"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."
From Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
Remembering the words of Abraham Lincoln, we continue to strive for healing in our national discourse. Is an awareness of our history still vital to us as an integral part of that healing? On July 1, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg plunged town residents into conflicts of loyalty, heart-stopping terror, and hourly threats to their own and their loved ones’ very survival. This great battle was, over time, considered to be the turning point of the Civil War, even though the war dragged on for nearly two years after those hot July days in 1863.
The study of history can be experienced in many formats, from detailed non-fiction narratives to fictional accounts, even legends, based on a structure of known events. I believe there are many paths for readers to find their preferred encounters with history. See The Stories. My own acquaintance with the fascinating aspects of this great battle began with my years of study and service as a Licensed Battlefield Guide at the Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania as well as by my career as a public school librarian. The study materials on this site have also been thoroughly vetted for historical accuracy by Debra Novotny, a Licensed Battlefield Guide since 1975 and an educator of U.S. History for 35 years. See About.
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A monument to Major General Henry Warner Slocum, U.S.A.
Commander at Culp's Hill on the Union Right Wing. July 1-3, 1863
Resources for Students and Educators
Due to the COVID-19 disease students and educators are often studying the many aspects of the American Civil War at home via online classrooms and websites. The materials offered on this site are freely available to supplement these studies. For in-depth questions about this battle, followed by a list of recommended links and books, please visit my Study Guide.
History continues its march through our own lives. As we approach another anniversary of the end of the Civil War, April 9, 1865, we continue our struggle to withstand divisions and to embrace our common humanity. In this era of living through a deadly pandemic, young adults may relate their experiences, struggles and fears to a time when a different kind of invader, just as deadly, commanded the actions of young lives.
"What a horrible sight! There they were, human beings! clad almost in rags, covered with dust, riding wildly, pell-mell down the hill toward our home! shouting, yelling most unearthly, cursing, brandishing their revolvers, and firing right and left. I was fully persuaded that the Rebels had actually come at last. What they would do with us was a fearful question to my young mind. Soon the town was filled with infantry, and then the searching and ransacking began in earnest. They wanted horses, clothing, anything and almost everything they could conveniently carry away."
Tillie Pierce Alleman. At Gettysburg or What a Girl Saw and Heard of the Battle: A True Narrative. New York: W. Lake Borland, 1889.
The Weikert Farm became a field hospital during and after the Battle of Gettysburg
As a former Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide and as a public school librarian, I am offering FREE study materials for students at home about events and personalities of the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in July of 1863. Please assign credit for source material of text and paintings. All text and images copyright by Elyse Cregar unless noted otherwise.
This site has been created by Avery Caudill
Credits: Logo: "Civil War Flags "original painting by Tamara Clark. www.tamaraclark.com
The Gettysburg Battlefield background photo by Elyse Cregar
Photo of General Slocum Monument by Elyse Cregar
"The Weikert Farm". A field hospital. Original oil painting by Elyse Cregar. Private collection.