A glimpse of War in the Valley
New Market Battlefield State Historical Park & Hall of Valor Civil War Museum
New Market, VA
and
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
b/w Middletown & Strasburg, VA
Today I decided to take a trip into my past. My father’s family lived in the Shenandoah Valley throughout my childhood, so I spent a lot of time in the area. Not to mention, it’s were my parents lived during the first years of marriage and where I was actually born. Anyway, I haven’t been back in years, so I decided to drive down, hitting a couple of Civil War battlefields along the way.
New Market Battlefield
The Battle of New Market occurred in May during the Valley Campaigns of 1864. MG John Breckinridge’s Confederate troops, including the Virginia Military Institute’s (VMI) Corps of Cadets, attacked Union MG Franz Sigel’s army outside of the small town. The cadets were intended to remain in reserve, however ordered to the front to reinforce the weakened Confederate center. Their brave service is a continued point of pride for the institute, with several traditions surrounding the events of that day.
Hall of Valor
New Market Cadet gravestones & VMI Hall of Valor Museum
A semi-circle of six gravestones sits outside of the battlefield’s visitor center/museum. The stones are for six of the ten cadets lost in the battle, including five killed in action and one who died within days. The missing four died of complications due to their wounds over a course of months. The memorials were originally placed on VMI’s campus, but were later replaced by new memorial stones, with the additional four.
The museum is dedicated to the battle, particularly the cadets involved, and the war in general. The exhibits were nice. They were very eye-catching. The upper level of “The Virginia Room” is lined with sections summarizing each year of the Civil War, with the lower level displaying artifacts from the battle and war in general.
Field of Honor
19th Century Bushlong Farm
Field of Lost Shoes
von Kleiser’s Union battery position
The Bushlong family’s farm was the center of the battle line, with its fields baring witness to the fierce fighting. The house, in which the family hid in the basement, was used as a Confederate field hospital and is currently set up with displays showing the lifestyle of the time.
The wheat field north of the Bushlong’s orchard, which came to be known as the Field of Lost Shoes, was the main Confederate attack field during the battle. The Corps of Cadets, holding the Confederate center, charged out of the orchard across the fence, rushing toward the Union line.
The Union artillery, sitting across the field from the Confederate position, was abandoned after its infantry support retreated and captured by Rebel forces. The entire Yankee line in the wheat field area was assaulted and driven from the field.
Misc
Shenandoah Valley scenic overlook
While walking back from the Field of Lost Shoes, there was a gorgeous scenic overlook into the Valley. Definitely worth a stop.
This morning’s Flickr set: New Market pics
The Battle of Cedar Creek, the final of the Valley Campaigns of 1864, took place in mid-October. In the morning, Confederate MG Jubal Early’s Third Corps surprised MG Philip Sheridan’s Union Army of the Shenandoah, catching the Yankees off guard and pushing two Corps back. Eventually, the Union VIII Corps was able to organize an adequate defense, draining the Rebels of their momentum. After a brief cease-fire, the Union army counter-attacked and crushed their Confederate opponents.
The battlefield is a mixture of National Park, foundation-owned and privately-owned property. Apparently, most of it belongs to the Cedar Creek Battlefield and Belle Grove Plantation Foundations, preservation foundations working to accumulate the remainder of the land. Very little of the battlefield is currently maintained by the National Park Service.
Anyway, because of this, there isn’t an official tour route for the park. At the battlefield visitor center this book was recommended to me as a guide for an adequate, organized tour. It’s extremely interesting, as it gives a lot more information about the area, but I need more time to figure out the suggested trail. I’m going to read through the book, then go back. However, since I was there, I stopped at two main pieces of the battlefield for a preview.
Belle Grove Manor
Plantation fields & Cedar Creek Battlefield
The Belle Grove estate was home to Maj. Isaac Hite and his wife Nelly Conway Madison, James Madison’s sister. During the battle, the property was front and center for much of the fighting. The mansion itself was used as Sheridan’s headquarters.
Currently, the house is open for tours, although, I chose to skip it due to time restraints. The grounds include several outbuildings, a barn, small garden and slave cemetery. The estate is gorgeous.
Union Trench line
Union XIX Corps trench section
A half-mile trail follows a section of MG William Emory’s Eleventh Corps trench line. The trail begins at an easy to miss gravel road off of Route 11, but once you find it, for the most part well-marked as it cuts through the thick woods. The trenches are relatively well preserved.
