Updated on 6/23/2009 at 6:26 P.M.

I have put links in this journal for my non-USA/non Civil War buff watchers. Get schooled and read on!


Since the weather was bad, I couldn't go to Chicago on 6/19 or 6/20 so I ate out at the local Hooters for my birthday. On 6/21, I decided to take a little trip and visit some National Parks south of the Mason-Dixon Line that I hadn't been to before.

6/21- First stop, Antietam National Battlefield. [link] to official park site.

"The Bloodiest One Day Battle in American History

23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia’s first invasion into the North and led to Abraham Lincoln’s issuance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation"

Excerpt from the website linked above. Was a very interesting Civil War battlefield to visit... weather was hot but at least it wasn't raining! A 1 hour drive to the south was my next stop.

Second stop, Manassas National Battlefield. [link] to official park site.

"In the summer of 1861, enthusiastic volunteers in colorful uniforms gathered to fight the first major land battle of the war. Confident that their foes would turn and run, neither side anticipated the smoke, din and death of battle. Nearly one year later, both sides met again on the same battlefield with the Confederates winning a solid victory bringing them to the height of their power."

Excerpt from the website linked above. Another great battlefield with lots of sights to see, it's so awesome to walk where history was made... where the battle for life and death was fought- twice.

My last stop of the day was the Prince William Forest Park, a nice forest oasis to the SW of Washington D.C. [link] to official park site.

"Prince William Forest Park is an oasis of natural beauty and human history located only 35 miles south of Washington, DC. 37 miles of hiking trails and 21 miles of bicycle-accessible roads and trails traverse this 15,000 acre piedmont forest. Beneath its canopy lies evidence of human history reaching back to 8,000 B.C."

Excerpt from the website link above. Great park, so many different trails through the forest... will have to go back again.

Spent the night in Ashland, Virginia and then hit two more parks in Richmond the next day.

6/22

Maggie L walker National Historic Site was my first stop of the day. [link] to the official site. She was the first woman president of a bank in the United States of America... EVER!

"Richmond, VA. is home to many famous Americans including one of the nation’s great entrepreneurial spirits, Maggie Lena Walker. Come visit her home in the Jackson Ward community. Through exhibits and guided tours you will experience the life of this great African American woman, who was born during slavery and achieved success despite segregation and the limited opportunities offered to her race."

Excerpt from the website link above. Was quite an interesting place, learned a lot there.

My other stop was Richmond National Battlefield, the headquarters being the old Confederate Iron Works at Tredegar in downtown. [link] link to the official site.

"Embattled Capital, 1861 to 1865

Richmond's story is not just the tale of one large Civil War battle, nor even one important campaign. Instead, the park's resources include a naval battle, a key industrial complex, the Confederacy's largest hospital, dozens of miles of elaborate original fortifications, and the evocative spots where determined soldiers stood paces apart and fought with rifles, reaping a staggering human cost."

Excerpt from the website link above. This is a 80 mile loop road visiting many different Civil War sites from both the 1862 and 1864 campaigns against the city. Major battlefields and sites include Chimborazo Hospital, Drewry's Bluff, Fort Harrison, Chaffin's Farm, New Market Heights, and the infamous Cold Harbor battle, where 5000 Union troops fell in just SEVEN minutes, carnage like that has never been seen on US soil ever before or after. I saw both sides of the lines there... both sides were so close, it wasn't funny.

If I got you interested in these places, you can see my pics on photobucket here. There is nothing objectionable on any of these links, so feel free to browse. I probably will only post a few of these pics when I have time...

Antietam- [link]
Manassas- [link]
Prince William Forest Park- [link]
Maggie L Walker- [link]
Richmond- [link]

Any questions? Just ask! I've now been to over 160 National Parks in 3 1/2 years... not bad! Almost halfway done!