Discovering Gettysburg An Unconventional Introduction To The Greatest Little Town In America And The Monumental Battle That Made It Famous W Stephen Coleman by W. Stephen Coleman 9781611213539, 9781611213546, 1611213533, 1611213541 instant download after payment.

The summer of 1863: why Gettysburg? -- Our journey of discovery begins in Cashtown, PA, the jumping-off point for the Army of Northern Virginia -- A first look at the town and the Gettysburg National Military Park -- The battle of battles: first day, 1863: stalemate turns into Confederate victory: my first personal encounter with history -- Both armies head-to-head: second day, 1863: the biggest and the bloodiest: my second personal encounter with history -- The climax of the clash: third day, 1863: Lee's plan and disaster: my final personal encounter with history -- After the battle, and the Gettysburg Address -- The Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center and Museum, and the Eisenhower National Historic Site -- Exploring Gettysburg: modern community and educational center -- The sesquicentennial of the Battle of Gettysburg and the Gettysburg Address and the reenactor phenomenon -- Afterword: the culmination of my journey of discovery ... for now.;A "witty, entertaining, educational" blend of travel memoir and Civil War history (Scott L. Mingus, Sr, award-winning author of Flames beyond Gettysburg). Gettysburg is a small, charming city nestled in south central Pennsylvania-but its very name evokes passion and angst, enthusiasm and sadness. For about half the year its streets are mainly empty, its businesses quiet, the weather cold and blustery. For the other months, however, the place teems with hundreds of thousands of visitors, bustling streets and shops, and more than a handful of unique larger-than-life characters. And then, of course, there is the Civil War battle that raged there during the first days of July 1863 at the price of more than 50,000 casualties. Its monuments and guns and plaques tell the story of the colossal clash of arms and societies, just as its National Cemetery bears silent witness to at least part of the cost of that bloody event. Yet, the author explains, he did not fully appreciate the profound meaning of this mammoth battle, its influential characters (living and dead), its deep meaning to our society, until he visited this hallowed ground in person. In this travelogue, you can join him at a host of famous and off-the-beaten-path places on the battlefield, explore the historic town as it is today, and learn fascinating facts and stories. Also included are maps and caricatures provided by award-winning cartoonist Tim Hartman.