Civil War Days 6 & 7

Day 6 of the tour we left Gettysburg in the AM and headed for Washington DC.  Now remember how I mentioned that I was so excited to finally see the Cherry Blossoms??  Yeah, well...they were already ahead of schedule because of the warm temperatures, but that worked to our advantage because the festival was actually the week after we were there.  Then they actually were in full bloom when were were in Richmond (the first day of our trip) but they were still expected to be there for us.  That was until Mother Nature once again spit in my face.  (She hates me.)  The storm rolled in and the wind and rain took 99.9% of the blossoms with it.  BIG FAT BUMMER!

Sorry, had to get that off my chest.  With that being said, however, it was probably still one of the prettiest times I have ever seen it back there.  We still found blossoms here and there, not cherry ones, usually crabapples - or so I was told.  But regardless, it still was purdy!

First stop in DC was Arlington National Cemetery

and watching the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

 This is a must see!

Arlington House, Robert E. Lee's humble abode.

View from the Arlington House

Pretty trees and the Washington Monument

Next up, the Iwo Jima Memorial

Then over to the Lincoln Memorial

After visiting his memorial, we went over to Ford's Theater, where Lincoln was shot and the Peterson House, the home across the street where he died.  There was a play going on in Ford's Theater so we could only go in the museum downstairs.  And then our fearless leader took us through the alley to the back side of the theater for a "g-whiz".  This door is where Booth fled from after shooting the president.

Abe and me in the museum at Ford's. 

After the Peterson House, that has a way cool new museum inside it btw, it was dinner time.  We headed over to Union Station for some Pot Belly's.  Ronnie got a little sun and had forgot his hat so me and mom were so nice and found him this sweet little number!  

We called him Probie the rest of the trip.

We then went over and took some pictures of the Capitol, which is beautimus, especially at night!

And then back over to the other monuments/memorials.  The ONLY way to see them is at night.  

They are like a whole new world in the dark.  

Day 7 started at the National Archives.  You can't take pictures in there, but that's where the Declaration and Bill of Rights, among several other historical documents live.  After spending a few hours there, and then trying to navigate a bus through DC, among the GAZILLION other buses (did I mention that cherry blossom time is apparently also official field trip/flock to DC time?  It was the BUSIEST I have ever seen it!)  we got to the Old Post Office for lunch and the views from the tower.  

Then it was White House time 

and then over to the tidal basin to see the Jefferson Memorial.  This is where the cherry blossoms WOULD have been...when we pulled up, there was one tree in blossom, it was about half away across the tidal basin but when we got out I took off for it!  I wasn't going home without some kind of blossom picture! 

I headed back to the Jefferson Memorial before they left me.

Then we headed back to the hotel fairly early because the group was going to the DC temple for a session.  I thought about going to take pictures and just hang out in the visitors center but I was torn because The Hunger Games had just just come out and I REALLY wanted to see it....so, they took off and I headed for the metro, found a theater and watched the flick!

Good thing Alan took pictures and sent them to me.  I almost feel like I was there!

Next up, our last day in DC....

Civil War Day 5

Day 5 of our tour was spent visiting the battlefield of Gettysburg, which is universally recognized as the great and decisive battle of the war.  We visited Culp's Ridge, Cemetery Ridge, Seminary Ridge, Little and Big Round tops, the Weatfield, Peach Orchard, and Devil's Den... (Don't ask me which of my pictures is which, because I sure couldn't tell you at this point!)

In the 3 day battle at Gettysburg, there was 46,286 casualties.

Virginia Monument with Robert E. Lee on top

Group Shot at Virginia Monument

The castle monument at the top of Little Roundtop is dedicated to the 12th and 44th New York Infantry.

After a number of successful battles, the valiant Patrick O'Rorke led the 140th N.Y. Infantry Regiment in a battle to defend Little Round Top. Although O'Rorke was mortally wounded by a bullet to the neck, his men succeeded in defending the position. His nose has been rubbed shiny, from the many visitors eager for the "luck of the Irish."

Pennsylvania Monument

Stealing the bosses bike because I'm a rebel like that!

New York State Auxillary Monument

Gettysburg National Cemetery

This is where Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettsyburg Address, ya know...."Four Score and seven years ago..."  I really hope you knew that without my help.

New York State Monument inside Gettysburg Cemetery

The only two confederate graves inside the Gettysburg Cemetery

The restaurant we had our last dinner in Gettysburg, the Dobbin House.

