Pennsylvania Barn

(Photograph copyright 2013 by Dan Routh)

Barn detail. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Gettysburg Wall

(Photograph copyright 2011 by Dan Routh)

My wife Dedra and I stopped in Gettysburg on the return trip from visiting our son in New Hampshire. Both of us are interested in history and the Civil War in particular. We did a quick tour of the battlefield and stopped at one of the most poignant spots there. The image above was shot at the wall on Cemetery Ridge. On July 3, 1863 a large Confederate force under Robert E. Lee attacked the center of the Union line in what is now called Pickett's Charge. The Southerners walked across almost a mile of open land directly into a hail of Northern fire. Somewhere near this spot the color bearer and a sergeant from the 26th North Carolina found themselves alone and directly in front of the 12th New Jersey manning the wall. Rather than fire upon the Southerners, a New Jersey soldier reached out with his arm, called "Come over to this side of the Lord.", and helped the two enemies over the wall.

Pennsylvania Barn

Old barn near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

(Photographs copyright 2011 by Dan Routh)