He arrived in Gettysburg one day before he was scheduled to speak. He had taken a train to Gettysburg and had made arrangements to spend the night at the Wills home overlooking the town square instead of getting a room at the local hotel....
Gettysburg Pennsylvania in the year 1863 had approximately 2400 residents. The town consisted of 10 major roads, a railroad stop, 8 churches, 6 taverns, 3 weekly newspapers, 2 banks , and a college with a seminary.
David Wills was a prominent lawyer in the area who had been given the job of purchasing land to create a National Cemetery to all those who had fallen at the Battle of Gettysburg...earlier that year between July 1st to July 3rd.
On the eve before President Lincoln was to give his speech, the Wills home had received 38 guests for dinner. Lincoln had been given the upstairs master bedroom that overlooked the town square, and proceeded to go over his speech for the following day...a speech consisting of only 10 complete sentences and 272 words, yet a speech that would be forever written in the hearts of the American people.
Although there were only 2400 people who lived in Gettysburg, the following day over 15000 people would be on hand to hear...."The Gettysburg Address". The date: November 19th, 1863...and is remembered as "The Day of Remembrance".
Earlier, on July 1st, Confederate General Robert E. Lee had put his focus around the town of Gettysburg, and had launched a large segment of the Southern army to this area...only to meet the resistance of Union General George G. Meade and the Union forces.
The first day of fighting witnessed the Confederate army drive back the Union soldiers...right through Gettysburg and onto a place known as Cemetery Hill.
On the 2nd day, Lee struck the flanks of the Union army and both sides suffered heavy losses in areas known as Devil's Den, Little Round Top, the Wheatfield, Peach Orchard, Culp's Hill, and Cemetery Hill. The 2 days of battle seemed to signal a Confederate victory forthcoming.....then came July 3rd....
On the morning of the 3rd of July, 1863, there was severe fighting at Culp's Hill, and the Union army was able to regain some of the ground it had lost in the previous 2 days of engagement.
In the afternoon, Lee mounted a "2nd invasion", and after a massive artillery bombardment, attacked the Union Center at Cemetery Ridge. This time, the Union forces held, and as a result General lee's Confederate forces suffered tremendous losses. Amidst this battle was the well-known "Pickett's Charge", and the results of the 3rd day were....Lee's "2nd invasion" had failed. From there, Lee was then forced to lead the Confederate army...in a painful retreat back to the state of Virginia.
It is recorded that over 51000 soldiers from both the North and South had been killed, wounded, captured, or missing...in what became the bloodiest battle of the entire Civil War.
Now, as the cold winds of November began whipping through this small town of 2400 residents known as Gettysburg, President Lincoln has arrived to "redefine the purpose of this cold and bloody Civil War".
On the day of this historic speech by President Abraham Lincoln, an Edward Everett was the opening speaker for the dedication ceremony. He spoke for approximately 2 hours in length, comparing the fallen soldiers at Gettysburg to the Greek gods of mythology.
Lincoln's speech...it took approximately 2 minutes......
Later, President Lincoln received a note from Everett that read: "I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in 2 hours, as you did...in 2 minutes."
The Gettysburg Address...by Abraham Lincoln. A total of 10 complete sentences....
"1. Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
2. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.
3. We are met on a great battlefield of that war.
4. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who gave their lives that this nation might live.
5. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
6. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate...we can not consecrate...we can not hallow...this ground.
7. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our power to add or detract.
8. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
9. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus so nobly advanced.
10. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us...that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain...that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom...and the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
The Gettysburg Address delivered by President Abraham Lincoln....often comes to my memory as we in America are about to celebrate our 4th of July and America's Independence.
Yet it also reminds me how many of our honored soldiers have died....for the beliefs we enjoy today....freedom, equality, and respect for all those who have embraced our "American flag."
At the same time, this time of year also reminds me of another dedication ceremony that took place centuries before the Battle of Gettysburg.
It was during the reign of King Solomon of Israel, at a time when the newly constructed Temple in Jerusalem had just been dedicated. In fact, on the very night King Solomon had dedicated the Temple with prayers and offerings to the Lord... the Lord actually appeared to him and confirmed He had accepted the prayers and offerings given that day. God then spoke to King Solomon and reminded him that if he and the people of Israel ever face a drought, with the heavens themselves being shut up and no fresh rains upon the land, if they ever find locusts invading and destroying their crops, or if they ever find themselves plagued with deadly diseases, here then is what they are to do:
A Gleaning from 2 Chronicles 7:14 ( This took God only....one sentence.)
