Bill_de Loc: US

I am going there in a couple of weeks with niece, nephew, and three teenagers. We have a horse drawn carriage ride one afternoon. Any suggestions besides that?

I'm planning on carrying a Zfc and one (maybe 2) lenses. This is more a get together than a photo-op, but I wouldn't want to miss anything that should be at the top of the list.

Thanks for looking in!


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Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Walk Pickett's Charge after dark, if they still let you. Take a friend it can be a really scary place.

therwol Loc: USA

The way I understood it, Pickett protested against that "charge", which was more of a suicide walk. He followed orders and never forgave Lee for what happened to his men. That movie where Martin Sheen plays Lee is pretty damn good and said to be accurate.

I've never been there. It sounds like you have some very good equipment at your disposal for taking pictures.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Bobby Lee said, several times, he would never order his soldiers to do something like that. Can you imagine the courage it takes to march a mile into concentrated cannon and rifle fire. When I was there many years ago, in the Visitor Center, they displayed two mini-balls that struck each other in flight and fused together.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

I have walked the battlefield for hours at a time; Cemetery Ridge, Little Round Top, Culp’s Hill, Devil’s Den, the Peach Orchard, the Wheat Field, etc. But that may only be interesting for those who know the history well.

The one book I recommend reading before visiting is The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara.

There were 50,000 casualties there. I try to impress on young people that it is a sacred and solemn location, not a theme park.

Dean37 Loc: Fresno, CA

Went there many years ago, driving from Cleveland Ohio, because I was stuck there over a weekend. At Gettysburg, I rode on a bus tour that stopped and allowed the tourists to wander about is several locations. I had no cameras (this was the early era of beepers) with me. Just visual memories.

It was raining a bit so I was as careful as I could be driving. When I pulled away from the curb after the bus tour, the car spun around on the street, a 360° spin, WOW, I had barely touched the gas pedal. It was like the tires had no tread.

So I headed back to Cleveland, not wanting to be another Gettysburg casualty. I was on a two lane road that had a 45 speed limit if I remember correctly and I drove between 35 and 40. As I reached a mountain pass summit it turned right maybe 10 degrees, and the car spun again, the road was wet.

There was almost no traffic so I drove at 30 mph back to the Penn Turnpike.

As to my driving, I have driven all over the US and most of Europe and England, never have I driven a car that would unexpectedly spin, no matter the weather conditions. I have a USAC (Indy and Formula race cars) Racing License and seldom exceed a speed limit, so to this day I am dumfounded as to what was wrong with that car.

Scary!

therwol Loc: USA

The rifles used in the Civil War seem primitive now, but the fact is that they were accurate and deadly at long range, and this accounts for the fact that there were tens of thousands of casualties in many battles. Tactics hadn't kept up with technology. Having an army walk across an open field against entrenched Union positions was suicide, plain and simple. Pickett's charge has been called the greatest blunder in military history.

Dean37 Loc: Fresno, CA

There were several incidents that could have made the battle go the opposite way. A cavalry patrol of Southern soldiers, that had gone behind the Northern command post where the North controlled their part of the battle and were within a little over a hundred feet of the command post decided that if they attacked, they would have been drawn in to a trap, so they carefully withdrew. The reality was had they attacked the command post they likely would have turned the battle into a rout in favor of General Lee.

So here we are!

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Thank God.

JRD3 Loc: Richmond, VA

Gettysburg is one of the most important historical sites in America. Others have outlined some of the places to shoot. Go to the visitor’s center, see the Cyclorama and watch the film to get a good idea of the battle and the hallowed ground you will be seeing and walking.

Peterfiore Loc: Where DR goes south

I too remember the fused Mini-ball...when I was a very young.

Bill_de Loc: US

Thanks everyone for commenting.

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bbrown5154 Loc: Baltimore, MD

Since its that time of the year a Ghost tour would be fun.
Some of the outside venues ( I know one was Devil's Den) was closed off to the public this summer so they could stabilize some erosion and ground issues.
Should be a good time to go. They are saying its will be a good "fall leaf" season in PA.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

I used to live there. 2 years ago we bought a house there overlooking Picketts charge.
There is a publication called “Destination Gettysburg” see if you can google it. If not, PM me your email and I will forward it to you. One of the best ways to see the battlefield is the tour bus.
I suspect you will have a car. Find the “scenic valley tour” route very scenic in October. Make sure to go see Sacks covered bridge.
There is a Visitors center. Make a stop there. There are lots of tourist trap stores.
I still have family there so we will be there end of October.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

I googled Destination Gettysburg. It comes up.