Author: Hayden Pugh

As a 4th grader, over summer break, I joined a Civil War camp in which we would tour battlefields and learn about the incredible struggle that took place in the early 1860s. In particular, we went to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to walk around one of the most important battlefields of the entire war. Not only was it a very historically intriguing adventure, but also carried a deep and solemn weight knowing that thousands of people died fighting for certain freedoms and ensuring that others could live and prosper. This battle, essentially, decided the fate of the Civil War given that a Union defeat would mean the occupation of Washington D.C. by the confederate army of Northern Virginia, spelling disaster for president Lincoln and the U.S. as a whole. Knowing this it is very exciting to be able to go to the real place and understand the rich events that took place. Since then, I have gone to Gettysburg about five times and am looking to go a sixth sometime soon. It is amazing that such a basic place can hold such great power and significance in the mind just because of what happened there. Ultimately, this trip opened the door to a much larger love for history and the American Civil War and the desire to understand the sacrifices made to keep the U.S. together in the face of incredible challenges. 

• Historic 
• Intriguing
• Deep 
• Honoring 
• Exciting 
• Solemn 
• Remembering 
• Incredible  
• Pivotal