Another group shot from Gettysburg...

Next up we go to DC to FINALLY see my cherry blossoms.....OR NOT.  Stay tuned! :)

Civil War - Day 4

We started this day at the Antietam National Battlefield where the Union and Confederate armies fought the bloodiest one day battle in North American History.  

This is overlooking the famous Cornfield...

The tranquility of dawn held the promise of a glorious fall day. That tranquility was soon broken as Major General Joseph ordered thirty-five Union cannons to open fire on the Confederates' left. At 6:00 a.m., 12,000 men from the I Corps charged down the Hagerstown Pike to attack the ground held by Jackson's smaller force of around 7,000. The Union continued the attack through the woods and into a forty acre cornfield. The heavy fire of the Confederate muskets commanded a heavy toll from the Union attackers. With each step forward, Union soldiers fell to the ground, having been struck down by the whining song of the Confederate mini balls. The Union troops almost reached the high ground near the Dunker Church. Lead rained down all around them, as cannonballs and canister took a devastating toll upon the attackers. The cornfield of the Miller farm soon yielded gruesome harvest as the weapons of war turned it into a slaughter pen. The toll was high for both sides as officers and men fell side by side. Shortly before 7:30 a.m., Jackson's line was in danger giving way--it seemed that the Union would succeed. At this desperate moment, the fresh southern troops led by Generals Hill and Hood rushed into the melee, forcing the I Corps from the field. The I Corps lost 25% of its number and were unable to fight any more that day. Their commander, General Hooker, was one the casualties.

The Union's next assault was lead by Major General Joseph K. F. Mansfield. Mansfield commanded the XII Corps composed of the veterans of Banks's Valley Campaign. Mansfield hurried his troops into the battle, and was one of the first to be mortally wounded. The assault moved forward and the Union managed to retake a portion of the east woods and cornfield. This assault lasted around 29 minutes and bore no fruit. Hooker later described the scene in these words, "every stalk in the northern and greater part of the field was cut as closely as could have been done with a knife, and the slain lay in rows precisely as they had stood in their ranks a few moments before. It was never my fortune to witness a more bloody, dismal battlefield."

After 3 hours of murderous fighting, McClellan order a third attack over this bloodied ground. At 9:00 a.m. General "Bull" Sumner attacked Jackson's line from the east-northeast. The lull in the battle had allowed Jackson the time needed to readjust his lines in an arc facing northward. As Sumner's 18,000 men charged forward, they quickly lost alignment and fell victim to Jackson's trap. In less than 20 minutes, Sedgwick's lead division had suffered a casualty rate of around 50%. Jackson then ordered his command to charge into the cornfield and reached the northern end before coming under a galling crossfire from fifty Union cannons hidden from view. Jackson was force to abort his attack. This concluded the four-hour fight on the Confederate left.

(Yeah, I just googled that, you're welcome.)

Civil War era barn

Cornfield again 

New York Monument at Antietam.  There are SEVERAL (like thousands) of monuments throughout the battlefields honoring different military groups.

Pennsylvania Monument

Bloody Lane...

The second phase of the Battle of Antietam began around 10:00 a.m. and would also last four hours. This time the Union assault would be aimed at the Confederate center. Once again McClellan would fail to coordinate his attacks to take advantage of his superior numbers and Lee's weakened center.
As the battle moved to the south Lee's center was held by two brigades commanded by Robert Rodes and G. B. Anderson. These brigades belonged to General Harvey Hill's division. These Confederate troops were along a sunken road that ran 1000 yards to both the south and east. As the Confederates attempted to further fortify their concealed position in this sunken lane, they spotted Union forces on the hill above them. These Union troops were part of Sumner's II Corps. As they moved in the direction of the Confederate center, many described their appearance as being parade like. Major General William H. French commanded the lead division of the Union attack.
As French's division drew within range of the sunken road, a murderous volley was delivered by the Confederates, and the Union troops seemed to suddenly disappear. A second group of Union soldiers met a similar fate as they attempted to attack the southern position. Both sides quickly brought in reinforcements, and for three hours the slaughter continued with neither side gaining the advantage.
Major General Israel B. Richardson's division joined the fight to aid French's division. Near 1:00 p.m., Richardson's men were able to gain the high ground near the road's bend and delivered an enfilading fire upon the remaining 300 Confederates forcing them to fall back to new positions. If General McClellan had continued to push the advantage that these brave men had gained, Lee's center would have collapsed and resulted in the ruin of the army and perhaps the Confederacy as well. General McClellan elected to end the fight in this section stating, "It would not be prudent" to continue the attack. This marked the end of the second phase of the Battle of Antietam.
Union officers who viewed the bodies of the Confederates in the sunken road stated that the lane was completely covered with bodies as far as the eye could see. This sunken road became known from this day forward as "Bloody Lane."

