Just five minutes from our hotel was the visitor center for Manassas Battlefield well, it would have been five minutes, but the road was down to one lane. Period. Took more like thirty, but we made it.
First on the agenda was the visitor center. They had an amazingly informative display of artifacts and a huge interactive map explaining the first battle (there were two. The North called them the Battles of Bull Run after the stream/ river they had to cross. To the Confederates it was the Battles of Manassas, after the nearby town).
Then it was on to the hike. This one was a little over a mile, but it was through recently cut grass. And it was misting again. To make that long story short, our shoes and socks got drenched and matted with loose grass at the same time. Yuk.
We did see some interesting places of interest on the hike. My favorite was the statue honoring Stonewall Jackson. This was the battle where he got his famous nickname. Now there’s a big bronze statue of him on a horse.
That hike was all related to the First Battle of Manassas/Bull Run. There was also a driving tour that encompassed the second battle. We did some of that one. Best part to me was getting to walk across the actual Bull Run (it’s a wide stream/ tiny river) on a bridge that was reconstructed from the actual bridge present at both battles.
Next was .. well, it was lunchtime, so we went to nearby Cracker Barrel. Got a free drink for being in their club. Found out o also have a free piece of cake as a birthday present. I’ll have to get that next time we are there.
Our afternoon took us West again. There was one more battlefield and a plantation site on Chris’ radar (read here, “in the National Park book”). The visitor center for the battlefield was a small room in a strip shopping center. It did have a knowledgeable ranger, though, and one of those interactive maps that told the story of the battle. Ingenious Southern battle strategy. Had the battle won but quit too soon. Lost the Shenandoah Valley and the South’s primary source of grain/ food. The war was over in just a few months.
From there we went to the plantation that was the headquarters for the Union forces. We missed the last house tour, but we did roam around the grounds. And Chris got another stamp for her book.
Finally we attempted a surge to the south and west - back toward Texas … sort of. We spent the night in Lexington, Virginia. Wait! There’s something important about that town. The rest of Stonewall Jackson’s body is buried there. That’s our quickie goal for the morning. Find the grave. Take a picture. Then get outa town.
Why the hurry to leave? We may or may not have a luncheon engagement with a certain grandson today. Gotta run…
Psalms 119:105 says, Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.
Father, thanks for that Ranger in Middletown. He was really helpful. Amen.
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