" If my people, who are called..by My Very Name, shall humble themselves and pray, seeking My Presence in their daily lives, and turn from lifestyles that are abhorrent to the Lord,....
I will hear their cries from the very heavens,
I will forgive them of their sins,
I will heal...and restore their land."
Gettysburg Pennsylvania in the year 1863 had approximately 2400 residents. The town consisted of 10 major roads, a railroad stop, 8 churches, 6 taverns, 3 weekly newspapers, 2 banks , and a college with a seminary.
On the eve before President Lincoln was to give his speech, the Wills home had received 38 guests for dinner. Lincoln had been given the upstairs master bedroom that overlooked the town square, and proceeded to go over his speech for the following day...a speech consisting of only 10 complete sentences and 272 words, yet a speech that would be forever written in the hearts of the American people.
Although there were only 2400 people who lived in Gettysburg, the following day over 15000 people would be on hand to hear...."The Gettysburg Address". The date: November 19th, 1863...and is remembered as "The Day of Remembrance".
Earlier, on July 1st, Confederate General Robert E. Lee had put his focus around the town of Gettysburg, and had launched a large segment of the Southern army to this area...only to meet the resistance of Union General George G. Meade and the Union forces.
The first day of fighting witnessed the Confederate army drive back the Union soldiers...right through Gettysburg and onto a place known as Cemetery Hill.
On the 2nd day, Lee struck the flanks of the Union army and both sides suffered heavy losses in areas known as Devil's Den, Little Round Top, the Wheatfield, Peach Orchard, Culp's Hill, and Cemetery Hill. The 2 days of battle seemed to signal a Confederate victory forthcoming.....then came July 3rd....
On the morning of the 3rd of July, 1863, there was severe fighting at Culp's Hill, and the Union army was able to regain some of the ground it had lost in the previous 2 days of engagement.
In the afternoon, Lee mounted a "2nd invasion", and after a massive artillery bombardment, attacked the Union Center at Cemetery Ridge. This time, the Union forces held, and as a result General lee's Confederate forces suffered tremendous losses. Amidst this battle was the well-known "Pickett's Charge", and the results of the 3rd day were....Lee's "2nd invasion" had failed. From there, Lee was then forced to lead the Confederate army...in a painful retreat back to the state of Virginia.
Now, as the cold winds of November began whipping through this small town of 2400 residents known as Gettysburg, President Lincoln has arrived to "redefine the purpose of this cold and bloody Civil War".
On the day of this historic speech by President Abraham Lincoln, an Edward Everett was the opening speaker for the dedication ceremony. He spoke for approximately 2 hours in length, comparing the fallen soldiers at Gettysburg to the Greek gods of mythology.
Lincoln's speech...it took approximately 2 minutes......
Later, President Lincoln received a note from Everett that read: "I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in 2 hours, as you did...in 2 minutes."
The Gettysburg Address...by Abraham Lincoln. A total of 10 complete sentences....
"1. Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
2. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.
4. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who gave their lives that this nation might live.
5. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
6. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate...we can not consecrate...we can not hallow...this ground.
7. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our power to add or detract.
8. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
9. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus so nobly advanced.
10. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us...that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain...that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom...and the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
The Gettysburg Address delivered by President Abraham Lincoln....often comes to my memory as we in America are about to celebrate our 4th of July and America's Independence.
Yet it also reminds me how many of our honored soldiers have died....for the beliefs we enjoy today....freedom, equality, and respect for all those who have embraced our "American flag."
At the same time, this time of year also reminds me of another dedication ceremony that took place centuries before the Battle of Gettysburg.
It was during the reign of King Solomon of Israel, at a time when the newly constructed Temple in Jerusalem had just been dedicated. In fact, on the very night King Solomon had dedicated the Temple with prayers and offerings to the Lord... the Lord actually appeared to him and confirmed He had accepted the prayers and offerings given that day. God then spoke to King Solomon and reminded him that if he and the people of Israel ever face a drought, with the heavens themselves being shut up and no fresh rains upon the land, if they ever find locusts invading and destroying their crops, or if they ever find themselves plagued with deadly diseases, here then is what they are to do:
A Gleaning from 2 Chronicles 7:14 ( This took God only....one sentence.)
" If my people, who are called..by My Very Name, shall humble themselves and pray, seeking My Presence in their daily lives, and turn from lifestyles that are abhorrent to the Lord,....
I will hear their cries from the very heavens,
I will forgive them of their sins,
I will heal...and restore their land."
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