I’ve been to several battlefields with earthworks remaining, but have yet to find a way to effectively photograph them. Because the images are flat, it’s often hard to see the faint overgrown trenches. Oh well, I know what I’m looking at and maybe one day I’ll figure something better out.
This afternoon’s Flickr set: Cedar Creek pics
A little random piece of state history
Baltimore, MD
Forecast called for rain, so I planned accordingly. Instead of hiking around outside somewhere and getting soaked, I tried my luck at a relatively large museum house.
Mount Clare
Mount Clare is a very old Georgian Manson, once owned by one of the many Carroll families in early Baltimore. It was the center of a self-sufficient plantation in colonial times, and has seen three wars, the American Revolution, War of 1812, and the Civil War. Kind of interesting.
Mount Clare Mansion
“Carriage-side”
Rear view
I was the only one there. In fact, by looking at the guest book, I’d say the house isn’t very busy, with the exception of a few school trips. That’s too bad. So, I got my own personal tour of the house. All of the furniture is original to the house, and property of its former owners. Apparently, the museum association has been tracking the property’s original furnishings down over the years. They’ve bought what’s there back and the search continues.
Carroll Park
View of Inner Harbor
City’s Great War Memorial
After my tour, since the rain held up, I briefly strolled around the small park surrounding the house. It wasn’t much. The city’s local World War I Memorial is about the only thing, other than the mansion, on the grounds. It does have a nice view of the <bharbor though.
Today’s Flickr set: house pics
I’m not lost… just undiscovered [in Baltimore]
Baltimore County, MD
After the John Mayer concert, I bought James Morrison’s album, Undiscovered. Well, I love it, hence today’s title. I love the sound and lyrics of his songs. In honor of my great find and to put my newly acquired soundtrack to use, I synced my iPod and headed out for the day… to use my new camera!! Yayee.
Inner Harbor
Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse
The Baltimore Maritime Museum is a series of three ship museums and a lighthouse scattered throughout the harbor. It’s about $15.00 to tour all five pieces, but I haven’t had the attention span to commit to touring them. The screw-pile lighthouse sat along the Chesapeake Bay for 133 years marking the Seven Foot Knoll shoal at the mouth of the Patapsco River. In addition, the museum maintains a WWII sub, USCG cutter, which survived the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, and Bay lightship.
Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens
Today was not a game day for the O’s, so the stadium area was very quiet and open. I wandered through Eutaw Street and visited the various sports memorials, including the Orioles’ retired numbers, Babe Ruth, a Baltimore native, and Johnny Unitas, the great Baltimore Colts’ quarterback.
Downtown
University of Maryland Medical Center
Old Pine Street Station
Firefighters Memorial
Engine House No. 6.
The Old Pine Street Station is a former police station, now a National Registered Historic Place. It’s currently owned by the University of Maryland campus, although not in use. It was rather out of the way, but hey, what’s a little more walking? I’ll admit I had planned to walk passed a few more random historic buildings, however I found myself walking alone in an area I didn’t feel comfortable. I made a detour back to relatively friendly territory and continued from there.
The Baltimore City Firefighters Memorial was next to the City Fire Department Headquarters, near City Hall. I thought it was very fitting. Simple, with just a statue of a firefighter holding his ax in the middle of a flower bed, but beautiful. Engine House No. 6, formerly an Independent Fire Company station, is another National Historic Place within the city. It was actually built in the early 1850’s, prior to the organization of the city fire department. It currently houses the Baltimore City Fire Museum. I would have walked through, however, it wasn’t open. Oh well.
Jonestown
Star-Spangled Banner Museum
Flag House office
The flag house was home to Mary Young Pickersgill, her mother, and her young daughter. During the War of 1812, Pickersgill, a local seamstress, was hired by Fort McHenry commander MAJ George Armistead to create a large, unmistakable flag to fly over the fort during the impending battle with the British Navy. The 30-ft by 42-ft, 15 star and 15 stripe flag proudly waved over the garrison throughout the 1814 Battle of Baltimore. After the 25-hour bombardment from British ships in the Chesapeake Bay, the flag remained unscathed, a sight that inspired American attorney Francis Scott Key to pen his poem The Defense of Fort McHenry. The poem would later be renamed and become the National Anthem of the United States.
In addition to the house, there is also a small museum dedicated to the US flag and national anthem. There are a few exhibits displaying several artifacts from the time period, including the original invoice for Pickersgill’s flag. The museum entrance is an actual-size glass replica of the original flag.
