My World Tuesday: Haunted, Gettysburg

Here's part of a mural in the museum at the Gettysburg Visitors Center. I stopped twice in this small town on the southern border of Pennsylvania when I made my most recent trip to North Carolina. The spirits of all who fought there pervade the area. There is a tranquility, a calm, that embraces me every time I am there. This pilgrimage of sorts has me looking closely, carefully, at all that makes my country. We have an obligation to love it well.

IMG 0362

The photo below captures a montage of images of Union soldiers who served at Gettysburg. Beside it was a montage of photos of Confederate soldiers.

IMG 0351

This is the Gettysburg train station, from which point President Lincoln walked without bodyguards to David Wills's home when the battlefield was consecrated as a resting place in November, 1863.

IMG 0614


Wills's home is the brick building in the left of the next photo. Wills oversaw the creation of the National Cemetery in Gettysburg. Will's hosted the President, who stayed in the room in the bottom photo. There, he put the final touches on the Gettysburg Address.

IMG 0622


IMG 0369

I bought a copy of At Gettysburg, or What a Girl Saw and Heart of the Battle, a True Narrative, by Mrs. Tillie (Pierce) Alleman when I was there. It's an extraordinary book that leaves out none of the grit of that three-day battle at the same time it is full of heart and a refreshing, clearly stated opinion on the matter. She concludes: "What in my girlhood was a teeming and attractive landscape spread out by the Omnipotent Hand to teach us of His goodness has by His own direction become a field for profound thought, where, through coming ages, will be taught lessons of loyalty, patriotism, and sacrifice."

Post a Comment

43 Comments

  1. These places always leave me with mixed emotions. I am always respectful and thankful.

    ReplyDelete
  2. How many of those books could be written today in other places around the world? Nearly a century and a half has passed since armies clashed on battlefields within our borders, and in that time I think perhaps we sometimes take that peace for granted. But in places all around the world, there are Tillie Alleman's seeing the same horrors today.

    I should get back to Gettysburg. I haven't been since I was maybe 10 or 11. I don't imagine much has changed since then though. The dead are pretty easy to please.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would love to see it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've been to Gettysburg many decades ago and it greatly impressed me. Enjoyed your photos.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Have you read Connie Willis' Lincoln's Dreams? I highly recommend it, its fiction and extremely good/engaging

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great adventure! I have never been, but I should go!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sandy, you've inspired me to visit this emotionally charged, significant place.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, that is beautiful! I would love to visit Gettysburg.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Fantastic post for the day, Sandy!! I have always wanted to visit there, so I thank you for the tour. I get the haunted feeling you speak of just looking at the pictures. Enjoy your week!

    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  10. Very lovely shots of the place. The wordings in the mural and montage of image of soldiers is very nice.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks ~ when I was a child my dad would always take us on family trips to everywhere Lincoln was! Great memories of the trips.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Excellent post and illustrations Sandy. I haven't been there since I was a child.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Sandy,
    Very interesting post on a subject I know little of. I was struck by your final quote and similarities between the childhood of this, then young girl and a woman I met in Normandy two years ago. She runs the Café Gondrée besides the Pegasus Bridge that was liberated by Allied Forces in 1945, who then went on to liberate the rest of France. In 1945 her parents owned the café and were instrumental in the Resistance. She didn't go on to write a book about it, but the café is now a museum to the events, and pretty much the same could be said there. The pity is that events throughout the world in recent decades have shown that lessons have not been learned from the terrible events of these past times.
    Janice.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous3:46 PM

    I was there many years ago and must say Gettysburg truly is a place that evokes strong emotions.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wonderful post and photos on Gettysburg, Sandy.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What interesting photos.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous4:35 PM

    another wonderful post sandy. have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Such history.
    If only those photos could speak!

    Nuts in May

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm going to look for that book : she seems to have a wonderful vew and insight.

    We drove through Gettysburg last summer but didn't have a chance to really look around, visit the shops and museums, etc. I want to do that someday.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks for sharing Gettysburg with me through your eyes! I am enjoying your travels.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous6:08 PM

    It's always amazing at places like these to imagine the rich and colorful history that happened there, the great men that walked the same paths, and the buildings that still stand. Great post.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lucky to have got to see these places through your post. Interesting read about the history of the place.

    ReplyDelete
  23. fab post. i went through there last summer and plan on another trip this year when i can visit at length with hubby.
    gettysburg is special in the history of our great nation and more should visit.
    have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sandy: So much history at this famous battlefield. If this had not happened this way where would our country be today.

    ReplyDelete
  25. an excellent post -so fascinating!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Someday I hope to go there.

    ReplyDelete
  27. You did a great job of bringing this historic place to us. I love how you used sepia for some of the shots. Just perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  28. This significant and important places always make me very sad and thoughtful.
    Really a great post, Sandy.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks for sharing Sandy, now I wish I could read the book myself and yes,
    you beautiful pics that came with your post!

    It's totally, absolutely awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a powerful effect that place must have on all who visit, such an important piece of our history.

    PS The no-mess aspect of the coffee machine was definitely what convinced me. I ground my own for years, what a hassle. Now I just pop in a pod, steam the milk and I'm good to go :).

    ReplyDelete
  31. So much history - hopefully we can learn from it too.

    ReplyDelete
  32. A great commemmoration.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous8:26 AM

    icenIdodore, clomid online BymnDoodo, [url=http://www.webjam.com/clomidonline]buy clomid[/url] Knorryvor
    23

    ReplyDelete
  34. I wish I could visit Gettysburg some day. What a great monument to the men who died there.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I really really enjoyed reading your historical comments and sharing your photos and thoughts. Thanks so much.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I've always wanted to go there-and your post makes me want to go more. Love the photos.

    ReplyDelete
  37. It's nice to visit that place, must be full of stories.

    ReplyDelete
  38. How interesting to see Gettsyburg in winter with snow on the ground. I've only been there in the summertime. That montage is amazing. Thanks for sharing ;-)
    Hugs and blessings,

    ReplyDelete
  39. Of course I was in Gettysburg when I was too young to appreciate and revel in it's history. I would like to go back again some day-your pics are fascintating!

    ReplyDelete
  40. those photos of the men were fascinating; very ghostly; i was thinking the other day how much more history is on your coast then on ours.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for being here.