Like any other country, the United States also has a history, albeit a relatively short one. Still, there are always decisive moments. One of these happened over three days in July 1863 around a little town called Gettysburg. This was during the American civil war between the advancing Confederates and the defending Union forces. It was one of the most northern point reached by the Confederates.
The visit of Gettysburg starts with a presentation via a 360 degrees cyclorama painting (with sound) of the battle. Quite impressive, especially since it dates back more than a century. Then, it is time to drive through the battlefield. There are towers to have a view over the fields and the army's positions. Some places have terrible names, like Cemetery Ridge or Devil's Den. At each station, it is explained what the happened there and which side was holding the position. It gives an idea of the changes in fortune over the three days. Still I do not know how the Union managed to emerge as the winner. Was it the bravery of their troops? Was it the tactics and strategy? Was it the better knowledge of the area? Was it the better starting positions? It seemed rather that it was more the failure by the Confederates to win that settled the argument. Sometimes, losing a battle is losing the war...
I must say that driving through the fields and the forests, it gives a sense of the (small) space where the battle was fought. Every year, there is a reenactment of the battle. It must be quite impressive, but also very patriotic.
In the end, the number of casualties was very high on both sides. Around 8000 died and a far larger number was injured, captured or counted as missing. The number of tombstones dotting the drive through Gettysburg is testimony to this. The largest one is the one from Pennsylvania.
The visit of Gettysburg starts with a presentation via a 360 degrees cyclorama painting (with sound) of the battle. Quite impressive, especially since it dates back more than a century. Then, it is time to drive through the battlefield. There are towers to have a view over the fields and the army's positions. Some places have terrible names, like Cemetery Ridge or Devil's Den. At each station, it is explained what the happened there and which side was holding the position. It gives an idea of the changes in fortune over the three days. Still I do not know how the Union managed to emerge as the winner. Was it the bravery of their troops? Was it the tactics and strategy? Was it the better knowledge of the area? Was it the better starting positions? It seemed rather that it was more the failure by the Confederates to win that settled the argument. Sometimes, losing a battle is losing the war...
I must say that driving through the fields and the forests, it gives a sense of the (small) space where the battle was fought. Every year, there is a reenactment of the battle. It must be quite impressive, but also very patriotic. 
In the end, the number of casualties was very high on both sides. Around 8000 died and a far larger number was injured, captured or counted as missing. The number of tombstones dotting the drive through Gettysburg is testimony to this. The largest one is the one from Pennsylvania. 
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