This Month's Headlines:

Editor's Letter

Spring has arrived at last in historic Gettysburg, and at The Gettysburg Experience we have been busy to bring you this new issue with items of historical interest.

               

To commemorate the eras of history from colonial times through the Civil War, we offer several articles for your perusal. The first is Why Sumter? which begins on page 19. As the catalyst for the opening of the greatest of all American conflicts, it is a question that deserves an answer. Beginning on page 29, we offer Three Boys, the true account of three youths who decided they wanted to see Abraham Lincoln, and the adventure that resulted from their journey. Read More >

Why Sumter?

The fateful, early morning hours of April 12, 1861 changed the course of American history forever. The bombing of Fort Sumter – a Federal garrison in Charleston Harbor – by Confederate artillerists was ordered by Pierre G.T. Beauregard. The action marked the beginning of the American Civil War. Since that terrible conflict, there have never been more American casualties incurred in any subsequent war involving American troops. When considering the two disastrous World Wars and the intense battles involved in them, it is sobering to consider, and wonder, why the bombing of a fort could bring on such hostilities.Read More >

Three Boys

When Abraham Lincoln stopped at Hanover Junction on his way to Gettysburg to give his famous Gettysburg Address, crowds appeared wherever he went. They continued to supplicate him, begging him to speak a few words to them. Many were heard to call, “Father Abraham, come out, your children want to see you!”1

             

When Lincoln and his entourage stepped off the platform of the train at the Gettysburg depot, the crowds persisted throughout the night, hoping for a chance to catch a glimpse of their Commander-in-Chief. There weren’t enough hotels, homes, barns and beds to accommodate the thousands who came to Gettysburg for the dedication of the National Cemetery, which took place the next day, on November 19, 1863. Read More >

A Most Historic Line

Boundary disputes were common during the colonial era of our yet future nation. With the laws enacted by Great Britain, colonists were often helpless without royal support from across the Atlantic. Such was the case with the heirs of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, and George Calvert, the First Lord Baltimore, who established the colony of Maryland.     

               

George Calvert (1578-1632) secured a land grant from King Charles I, the son of James I, in 1625 that became the colony of Maryland. It was a land of many rivers, including the Potomac, and was divided by the Chesapeake Bay. Since George Calvert was the First Lord Baltimore, the main city of his colony, established after his death, was named after his title. His son, Cecilius, took over the colony after his death.1 Read More >

Editor's Corner: Federalist Words

From October 1787 through the summer of 1788, The U.S. Constitution had already been written and officially signed. The thirteen states then needed to ratify it. To help the new citizenry with the basics of the new Constitutional Republic, three men – Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay – wrote articles to be published throughout the nation. These were known as The Federalist Papers.

               

The Federalist Papers explained various essential reasons for ratifying the new Constitution. Both Hamilton and Jay had studied law. Madison was a planter, but due to his family wealth, he had been instructed in his youth by a Scottish tutor who taught him extensively about the varied governments of Europe. These learned men used their powers of persuasion, and their extensive vocabulary, to convince the people to adhere to this document. Read More >