The walk started at the Longstreet Memorial and took us past the Louisiana State Memorial, which features a fallen artilleryman beneath a female figure known as the Spirit of the Confederacy. She holds a flaming cannonball. 
We continued through woods and fields past dozens upon dozens of memorials to states, brigades, battalions, corps, legions, units, battles, and individuals. A memorial to the Irish Brigade featured a Celtic cross and an Irish wolfhound.
The Peach Orchard
On the morning of Day 2, Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Sickles was assigned a position 3/4-mile from the Peach Orchard, near Little Round Top. That afternoon - without orders - he advanced his 10,000-man Union Third Corps, part of it taking position on the high ground around farmer John Sherfy's peach orchard. Sickles believed it was a stronger position.
At the Peach Orchard, Sickles' mile-long line formed a sharp angle, or salient. About 5:30 p.m., following a hot artillery duel, Confederate infantry led by Brig. Gen. J.B. Kershaw attacked the Peach Orchard by way of the Rose Farm, but were shredded by rapid rounds of Union canister.
About 6:00 p.m., Confederate infantry of Barksdale's and Wofford's Brigades struck the Peach Orchard from the west. With a tremendous Rebel yell, the Confederate forces drove the Union defenders back toward Cemetery Ridge. Sickles' salient was crushed.
At the Peach Orchard, Sickles' mile-long line formed a sharp angle, or salient. About 5:30 p.m., following a hot artillery duel, Confederate infantry led by Brig. Gen. J.B. Kershaw attacked the Peach Orchard by way of the Rose Farm, but were shredded by rapid rounds of Union canister.
About 6:00 p.m., Confederate infantry of Barksdale's and Wofford's Brigades struck the Peach Orchard from the west. With a tremendous Rebel yell, the Confederate forces drove the Union defenders back toward Cemetery Ridge. Sickles' salient was crushed.
The Wheatfield
In this 25-acre field of wheat, 19 brigades, totalling more than 20,000 men, engaged in a series of attacks and counterattacks over a period of several hours resulting in nearly 7,000 casualties.
The Lincoln Highway and Beyond
We left Gettysburg and drove west on the Lincoln Highway for about 90 minutes. The scenery was beautiful as we climbed up to 2200 feet to cross a series of mountain passes. The fall colors were slightly past their peak, but still worthy of admiration. We passed Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium so quickly that we couldn't stop and get a photo. Sorry.
Eventually we reached the Pennsylvania Turnpike and continued westward for anothe 90 minutes. After passing to the north of Pittsburgh we entered Ohio and continued our westerly course toward Wooster. During the last 30 minutes or saw we saw some classic Wayne County sights: a real pumpkin patch with hundreds of pumpkins still growing, a corn maze, and two Amish women exiting a mall parking lot in a horse-drawn buggy.
We had a delightful dinner with Scott and Lauren at the Broken Rocks Cafe.
Okay... I really HAVE to do these walks!!! I've only recently become a Civil War buff. It's surprising that I'm only coming around to this interest now, because my father was a huge, HUGE Civil War aficionado, a passion he passed on to my sister.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the motivation!