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Gettysburg I

David could not believe the size of the battle field.  I think he thought it would be like a city park or a farm field.  In fact, it is many square miles.  We toured for over three hours and only saw a fraction of it.  To stand where Lee stood on the day of Pickett's Charge and look across that open expanse at the clump of trees that today is known as "the angle", you have to wonder how any man could give the order to go.  Eleven thousand soldier went at his command.  It was pretty much a massacre.  They got close, close enough to lay their hands on the cannons that had been slaughtering them as they marched in formation across a mile of fields and fences.  But in the end the Union had too many men and had cover behind rock walls.  When what was left of the Confederate attackers stumbled back to their lines on Seminary Ridge, Lee told Pickett, "General, see to your division."  With more than a little scorn,  Pickett replied, "General Lee, I no longer have a division."  Picket never completely forgave Lee for that day.
     One day I am going to walk across that expanse.  I have been to Gettysburg a dozen times.  Every time I come here I say that, but it hasn't happened yet.  Doing so seems like such a lot of work.  I cannot imagine the gumption it took to do it under fire.

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