It was the greatest battle of the war, and a turning
point in the fortunes of the armies that fought it. From the first crack of a
trooper’s carbine in the gray dawn of July 1, 1863 to the weary popping of picket firing in the red glow of sunset two days later, the Battle of Gettysburg
was an American epic that has retained a firm grip on the public imagination
for more than 146 years. For Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia,
at that time the most successful army in the world, Gettysburg offered an
opportunity to deliver what might have been the knockout blow to its opponent.
Our September tour, led by America’s most popular Civil War tour team,
will follow Lee and his lieutenants throughout the three-day battle as it
unfolded.
On
Friday of our tour, we will concentrate on the first day’s battle action. We
will walk across the fields of Joseph R. Davis’s advance with his
Mississippians, across Willoughby Run to the battle’s inaugural infantry
fighting at the Railroad Cut. We will follow Edward O’Neal into action
at the McLean barn, and Alfred Iverson to his disaster nearby. On
McPherson’s Ridge we will walk into the thickets where James J. Archer’s
Brigade came to ruin, and visit the quarry where John M. Brockenbrough’s
Virginians fought. Then we will trek eastward from McPherson’s Ridge to
Seminary Ridge, where the Confederate high command contemplated its options. We
will follow the advance of John B. Gordon’s Georgians through the Blocher
yard and up Blocher’s Knoll. To finish the first day, we will stand in the Culp
House yard and contemplate Richard S. Ewell’s decision to forego an
attack on Cemetery Hill.
Over
the next day and a half, we will cover the second day’s action all across the
broad Confederate front, and the key actions of the third day. We will drive
the route of James Longstreet’s halting march toward the Federal left,
stopping near Black Horse Tavern where the march deviated from its route. After
climbing the observation tour near the Warfield House to survey the field, we will
go to the far Confederate right and follow John Bell Hood’s troops to
the Round Tops. Farther left, we will join two of Lafayette McLaws’
brigades in turn, attacking with Joseph Kershaw to Stony Ridge and then
with William Barksdale through the Trostle fields across Plum Run and
beyond. Near the top of the en echelon attack plan, we will follow A.
R. Wright’s Georgians across the Emmitsburg Pike to Cemetery Ridge.
Far up on the Confederate left, we will advance with Edward “Allegheny”
Johnson’s division from Benner’s Hill down across Rock Creek and up the
slope of Culp’s Hill. While on Cilp’s Hill, we also will discuss George H.
“Maryland” Steuart’s advance on July 3. We will walk the route of the
advance of Isaac Avery and Harry Hays in the gathering darkness
of July 2 up East Cemetery Hill.
We
will visit the fields of the Slyder Farm, as a prelude to the main infantry
actions of the third day. In addition to attacking with George Pickett's
Virginians from the Spangler Farm to the Copse of Trees, we will also follow J.
Johnston Pettigrew’s route, farther north, past the Bliss Farm.
Much
walking will be involved so be sure to bring comfortable shoes. This tour is filling up fast, so enroll as
soon as possible. We hope you’ll join us on this detailed tour of America’s greatest Civil War battle from the perspective of Robert
E. Lee and his lieutenants, led by America’s most
celebrated Civil War tour team – Gary Gallagher and Bob Krick.
About Our Tour
Leaders
Gary W. Gallagher, the John L. Nau III Professor in the History of the American
Civil War at the University of Virginia, is a leading authority on Civil War
military history. He is the author or editor and co-author of more than
twenty books, including The Confederate War, Lee and His Army in
Confederate History, and Lee and His Generals in War and Memory.
Robert
K. Krick is widely regarded as the
leading authority on the Army of Northern Virginia and is the author of many
books including Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Mountain, Conquering the
Valley: Stonewall Jackson at Port Republic; The Smoothbore Volley That Doomed
the Confederacy: The Death of Stonewall Jackson and Other Chapters on the Army
of Northern Virginia and, most recently, Civil War Weather in Virginia.
Friday, September 24
8:15 AM on Assemble at old Cyclorama Parking Lot on Taneytown Road
(Map
showing location will be provided in your confirmation letter).
8:45 AM Depart and Begin Tour
4:30 PM Arrive
Back at old Cyclorama Parking Lot
Saturday,
September 25
8:15 AM Depart old Cyclorama Parking Lot and
Continue Tour
4:30
PM Arrive Back at old Cyclorama Parking Lot
Sunday,
September 26
8:15 AM Depart old Cyclorama Parking Lot and
Continue Tour
12:00 N Arrive
Back at old Cyclorama Parking Lot
Registration Fee (lodging on own): $425
If You Must Cancel: Your registration fee will be 100% refunded.
What is Included in Your Registration:
· the services of expert historians
chosen for their knowledge and experience
· bus transportation around the
battlefield
· Friday lunch at the Dobbin House
Tavern
· Saturday lunch at General
Pickett’s Buffet Restaurant
· refreshments and snacks during the
tour
· map package
Lodging: Please secure your
lodging as soon as possible. Gettysburg is a VERY busy place in
September. We suggest these nearby motels:
· Holiday Inn Battlefield, 516 Baltimore - 717-334-6211
· Best Inn, 301 Steinwehr -
717-334-1188
· Quality Inn, 380 Steinwehr -
717-334-1103
· Travelodge, 613 Baltimore -
717-334-9281 |
