Going to Gettysburg, any suggestions?

[jgilbert]

Hey folks, I'm on vacation this week, and on Saturday I'm headed up to Gettysburg for a couple of days.  My ancestors are from Adams County, so I'm gonna hit some of the cemeteries, but any suggestions of shops and places in town to head to?  I'm already gonna hit all of the big parts of  the battlefield, but was wondering if anyone whose been there a time or few had any suggestions.  Thank you in advance for any replies!!  God Bless....

[DCR]

I've never been there.  But, I need to get up there some time.

I have ancestors who fought in that war... on the defeated side.

I don't know of any relatives who were at Gettysburg though.  Two of my great great grandfathers were wounded in combat in other campaigns/battles.

[Huscarl]

Be sure to make it to little round top of course, there's also a good museum not far from the battlefield worth checking out. 

One thing my father and I did that we really enjoyed was we got a cd that you play in your car while you drive on the road that winds around the battlefield, and if you go the correct speed than you will hear some reenactments as well as some facts about the landmarks as you drive past them (for example it would say "the bottom of the ridge to your left is where Pickett made his infamous charge").  It was a lot cheaper than a professional tour and still very enjoyable and you could set your pace to your liking, if you ever wanted to stop and spend more time at a spot you just pause the cd

The other thing that was fun was a ghost tour of the city.  Supposedly Gettysburg is the most haunted city in the world and there are many ghost stories to tell, and there are tour guides that will take you around the city (in period dress) and describe ghost stories involving soldiers and other people who died during the battle as you go around to the spots where they took place.  There are several groups that do those and they're stationed around the city, so finding one or another shouldn't be hard

[Huscarl]

And I just saw that you posted this a month ago, you probably already went...haha

[jgilbert]

ha ha, actually I wrecked my car two days after that post and still haven't made it up there, so thank you for the suggestions!

DCR, which regiments were your ancestors from?  I had ancesters in the 31, 25 and 62 VA infantries at Gettysburg.  Can't wait to get up there!!

[turtledove]

Wow, how blessed you are to be doing this!   I am a retired history teacher and present buff.  The Civil War is a favorite of mine.  But I live on the West coast and don't forsee a trip to the East anytime this year.  Hopefully one of these years yet in my lifetime.

From what I know ....Little Round Top (as already shared here) is a must to explore..checking out that hill and thinking just how it must have been for those making a stand there.  Remarkable.  I would also check out the places where they had the artillary set up..the big guns..that should be interesting. I would guess they have detailed marked there and on Little Round Top.. if not surely on big maps in the visitor's center. 

Enjoy for my  husband and me too!  And let us know how it goes here when you return. 

peace and blessings,

turtle 

[marc]

Everyone who can needs to get to Gettysburg.  Discovering all that took place there is life-altering.  I became a Civil War buff on my first visit.

One piece of advice I would give is don't forget the town.  Much of the fighting, particularly on the first day, took place there.  Have an ice cream at the shop that still has artillery wedged in the outside wall.  Also, take a ghost tour.  Take the ghost stories with a grain of salt, but take in the history of the town they reveal.

My first visit, I was standing in the square reading a historical marker about the Confederates charging into town with a yell when a wedding party streamed out of a church on the corner, yelling in celebration.  Yes, I jumped.

Also, as you're walking the battlefield, read the markers about what happened where you are, close your eyes for a minute, and imagine.  It's quite an experience.

I haven't been since they built the new visitor's center.  I need to get back.  Fall's a wonderful time to visit.  If you come in that time of year, take the road in from Chambersburg and enjoy the foliage that lines the road.

[marc]

Here are some pictures I've taken:













And Antietem's not too far away:

[DCR]

ha ha, actually I wrecked my car two days after that post and still haven't made it up there, so thank you for the suggestions!

DCR, which regiments were your ancestors from?  I had ancesters in the 31, 25 and 62 VA infantries at Gettysburg.  Can't wait to get up there!!

According to the info I have, one of my ancestors was in Company A, Twentieth Tennessee Infantry, and he fought at the battles of Fort Donelson, Fishing Creek, and Parker's Cross Roads.  I believe he was also at Stones River/Murfreesboro.  Then, he was later promoted to captain of Tenth Tennessee Regiment.

I have another ancestor who was apparently in the Army of Tennessee and marched with General John Bell Hood.  He was apparently wounded at the Battle of Franklin.  This army met its demise at the battles of Franklin and Nashville in November-December 1864.  That pretty much ended the Confederate force in the west, and the only sizeable force left was Lee's army in Virginia, before surrendering in April 1865.

Sorry about your accident.

[jgilbert]

marc, which monument is it that has the soldier your looking face-to-face at?  The second one down.  That's really neat!!!

[marc]

I'll have to look it up, but it's in the valley below Little Round Top (to the left as you're facing the hill), on the other side of the road.  It's easy to miss. I held the camera up above my head to take the picture.

[marc]

Here's the info on the monument.

[jgilbert]

Thanks so much!!!!

[Johnb]

When I was going through officer advanced school we talked of having a class trip to Gettysburg.  Myself and the 14 females in the class voted against it.  I was asked why I voted against the trip.  I told them I had been in recruiting before the school and had seen nearly every civil war battle ever fought re enacted.  Bad decision on my part Gettysburg is different.