Ford's Theatre and Manassas

Wednesday, May 1st we drove to Centerville which is in the middle of the Manassas/Bull Run battlefield.

We are parked in a very precarious position but well chocked so should be OK. It seems whoever planned this place had no idea about RV's. The sewer and water in our site is OK, but the power is on the wrong side and about 30 feet away. After unhitching and chalking we had a chili cookout then retired to our respective trailers.

There is a shooting range here and the constant shooting puts us in the mood for the Civil War except there is no artillery.

Next morning we departed on a bus to Washington DC. Poor Annie was farmed out at a kennel with lowly D O G S! We were to visit where Lincoln died but the bus was late. We did make it to Ford's Theatre and saw a play. This was a treat for us because the play was very good and every time we have been here the playhouse was under renovation. Abe's box has been preserved and we got to see that too. We did not get to see where he died because the kids being unable to visit the White House, thanks to Obama, were filling all the other attractions.

Lunch was at the Basilica followed by a tour of this huge facility. A few pictures are enclosed. My first trip to DC was in the 80's traffic was OK then, next visit was in the 90's and driving was a nightmare. Now in the 2000's I would not attempt it at all.

After the Basilica we toured Lincoln's cottage. I did not know it existed, but it was that eras Camp David. It is only 12 miles out of DC but has a breeze so was cooler and smelled better. Lincoln said he hated, "that damned place." Meaning the White House. In those days it was the "peoples" house and anyone could come in and sewage was awful. Drinking water came directly from the Potomac.

We could tell Annie did not like the kennel, she did not eat and it seems did not go to the toilet either. She made up for all that after we picked her up.

Friday saw us driving to the Brawner Farm, which was roughly the site of both battles of Bull Run. The Union named battles after water sites and the Confederates named them after cities in the area. Therefore Bull Run is named after a creek and Manassas is named after the closest town.

We also visited the Stone House which served as a hospital to both armies not once, but twice. This structure still stands and was build around 1830.

Friday, May 3 was our anniversary and we went to dinner with the Luthers. It was very good, crowded but good food and service. Yesterday the 4th we went alone to a Greek restaurant, Katernas, and had lunch just the two of us, but the Yates were eating there too. Wonderful place for an anniversary lunch!

Prior to lunch we visited the Liberia House Plantation, a plantation of the era and visited the museum too.

Today is a day off and we are going to visit Henry Hill museum and see the movie. Then we will go to the air museum of the Smithsonian, not to be confused with the Smithsonian itself where we have been previously.

Next off to Fredericksburg!

Remodeled Ford's Theatre shows where Lincoln was shot.

Tour of the Battles at Manassas.

Old Stone House.

Inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

The bridge at Bull Run.

The Basilica. 

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Gettysburg, VA

Saturday the 27th we headed for Gettysburg an easy 50 mile drive. We have been here before but not on this caravan. At 5:30 or so we had a turkey dinner prepared by our group. Tired and well fed Shirley and I retired to our trailer. Some of the folks stayed for a showing of Lincoln, but we had already seen it.

Sunday, April 28th we had the morning off, but at 12:30 we boarded a bus for a tour of the battlefield. The guide was excellent and the overview was very helpful in understanding the intricacies of the three days of battle. Rain started toward the end of the tour and we were glad to be on a bus.

Also, this evening we went to dinner with friends, we ate at the Dobbin House. This was a tavern built in 1776. We ate here last time we were here. Prices are a bit steeper now. During slave days it was part of the underground railroad. A false floor in the attic shows where slaves were hidden.

Next day we left for the visitors center, it was still raining but we were inside mostly. The visitors center is new and much nicer and complete than our visit in around '93. The Cyclorama has been renewed also and was a delight.

This battle was won by the Union, and was coupled with the siege of Vicksburg. The Union seemed to be on a roll.

The afternoon was a car tour and picnic but was still raining so we all ate in our cars and then had a tour and lecture on Little Round Top. Great views and we further understood the dilemma of the Southern army here.

