Looking into the eyes of the past.

Over a three day period in July of 1863, Gettysburg Pennsylvania was the site of the largest number of casualties during the Civil War. Around 50,000. No typo there. Roughly 10,000 died during combat, another 30,000 wounded (of which probably died shortly thereafter) and then the remainder captured or missing. All of that over three days. Yesterday afternoon, my son and I toured the visitor center where you come face to face with the images and relics of battle. There were the requisite guns, sabers tents and clothing but what caught my attention the most was a collage of photos of soldiers who died in the battle. Images of young men dressed in their military uniforms; their names and hometowns written under their pictures. Some of the soldiers looked stoic while in others wore the face of dread and fear in their eyes. Naturally, no one is smiling. Life in the 1860's was tough enough. Add to that a horrific battle and you have hell on earth in a place called Gettysburg.