Re-Riding History: Gettysburg
Originally Published in Southeastern Rider Magazine, October 2018
We all remember the Gettysburg Address and probably had to memorize it in school. While we remember the address, many may not remember Gettysburg was the site of the deadliest battle of the Civil War, and also became a turning point of the conflict.
Kasey and I rolled up to the front of the 1863 Inn for Gathering of Eagles, Cruiser Club, USA’s annual event. Since lunch, we had been following my brother, Kevin, and his wife, Virginia. The meeting was a surprise for Kasey, as the four of us had travels to quite a few GOE’s before she and I moved to North Carolina. Before I could withdraw my leg from the saddle, another Cruiser Club Brother, Bill, the president of the Bloomington Indiana Chapter greeted us. Bill and his wife attended for the first time last year, and it was good to see it was not their last.
The 1863 Gettysburg Inn has been Family Owned & Operated since 1991. Its positioning puts you right in the middle of historic Civil War Battles as well as nearby, more modern amenities. For motorcyclists who like to start each day with a full tank, a gas station is conveniently located across the street. Further down to the two streets that meet up is a seemingly endless supply of eateries and shops. Kasey was extremely happy that a Friendly’s was within walking distance of the hotel.
Sitting on part of the large battle field, when you take a tour, you will hear about the conflicts that took place on the grounds that would later be the hotel. Of course, with this much death taking place, you can expect stories of the lost souls haunting the hotel, certain rooms and the areas nearby. Whether you believe in spirits or not, the tales can make history come alive.
You can tour the home, authentically decorated as it was, complete with the bullet hole still in the door. As it usually goes, other legends develop around such history. It goes something like this: If you are single and eighteen years old, and put your finger through the bullet hole, you will receive a marriage proposal within a year. According to Gettysburg Battle Tours, the legend has merit, and pending nuptials have been reported back to them.
War name you have never heard. The house was not even hers,
but she was staying with her sister, Georgia, who resided in the home. It was
actually a duplex, shared by the McClain Family. While the home was not in the
middle of the battle field, it was close enough that twenty-year-old Jennie and
her sister often made bread for Union Soldiers.
We enter Round Top, an area that The Union strengthened its positions in anticipation of an attack by Confederate Forces led by Richard Ewell. Ewell was a replacement for the recently injured “Stonewall” Jackson, picked by Robert E. Lee to lead a charge into the north. For The South, moving into the north would spell victory, and show the war was going their way to outside countries such as Britain and France. Recognition that Lee was hoping to gain.
On July 1st, Confederate Soldiers entered Gettysburg, hoping for an easy time of gaining supplies. There were Union Forces present, and the fighting began. The Confederate Military was too much, and drove the Union Forces out of town to Cemetery Hill.
Ewell was not as aggressive as Lee and Jackson, and while he waited to attack, it allowed more Union Forces to gather at Little Round Top, and Union Major General George Meade was able to assemble a defensive line. Despite the growing opposition, Lee ordered an attack on July 2nd as early as the Confederate Army could. It would be the middle of the afternoon before the fighting started, and it would go on for hours.
As we roll along, I take as many quick glances as I can off the road to check out the rock formations,
imagining young men finding spots to dodge bullets
while re-loading. Some areas offered lots of protection, while other were wide
open, leaving one open to being riddled with flying lead, meaning the battle
would end quickly for them.
We re-join Wheatfield Avenue, and begin making our way back out with the memorials disappearing in the rear-view mirrors. On July 3rd, the final day of battle, Lee began the day believing, despite large losses, that victory was near. After seven hours of fighting, half of Lee’s remaining 15,000 troops would lie dead on the battle field. That night and the next day, Lee awaited a counter attack that never came. Instead rain poured over the fields, flooding the area with the blood of the 23,000 Union and 28,000 Confederate dead soldiers. Lee retreated, and the Battle of Gettysburg was over. Ulysses Grant had also been victorious for The Union at Vicksburg, making these two battles the turning point for the Civil War.
Our group of bikes turned as well, and continued out into the Pennsylvania and Maryland Countryside. I can’t speak for the other riders, but my mind raced with the fear and determination that laid on that field. How, 100 years after the nation was born, July 4th would be an important date that would end the lives of 50,000 soldiers and one civilian.
Cruising through a town that is a living museum of history.
We all remember the Gettysburg Address and probably had to memorize it in school. While we remember the address, many may not remember Gettysburg was the site of the deadliest battle of the Civil War, and also became a turning point of the conflict.
Kasey and I rolled up to the front of the 1863 Inn for Gathering of Eagles, Cruiser Club, USA’s annual event. Since lunch, we had been following my brother, Kevin, and his wife, Virginia. The meeting was a surprise for Kasey, as the four of us had travels to quite a few GOE’s before she and I moved to North Carolina. Before I could withdraw my leg from the saddle, another Cruiser Club Brother, Bill, the president of the Bloomington Indiana Chapter greeted us. Bill and his wife attended for the first time last year, and it was good to see it was not their last.
The 1863 Gettysburg Inn has been Family Owned & Operated since 1991. Its positioning puts you right in the middle of historic Civil War Battles as well as nearby, more modern amenities. For motorcyclists who like to start each day with a full tank, a gas station is conveniently located across the street. Further down to the two streets that meet up is a seemingly endless supply of eateries and shops. Kasey was extremely happy that a Friendly’s was within walking distance of the hotel.
Sitting on part of the large battle field, when you take a tour, you will hear about the conflicts that took place on the grounds that would later be the hotel. Of course, with this much death taking place, you can expect stories of the lost souls haunting the hotel, certain rooms and the areas nearby. Whether you believe in spirits or not, the tales can make history come alive.
 |
| The door of the Jennie Wade House. The bullet hole remains on the right edge, in the middle of the door. |
Next to the hotel is a two-story brick building known as the Jennie Wade House.
