Established by concerned citizens in 1864, the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association set out to preserve portions of the battlefield as a memorial to the Union troops that fought the battle. In 1895, the lands were transferred to the Federal government and Gettysburg National Military Park was established. Administered by a commission of Civil War veterans, the park's primary purpose was to be a memorial to the two armies that fought this pivotal battle, and to mark and preserve the battle lines of each army.
In the fields surrounding Gettysburg, over a hundred thousand Confederate and Union soldiers fought the most famous and deadliest battle of the American Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg started on July 1, 1863. Major General George G. Meade's Union forces outnumbered General Robert E. Lee's Confederate army, but that didn't stop the Confederates from launching assault after assault.
On the third day of battle, a climatic Confederate assault famously known as Pickett's Charge failed. Heavy fire from Union defenses proved too much, as large Confederate divisions reduced to fragments. Lee finally recognized defeat, and the next day began an orderly retreat to Virginia.
In all, over 51,000 soldiers were either killed, wounded, or missing. The Union's victory marked a pivotal moment in the Civil War. The South's morale never fully recovered, and the loss became the beginning of a gradual decline in the Confederate's military power.
Temporary graves were used until a permanent place was built. Officials rallied to create a national cemetery to honor Union soldiers. Within weeks, land was purchased at Cemetery Hill with contributions from the Union states that fought in the battle. The grounds were laid out in lots for each state.
On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous speech, the Gettysburg Address, at the dedication ceremony for the national cemetery, now named Soldiers National Cemetery. Within two-minutes, Lincoln not only honored Union soldiers who gave their life to the cause, but he gave meaning to the Civil War and inspired the living. His speech started with, "Four score and seven years ago" and it ended with, " . . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth".
The Soldiers National Monument, a prominent monument erected in 1869 in the center of the cemetery marked the spot where the dedication and Lincoln spoke. Henceforth, more than a thousand bronze and granite statues, monuments, and markers have been constructed. Two other prominent monuments include The Pennsylvania Monument the largest monument in the park, and The Eternal Light Peace Memorial on Oak Hill dedicated on the 75th anniversary of the battle.
By February 11, 1895 legislation passed that established Gettysburg National Military Park. In that same year, to preserve the battlefield, the park grew to several hundred acres. After that, the park continued to grow, and the National Park Service currently maintains the 6,000 acre battlefield and cemetery so that people can view the hills, fields, and woods where soldiers fought.
Hundreds of cannons have been refurbished and are on display throughout the park.
The Geocache Notification Form has been submitted to The Glacial Drumlin Trail office in Lake Mills, of the Wisconsin DNR. Geocaches placed on Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource managed lands require permission by means of a notification form. Please print out a paper copy of the notification form, fill in all required information, then submit it to the land manager. The DNR Notification form and land manager information can be obtained at: http://www.wi-geocaching.com/hiding