#gettyburg

The threat of Antifa protesters also lingering in the back of some minds. This licensed battlefield guide had a message for anyone against seeing a confederate flag.

"We're just doing history here, just telling people story what happened in this country at the greatest battle in this half of the world. So it'd be kinda hard to do that without flags," said Jim Pangburn, a Licensed Battlefield Guide.

"It is a part of history. It's not a celebration of one side or the other at this time. It is a Memorial. It is a sign of those times," said Preston.

The Annual Gettysburg Civil War Battle reenactment a tribute to the 1863 battle that took more than 51,000 casualties in just three days.

Col. Thomas C. Devin: Sir?

Gen. Buford: Whole damn Reb army's gonna be here. They'll move through this town, occupy these hills on the other side, and when our people get here Lee'll have the high ground, and there'll be the devil to pay! The high ground! Meade'll come in slowly, cautiously, new to command. They'll be on his back from Washington. Wires hot with messages. "Attack! Attack!" So he will set up a ring around these hills. And when Lee's army is all nicely entrenched behind fat rocks on the high ground, Meade'll finally attack, if he can coordinate the army. Straight up the hillside, out in the open, in that gorgeous field of fire. We will charge valiantly... and be butchered valiantly! And afterwards, men in tall hats and gold watch fobs will thump their chests and say what a brave charge it was.

[he takes off his hat and rubs his head in resignation]

Happy 200th birthday to General Lewis Addison “Lo” Armistead (February 18, 1817 – July 5, 1863)

“You can never know what this has cost me, and I hope God will strike me dead if I am ever induced to leave my native soil, should worse come to worse.”