Editor’s Note: Even as we celebrate our independence this week, the country also recently marked another significant anniversary in American history: the 160th anniversary of the famous Battle of Gettysburg. It was also the ten-year anniversary of a special trip to the battle site by David Christenson of Britton. Below, Christenson shares what led him to that fateful site and the journal entries he wrote during his emotional trip.
In the spring of 2012, I was invited to participate in the festivities surrounding the 150th commemoration of the Battle of Gettysburg in the summer of 2013. Included in this diverse group of 17 guys, from seven or eight different states, were a few Lutheran pastors, a son of a pastor, a father-in-law of a pastor, a guy who drives a float in the Rose Bowl every year, an attorney from Florida, a professional beach volleyball player from Hawaii, and this South Dakota farm boy and cowboy wannabe. I never thought a trip like this with a group of guys with assorted occupations could be as much fun and so memorable.
Even now, ten years later, so many events are able to be recalled with a smile and also amazement. One member, a veteran of the Army, coined the group as the Gettysburg Geek Group which was shortened to the GGG in our shared email comments in the planning stages of the event. We “elected” our own general, pastor Keith Hunsinger of Ohio and the General was exactly what he was supposed to be; the leader that we could count on to direct our efforts to maximize our exposure to this great event. The General contacted the proper people and we were able to rent the Singmaster guesthouse which is right in the middle of the battlefield.
Every one of us was a military history fanatic and my family has long thought of me as one who knew so much about our military history. Let’s just say that in comparison to the other 16, I was either at the bottom of the knowledge group or quite near to the bottom. I know now that learning from those that were speaking to us in our group expanded my own level of knowledge.
Prior to leaving home, my wife Gretchen gave me a little booklet to journal my trip that was to be ten days in duration. And yes, I heard many comments from family and friends asking what in the world I would do with ten days visiting a battleground from a century and a half ago. I suppose I just smiled as an answer. I planned to leave home the 28th of June and return the 7th of July. I was not disappointed in my endeavor to experience and learn more about that fateful battle 150 years ago.
Journal: I leave tomorrow a bit after 6:00 a.m. I am pumped but hope I pack what I need to have packed. D-Day – Awoke 3:55 a.m. for the drive to the airport. Flight a bit after 6 a.m. Felt bad about leaving Gretchen but I felt very good when GHC told me, “this trip was made for you.” Flight to MSP went well, 9 minutes early with wheels down. Flight to Columbus ok but bumpy last 10 minutes as we had high cumulus clouds. Pastor Dave and son Conor at the airport circling by the time we had wheels down. Drive to Pittsburg ok. After meeting Pastor Tom and his father-in-law, we decided not to go to the Pirates/Braves game because of some rain. We walked around and I had a Jack Reacher movie moment on the riverwalk and voiced while pointing to a parking garage across the river, “The shooter was over there!” Next day: Arrived Gettysburg shortly after 1:00 p.m. This military display around our home for the week plus was awesome with Civil War cannon all around and military tents of all types of the period. We had about a 2 hour visit with re-enactors which was awesome! We met a few more of the group at the Singmaster and we went as a group to get a bite to eat. Text exchange with GHC and she called this Gettysburg trip, “History heaven.”
Sunday 30 June: Period church service was unique. After church we gathered for conversation and planning where each one of us wanted to go and what we wanted to do. General Keith displayed leadership well. The General was the only one who knew most of us there prior to arriving at the guesthouse. I was not one he had met previously but he knew of me because of Pastor Dave and our friendship. We attended a Pickett’s Charge re-enactment. Sunny and muggy but a good experience. A few thousand spectators and also a few thousand re-enactors. After returning to the Singmaster I did a solo walk around Seminary Ridge. Continued along Confederate Avenue going south.
Monday 1 July: We were going to go to the official first shot ceremony but before we left we had heard our “neighbors” were going to do their own official start just west of the Gettysburg Seminary building. It was a good show and I got an awesome photo. Some of the guys went on the Iron Brigade march. I joined in about a half mile from our house and dropped out when we marched past the house. I toured some around McPherson’s Ridge and the Railroad Cut. Then Little Round Top, the Angle and East Cavalry field. Pastor Dave and Conor posed for pictures where their ancestor (Silas Turley, 34th Virginia) might have passed close by 150 years earlier. Great theological discussion after chow at the Singmaster.
Tuesday 2 July: Back to Little Round Top and Devils Den, the Wheatfield and the Peach Orchard. Toured the Devils Den to the Wheatfield on guided walking tour. Boots on the ground looking up at Little Round Top made me think of General Hood’s quote in the movie Gettysburg, “ ….We should have gone around to the right. You should have let us go around to the right.” Back to the house for a bit of resting and conversation. Most of the GGG went to the Sharpshooters restaurant. Was an awesome spectacle that when our food arrived the General prayed for the blessing of the food and virtually the whole restaurant paused in respect to the prayer of thanks. Back at the house, more talk of the battle and also religion and faith. Six of us went to General Meade’s staff meeting about 9:30. It was disappointing to say the least. Couldn’t hear and it was poorly put together. Tomorrow is Pickett’s charge.
Wednesday3JulyPickett’s Charge: Hardly slept. Always awoke thinking of Pickett’s charge, both then and now. Lots of people heading towards mustering spots. Pastor Chris and I both have taken a desire to be with Armistad’s Brigade. As it was, many people wanted to be in Armistad’s Brigade. Awesome and eerie feeling walking those yards in the footsteps of those gallant men of 1863, crossing the wooden fence knowing there will be no shot or shell coming at us like it was 150 years ago. It was a laborious and tiring walk and we did it without the heavy wool uniforms and the task of carrying our battle gear. All we had were cameras and water bottles. Much more uphill than it looked. Deeper hollows than I expected. We could dip out of sight momentarily to those at The Angle (the target destination for the Armistad Brigade in the battle) but 150 years ago, cannon fire would have found them and been indiscriminate. Crossed Emmittsburg Road and from there the rebels would have been within range of the musket and rifle fire in 1863. The dying would have been more prevalent from here on. Not many in 1863 would live much longer if they had made it this far. We have been on the march about 30 minutes at this point, 5-10 more to our objective. Footing was tough for us and we wondered about any similarities from today to 150 years ago.
The Angle: Made it and unlike 1863, those that we came across greeted us with smiles and a look of admiration. We found our crew and instead of hand-to-hand fighting, we were handed a bottle of water. We were parched from the trek across those hallowed fields. It was breathtaking looking off to the west over the terrain we had just covered in the last 40 minutes. We marveled at the gallantry it would have taken to make that walk 150 years ago. As the General Lewis Armistad declared before leaving the partial protection of the trees and moving towards the Angle of history, “Virginians! Virginians! For your land! For your homes! For your sweethearts! For your wives! For Virginia! Forward, march!” They did it for their wives, their family, for Virginia. We did it to honor them. Taps was played nine times; once for each of the nine brigades that marched and charged into history and eternity. ~ David R Christenson
