266 remained fit for duty.
Unfortunately, the same complex issues over which men fought and died for that day remain sadly unsolved today, to our mutual detriment.
10/1/2020: Finished year 7 (!), with continuing gratitude towards this amazing community. Based in St. Louis, MO. Regular worker-bee and self-taught photography dilettante....
On the 75th anniversary, there was a reunion of the remaining soldiers, now very old men. As on previous reunions, they did a mock re-enactment of the charge at this wall. The Union men could not do it. They threw down their weapons and shook hands with their previous enemies. I've enjoyed your Gettysburg photos. I've been there, and I am a retired high school teacher of U.S. History. When I taught, I was actually encouraged by how far we've come, but these last two years have certainly been a setback. It is really distressing. https://civilwartalk.com/threads/1938-blue-and-gray-reunion-at-gettysburg.108516/
Gen. Longstreet gave Pickett his orders from Lee. After the war, he married a woman much younger than himself. During WWII, she was in her 80's and served as a "Rosie the Riveter." That speaks to progress, don't you think--that much support for the Union?
September 25th, 2017
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