Manasass National Battlefield Part 4

Although it was so hot, we walked all the way to the Stone Bridge. This was a bridge over the Warrenton Turnpike. This bridge was destroyed after the 1st Bull Run battle, and reconstructed in 1962. Many of the Union troops under First Division, First Brigade (Col Keyes) fought across the bridge. It was also the place where the Union troops retreated at the end of both 1st and 2nd Bull Run.

I hope you enjoyed my visit to Manassas, I know I did and I really learned tons of things.

Until my next stop...

Manasass National Battlefield Part 3

From Henry Hill, we walked down to the Stone House, which was used during both 1st and 2nd Bull Run battles. It was used as a hospital or headquarters for the armies. Way before the war is was a local tavern. I went into the house and tavern part but they said I was too young to drink, and only gave me Root Bear.

Until Next time...

Manasass National Battlefield Part 2

We next went to the living history encampments, stopping first to speak with the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteers. They told me a lot about how there Colonel (Slocum) was killed early in the battle and he later had a fort in Washington DC named for him during the war (Fort Slocum). They also said that a Private Elisha Hunt Rhodes fought here, and continued in all major battles until Appomatox (and he became a 23 Lt Colonel of the Regiment). They recommended his book "All For The Union" which has his letter and diary entries.

I moved along to the encampment of the 27th Virginia, Company G, "Shriver's Grays" of the Stonewall brigade. They showed me how the soldier would have lived in the field in their shelter tent, or the officer's in an A tent.

The 27th Virginia fellow took me on a walk to the big monument to General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. They were really nice to me and even held me for the photos. You'll see that about four of them are wearing a white cover to their hats. They called these "Havelock" and they were meant to protect them from the sun. Many soldiers at 1st Bull Run had these covers but they got rid of them soon because the created even more heat and sweat underneath.

Manasass National Battlefield Part 1

Welcome to the Manasass National Battlefield Park. I visited this park on 19 July 2009 while they were having the annual commemoration of First Manassas or Bull Run for 148th Anniversary of July 21, 1861 battle. They had living history encampments of Union and Confederate troops; musket and artillery firing demonstrations; and Park Ranger tours of battlefield to describe phases of battle over Matthews Hill, Henry Hill, and Chinn Ridge.

I started the tour by the visitor's center and was surprised at how large an area of land out there. I think the park is a 5,000 acre classroom with miles of walking trails, many farm houses, monuments, and two visitor centers. I was really worried about walking around this huge place.

Well, I didn't have to do too much walking as I received an escort from the Prince William County Police, Mounted Patrol. Thanks for saving my paws!

From the main visitor center (Henry Hill), we went to Judith Henry's house, but first looked at the location of the Captain Rickett's Union Artillery Battery during 1st Bull Run.

We next stopped at the house of Judith Carter Henry on top of Henry Hill. A really big part of the battle happened on Henry Hill, so Mrs. Henry was in the middle of it. She was 84 or 85 years old and bedridden, refused to leave her bedroom during the battle. Confederate soldiers hide behind her house so Union artillery fired at the house with on shell hitting poor Mrs. Henry. Her grave is just outside the house (on my right).

On the other side of Mrs Hill's house is the first monument put up by Union veterans in 1865.

Until Next time...