While we are in Gettysburg visiting the civil war battlefields, we are staying at Granite Hill Camping Resort. Our campsite is in a wooded section and has full hookups. But, it is difficult to walk around this site because it is so uneven and is covered with large rocks making it easy to turn an ankle. Oh well, we haven't spent much time at the campground anyway.
Having seen the battlefields the first few days we were here, we decided to visit the National Cemetery here in Gettysburg. This was also a key part of the battleground because it is on high ground and the Union used it as one of their artillery sites maned by 1st Massachusetts Battery. The canons are still here today in the same positions they were in 1863.
More importantly, this 17 acre cemetery is the final resting place for over 3500 Union soldiers who died in the battle here as well as 3307 post civil war burials. It is also the site of Abraham Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address.
Lincoln was invited to the National Cemetery dedication almost as an after thought. The main speaker was Edward Evert, a former governor, congressman, senator, and secretary of state. Lincoln was invited to "say a few words." Some 15,000 people gathered at this location on November 19, 1863 for the dedication of this cemetery. Following Evert's 2 hour speech, Lincoln gave his carefully crafted 275 words famous Gettysburg Address which summed up the reason for the war. These brave men gave their lives for the freedom of ALL men, and "that government of the people, for the people, by the people shall not perish from this earth". I left a lot out here, but, you get the point!
The Soldiers National Monument shown below is located near the spot of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, but it is not the exact spot. It is the center of the cemetery. The graves extend from the center in a semi circle, giving equal importance to all soldiers who died for their country.
Many soldiers would write their name and home state inside their coats so they could be identified and their families could be notified of their loved ones death. Others were identified by personal affects they carried with them, or by fellow soldiers who were with them when they died. Some were identified only by name, and not the state they came from, and many had no identification at all. Some 979 are listed as unknown.
Since all civil war soldiers buried here were grouped according to the state they came from, we were able to find six buried here from my home state of Illinois. However, most of the Illinois soldiers were fighting elsewhere with General Grant's army. There are no civil war soldiers buried here from Kitty's home state of Kentucky.
Well, we will be leaving here Thursday. But, we have a couple more things we plan to do while we are in this area. So, please stay tuned!
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