Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, four months after the Battle of Gettysburg. Every year, the town marks the anniversary with Remembrance Day and Dedication Day. The first is highlighted by a march by Civil War reenactors through the town along Baltimore Street where Lincoln had ridden along on the day he gave the Address. I have been to Gettysburg more than a dozen times, beginning in 1969, but I have never been to Gettysburg on the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. Since retiring two weeks ago, I decided to use my time to attend the annual parade.
The parade starts at 1:00 PM on the Saturday before the anniversary, but hundreds of reenactors were in-town the night before. I did a tour of the Cyclorama the night before where I met almost a dozen living historians, mostly from the 69th New York Fighting Irish regiment. In the morning, I saw units of reenactors gathered at dozens of monuments holding ceremonies to remember those who lost their lives on the battlefields or who died in nearby hospitals. Some went to the cemetery to hold memorials for those who lie buried under the soil of Gettysburg.
On the streets, two hours before the parade started, the people in these units began to collect by Unity Park. Below, you can see a member of Berdan’s Sharpshooters on his way to join his unit just a block away.
Some living historians were staffing a camp where children could go and ask questions about soldiers’ lives.
On the side of Unity Park, I could see men of the 5th New York, a Zouave regiment called Duryée’s Zouaves, assembling. In 1861, many American soldiers dressed up as North African French Zouaves.
The 14th Brooklyn marched past to their assembly point.
At the corner, a band played for the growing crowd.
As Noon approached, more units began marching to the park.
Many of the living historians engaged in friendly conversations with old colleagues.
The parking lot where I had parked my car saw units marching to Unity Park.
The parade started off with both civilian living historians, bands, and units of soldiers.
There were at least four Abraham Lincolns at the parade.
Reenactors came from all over the country. I met one who flew in from California.
I am told that in earlier iterations of the parade, women had been very restricted. Now, women participate as soldiers, nurses, nuns, wives, and sanitary workers.
If you live 19th Century music, you should come to the parade in the future. There were several bands that were experts at presenting the music of 160 years ago.
Me, reenacting Santa Claus.
Immigrant Marie Tepe of 27th and 114th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiments appears below.
After the parade, I was invited go to a Catholic Mass near the Wheatfield where Father Corby gave an absolution to the men of Irish Brigade. A priest who had been returning every year since 1999 offered the Mass. The statue is of Fr. Corby who was from Notre Dame.
After Mass I prayed for the souls of those who lost their lives while looking out on the Wheatfield.
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