GETTYSBURG, PA

[lildebcc]

Well, seeing that I made issue about starting this type of a room, guess I should post something.

Here is a picture that I took at Gettysburg two weeks ago. This is in the Slaughter Pen; you can see part of Devil's Den in the background. Since our visit two weeks earlier, they had started clear cutting in the area and this unusual rock was found.

The reason for the clear cutting is to make the battlefields look more like they did during the three day battle.



Yeah, does look like a face in the rock. It was not carved or sculpted out in some way, it is just there. It is eerie considering the place where it is.

And no, it is not the face of some fallen soldier looking up from his grave; although that would make for a spooky story.

>^o.o^<

[lildebcc]

Gettysburg, PA - same day as the other picture.

This was taken looking down onto Triangle Field from the back of Devil's Den.

What is it that you see in the picture?? Is it the ghost of a solitary Confederate Soldier marching into battle?

Or is it a Civil War reenactor representing a Unit from South Carolina, who so graciously let me take pictures of him as he descended the hill?

>^o.o^<

[karlsaves]

I always wanted to go to one of the big reenactments i think they would be fun

[lildebcc]

The reenactors are fantastic. Talking with them is like taking a step into a history book. The reenactments are a very serious thing, truly amazing. >^o.o^<

[cj]

HI ;D

Great pics the face in the rock actually looked like a seagull too me.

Clara

[aneaglesangel]

Awesome pics lildeb! Yeah, I've always wanted to see one of those re-enactments too!

[lildebcc]

I got to speak with some of the reenactors, and they are a wealth of information about the battles that took place in Gettysburg. I have learned more about this part of my country's history in the three times I have been to Gettysburg than I learned in the classroom. For that reason alone, it was well worth the trip each time.

;DThe ghost hunting part of each trip was an added bonus.

>^o.o^<

[aneaglesangel]

It's funny, I never liked history in school!! They never spoke about the things we were interested in, just the boring names and dates stuff. I admit, it was much more interesting in college, but still wasn't what I wanted to learn, LOL!! Now I find myself immersed in history and funny, but now that I'm researching stuff that I'm interested in, it's sooo much more fun!!

Have you ever seen any of the re-enactments around here? I heard they do one in Plymouth?? I believe theirs is a revolutionary re-enactment?? I'm not sure, was a long time ago that I heard about it, but at least it's a bit closer and more plausible for me at this time! One of these days, I'll have the added pleasure of not having to feed the beastie anymore, and then I'll be able to travel much more!!

[lildebcc]

Plymouth Plantation and the Mayflower are full of reenactors all the time. Especially interesting, at the Plantation, when Thanksgiving rolls around. And you can interact with these people. If you mention something from the modern world, they have no idea what you are talking about.

Got to remember too, kids do not want to learn about history, it seems unimportant at the time. They (as well as some adults) want to live in the here and now all the time. But history is so very important, and most of us do not learn that until we are older and can appreciate it.

I have noticed, at Gettysburg, that the kids that show up from school or scout groups really do not care about the history. They just want to run around and climb the rocks at Devil's Den, and run through the battlefields because they are wide open fields. They do not have a clue what really happened there.

Come on now, ;)we all remember field trips with school. Did not matter where we went, we were not behind our desks for an entire day and that is what mattered most.

>^o.o^<

[aneaglesangel]

Ya know, I should bring my son out to Plimouth Plantation!! I haven't been there since I was a kid! I think my son likes history most when it's something he's interested in! Ya know, boys, if they can learn about things getting blown up and such, then it interests them, LOL!!

Maybe my son and I should head out there this fall, I know I've never been around Thanksgiving! I bet it's freezing though!!!

[lildebcc]

Such as it is in New England in the late Autumn early Winter. It is an interesting visit, do not let the weather stop you. If anything, the seasonable weather adds to the experience.

Last time we were in Gettysburg, it was hot and humid. When speaking to the reenactors, they said that it was hotter during the battles, because it was in the beginning of July. So, the weather we were experiencing walking around was similar to what the soldiers during the battle experienced. And the reenactors are dressed in authentic uniforms (made of wool) and everything that went along with them. And standing there, in the blazing heat talking with these reenactors, helped me to feel and visualize what it must have been like; it added to the experience.

>^o.o^<

[aneaglesangel]

Wow! All those slaves picking cotton, and we didn't have cotton uniforms?? Man, it must have stunk big time to have to fight in those uniforms!! I can't imagine how itchy and scratchy they felt once they got to sweating!!! I've never really thought about what the uniforms were made of, but now that I know, I really feel for those poor guys, even more than I already did!!!

Hmm, I think you've got a point there! To be in the same conditions as the people through history makes it sink right in. I think I've got a head start on you guys though, horse work in the winter is a rough time. Frozen water barrels, snow all over, yep, spent some pretty cold days out on the farms. My son will probably love going, he's always hot, I have a hard time getting him to put a coat on in the winter, LOL!! But it would be interesting to be at Plimouth Plantation, just the way it was when the Pilgrims were really there!!

[lildebcc]

The heavy wool uniforms would protect them from wounds a lot better than thin cotton uniforms would. I am sure that they dressed more for safety than for comfort.

But from what I have been told, by those that have been in these wool uniforms on hot days, the layering of the wool clothing actually did keep them cool to some degree.

Yeah, with places like this, it is history first - ghosts second! Makes sense to think of it that way. The more you learn about the history of an area, the better you may be able to understand the spirits that inhabit the area.

>^o.o^<

[cj]

HI all

Plymouth plantation is great been there on vacation, another great place for historical reenactments is Salem Ma. I took my honeymoon there in July they have people all over town doing period reenactments, and they walk down the middle of main rd. announcing while ringing a bell the witch trials date for the public to attend. They did a great job with it, the actors all over town were great..

I guess the hole month of October they have allot more happening, I'll be taking a future trip there I need to go back to the Raven anyway (a wiccan gift shop) It's great!

Clara

[lildebcc]

Moved the Salem, MA topic to a new thread.

>^o.o^<