Sunday was a free day and Shirley took a horse ride, I stayed home with Annie and both of us enjoyed our day. Unfortunately, there are no pictures of our cowgirl. That evening we went to dinner at the Herr Tavern to say good bye to new friends who had to leave. This too was pricy, but very good food. It serves as a B and B along with a small restaurant.

See ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Yes, Annie is still with us.

A picture of the Cyclorama.

Our turkeys being cooked for the cookout.

Annie is getting bigger but is still our baby.

Our lecture on Little Roundtop.

Very interesting story and statue of Elizabeth Thorn.

Antietam National Battlefield

Friday, April 26th saw us at Antietam Battlefield. On September 16, 1862 Gen. McClellan and his Union army fought Gen. Lee's army. This was "the single bloodiest day in American military history."
The quotes are because they all seem to be the "bloodiest."

The battle of Antietam is considered a draw, Lincoln and the Union claimed victory and would give Lincoln the "victory" needed before delivering the Emancipation Proclamation which forever changed the geopolitical course of the the Civil War.

Next in our travels...Gettysburg!

Shirley putting the Maryland sticker on our map.

Bob and Carol standing next to the Antietam plaque. Bob's great uncle was wounded at Balls Bluff near here.

Shirley standing on the "Sunken Road."

Burns Bridge.

The land is swampy here too.

Another view of Burns bridge at ground level.

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Harpers Ferry

Thursday, April, 25th. we visited Harper's Ferry. This was a great little town and we enjoyed it very much. The town has historical significance because of John Brown's raid that in my opinion had a great deal to do with the start of the Civil War. Up until then all antislavery discussion was "peaceful discussion." He was good friends with Frederick Douglas and other abolitionists of the era. In fact we had lunch in a place called the "Secret Six" named after the people who supported Brown in his efforts.

Evening found us back at Beans in the Belfry for some bluegrass music. Not too good and either was the food, but we enjoyed our selves and visited with friends. Bob Luther is remotely related to Clara Barton and Shirley and I presented him with a children's book on Clara Barton.

More later,
Barry, Shirley and Annie

Beautiful Downtown Harpers Ferry

What is left of the Armory blown up in 1859 in John Browns failed attempt to free slaves.

More of the town.

Friends meeting to discuss lunch.

The old Presbyterian Church.

What is left of an old church on the way up to see where Thomas Jefferson stood.

View of the railroad and valley.

Brunswick, MD

On Wednesday, April, 24th. we drove from VA to MD. Rain is always a threat now, but we arrived in dry weather. The roads are more mountainous and much more narrow now. The park is really something. Right on the Potomac River. This is a good thing, but it is really rustic. Bathrooms are about a mile away and they are rustic too. Beautiful as this all is it's still rustic. The road in is dirt and dusty and bumpy. After crossing about 10 railroad tracks we hit the road in. Very slow going. Anyway after unhitching we drove back to the Beans in the Belfry restaurant for tea and sandwiches. This was a relaxing time and a nice way to get into the mood for tomorrow.

Here we are camped right on the Potomac River.

Dinner was at on old church now called Beans in the Belfry.

Tomorrow we drive to Harpers Ferry, which is just across the river and through some trees.


See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

New Market, VA

On Saturday, April, 20th we drove to New Market, VA and camped at the Endless Caverns RV Park. This is a unique park in it was built to take care of campers who attended the NASCAR races. Unfortunately, it did not pan out. It is a huge and beautiful park, but has certainly fallen on hard times. If we had not camped here, their weekday attendance would be zero. Good for us, bad for them.

This was one busy stop. Saturday we drove here and had a catered dinner the evening we arrived. We also got to see one of our caravaners who has just gotten too old to caravan anymore. It was great seeing him. His wife is ill and could not attend, we sure miss them.

