[Java4Jay]

There were about 51,000 casualties — historical estimates put the total dead around 7,500 — at Gettysburg, considered a major turning point of the war after Northern forces turned away a Confederate advance.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

The reenactors are going to be hard put to find enough black powder this year.

[prisoner6]

an invitation has been extended to President Barack Obama to attend November's event.

Well. There goes the neighborhood.

Besides, didn't the sequester put an end to all this sort of thing?

[Pelham]

My great-grandfather’s eldest brother was one of the casualties at Gettysburg. He was killed on the second day of the battle in Barksdale’s charge through the Peach Orchard and was buried in the field. He was a private in the 13th Mississippi and had fought at First Manassas, Second Fredericksburg, and a few other battles I can’t recall at the moment. I have a picture of him in his uniform, he was in his early 20s.

[timestax]

[75thOVI]

In ‘98 I participated in the 135th anniversary reenactment. At that time, with over 15,000 re-enactors, it was billed as the biggest meeting of the Blue and Gray since the war itself. I went with our local company of the 14th Brooklyn regiment. (In the movie Gettysburg you can see them passing behind Gen Reynolds as he lay dying.) They were able to stage Pickett’s charge full scale. That was a sight not soon forgotten. The sound of musketry was like storm waves on a beach. There were 135 artillery pieces, which I believe was also something of a record.

[nomad]

Oh, you lucky..., are you going? Those guys are great! Reenactors, that is. I`ve been to a few here in Ohio! What an awesome tribute to American history and valor, pity so many now a days don`t give a crap about freedom anymore, certainly not like that.

[sauropod]

.

[0.E.O]

Strategically the fall of Vicksburg the day after Gettysburg was probably the more important victory since it split the Confederacy in half. But all in all it wasn’t a banner week for the Confederate war effort.

[napscoordinator]

God Bless Abe Lincoln, the Northern Soldiers and the United States of America!!!!

[left that other site]

I must be getting old.

I remember the LAST Veteran of the Civil War passed away during my childhood.

[Uncle Chip]

We’re getting ready for the 150th anniversary of everything Civil War.

[Rebelbase]

A couple of years ago I read an article that estimated the number of persons attending the 150th anniversary of the battle to be as high as 2 million over 3 days.

I wonder if there will be near that visitation?

[Reo]

My great-grandfather was on Culp’s Hill as an aide to BG Alpheus Williams who commanded the 12th Corps (or 1st Div, 12th Corps, depending on one’s interpretation of Slocum’s role as “Wing Commander” following Reynold’s death.) Several years ago I spent a day retracing his steps as they approached the battlefield and took the high ground on the north end of the fishhook. What a moving experience. Thank you, great-grandfather, and all who were with you....

[KC_Lion]

The Brandos Said it Best!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMb9Uoi0d2M

[Colonel_Flagg]

Was just there in March. What a place. You can’t tour the battlefield without being overawed by the sense of history and the sense of sacrifice on both sides.

[mcmuffin]

BTTT

[brityank]

"War of Northern Aggression" Ping!     ;^)

[Impy]

I wonder what the Union/Confederate breakdown is on this thread.