Judgmental Dark-eyed Junco Gettysburg, Pa. 3/3/25

On July 2, 1863, Colonel Joshua Chamberlain lead his men of the 20th Maine on a bayonet charge down the slopes of little round top, during the battle of Gettysburg. He would later be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions that day.

Actually I think we got home around 4pm but I then had to clean up after the cats - indoor and outdoor - and get them back to normal. Normal dishes instead of auto feeder, vacuumed up all the hair. So much hair. Cleaned up the vomit (Finny!) and I left one of my suitcases I wasn’t using on the guest room floor and SOMEBODY (Loki!) peed in it.

Put clean dishes away. Cleaned up travel dishes. Put remaining travel snacks away. Started a wash.

Put the porch back together (had taken in anything that might blow away) and put the container garden back together on the stairs (had put them in the car port so they wouldn’t dry up and die.)

I did everything except unpack my own suitcase and maybe I’ll do that tomorrow. Right now I’m on the couch with an ice cold lemonade and vodka and questioning my life choices.

Confederate and Union soldiers shaking hands at a Battle of Gettysburg reunion 1913.

COL. JOSHUA LAWRENCE CHAMBERLAIN & LT. THOMAS CHAMBERLAIN

played by JEFF DANIELS and C. THOMAS HOWELL in Gettysbrug (1993) and Gods & Generals (2003)

During the Battle of Gettysburg, the 20th Maine regiment (a volunteer regiment with the two Chamberlain brothers) was stationed on Little Round Top hill at the extreme left of the Union line. After about 3–4 hours of defending the position, the 20th Maine completely ran out of ammunition. At the sight of Rebels forming again for another push, Lawrence ordered to respond by charging downhill with only fixed bayonets. The heroic charge surprised and scattered the Confederates, ending the attack and the attempt to flank its position. Had the 20th Maine retreated from the hill, the entire Union line would have been flanked, endangering other regiments in the vicinity and the outcome of the whole Battle.

Lawrence was wounded in the foot by a bullet. Thomas was unhurt. As a result of their valiant defense of the hill, the Chamberlain brothers, Lawrence especially, and the 20th Maine gained a great reputation and are the subject of many publications & stories.

original caption

Battlefield Tour

President Kennedy, right, and his wife Jacqueline, are escorted by Jacob M. Sheads, a battlefield guide as they tour the Gettysburg battlefield. In background is the North Carolina monument. Kennedy flew by helicopter from Camp David to Gettysburg to view the battlefield.