Gettysburg anniversary

[Stegall Law Firm]

As we celebrate our nation's independence this week, remember how it was tested and nearly lost at the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3 1863.  Truly a watershed moment in American history.  I visited the battlefield many many years ago with my old man, and have read a number of books on it (my favorite being The Killer Angels, which is more historical fiction).  It is of course amazing to be there and walk the ground, and I would love to go back.  It featured some the most horrendous, close quarters, brutal combat you'll ever read about, particularly on day 2 in places like the Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, and Devil's Den.

 

Like all significant battles, so much of it turned on random events and dumb luck.  So many ifs.  If the South had pressed the advantage on day 1, when they had the North on the run...if Col. Chamberlain doesn't hold his position at Little Round Top on day 2 (probably THE turning point of the war)...if Lee tried anything but a reckless, suicidal frontal assault on day 3...would've been a different outcome.

 

The Union was ready to sue for peace that summer, and England was just looking for a reason to join in on the side of the Confederacy.  They win Gettysburg and that probably would have been it.  Who knows, after helping the South mop up, England might have said we want back what used to be ours.  We might all be speaking today with British accents, and goodbye Constitution!

 

So take a moment to remember.

 

 

 

 

[E4 No More]

Although I get what you're saying I'm kind of an all or nothing kind of a guy, and I think the Constitution pretty much went bye-bye before this battle. The Constitution has been trampled in so many ways since it was ratified, (by all branches of the government), and I think that many that are in power today would like to throw out the entire thing unless it suits their purpose.

 

Oh, and you left off the artillery barrage that missed it's target when Lee assumed otherwise.