Gettysburg

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The final day of the trip was to Gettysburg, PA. Our first stop was to the farmhouse of the 
author of Gettysburg Gospel, Gabor Boritt. He was such an interesting person to listen to as we sat under the lush trees near his peaceful pond. Boritt immigrated to the United States from Hungary when he was sixteen and was told he couldn’t go to college because he didn’t know the language. Yet here he is today – a professor at Gettysburg College and an esteemed author. That really struck the teacher in me. I became a little verklempt as I thought about the power that teachers hold, and our ability to inspire (or destroy) dreams. He also spoke about the origins of his book. I have a huge to be read pile at home, but after meeting Boritt I would like to reread this one before going back to work in August.

Gettysburg is huge! Over the years I had read the footage/mileage but I guess I am too visual (and too unmathematical) for it to have really ever clicked for me. I was absolutely astounded at what an enormous area this three day battle encompassed. We took a driving tour which was very informative but even then I kept getting turned around and confused. I would have liked a bit more time in some of these areas. Also, I had read that Gettysburg was a town at the time of the battle. I was still surprised how the battle really intertwined itself among the buildings – not at all what I had pictured in my mind. Our tour guide stated that 7 million bullets were fired during the battle and that 10,000 died!!! Only one of these was a civilian – a woman cooking bread in her home. There are something like 1,300 memorials on the battlefield if that gives you any idea of the enormity of the area. The NPS is slowly acquiring land that would have been part of the battle, and cutting/replanting large areas so that the vegetation will appear as it did at the time of the battle.

It always surprising to visit an iconic site and see that your mind’s eye had the wrong impression. This destination ignited interest in me – it will be a pleasure to read up on the battle when I get home. 

 

Classroom Application: If I ever graduate from 4th grade to 5th I might get to teach the Civil War. Currently I don’t get to, but hope to share this information with my students anyway.

 

 

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