Winnie and Me 2018-2021: Gettysburg, PA 10/11/2019

Gettysburg Battlefield Bus Tour - Friday

10/11/2019

George (left), our bus driver chats with tour guide,
Les Fowler. George's sense of humor while waiting for
Les was terrific. He puts his age at about "what
the Gettysburg Address says: 'Four score and....'"

We were very fortunate to have Mr. Fowler as our tour guide. I have never heard such a presentation that included definition of terms, dates, times of day, names, ranks, locations and strategies of all officers on both sides. Did you know there are 1,328 monuments, markers and memorials in the National Military Park? As we traveled along our route, he had no problems pointing out each we and its significance. It was a non-stop (oh yes, there was one pit stop on the tour) presentation that put us passengers right into each battle. Driver, George, shared with us what it takes to become a Licensed Gettysburg Battlefield tour guide. Beside knowing practically every inch of the 1,028 acre battleground, there's an 8-hour exam to become a licensed tour guide for this battlefield. And he seems to be among a rare breed. Here's what he wrote on his Facebook page back when he finally made it in 2012: "I just finished a 6-year effort to become a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park. It's the oldest guide service in the US, and since 1915, there have been fewer than 500 official guides. It's a pretty grueling process, and took me 3 tries, but I finally made it! What a relief to finally have the process done with!! My thanks to all those guides and guinea pigs who helped and sat through my tour as it evolved, and lent support and encouragement. Especially my wife Maggie, who listened to me enough times to give my tour herself!!"

Virginia Worm fences are seen everywhere. During the war, they served as concealment, cover, obstacles and used by officers for commands and control.

The Eternal Light Peace Memorial.

The dedication by FDR, held July 3, 1938, coincided with the 75th anniversary of the Battle and was attended by around 2,000 Civil War veterans, many in their 90's and a few over 100. The crowd of at least 150,000 spectators spread over 40 acres, according to estimates given at the time by the state motor police.

A moving photo from the 1938 reunion. Hope you can read the text.

Views of the battlefield from the Memorial

Les giving exacting detail of the battle that occurred just beyond where we stood.

Looking down what I believe would be a 'straight bore' muzzle

L to R: Sue, Roberta, ACR, Tony leaving the
Eternal Flame Memorial, headed west from Oak Hill.

Our tour took us past many memorials including the Virginia Memorial that depicts General Lee mounted on "Traveller." As we circled, I clicked away trying to get a view from all angles.

If a statue of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes, as did General Lee.

The group at the base of this Memorial represents various types who left civil occupations to join the Confederate Army. Left to right; a professional man, a mechanic, an artist, a boy, a businessman, a farmer and a youth.

From the bus I couldn't get the entire view...

83rd New York Infantry Monument image. Click for full size.

...so I'm using a photo and giving credit to Craig Swain, November 1, 2008.
He writes: "The monument is the tallest in this section of the battlefield.
Near the top, on each face, is a circle, the symbol of the Federal First Corps."

A farm house along our route. The black dot below the two diamonds was created by a cannonball.

The view looking west from atop Little Round Top; the clump of rocks/boulders, center right, is Devil's Den

Toward the north...

...and East. Strategically, a very good location for the Union to defend.

After completing our two hour tour, we were leaving for town and lunch at the Gary Owens Irish Pub when a huge figure of a bird that I first thought an eagle caught my eye in a roadside tree. Roberta decided it was a Red Tailed hawk. We stopped and again, I clicked away.