"A Brutal Way to Die in Gettysburg" Topic

Not there was a good way to die in the Civil War, but there were some ways that were worse than others. One of the most brutal methods used was that of canister fire. We're on the Gettysburg battlefield where Pickett's Charge took place to take a look at some of the tools that were used that day and some of the relics that were left behind.

The History Underground: link

Brutal indeed. When you actually walk the fields of Pickett's Charge, as I have many times, you begin to understand the courage of those men – on both sides. It is hard to comprehend walking that far under such murderous fire. Very similar to what Union soldiers faced at Fredericksburg, the trenches of WWI, and any other suicidal attacks in history. There is one spot on the walk from the Confederate lines to the copse of trees that was the focal point of the charge where the confederates were actually out of line of sight in a slight depression in the field. It must have taken great nerve and courage to come up out of that depression in the fields into the sights of Union gunners using canister fire! Seeing the actual artifacts is sobering considering what they did to human flesh and bone. If you are ever there at Gettysburg, and are physically able, I strongly encourage you take that walk. The park service keeps mowed paths so that visitors can do this. It will give you a renewed perspective on this pivotal moment of history.

At the Murfreesboro Battlefield (Stones River to you Yankees), there's a spot out in the woods, they call "The Cold Spot". Its in an area where a Union infantry company blundered through the woods and right into the open facing gun line of a CS battery who gave them double cannister at point blank.
"Brutal" was an understatement. The entire company essentially ceased to exist and essentially evaporated in a misty mess of blood, flesh, and bone.
Needless to say each time I have walked through that area, I get the chills and creeps. It's not a "good place"…