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The Battle in Brief Gettysburg National Cemetery for Your Safety

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The Battle in Brief Gettysburg National Cemetery for Your Safety The Battle In Brief bered, the Union forces the Union left broke under George Pickett Park Programs—History For Today In the spring of 1863, managed to hold until through D. E. Sickles' charged across the Gettysburg battlefield Gen. Robert E. Lee re­ afternoon when they advance lines at the open field toward the looks today much as it organized the Army of were overpowered and Peach Orchard, left the Union center. Raked by did in 1863. Fences, Park rangers lead walks, Northern Virginia into driven back through Wheatfield strewn with artillery and rifle fire, rocks, hills, cannon, give talks, and present three infantry corps and town. In the confusion, dead and wounded, Pickett's men reached and even the monu­ programs at various lo­ began marching west­ thousands of Union sol­ and turned the base of but failed to break the ments, which weren't cations on the battle­ ward from Fredericks­ diers were captured be­ Little Round Top into a Union line; only one in here then, wait like an field to help visitors burg, Va., through the fore they could rally on shambles. R. S. Ewell's three retreated to safety. empty stage for an au­ visualize the personal gaps of the Blue Ridge, Cemetery Hill south of attack proved futile dience with the imagi­ impact of past events. then northward into town. Long into the against the entrenched The Confederate army nation to remember the Check at the visitor Maryland and Pennsyl­ night Union troops la­ Union right on East that staggered back battle, to ponder and center for programs vania. For a second bored over their de­ Cemetery Hill and from the fight at Gettys­ try to understand what scheduled during your time in less than a year, fenses while the bulk of Culp's Hill. burg was physically and really happened here. visit. Lee was carrying the Meade's army arrived spiritually exhausted. What were the thoughts war to northern soil. His and took positions. On July 3, Lee's artillery Lee would never again of men who fought at first invasion had been opened a bombardment attempt an offensive Gettysburg? What of the turned back at the Battle On July 2, the battle that for a time engaged operation of such pro­ women who offered aid of Antietam. lines were drawn up in the massed guns of portions. Meade, though and comfort in the after­ O) two sweeping arcs. The both sides in a thunder­ he was criticized for math of battle, and of President Lincoln, learn­ main portions of both ing duel for supremacy, not immediately pursu­ the hardships on the ing that Lee's army was armies were nearly 1.6 but did little to soften ing Lee's army, had civilian population? moving again, ordered kilometers (1 mile) up the Union center on carried the day in the the Army of the Potomac apart on two parallel Cemetery Ridge. Then, battle that has become to follow. Lee was pre­ ridges, Union forces on in a desperate attempt known as the High Wa­ vented from knowing Cemetery Ridge facing to recapture the partial ter Mark of the Confed­ 3 precisely the enemy's Confederate forces on success of the preced­ eracy. whereabouts because Seminary Ridge to the ing day, some 12,000 his cavalry had gone on west. Lee ordered an Confederate troops a brash raid around the attack against both Union Army and was Union flanks. James unable to rejoin the Longstreet's thrust on others. Advance col­ umns of Confederate troops were already at Carlisle and York when Lee finally learned that Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's entire force was close at hand. By chance the two armies touched at Gettysburg when a Confederate brigade sent there for "... that from these honored dead we take supplies observed a increased devotion to that cause for which forward column of they gave the last full measure of devotion." Meade's cavalry. Abraham Lincoln The next day, July 1, the great battle opened with Confederate troops attacking Union troops Gettysburg National Cemetery on McPherson Ridge Both armies marched away from Gettysburg in the west of town. Outnum­ rain, July 5, 1863. They left behind a record of more than 51,000 killed, wounded and missing, a community in shambles—and a legend. Even be­ 6GP0 1977-240-951/18 Reprint 1977 fore the dead could be interred in temporary graves, sightseers came to Gettysburg to view the carnage of the war's most devastating battle. The hasty and inadequate burial of the dead partic­ ularly distressed Pennsylvania's governor, Andrew Curtin, and a local attorney, David Wills. Curtin authorized Wills to purchase battlefield land for a cemetery, and within 6 weeks reinterment had Help Us