END OF THE CIVIL WAR

Took this picture at Pickett's Charge

Today (April 9th) marks the day when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered, effectively ending the American Civil War. This reminded me of a cold November visit I made to the Gettysburg battlefield. Here is my post from that day.

November 25, 2013 - Gettysburg was really cold today, but it was worth spending time walking the battlefields. On these more than 6,000 acres, there are 1,300 monuments and canons. Thanks to my history buff friend (Jeff) for an interesting day.

Dog's name was Sallie

SALLIE marched along with the regiment, right up to the battlefield. At Gettysburg, she stood guard over the dead and wounded. She managed to survive until late in the war, when she was killed by a bullet. Sallie’s name is among those on the monument to the 11th Pennsylvania at Gettysburg. Interesting that someone left a dog biscuit at her monument. 

"What's With All of the Vultures?"

VULTURES - We heard that vultures visit the battlefield every year, as they did right after the battle was over. Jeff tried to get more information from one of the locals about the vultures, but I'm not sure if he got an answer.

JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN said: "This is the great reward of service, to live, far out and on, in the life of others; this is the mystery of Christ, - to give life's best for such high sake that it shall be found again unto life eternal." Click HERE for a tribute to this special life. (6 min.)

LINCOLN'S GETTYSBURG ADDRESS "His words are some of the most memorable in American history, forever stamping our collective minds with “four score and seven years ago,” and “all men are created equal,” and of course a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”  Click HERE to view The Gettysburg Address (2 min.)