One of the most seldom-visited portions of the battlefield is Neill Avenue, also known as "Lost Lane". Although it's only 600 or so yards from the Baltimore Pike it really feels like the middle of nowhere. Although Lost Lane is national park grounds, it is surrounded by private property so it's important to stay between the marked areas for the national park property. Also it's best to go with a companion. It IS isolated and trail is very rocky. If you're by yourself and have a fall you could be in a world of hurt (I don't think the cell phone reception out there is good either). If you go however, you will see a portion of the battlefield that few others have seen, completely untouched by development. I went with my buddy and after a couple of wrong turns we finally found it. Believe it or not, there are actually four large monuments for the regiments posted there; 49th New York, 7th Maine, 43rd New York and 61st Pennsylvania. I'm sure the story as to how these monuments were built in this location would be a story in itself.
In addition to visiting Lost Lane, I've walked along the old trolley path and then into Rose Woods to find the marker locating the spot where Captain Henry Fuller fell, I've walked along the horse trail to Slyder Farm to find the monuments for Companies E&H, Second US Sharpshooters and Company D, Second US Sharpshooters (which also has a great view of the ground leading to Devil's Den), I've walked up the reverse slope of Big Round Top to find the monument to the 118th Pennsylvania, I've walked along the trail between the Emmitsburg Road and the State of Virginia monument to see the monuments for the First Massachusetts (skirmish line) and Wisconsin sharpshooters, walked out into the fields of Pickett's Charge to find the location of the Bliss Farm, walked down a portion of Culp's Hill to find the advanced skirmish line marker for the 123rd New York, and I've walked between Hancock Avenue and the Codori farm to find the marker showing the location of where Colonel George Willard fell. I've walked down the hill from Barlow's knoll into the woods alongside Rock Creek to find the marker showing the advance position of 45 soldiers from the 54th New York, saw the mural along Coster avenue and did a quick tour of the monuments and markers on "Jones Battalion Avenue". I've also walked up Bushman Hill to see the monuments for the 5th New York Cavalry and Battery E, Fourth US Artillery, the markers to the 1st & 2nd Regiment, US Cavalry and Fifth US Cavalry off of Ridge Road. I've walked to Willoughby Run to see the bridge abutments, and also saw Brockenbrough's Quarry, just west of McPherson's Ridge.
I've also walked the battlefield from the Eternal Peace monument down Doubleday Avenue (where I saw "General and Mrs Grant" checking into the B&B after touring the town), down Reynolds Avenue all the way to Fairfield Road. I've done the walking tour of Seminary Ridge (in the snow), walked the grounds of Pickett's charge with my buddy (including a dramatic recreation of climbing the fence along Emmitsburg Road), walked up Little Round top, found the position marker for Company B of the 20th Maine, walked the length of Brenner's Hill and also toured the monuments and emplacements on Power's Hill. I've also seen the monument to the 16th Pa Cavalry standing alone along Highland avenue and I walked down the McLean Farm Lane to find the advance marker for the 45th New York. I've also walked down Culp's hill to see the large "sniper rocks" that the confederates and US soldiers hid behind when sniping at each other; toured Powers Hill to visit the monuments and markers there. I visited the hospital at the George Spangler farm, where Armistead passed away, and my friend and I walked along the horse path to the Spangler farm off Emittsburg Road.
Gettysburg is a huge battlefield, too much to see in a weekend if you're interested in the details of the battle. Going there several times has given me the chance to focus on portions of the battlefield each trip.
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