Personal Narrative Essay: How I Found Myself In Gettysburg

Today, the Battle of Gettysburg is considered one of the most important battles of the American Civil War. However, with 23,049 casualties on the Union side and 28,063 on the Confederate side, it can also be considered one of the bloodiest (Civil War Trust). Such heavy losses naturally rattled the entire nation and Americans on both sides began to question the war and what it stood for. As Americans gathered together at the consecration ceremony of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, the much acclaimed orator and politician Edward Everett delivered what was meant to be the Gettysburg Address. Yet, today, it is not Edward Everett’s Gettysburg Address that the world remembers, but Abraham Lincoln’s, who was invited to the ceremony almost as an afterthought. Lincoln’s 272 words helped remake America by giving hope to its citizens at a time when they were at their lowest.

That was the reason for the visit to Gettysburg. It was a trip with Edward Everett to dedicate a newly created cemetery that was must needed in the country at the time due to all the fallen during the war. President Lincoln followed Mr. Everett’s two hour speech with his two minute speech which was decided in nature to sum up what Mr. Everett just talked about. A key thing to remember in the Gettysburg address was the importance not to forget about the fallen young Soldier’s on the battle field. This is mentioned in the in the second sentence of the second paragraph “ We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live”. What the President is talking about is the importance of not just remembering the fallen but also reminding the audience of why they died. They died believing in a cause; weather it’s about uniting the country or making two separate

On July 1-3, 1863 in the town of Gettysburg Pennsylvania, Confederate and Union armies compile 50,000 a causalities in what would be the deadliest battle of the Civil War and American History. Major General George Meade of the Union Army of the Potomac and General Robert E. Lee of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia turning point of the Civil War with a decisive victory of the Union. Costly missed opportunities and lack of intelligence lead to failure by the Confederate army and Union Army’s resilience of defense on the high ground of the Hills of Gettysburg tell the story of the Battle.

In The Killer Angels, Michael Shaara fictionally illustrates the historical facts of the battle at Gettysburg. Shaara gives action and words to characters of another time, and then places these players on the stage of this great battle. Through the use of powerful biblical and non-biblical imagery and themes the epic nature of the battle at Gettysburg and its characters are enhanced. Such imagery and themes, combined with Shaara's fictionalization, help to contribute to why this single battle holds such monumental significance and influence upon the lives of Americans over a century removed from its occurrence.

Living in close proximity to Gettysburg, I have spent many weekends of my childhood hiking through the numerous acres of woods on Culp’s Hill, climbing the gigantic boulders in Devil’s Den, and tramping through the marshes of Plum Run. Enjoying the scenic beauty is just the beginning as to what Gettysburg has to offer. However, why is Gettysburg so important to us all as Americans? What made this small town so famous that tens of thousands of tourists from all over the globe come to walk through the many wheat fields in the surrounding countryside? While wandering those same fields that Union and Confederate soldiers fought on some one hundred and forty years ago, I asked myself why this place was so significant.

The Battle of Gettysburg is defined as the turning point in the Civil War and possibly the turning point of American history. After three days of battle in the heat of July, The union army came out victorious. This battle would ultimately lead the Union to win the war. Because of this battle, many Confederate soldiers were killed and the Confederate Army was dying down to its last units of men. Because of this battle, the Confederates didn’t dare to invade the North again and led to a decrease of incentive in the South. Because of this battle, Abraham Lincoln gives the famous Gettysburg Address to rally the Union troops and keep them motivated to keep fighting and win the war. The Battle of Gettysburg is a historic event that will be remembered

The Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle of the war. The union suffered 23,040 casualties, while the confederacy suffered 20,650-25000 casualties (Document B). This battle was so big, that American dedicated part of the battlefield as a memorial site, for those who died. Lincoln said in document D, “We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that the nation might live.” In document C it says that Robert E. Lee wrote letters to the president saying that his men were dying. All of these horrible events opened Americans eyes to how deadly war can

Today General Lee arrived on a train. Soon after he arrived we marched up north to Gettysburg. The march was painful, tiring, and very long. All of us were hungry and thristy too. But we knew we had to keep on moving. We started the march in Federicksburg, VA and stopped for the night in Bethesda,

Late in the afternoon of July 2, 1863, on a hillside in southern Pennsylvania, Union Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain made history, leading his 20th Maine Regiment in the most famous counterattack of the Civil War. This battle was one of the battles that changed the tide in the war for good. Before the battle, Colonel Chamberlain placed his men on a hill called Little Round Top. The fight for Little Round Top was an intense fight within the larger Battle of Gettysburg. The struggle to control a strategic hill on the battle’s second day became legendary because the bravery of the men from the 20th Main. Once the men were on the mountain they began building a small wall for them to hide behind unfortunately this did not give much protection.

In the book the killer angels they’re things that happen that changes America! The war in Gettysburg’s was the bloodiest war on America soil. Many men lost their life fighting for America! So till this day we Americans thank those brave soldiers for what they did! The battle of Gettysburg pretty much kicked of the Civil War.

This battle came to be known as the ever-famous Battle of Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg is considered the most important engagement of the American Civil War. Generals Robert E. Lee (Confederacy) and George G. Meade (Union) led their armies into a three-day battle, resulting in the casualties of over 50,000 Confederate and Union soldiers, more than a third of Lee’s army. When the dust settled, Meade and his army had come out on top. The Union army had won. Months later, in November 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his most famous to date, the Gettysburg Address, a speech dedicating the battlefield as a cemetery for those who gave their life for their country and those who inhabit it. This cemetery was named the Gettysburg National cemetery. In only 272 words, Lincoln transformed the Union cause into a struggle for equality and liberty

During the battle of Gettysburg, the nation lost so many soldiers’ lives. Over 50,000 lives was lost between both the Union and the Confederates. Lincoln stated, “we have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that the nation might live”. The nation as a whole will never forget all

he Shriver House was home to the Shriver Family during the Civil War. The house was right in the center of the Battle of Gettysburg, considering that it was near Big Round Top and Little Round top, where most of the fighting occurred. The Shiver family fled their home for three days with their young children, and when it was finally over, the area around their home was covered with bodies of both men and animals. One of the Shrivers neighbors, Pierce, said that he watch the fight from his window, and saw Confederates go into the Shrivers home, and shoot at people from their attic. The Shriver house was right in the middle of the fighting so by visiting it, you will be able to get a sense of what being alive during that time period felt like.

Thursday, November 19, 1863, I traveled to pay my respects for all of the great soldiers of the Union that had died on this field in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The reason I chose to go four-and-a-half months after the Union had the victory is because I heard that Edward Everett was going to speak. Even though I went to see Edward Everett speak I found President Lincoln’s Gettysburg address made much more of an impact on the people of the Union. Although Edward Everett’s two hour long speech was a great speech it no where near made as much of an impact as Lincoln’s 272 word speech.

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