Protect This Park begun on 6.9 hectares (17 acres) that became All historic sites, struc­ Gettysburg National Cemetery. tures, and exhibits, as well as all plants, ani­ Because of the epic proportions of the battle, it mals, and minerals, was thought fitting to consecrate the grounds with must be left undisturbed appropriate ceremonies. The choice of Edward so that others may en­ Everett as principal speaker signaled an event of joy them. Relic collect­ great dignity, for Everett was the outstanding orator ing or possession of of his day. He was invited well in advance of the metal detectors within For Your Safety date, November 19, to allow him time to prepare the park is not allowed. Please use extreme his address. President Abraham Lincoln and a caution driving the park number of other national figures were invited, too. Pets must be kept on a roads, especially where And when those in charge of the ceremonies leash at all times and they intersect with heav­ learned that Lincoln indeed would attend, Wills not left unattended. ily traveled highways. sent him a personal invitation, requesting that he They may not be taken Bicycle riders are here dedicate the cemetery with "a few appropriate into the Visitor Center or in ever-growing num­ Union artillery rushing into action during remarks." Cyclorama Center or bers; please keep your Pickett's charge. An engraving by Civil into crowded areas. War artist Edwin Forbes. speed down and be Administration Throngs filled the town the day before the cere­ cautious at blind curves Gettysburg National Military Park, established in The Aftermath: mony, and the next morning thousands more Park rangers are here to and on one-way roads. 1895, is administered by the National Park Serv­ A "MELANCHOLY PROCESSION" poured in. The procession to the cemetery com­ assist you and to en­ Bikers should keep to ice, U.S. Department of the Interior. A superin­ The climax of the Battle menced at noon to the playing of funeral music. A force regulations. the right with the flow tendent, whose address is Gettysburg, PA 17325, of Gettysburg came on prayer was offered. Then Everett arose, surveyed of auto traffic. Remem­ is in immediate charge. the third day when Maj. "/ soon began to meet middle of the day. fire; the shells were for a moment the distant South Mountain range, ber—motorists and bik­ Gen. George E. Pickett many wounded men re­ Some were walking continually bringing and for nearly 2 hours delivered a fine classical ers have equal rights. As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the and his division of 4,800 turning from the front; alone on crutches com­ down great limbs of oration. President Lincoln next arose and spoke in Department of the Interior has responsibility for 2 minutes the 10 sentences that stand as one of men spearheaded a many of them asked in posed of two rifles, trees, and carrying You can make your visit most of our nationally owned public lands and nat­ the Nation's noblest utterances. massed infantry charge piteous tones the way others were supported further destruction safe and enjoyable by ural resources. This includes fostering the wisest of some 12,000 men to a doctor or an am­ by men less badly amongst this melan­ parking in designated use of our land and water resources, protecting If Everett by a learned address, rich in historical against the Union lines on bulance. The further I wounded than them­ choly procession. I saw areas or on the avenues our fish and wildlife, preserving the environmental and classical allusions, lent stateliness to the occa­ Cemetery Ridge. Arthur got, the greater became selves, and others were all this in much less but not on the grass; by and cultural values of our national parks and his­ sion, Lincoln by his few remarks came closer to J. Fremantle, a British the number of the carried on stretchers by time than it takes to obeying the posted torical places, and providing for the enjoyment of the central idea. He asked his audience to re­ Army colonel who was wounded. At last I came the ambulance corps; write it, and although speed limits; and by not life through outdoor recreation. The Department member not the soldiers' deeds in combat, but to observing southern mili­ to a perfect stream of but in no case did I see astonished to meet climbing on cannon and assesses our energy and mineral resources and recall the reasons for which they fought. The words tary operations, moved them flocking through a sound man helping such vast numbers of monuments. Running works to assure that their development is in the of the Gettysburg Address captured the national forward to watch the the woods in numbers the wounded to the wounded, I had not and climbing youngsters best interests of all our people.
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