War, Memory, and the 1913 Gettysburg Reunion

The 1913 Gettysburg reunion brought together over 55,000 Union and Confederate veterans in a town of just 4,000, offering an event rooted in personal history and physical trauma rather than nationwide reconciliation. Contrary to popular belief, the gathering did not symbolize a united country, as sectional tensions and lingering hostilities persisted among attendees and civilians alike. Focusing on four individual veterans with diverse motives, Flagel explores their experiences, perceptions, and what they sought from the reunion, challenging the myth of a fully reconciled nation.