Chesterfield Activities, CW Part III

This is written on April 16th which is the first day I have had to write. By Tuesday evening, April 9th, everyone had arrived and we headed for or welcome dinner where we introduced ourselves and renewed friendships. As usual we had a great meal and a great time.

Next morning saw us leaving at 7 am to take Annie to her first kennel stay. As the lady said, "Annie is ready, but you are not," meaning Shirley. It was hard for both of us as she has been with us 24/7 since she came into our lives. It must be like taking your child to the first day of class and leaving them at school.

The bus ride into Richmond made us glad we had a bus driver to rely on. Very busy place with very narrow streets. Here we visited the Chimborazo Hospital and Hollywood Cemetery, both of which were significant in the Civil War. Lunch was on our own so we ate at Cary Town, a famous area in Richmond.

From here we toured Richmond via bus including visiting the monuments celebrating the civil wars participants...all Confederate of course.

There were brush fires, so most highways were blocked and it took several hours to get back to camp, and even longer to reach Annie's kennel. We were very glad to all be reunited once again. Annie did fine, we were frazzled.

Day two, April eleventh, we left at 7 am for the kennel then took the bus back to Richmond where we went to the Museum of the Confederacy and also visited the Confederate White House where Jefferson Davis lived and did most of his work.

I purchased a Confederate belt buckle here to wear instead of my Union buckle because I did not want to be lynched by some of these Confederate sympathizers.

Friday, the twelfth, we drove to Petersburg National Battlefield. Saw a movie, then had a ranger tour, toured the battle ground, then visited the museum and finally visited Blandford Church. This battlefield was important because this was the last time Lee and Grant fought each other. It is also where the Union dug a tunnel under the Confederate Army, filled it with explosives and ignited it to blow them all up. Unfortunately, the Union army fell into the crater and many Union soldiers were killed. Had this not occurred the outcome of the war would have been no different, but hundreds of people died on both sides.

Statue of riderless horse to commemorate the thousands of horses and mules killed.

Shirley and a Confederate Soldier

Ruins of Treegar Iron Works, built cannon and trains.

Blandford Church became a hospital during the war.

Our Leaders, Ed and Beth

The Confederate White House.

Iron works compared with the modern city.

Statue at Pamplin Historic Park.

Mascot at battle.

More statues at Pamplin.

Original home at Pamplin area.

This is exhausting.

OK Yankee, come and get it.

Over 8 thousand unknown Confederates are buried here in Hollywood Cemetary.

Ranger talk just off the crater. 

Original fortifications have filled in a little from 150 years ago.

More rangers talking.

Is that Jerry Brown?

Combination storm celler and museum.

Proud parents.

On our day to visit Petersburg, Annie was left at home and it was just too much for her so she has gotten to go along the rest of the time.

Long Blog, but a lot is happening. Much More later.

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie