PERFECT SYMMETRY

            There were two main engagements on day 2. The first one was titled “Polished Sabers Dazzling in the Sun”. It was the third biggest cavalry battle of the civil war. General Stuart of the confederacy facing General Gregg of the union. The reenactment was great. They had a bout 250 horses on the field. The battle consisted of charges and countercharges executed with strategic perfection.

            The second engagement was later that day, it was titled “Hold the Line”. There were more than 15,000 re-enactors on the field. It was big. The actual battle involved the III corps (about 10,000 men) led by General Sickles and a good portion of Longstreet’s corps. The Union III corps was rendered ineffective after this. They sustained heavy causalities - about 40% of their strength. The south would have won Gettysburg if they capitalized on this victory, and took little round top.

            Seeing the actual battlefield was the highlight of the visit. We started the tour from the south close to big round top. We went up a small hill around that area to investigate a monument that was on top. It was where the 20^th Maine made their famous stand to protect the union’s left flank. It was a well preserved site … there was a low wall (several rocks high) that made a shape of a hook. Standing and looking down I felt that I was there in the middle of it all … It was a well protected site … any attacking army would have had a very hard time taking this position. It must have been a blood bath.

            The next site that we saw was little round top where Gen. Sickles anchored his line on Day 2. The valley below is appropriately called Death Valley . Standing there made me realize the magnitude of the battle … and how vast the battleground was … it stretched from big round top all the way up to the town of Gettysburg .

            I think that’s it …