Gettysburg

[AVB]

On July 3, 1863, the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania ended after three days in a major victory for the North as Confederate troops retreated.



Four score 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.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. 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 that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth

 

[Smokyballs]

Lincoln was a footnote speaker at the dedication of the memorial. The man before him spoke for over two hours. The organizers decided to let him speak because he was the President(he wasn't very popular at this point). There is no photograph of him giving this speech because the media was not expecting him to speak. Over 65000 men died in this battle, the single largest loss of Americans in any single conflict in history! Tragic days in a tragic war.

 

[LilBastage]

I have a reproduction of this address framed and hanging on my wall. I'm a great admirer of President Lincoln and I, along with many actual historians, believe this to be one of the greatest addresses in the history of our nation.

Thanks for posting this, Ray.

 

[stevehawk]

Thanks for posting this Ray.

I agree with LilBastage on the greatness of this address, and it is one of my top two addresses of all times. The other is MLK's "I Have a Dream"... I get chills every time I hear/read either of them.

 

[slowhand]

I have a reproduction of this address framed and hanging on my wall. I'm a great admirer of President Lincoln and I, along with many actual historians, believe this to be one of the greatest addresses in the history of our nation.

Thanks for posting this, Ray.

An interesting read.

 

[LilBastage]

I have a reproduction of this address framed and hanging on my wall. I'm a great admirer of President Lincoln and I, along with many actual historians, believe this to be one of the greatest addresses in the history of our nation.

Thanks for posting this, Ray.

An interesting read.

I've read the book (and 2 others by Dilorenzo). The authors affiliations aside, I think this work in particular is worthy of study. It is a scathing critique of Lincoln that does have some valid points. It is, however, unfair in some of its assertions.

I'm a great admirer of Lincoln. I don't worship him. Nor do I think every decision he made was correct.

There's nothing wrong with critical looks at history.

 

[slowhand]

I have a reproduction of this address framed and hanging on my wall. I'm a great admirer of President Lincoln and I, along with many actual historians, believe this to be one of the greatest addresses in the history of our nation.

Thanks for posting this, Ray.

An interesting read.

I've read the book (and 2 others by Dilorenzo). The authors affiliations aside, I think this work in particular is worthy of study. It is a scathing critique of Lincoln that does have some valid points. It is, however, unfair in some of its assertions.

I'm a great admirer of Lincoln. I don't worship him. Nor do I think every decision he made was correct.

There's nothing wrong with critical looks at history.

I think your thoughts on the book are spot on. Dilorenzo's agenda does indeed get in his way and tries overly hard to be edgy. However, I think it is an important biography and brings some important things to light. History has been overly kind to Mr. Lincoln and many of his peers.

 

[LilBastage]

I have a reproduction of this address framed and hanging on my wall. I'm a great admirer of President Lincoln and I, along with many actual historians, believe this to be one of the greatest addresses in the history of our nation.

Thanks for posting this, Ray.

An interesting read.

I've read the book (and 2 others by Dilorenzo). The authors affiliations aside, I think this work in particular is worthy of study. It is a scathing critique of Lincoln that does have some valid points. It is, however, unfair in some of its assertions.

I'm a great admirer of Lincoln. I don't worship him. Nor do I think every decision he made was correct.

There's nothing wrong with critical looks at history.

I think your thoughts on the book are spot on. Dilorenzo's agenda does indeed get in his way and tries overly hard to be edgy. However, I think it is an important biography and brings some important things to light. History has been overly kind to Mr. Lincoln and many of his peers.

We are in agreement.