National Trip #4

Class 39 getting ready to walk Pickett's Charge

Gettysburg Battlefield Tour- We were lucky to have a very knowledgeable tour guide- Dr. Colonel Randolph, who serves in the Department of Military Strategy and Logistics and as Director of the Agribusiness Industry Study for the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Getting a tour of the Gettysburg battlefield with Col. Randolph was like walking around with a talking encyclopedia on war history. His knowledge was greatly appreciated.

It was a frigid March day in Pennsylvania. As bundled up as we could be, our class walked through the major locations in the battle. We climbed the observation tour and looked out over the battlefield. The class toured places such as Oak Ridge, Peach Orchard, Little Round Top and Devil’s Den. We viewed the location near the Gettysburg National Cemetery where President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. At the end of the day, we walked the route of Pickett’s Charge, where thousands of Confederate soldiers had been killed in one last, failed attack.

This was a powerful day. I had ancestors that fought for the Union during the Civil War. Although they did not fight in this horrible battle, it made me think of the price many paid for freedom. We talked about various leadership styles, from General Lee to Chamberlain. It was interesting to see how things could have become very different if it weren’t for a few key decisions. I’m glad things turned out the way they did, but on the other hand, I wish our country didn’t have to go through it at all.