Newspaper Page Text
The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, July 2, 2008, Page 3A
Gettsyburg - Three Days In July 1863
Special to the Ledger
By Lee Stanley
For thousands of years,
warring armies have
marched most of the globe,
meeting for only a few brief
moments of bloodletting, be
fore continuing their journey
into history. The names of
the towns where famous bat
tles have been fought have
become household words.
Places like Berlin, Moscow,
New Orleans, Pearl Harbor,
Saigon, and many others are
known throughout the world
because of a few moments
or a few days of historic
battles. So is the case with
the small town of Gettsyb
urg, Pennsylvania, a place
that most military historians
believe was the most impor
tant battleground of the civil
war.
For three days in July of
1863, in the hills and valleys
of this quiet south central
Pennsylvania town, the fu
ture of America was decided
on a bloody battlefield. If it
had not been for the fighting
and dying of thousands of
Federals and Confederates,
Gettsyburg would be as little
known today as it was more
than 150 years ago, before
the Civil War. In late June of
1863, General Robert E. Lee
and the Army of Northern
Virginia, some 70,000
strong, marched from Vir
ginia through Maryland and
into Pennsylvania, hoping to
take the town of Harrisburg.
The Army of the Potomac,
some 80,000 strong, under
the new command of
General George G. Meade,
moved from Washington to
Submitted Photo
Bailey - Vanlith
Exchange Wedding Vows
Probate Judge John Wheaton performed the
outdoor wedding ceremony for Matthew Thomas
Bailey and Amber Lily Vanlith last week. The
couple exchanged their wedding vows in the
Leesburg Park. This was the 1066th wedding
performed by Judge Wheaton in the 24 years
that he has served as probate judge for Lee
County.
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Community Calendar
• Lee County Commissioners will meet Tuesday, July 8
at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Assembly
Room of the County Administration Building at 104
Leslie Hwy. in Leesburg.
• Southwest GA Chapter of the American Red Cross is
holding a Baby-sitting Course on Saturday, July 12 at
the chapter office located at 500 Pine Ave., Albany.
The class is from 9 am to 4 pm, must be 12 years old,
the cost is $50 and includes lunch. Pre-registration is
required - for more information call 436-4845.
• Smithville City Council will meet Thursday, July 17, at
7:00 p.m. at the Smithville City Hall.
• Lee County - Leesburg - Smithville Planning Commis
sion will meet Tuesday, July 15 at 6:00 p.m. The meet
ing will be held in the Assembly Room of the County
Administration Building at 104 Leslie Hwy. in Leesburg.
• PFLAG - Albany meets the fourth Tuesday of each
month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of
Saints John and Mark in Albany. For more information,
please call 446-3983 or 854-3838.
• Lee County Board of Education will meet Monday, July
21 at 5:00 p.m. at the Board of Education office building
located at 126 Starksville Ave. in Leesburg.
• Lee County - Leesburg - Smithville Planning Commis
sion will meet Tuesday, July 15 at 6:00 p.m. The meet
ing will be held in the Assembly Room of the County
Administration Building at 104 Leslie Hwy. in Leesburg.
• The American Legion Post 182 Leesburg meets 7:00
p.m. the first Monday of each month at the American
Legion Building (Hong Garden Restaurant) on Walnut
Street. Lor more information, call Pat Walsh at 291-
0457.
Items for Security Bank ’s Community Calendar can be
mailed to P.O. Box 715, Leesburg, GA 31763 or faxed to
229-759-6599. Deadline is Monday at 12:00 noon,
1531 U.S. Hwy. 19 South,
Leesburg, GA 31763
430-7000
stop Lee’s advance into the
north. All roads seemed to
lead to Gettysburg.
There was no particular
battle plan to meet in Gettsy
burg, but on July 1st, Major
General Henry Heth and his
entire division were sent to
remove the Federal Calvary
of Brigadier General John
Buford from the town. The
three-day engagement that
began would prove to be a
turning point in the Civil
War and one of the most im
portant battles in America’s
history.
The first day’s battle on
July 1st proved successful
for the Confederates. Late in
the afternoon, the Southern
ers had pushed the Federals
from the town and into an
area known as Cemetery
Hill. Lee’s Army had been
closer to Gettysburg on
the first day of battle, but
General Meade was mov
ing his troops to the area as
quickly as possible. On July
2nd, both of the armies were
committed to a major battle.
Fighting for Devil’s Den, Big
Roundtop, Little Roundtop,
Culp’s Hill, the Wheatfield
and the Peach Orchard cost
the lives of hundreds of men.
At the day’s end, neither side
had any substantial victories.
Later, that night, General
Meade had a “war council”
with all of his command
ers. Should he stay and fight
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or should his army retreat
back toward Washington.
Unanimously, his generals
voted to stand their ground
and Meade stood with them.
The stage was finally set for
the last day of battle in Get
tysburg.
For two days, General Lee
had tried both flanks of the
Federals. On July 3rd, he
decided to try the middle.
Longstreet, Lee’s most
trusted general, objected
to such an assault, but at 1:
00 p.m., the largest artillery
bombardment in American
history was launched against
the Federal line. Around
1:30 in the afternoon, the
divisions of Isaac Trimble,
James Pettigrew and the man
whose name would forever
See 1-66,
Page 4A
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Republican Primary July 15th, 2008
Tricia Quinn
For Tax Commissioner
I Ask For Your Vote!
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■ 17 years in Lee County government
1 Utilities Authority Administrator
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' Long time resident of Lee County
A Tax Commissioner who will listen and
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