As I discussed in my previous post,
this week has been of particular significance to Civil War scholars and “fans”
alike. This is because of the one-hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the
battle of Gettysburg. From what I saw on Facebook and on the news, there was
quite a celebration at the site itself. Re-enactors, preeminent historians,
government representatives, and many civilians partook in the festivities.
What was not as well documented, though, were
the changes that are being done to Gettysburg’s battlefield. Later that day,
there was an event that celebrated those changes. Interestingly enough, the
site is now in the process of being restored to how it appeared in 1863. From
the battle to the modern era, the apple trees were cleared, and the forest
began encroaching on what was previously the battlefield. This became confusing
for historians and citizens alike that visited the site. (When I went to
Gettysburg this previous spring, I encountered the same problem.) So, this
restoration effort marks a new era in Gettysburg’s interpretation. As author
Adrian Higgins states, “…the reclamation of the Bliss
Orchard caps an effort to replant 3,263 fruit trees in a total of 39 orchards
on 112 acres of the park since 2005. This endeavor, in turn, is part of a
broader, 14-year plan by the Park Service, Pennsylvania state agencies and
nonprofit allies to peel back decades of accumulated natural and man-made
clutter…” (Higgins, 1) in order to restore
the battlefield and to obtain a better understanding of the events at
Gettysburg.
Although this has proven
problematic to some residents’ homes, roads, and chain businesses, I personally
support this process! When I visited Antietam, I preferred the “purer” state of
the battlefield much more in comparison to Gettysburg. I look forward to
hearing more about the ongoing changes at Gettysburg in the future.
Link to the article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/gettysburg-battlefield-is-restored-to-a-landscape-civil-war-soldiers-would-recognize/2013/11/18/5adfb2b2-4ef0-11e3-be6b-d3d28122e6d4_story.html
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