Gettysburg

Well, I'm back from hiatus. It's always difficult for me to jump back into writing after a long break. It's nice to have this blog to start things out, but it might be more honest for me to call it Writer's procrastination. During my break, I had friends and family over, fun times, and a bunch of miserable weather. Does anyone actually chose to live in Maryland?

One of the trips during the holiday was made to Gettysburg. I'd been there before a few years ago, and was unimpressed with the dereliction and deterioration of the historic sites. Someone got their act together. There has been major work done, from the shiny new tourist center and refurbishment of the Cyclorama, to restoring the battlefield from the overgrowth that prevented a view of what a soldier in 1863 would have seen. If you live near the area, even if you've seen Gettysburg before, I strongly recommend you go out and see it. Take a tour, then drive out into the town (be sure to stop at the Dobbin House for a bite) and drive through the battlefield again and take your time.

One of the things that struck me as most profound out on the field was the Union view of Picket's charge. The union line is the only thing standing between the full frontol assualt, launched by Lee, and ultimately, Southern independence. It is not a gamble. Lee knows that the Union flanks are strong, and therfore the center must be weak, unable to hold the line against a concentrated attack. Lee uses logic and sound military doctrine to attack Meade's forces, but ultimately fails. The position the Union has is a strong one and the line does not break. Lee ultimately never recovers from the defeat, but stays loyal to the men under his command and carries on the war for another two years. Would a lesser man have defected? Did Lee betray the Union by not leading the the U.S. forces, as Lincoln wanted? Lee made a choice, but what makes a man choose to rebel?