Next day, Sunday was a "free" day. So we went to church, ate at the church and saw a local play (Chicago). All this was at the recommendation of Sally and Chuck who live in Woodstock, VA and know all the local people. We had a really great time and loved the church people and the play. Also, we got to see Chuck and Sally's house which was built originally in the late 1700's. It has been updated as the time passed.

Monday we toured Hupp's Hill Civil War Park and had a tour and lecture on Cedar Creek Battlefield. This battlefield is one of the few that allows reenactment on site, that is on the actual battlefield. The afternoon saw us at the Secret Passage Ranch where we got a lecture and demonstration of horsemanship. This was a highlight for us, we spent several hours here. Annie saw her first cow up close, and got to smell cow poop.

On Tuesday the 23rd we visited the Virginia Museum of the Civil War; saw a movie, looked over their displays and then had lunch at the Southern Kitchen in New Market. After lunch we had a walking tour of the town. The favorite story for me was about Jessie Rupert who was a Union sympathizer and was taken to General Stonewall Jackson to be punished. Jackson looked up from his desk, saw her, got up and hugged her. It seems he and Jessie had taught Sunday school together. He told the townsfolk to leave her alone and assigned a guard to her house. She is buried in New Market next to her husband.

Next we move to Brunswick, MD.

Some of the beautiful driveway leading to the home of Chuck and Sally's house in the Shenandoah Valley

Annie looking at the Shenandoah River. She has learned about a lot of things.

Couldn't resist this sign at the Secret Passage Ranch.

Stained glass window at the Cedar Creek Battlefield.

Chuck and Sally's house.

At Secret Passage Ranch we had a talk and demonstration on horsemanship. 

The offices at Endless Caverns RV Park.

Tour guide in New Market, VA

Grave of Jessie Rupert.

See 'ya, Barry, Shirley and Annie

Buena Vista, VA

We arrived at Buena Vista pronounced by locals as "Buna" Vista. After unhitching around 1 pm we noticed a baseball field, mostly fenced where we could turn Annie loose along with her new friend "Griz" a small mutt that is on our caravan.

This is Annie's first time ever to be able to just run. Run without her leash. She and Griz ran until they could not run anymore. It was great fun to watch them running just for the pure joy of running. It was good too 'cause Annie slept 9 hours that night before we had to let her out to "tee-tee."

In the evening we had a "cook-out" of Taco salad, it was good and great not to have to find food after the drive. Most of our caravaners are southerners and it was their first time for Taco salad.

Next day we drove to Lexington, just 8 miles away to visit Lee Chapel on the Washington-Lee University Campus. Our guide gave a talk slanted toward the south. He kept mentioning the "Yankees" but never once mentioned the "Rebels." I should have called him on it, but I'm out numbered here.

Next we visited Stonewall Jackson's house which was very interesting because I have read a lot about him. No photo's were allowed, but the tour was good and the talk was OK.

From here we went on a carriage ride pulled by two white horses named Minnie and Pearl. It was a nice slow ride but just as we reached the cemetery and I was taking a photo of Jackson's monument, the  horses broke the carriage tongue and were free. Fast thinking on my part due to watching all those old westerns as a kid, I jumped from the wagon onto the horses and stopped the runaway team just like Tom Mix always did. Well, actually I held Minnie's nose so she would hold still while the girl driver put things back together.

We had Annie along, and she got to see her very first horses up close.

After a costly lunch but great apple cobbler we drove to VMI and toured their museum. This is a great museum, some of our greatest soldiers came from here, Geo. Patton for one. We were to also have a guided tour and watch a Dress Parade, but they were rained out.

Yes, it rained hard. When we got back home, I don't know how we do it but the trailer was sitting in water. We can find the low spots to park on. By morning things were not too soggy and we hitched up for our next site.

Annie saw her first horse.

No pictures were allowed inside.

VMI Chapel 

This stop we did not see any battlefields but we did see a lot of history both before, during and after the Civil War.

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie