Signe Hammer

Lee and Liberty at Gettysburg

Light Horse Harry Lee served

under Washington, who won

our Revolution.

One generation away,

Harry’s son, Robert E., lost our Civil War.

R.E.’s wife was George’s wife’s

great-granddaughter:

three generations away.

My great-grandmother,

Liberty Augusta, lived—a

teenage girl—in Gettysburg in 1863.

When she wrote her Recollections, the century had changed.

In the course of the Battle, naturally,

Lee astride Traveler, his famous horse,  

paused right outside her gate. I’m only

three generations away

in the 21st century,

six from Independence—my

4X-great-grandfather died

the year it all began, 1776,

—or only four,

if Liberty locked eyes with Lee

that summer’s day in Gettysburg,

three generations away.

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