The lasting appeal of Gettysburg

By Leon Reed · Originally published June 2023 · pp. 30

By Leon Reed “We had an almost mystical visit to the cemetery. Walked in via the route Lincoln took and visited the soldiers monument plus the now famous rhododendron bush where Lincoln stood to deliver his speech. Then after arcing along to the speakers stand and Lincoln bust behind it, thunder started erupting like an artillery salvo and we barely got to the bus before a surreal downpour overtook the town. Another great memory for our participants.” (Harold Holzer describing the culminating event of a student visit to Gettysburg.) What makes a college president within a few months of retirement bring a group of 20 college students for a 2 ½ day visit to Gettysburg? Then what makes

The lasting appeal of Gettysburg a group of college students who have no course requirement or assignment give up several precious days of Spring Break to make that trip? Why does someone with funds to “take students to historic places” pick Gettysburg first? What is it about Gettysburg, 160 years after the battle and speech, that continues to attract pilgrims, historians, student groups, and families? Hunter College president Jennifer Raab provided some ideas. “The trip was made possible by a generous gift from Dick Gilder. He made a fortune on Wall Street and decided to invest in better understanding of our history. Toward the end of his life, he came up with and idea of taking students into the field to see where our history actually happened.” This wasn’t a “class trip.” “It’s not about courses, or grades, or credit,” Raab said. “The students are volunteers; they saw something in this trip that made them willing to give up spring break.” Why Gettysburg first? “It’s been on my bucket list for a long time,” said Raab. “It’s about our history, our ideals, our democracy, who we are. I tell our students it’s about our ideals and our democracy, about the struggle to preserve it. If you don’t understand that, then we as a people are doomed.” The students had a daunting schedule during their visit; one that wouldn’t necessarily be available to every visiting group: a private after-hours visit to the Cyclorama, dinner at the Visitor Center, and a crowd-free, after closing hour to wander through the museum; a private look at some relics of the Lincoln assassination on the 158th anniversary of his fatal wounding; a tour of Spangler Farm; a whirlwind three hours plus battlefield tour led by Gettysburg College professor Peter Carmichael; a pre-opening private tour of the new Adams County Historical Society; and, on their last morning, a stormdefying visit to the National Cemetery. The students were a diverse group, including students born in the United States and many other countries, sophomores through seniors, and both history majors and non-majors. At least seven planned to become history teachers after graduation. A few random comments reflected the students’ individual thoughts. “My dad was a history fanatic and he brought me when I was little. I didn’t pay much attention and now I want to learn about it. … Lincoln redefined our whole national purpose here … I wanted to get out of New York City … So many sacrificed so much. … We can’t understand the

Peter Carmichael’s tour of the battlefield. (Photo by Leon Reed)

Group photo of the students. (Photo by Leon Reed)

present without understanding the past … I wanted to understand why these men were ready to die in battle and what they fought for … I don’t know much about history and I want to know more. … It’s heart-breaking. There were so many casualties and it could have been avoided. … There were so many heroes. … I wanted to see where it happened, to walk over the ground where these men struggled. … It’s the greatest battle in our history. … Seeing where it happened is so important for understanding it.” Harold Holzer, head of the college’s Eleanor Roosevelt Center and a leading Lincoln scholar, concluded : “I think our Hunter College students left Gettysburg convinced of the power of place to bring history alive. Seeing the spots where Pickett and Pettigrew launched their fateful charge, where photographers encountered dead bodies strewn among boulders near Little Round Top, where Lincoln delivered his famous address, and where ‘our own’ Franklin Roosevelt dedicated the peace memorial on the 75th anniversary of the battle, made the ongoing contest over freedom and memory more vivid, important, and urgent than ever. We are so grateful to the Gettysburg Foundation, the new Beyond the Battle Museum, and all the professionals who hosted us. Above all, kepis off to Prof. Peter Carmichael for the best battlefield tour ever, Unforgettable!”

Students silhouetted at Cyclorama. (Photo by Peter Sclafini)