Gettysburg, PA (USA)

I read about a re-enactment of the Battle of Gettysburg (sponsored by the Blue Gray Alliance, celebrating the 150th Anniversary) this weekend, so I got up early and headed north. I used I-495, I-270 and US-15 to get to Pennsylvania and arrived at the farm where the event would be held (about two miles south of the National Battlefield Park) at around 0900. It was no trouble to find free parking, but the place was extremely regimented (no walking or parking along roads, etc.). In hindsight, I wonder whether I should have paid the $10 to park before I got there - then I could have walked to a better view point... I got on a school bus and it took me to the area where there were vendors and a few people dressed in period clothing. I skipped that and went down the hill through a maze of tightly controlled pathways until I got to the entrance to the viewing area. The price was good ($10) and there were lots of places to stand to see the first re-enactment of the day - a cavalry battle. We were very close to the action and few people were there yet, so it was a great experience. The group was about an hour ahead of schedule, so I was hopeful that this would continue (severe weather seemed imminent). However, there was a 2.5 hour gap in the action. It got progressively hotter and I began to wonder how the thousands of re-enactors in their blue and gray uniforms could possibly stand the conditions (that is one of the great things about being at an event like this). I took a break and used a restroom (back in the vendor area). By the time I got back to a good viewing spot, it was clear that I would not benefit from my early arrival - folks crowded closer and closer (in every available gap) until it was standing room only. I felt bad for the older people who had arrived with their chairs and placed them close to the edge of the battlefield, only to have a younger person (carrying an iPad) crowd into the gap and obscure the view. By the time the re-enactment of Pickett's Charge began, I found myself lucky to be able to see anything at all. They did more than half an hour of artillery barrage, which was close to our position (amazing smoke rings!). After that, thousands of gray coated soldiers began their march across the field - probably more than half a mile of flat ground (barred by a fence). The rebel yells, continuing cannon fire and waving battle flags made for an amazing spectacle (I thought I even heard the closest group to us shouting something like "Long Live the Great State of Mississippi!"). As they crested the small hill in the middle of the field, they had to find a way around the fence - and then they formed lines below the Union position (a stone wall on a hill). By that point, the sound of gunfire was like the sound popcorn makes in the microwave, punctuated by louder explosions and occasional shouts. The wave up the hill of charging soldiers was amazing to watch - but we were pretty far from this action (that was disappointing). Since I couldn't see anything, I walked back to get on the bus - on the way back to my car, I got a better view of the battle, which had turned into a retreat by then. Drove out before the rest of the crowd made it really difficult. All in all, I am glad I went to the event. On the way home, I used the same route (I actually saw a chicken on the side of the road!). I stopped near Frederick to see the Monocacy National Battlefield. It was south of the city and was a little difficult to find (close to I-270 but no exits nearby). I had never heard of the battle before but it was amazing to learn that a huge army of Confederates were on their way to attack undefended Washington and were delayed by a tiny force of Union soldiers at Monocacy - just long enough to allow Grant to send forces to defend the Capital. It was well worth the stop - if only just to learn more about the importance of the Civil War in the formation of our country. Headed home after that, just as rain began to fall...