Monday, April 20, 2009

Oneida County Soldiers At Gettysburg






I wanted to share these photos with you because they mark the place many of "our boys" from Oneida County died. The battlefield of Gettysburg is only about 5 hours from here and is the site of the costliest battle ever fought on American shores. All told over 50,000 men gave their lives at this incredible battle, including many men of the 97th NYVI "Conkling Rifles" and the 146th NYVI Zouaves. The 97th marker is placed on the lines of the first day of battle, and the 146th marker is placed high on the hill called "Little Round Top". If you haven't been to Gettysburg, please go and pay tribute to all of the men who made the ultimate sacrifice to reshape the United States into a more perfect Union. And be sure to find the monuments that mark the spots where many from the Mohawk Valley fell, and never saw their beloveds and homes again. The fighting did not end there for many. In the ensuing 2 more years of war hundreds more Oneida County men would perish in the war.