Ghosts of Gettysburg

Ok- I know I promised this post after our trip last month but time has really gotten away from me! I can't believe we're into august already!!  But anyways.....here's the promised post :-)

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There's something about Gettysburg. It is hallowed ground. So many young men died such violent deaths. Some quickly took from this world; others left to suffer for hours or days on end. Just walking the grounds of Gettysburg, you can feel it in the air. This beautiful place is so thick with sorrow. The ground that I walked was once stained red. The rivers were crimson. Bodies littered fields to the point where no grass was visible. I can't even imagine the smell or the sounds as the wounded lay, frightened and dying.

With so much violence and pain; not all that died found a peaceful path to the "other side".  There are many ways that ghosts make their presence known. Most often, it is through "orbs", which can not be seen by the naked eye but through photography. They look like circles of light, big and small. Sometimes appearing just a few at a time; other times (as you'll see, in HUGE clusters).  Sometime ghosts can take on their human shape, again mostly through photography, but sometimes appearing to a person as well.

My husband and brothers loved going out at night Ghost hunting. Most of these photos are taken at "The Grove" near the  high school. A very bloody battle was fought at The Grove. The ground was so saturated with blood that it squished red when walked upon, if a spot could be found between the hundreds of fallen soldiers.

My brother, Devon; you can see a few small orbs in front of him.

 Nice bright orb hanging over the wooded path.

 My husband Brett and brother Trevor; Trevor is looking right up at a faint orb.

 Orb cluster

 The orb in the right corner is a great example; very bright and zooming in you can see the "sparkles" on the edges.

 HUGE orb cluster

 Brett being followed down the path.

 He says he felt "cold" walking back-often a sign of a ghost. Well yea....he has orbs surrounding him!

 One step later and they are gone.

This is my favorite one. In the center of the orb cluster, you can see the shadow/outline of a person. There was no one there when this photo was taken.

Well, no one alive that is.

Gettysburg

My family and I took a little break from reality and escaped to Gettysburg, PA for a long weekend. We had an wonderful time. I have always loved the Civil War and Battle of Gettysburg but hadn't been to Gettysburg for many years. Aiden has been developing a love for the Civil War and Gettysburg and I couldn't wait to share this beautiful, hallowed place with him.

Grady exploring Sachs Bridge. The bridge has been rebuilt since the war due to a flood but almost all the original materials were used in the rebuilding. This bridge was used as a coming and going of both armies and story has it, deserters were hung from its rafters

 Gettysburg is one of the most beautiful areas I have ever been to.

 Aiden exploring the nooks and crannies of Devils Den

 Scene of one of the most famous Gettysburg "body" pictures; the dead sharpshooter propped against the wall.

 The boys loved exploring and climbing.

 The Irish Brigade Monument. (At the foot lies an Irish Wolfhound)

One of my favorite monuments- the detail is just AMAZING. From the stitching on the pants, to the holes in the coat, it is just a beautiful, beautiful monument in the Gettysburg National Cemetary Annex. 

 My brothers and sons at the National Cemetary.

 Over 700 markers, just labeled by a number marking where unknown soldiers lie.

This is one of my favorite stories. Evergreen Cemetery is in Gettysburg and the family who ran it consisted on a Mr. Thorn, Mrs Thorn and 3 young boys. The father went to war, as many did. Mrs Thorn, who was 6 months pregnant, was left with 3 boys, ages 7, 5 and 3 when the Battle of Gettysburg began. When the 3 day battle was over, Gettysburg was littered with bodies. Mrs Thorn and her 3 young boys buried over 100 soldiers, union and confederate in Evergreen Cemetery on their own. 

The grave of Jennie Wade, the only civilian killed during the battle. Jennie was baking bread for the soldiers when a bullet came through her kitchen door. 

 Johnny Reb and Billy Yank

 The kitchen Door at Jennie Wade house where the bullet entered that killed Jennie.

 Outside Jennie Wade house.

 Grady loved the cannons! He would yell "Ok? OK? OK?! BOOM!!"

 This is Sally (and Grady of course.) Sally followed the 11th PA INF everywhere, including into battle. She would stand guard over the bodies of her soldiers when they fell in the field. She survived Gettysburg only to be killed later in the war.

 We left a few doggie treats for Sally

 Grady was super excited!

 General Lee looking across Picketts Charge

 The story of Chamberlain and the 20th Maine and how they held the line on Little Round Top is my favorite. This is the first time I've seen the monument and to see this, covered in stones and notes of thanks was very moving.

 Some of the stones, flags and notes left around the 20th Maine Monument.

 View of the Slaughter Pit and Devils Den from Little Round Top

 Aiden, Grady and our friend Josiah found a union soldier waiting on the hill

 Pennsylvania Monument

 Grady at the High Water Mark

 My handsome Aiden growing up so fast

 Grady found a walking stick

 This gentleman survived the battle and later came back to carve his name into the rock where he was stationed. It's still there almost 150 years later

 The rocks where the name can be found- it's a bit of a treasure hunt.

Grady at the top of the observation tower on Culp's Hill.

I have MANY more pictures to share! We also spent a day at Hershey Park and did a bit of ghost hunting around Gettysburg at night. Wait until you see those pictures! I will have those blogs up very soon!