It may be a Civil
It was while kneading bread that an instant ended Jennie’s life while also making her part of history. A stray shot passed through the north facing door, pierced her kneeling body, and she died instantly. Out of the 50,000 deaths over the three-day battle at Gettysburg, Jennie was the only civilian. It was rumored that she was engaged, but her husband to be, who died in battle nine days later, never knew she proceeded him in passing.
It was while kneading bread that an instant ended Jennie’s life while also making her part of history. A stray shot passed through the north facing door, pierced her kneeling body, and she died instantly. Out of the 50,000 deaths over the three-day battle at Gettysburg, Jennie was the only civilian. It was rumored that she was engaged, but her husband to be, who died in battle nine days later, never knew she proceeded him in passing.
You can tour the home, authentically decorated as it was, complete with the bullet hole still in the door. As it usually goes, other legends develop around such history. It goes something like this: If you are single and eighteen years old, and put your finger through the bullet hole, you will receive a marriage proposal within a year. According to Gettysburg Battle Tours, the legend has merit, and pending nuptials have been reported back to them.
 |
| If you are into memorials, plan to spend a lot of time in Gettysburg. The rich history of the town deserves each structure. |
As part of one of our motorcycle
runs, we were about to roll through some of the battle grounds, just short of
the 155-year anniversary of the battle. In 1863, the fighting began on July 1st.
In 2018, we had arrived for the beginning of GOE on June 19th. Our
Cruiser Club, USA Brothers and Sisters assembled with us in the parking lot
next to the Jennie Wade House, and divided into three smaller groups.
The ride started with
a right onto Baltimore Street, and then a quick and sharp left turn to head
south on Taneytown Road. One thing about Gettysburg, you never have to go far
to get to something historic. As we pass out of town, we cruise by The
Gettysburg National Cemetery, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address Memorial and The
Gettysburg National Park Museum.
We enter Round Top, an area that The Union strengthened its positions in anticipation of an attack by Confederate Forces led by Richard Ewell. Ewell was a replacement for the recently injured “Stonewall” Jackson, picked by Robert E. Lee to lead a charge into the north. For The South, moving into the north would spell victory, and show the war was going their way to outside countries such as Britain and France. Recognition that Lee was hoping to gain.
On July 1st, Confederate Soldiers entered Gettysburg, hoping for an easy time of gaining supplies. There were Union Forces present, and the fighting began. The Confederate Military was too much, and drove the Union Forces out of town to Cemetery Hill.
We make a right off
of Taneytown Road, and on to Wheatfield Road and immediately enter National
Park Territory. We cross Sedgewick Avenue, and continue to Crawford Avenue. A
left turn puts us on a one-way loop through a Battle Ground, dotted with the
rocks and land features that were there during the battle, as well as memorials
that have been place to signify the conflict. To our left is Little Round Top.
Ewell was not as aggressive as Lee and Jackson, and while he waited to attack, it allowed more Union Forces to gather at Little Round Top, and Union Major General George Meade was able to assemble a defensive line. Despite the growing opposition, Lee ordered an attack on July 2nd as early as the Confederate Army could. It would be the middle of the afternoon before the fighting started, and it would go on for hours.
 |
| Canons and Statues dot the road through Devil’s Den. In addition to your own vehicle, you can take a carriage ride to tour the battle ground. |
As we roll along, I take as many quick glances as I can off the road to check out the rock formations,
Crawford Avenue turns into Sickles Avenue at Warren Avenue. Commander Daniel
Sickles held the line for The Union Army on
We continue winding along Sickles Avenues, passing by the memorials for the Brigades and Regiments that served here. A unit from Minnesota fought hard to hold this line for The North, backed up by men from Vermont, New York and Ohio.
that second day of battle near
Devil’s Den. As we make our around, looping Devil’s Den, other tourists are
exploring the area on foot. My head is still darting back and forth from each
side of the road, as I imagine thousands of men fighting for their lives, and
their half of the country. At the end of Day Two, 35,000 had lost their lives
on the Battle Fields of Gettysburg.We continue winding along Sickles Avenues, passing by the memorials for the Brigades and Regiments that served here. A unit from Minnesota fought hard to hold this line for The North, backed up by men from Vermont, New York and Ohio.
We re-join Wheatfield Avenue, and begin making our way back out with the memorials disappearing in the rear-view mirrors. On July 3rd, the final day of battle, Lee began the day believing, despite large losses, that victory was near. After seven hours of fighting, half of Lee’s remaining 15,000 troops would lie dead on the battle field. That night and the next day, Lee awaited a counter attack that never came. Instead rain poured over the fields, flooding the area with the blood of the 23,000 Union and 28,000 Confederate dead soldiers. Lee retreated, and the Battle of Gettysburg was over. Ulysses Grant had also been victorious for The Union at Vicksburg, making these two battles the turning point for the Civil War.
Our group of bikes turned as well, and continued out into the Pennsylvania and Maryland Countryside. I can’t speak for the other riders, but my mind raced with the fear and determination that laid on that field. How, 100 years after the nation was born, July 4th would be an important date that would end the lives of 50,000 soldiers and one civilian.
Rodney Myers
is Rider, a Writer, and Video Storyteller. He started riding around age 5. He
made up stories before he knew how to write, and was fortunate enough to attend
a high school that had a television station.
To read more
of my motorcycle stories, you can check out my Motorcycle Blog at:
The 1863 Inn at
Gettysburg: 1863innofgettysburg.com
The Jennie Wade House: gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com/jennie-wade-house/history/
Gettysburg Battle Field Tours: gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com
The Jennie Wade House: gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com/jennie-wade-house/history/
Gettysburg Battle Field Tours: gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com
Video Ride Through:
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