View Larger Map
Model of Salem Church Battle at Spotsylvania Visitor Center
Fredericksburg Battlefield Memorial
Civil War central - there were all kinds of battles fought around this area
Sunken Road Trail
Fredericksburg was a death trap for the Union soldiers
I love pictures like these. I look out, close my eyes, and try to feel what it must have been like.
Compassion amidst all the suffering
One thing we learned in all our battlefield tours is - to take the high ground
So beautiful now
Old cemetery with pock marked columns from the Civil War battles
Derek noticed one headstone showing that the person died on the same day he was born, March 30. When we got back to the visitor center Derek asked the park rangers about the person as well as a bunch of other things. The rangers were so excited that Derek showed such an interest and pulled out a bunch of historical books to try to answer his questions.
Graves as far as the eye can see
Most graves have more than one person. This one has 5.
I love to read all the markers. I was glad that the rest of the family enjoy touring the battlefields like I do. One guy was touring and stopped to tell us that it was great we were doing it together and that he couldn't get his wife to get out of the car. I thought, "I bet she won't miss the next "American Idol" or trip to the mall" - so sad.
In addition to all the Civil War history in the area, George Washington's boyhood home, Ferry Farm, is also in Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg had lots of neat historic houses including George Washington's mother's house
Religious Freedom Monument - thank you Thomas Jefferson. I'm so thankful to live in a time and place where I can believe what I want to believe - most people don't have that choice and it makes me sick.
Mary Washington Monument in Fredericksburg
Historic Kenmore House in Fredericksburg
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Memorial commerating how Stonewall Jackson earned his name at this battlefield
This was probably my favorite experience of the trip: only a few other visitors, beautiful weather, an amazing sunset, lush rolling Virginia hills, and the palpable humbling significance of the place.
Wow! - Stonewall Jackson forever looking towards the setting sun
Not all battlefields have been preserved and protected from encroaching development, but when they are like this one - it is magnificent!
We could not have ordered a better sunset
You're just going about your life when all of the sudden two armies show up one day and decide that they want to fight on your property - that sucks
Love the purple skies and the wide open spaces
We walked around the park, careful not to go too far as night was coming fast. We saw a herd of deer as we made our way back.
Overlooking the famous Stone House in the distance
We had trouble finding a hotel the night before and ended up a little north of Richmond, but we wanted to see some things in Richmond so we had to decide whether we wanted to go back into Richmond or move on. We weren't sure exactly what we wanted to see and we knew from the night before that moving around in a big city takes time. Many of the places we want to see are in small towns and you can pretty much find what you want to see in a small town by just driving around. That's not the case in a big city. We were also feeling like time was slipping away from us with only a week or so remaining on our trip. So it was with a heavy heart that we decided not to go back into Richmond and just continue north.
We really liked Virginia. It was beautiful, clean, vibrant, and filled with interesting places. There's Colonial history as well as Civil War history all over the place.
When I was a kid I thought of myself as a Yankee since I was born in South Dakota - even though I lived most of my childhood in Florida and Georgia. I did a book report on Ulysses Grant and I remember feeling proud that I was on the winning team amidst all the southerners around me.
As kids we're taught a simple version of the Civil War: Southerners for slavery (bad) and Northerners against slavery (good). Most people don't try to understand the war beyond that simplistic level. Certainly the backwards ass closeminded Southern rednecks only help to perpetuate that simplistic understanding. It's so sad that many have disgraced the Rebel Flag, which should be a noble and honorable symbol by rallying and wrapping themselves in the flag for the most closeminded backwards reasons.
As I got older and my political philosphy moved towards libertarianism and against big central government, I began to feel more open to understanding the Confederate side. Certainly slavery and fighting against desegregation are a disgrace that no one can justify, but the bigger underlying philosphy of fighting for a limited central government is honorable - especially in these times - whether it's the cloak and dagger spooky Rumsfeld\Cheney like Republicans (who I despise most) or the well intentioned (albeit misguided) Socialists like Obama.
When you dig deeper into the Civil War you find a much richer story. You find noble conflicted men on both sides fighting a war nobody wanted to fight - brother against brother. There's all kinds of backstories that detail the tension leading up to the war and the sorrow and despair following as the nation attempted to stitch itself back together.
No comments:
Post a Comment