Our visit to Gettysburg
The fighting, they tell me, began here, on the morning of July 1, 1863 along McPherson Ridge. This is an extraordinary picturesque and bucolic area and it remains difficult for me to fully imagine the carnage that occurred here.
On the second day of the battle, Confederate forces were lined up on Seminary Ridge, facing the Union Army nearly one mile away on Cemetery Ridge.
This is a view of the Rose Farm, where a good deal of fighting took place that day.
Union forces captured and held this hill, known as Little Round Top.
From below, looking up at Little Round Top, were the Confederate Troops, holed up in Devil's Den. Union sharpshooters picked them off practically at will. The death-toll here was very high.
Later, when the Union forces stormed Devil's Den, the fighting was hand-to-hand. These rocks became slick with blood as exhausted soldiers massacred each other.
This barn was hit by a cannon ball . . .
. . . The owner never patched up the hole.