During my tour, the guide pointed out a large pile of folded fabric in the corner of the Flag House office. Apparently, a group of amateur seamstresses undertook a project to replicate Pickergill’s feat. It took them nearly six months to finish the large folded flag, with similar dimensions to the original, in the picture. In comparison, Pickergill, her mother and teenage daughter completed the Fort McHenry flag in about six weeks for $400.00.
Today’s Flickr set: city pictures
Oh yeah, and lovin’ my new camera. The picture quality is SO much better!
A duo of historic sites in Glen Echo
I didn’t go too far today, since it started as such a dreary morning and I absolutely HAD to do some work this afternoon. Clara Barton’s house is just around the beltway, so I decided to check it off my list. The neighboring park was added to the day’s agenda because I reached the site prior its opening.
Glen Echo Park
1921 Dentzel Carousel
The park is a restored early 1900’s amusement park maintained by the National Park Service. Its center piece is an operational 1921 Dentzel Carousel. It seemed like it would be a great place to spend an afternoon with a family.
The House
Clara Barton House
American Red Cross office door
Clara Barton was considered the Civil War’s “Angel of the Battlefield.” She traveled between battle sites, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Petersburg, treating wounded soldiers in the field and at field hospitals. Later, while in Europe, she became involved with the International Red Cross and worked with the organization during the Franco-Prussian War to bring needed supplies to victims. Once she returned to the US, she fought for the ratification of the Geneva Convention and the establishment of the American Red Cross. As the organization’s first president, she pushed for its involvement in disaster relief around the world, as well as during wartime.
The house was designed, at Barton’s request, in a similar fashion to a Red Cross hotel building at its 1889 Johnstown (PA) Flood disaster relief operation. She lived out the last fifteen years of her life there. The interior has been restored to its original decor. Barton’s original bed is still in her room, where she died at 93-years-old.
The house served multiple purposes during Barton’s time there. It was the American Red Cross headquarters for a period, as she worked out of a back room. She housed several volunteers who assisted her with administrative work for the Red Cross and used it as a disaster supply warehouse, with all closets and crevasses filled with bandages, blankets and such. Then, of course, it was her home.
Today‘s Flickr set: site pics
To boot, after getting home, I’ve been rather productive in terms of research, which makes this a good day. I’m caught up with my work from the summer and feel much more ready for the semester to begin. I’ve decided this Fall, I’m going to make more of an effort to take time away from campus and school work to do “other” things, including continuing my weekend day trips. I’d like to avoid burning myself out and I think this is an important step in taking care of myself. My therapist would be so proud to read such a goal.
A surprise stop at Towson’s Hampton House
Towson, MD
I know it’s a Monday, but I managed to squeeze in a short photo trip this afternoon. My nutritionist and I had a small miscommunication regarding our appointment time this afternoon, which put me in Baltimore more than an hour early. Not wanting to sit in her waiting room that long, I set out to find something else to occupy the time. Fortunately, I had already noticed signs for a National Historic Site in the area and had my camera just waiting for action.
The Farm
Farmhouse
Dairy
The farmhouse is used as the site’s visitor center. It’s surrounded by various small buildings, many were servants’ (or slave, at a point) quarters. I arrived right at closing time, but I was able to sneak into a few of the buildings before the doors shut. The dairy was kind of a neat building. It had an underground spring diverted through it in order to keep it cool. The park ranger on duty was very enthusiastic about the structure. He rambled on and on about it without any prompting.
The Mansion
Mansion
Back Gardens
The garden behind the Georgian-style Mansion was fairly large. At this point, it’s mostly green, but I’m sure it’s colorful in the spring. There are a few greenhouses and stables on the property as well. Somewhere in the back is a small family cemetery, but I didn’t have time walk to it.
Today’s Flickr set: estate photos
I really liked the park ranger there. He was very nice and extremely knowledgeable about the site, which was helpful, but not overbearing. We ran into each other a couple of times while I was there, so I took the opportunity to ask a few questions about the place. The government acquired the land, which had been in the family for six generations, after the owners were forced to relinquish it to pay back-taxes. Ouch. The estate and house have no particular historical significance, except, at one time, it was the largest house in the US. The mansion and estate date back to the Revolutionary War period. Now, I think the site’s “claim to fame” is in the story of its multi-social class inhabitants, a population ranging from the indentured servants and slaves, who worked the land, to the array of wealthy merchant estate owners.
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