Gettysburg Cemetery

figures around the base of the monument represent History, War, Peace and Plenty. The figure of the Genius of Liberty tops the monument, holding a sword in one hand and the wreath of peace in the other and representing the constant struggle for freedom.

From the monument: Gettysburg July 1, 2, 3, 1863 It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. - Lincoln, November 19, 1863

Recently restored commemorative of the short address given by Abraham Lincoln

on November 19, 1863.

Each of these "stepping" stones has a number etched into it.  They mark the graves of unidentified Union Soldiers.  

An Unsung Hero of the Battle of Gettysburg is 

Basil Biggs who was contracted to bury the dead shortly after the battle.

He was a free African-American who owned a farm at Gettysburg.  Following the fighting

Biggs returned to his farm and found it in ruins.  No livestock and the crops were destroyed.

Biggs hired 10 or 12 other African-Americans and they reverently carried out the grim job of digging up the Union dead and placing them in wooden coffins.  They were buried again at the designated cemetery site.  Although no African-Americans died at Gettysburg, they did in other battles. Biggs purchased land close to the Gettysburg cemetery and 

brought fallen soldiers there to be interred.  The graveyard was called after Biggs 

but became known as the Lincoln cemetery. 

Biggs was also a veterinarian and he was a key link in the Underground Railway.

Special thanks to my sister Margaret who told me about Basil Biggs and the
PBS program on which he was mentioned, Finding Your Roots. The program
itself is available in its entirety online.

Gettysburg

On Little Round Top

General Gouverneur Warren of the Union Army looking over the defenses

Patrick O'Rorke

Although the armies would leave the town of Gettysburg, those three days in July remain. Today the entire town and surrounding area of Gettysburg focus on the battle. Bookstores and tourist shops are filled with books, souvenirs, and pictures. A very common picture is the downhill charge of Colonel Joshua Chamberlain of the 20th Maine. The town’s most popular sites on the battlefield are Little Round Top and Picket’s charge. Colonel Chamberlain is credited as the hero of the battle for Little Round Top and for saving the Union Army. On the western slope of Little Round, overshadowed by a huge monument to New York is a small monument with a relief sculpture of Colonel Patrick O’Rorke of the 140th New York. 

Colonel Chamberlain survived the battle and the war and wrote his memoirs, spoke at reunions, and was instrumental in the preservation and placements of the monuments at Gettysburg. Colonel Chamberlain and the 20th Maine held their ground against Colonel William Oates and the 15th Alabama. In spite of being hard pressed, the extreme left flank of the Union Army never collapsed. On the right side of Little Round Top the situation was different. The right flank of Colonel Strong Vincent’s brigade, which the 20th Maine was assigned to, collapsed under the Confederate assault. O’Rorke and the 140th New York arrived just as the rebels were preparing to sweep the Union from Little Round Top. Their valiant actions that day saved the position at Little Round Top. Colonel O’Rorke deserves as much credit for the defense of Little Round Top as Colonel Chamberlain. However, he died in the course of the action and his story has fallen in obscurity. 

The Devil's Den below Little Round Top

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