Gettysburg Photos, Part I

On our trip back to Georgia from New York State, we visited the Gettysburg National Military Park in southern Pennsylvania. This is the second year in a row that we have toured the battlefield because it is such a large place. We are interested in this particular battle because it marks the turning point of the war that almost split our country in two. Having grown up in the North, but having now lived in the South for the past eleven years, I have very mixed emotions about the Civil War in general, and Gettysburg in particular.

This is part one of a three part series of photos that we took while at Gettysburg. Today's focus is the first place we stopped, General Lee's headquarters on the west side of town. The house has been refurbished and transformed into a museum.

The below photos include General's Lee's chair, a table he and other generals would have used, General Reynolds' (Union) saddle, a bible found on the battlefield, a table cover, uniforms, our kids with various weapons, and the house from the outside.

This war is incredibly fascinating and sad at the same time. The more I read about the war, the more I see that the two sides were not even speaking the same language. While the South was primarily concerned about states' rights, the North was focused on preserving the Union at all costs. Could more dialogue between the two sides have prevented this awful war? Which side, if either, was in the right? What role did slavery play? Tell me what you think.