View from the tower of the battlefield

I made it to the top of the tower - barely!  (Me and heights aren't friends)

Burnside's Bridge

The third and final phase of the Battle of Antietam took place to the south of the battlefield where a stone bridge crossed Antietam Creek. General Ambrose Burnside was given the task of attacking the Confederate right. The Confederates, commanded by Brigadier General Robert Toombs, were entrenched on a hillside overlooking Antietam Creek and the stone bridge that spanned it. Toombs' forces consisted of several small Georgia regiments. The task should have been an easy one for Burnside and the IX Corps if he had used his superior numbers to his advantage. Instead of delivering a massive decisive blow, Burnside sent his troops forward one regiment at a time to cross the stone bridge. The Confederates were able to deliver a rain of shot and shell as the Union troops struggled to cross the narrow stone bridge. Regiment after regiment was forced back by the murderous fire from the hillside.

As the battle at Bloody Lane drew to a close, the Union artillery concentrated a heavy bombardment at the bridge and the hillside. This support allowed the 51st New York and the 51st Pennsylvania to cross the bridge and establish a foothold on the opposite bank. The Confederates were soon forced to retire from the crest of the hill. Once again McClellan had the opportunity to deliver a crushing blow to Lee's army. Once again, delay and lack of coordination proved to be McClellan's downfall as Burnside delayed for over two hours before advancing the attack.

In mid-afternoon, the Union army finally began moving thousands of Federal troops toward Lee's weakened flank. Burnside's superior numbers quickly moved through Toombs' Georgians and engaged D. R. Jones's four brigades. Lee desperately moved both men and guns south to meet the Union's massive attack. The southerners held on through sheer desperation as the cause appeared to be lost. The town of Sharpsburg was in flames and utter confusion as the battle roared around it. The Union moved to within nine hundred yards of Lee's only escape route. Victory seemed within sight for Burnside and his troops.

In the frenzy of battle, with the smell of victory in the air, the Union troops failed to notice the approach from the south of General A. P. Hill's Light Division. Hill's men had been left behind to secure Harper's Ferry. Hill had wisely left his post in mid-morning to march hard towards the sound of the battle. The march of 17 miles was so demanding that only 3,000 of Hill's 5,000 made it to Sharpsburg. Hill's exhausted troops, never stopping, slammed, screaming the rebel yell, into Burnside's left flank. In a matter of minutes, the tide of the battle was turned. The Union advance was stopped and forced back to the banks of Antietam Creek. This marked the final action of the Battle of Antietam.

As night fell, the sounds of battle gave way to the screams and groans of the wounded that the 14 hours of vicious fighting had produced. The Day of September 18th both armies spent waiting for the other side to renew the fight. The fight never came and Lee retired from the field on the evening of the 18th.

Antietam National Cemetery.  It was here the President Lincoln issued his great Emancipation Proclamation abolishing slavery throughout the states.

 Dunker Church, as referred to above

We then traveled to Gettysburg and visited the visitor's center.  We watched an awesome film (only viewable there) and then got to go up to the cyclorama.  It. is. AMAZING.  

 In the late 1880s, French artist Paul Philippoteaux took brush to canvas and created the Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama painting, it measures 377 feet in circumference and 42 feet high. Longer than a football field and as tall as a four-story structure, the Gettysburg Cyclorama painting immerses visitors in the fury of Pickett’s Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Seriously to think that think was painted in the 1800's BLOWS ME AWAY.  

Pictures are hard to do it justice, but it really was so neat to see.

After the visitor's center, we started out on the battlefields.  Gettysburg was a three day battle and it definitely covers a lot of ground.  There are over 1,300 monuments, markers and memorials throughout the battlefield, making it impossible to cover all the ground...but we did our best and saw a lot of them!

Eternal Light Peace Memorial at Gettysburg

After losing our light, we called it a night!  We spent the entire next day exploring Gettysburg, so to be continued...