Manassas Battlefield

Last week we went with my parents to the Civil War battlefield at Manassas, or Bull Run if you were on the Union side of things. My Dad is knowledgeable about all things concerning the Civil War, and he really wanted to visit Manassas again. It is a beautiful place, in the rolling hills of Virginia, about an hour from where we live. The area has been preserved and is pretty much just the way it looked back when the battles (there were two battles at Manassas) took place. We took a walking tour of the battlefield and read about the movements of the troops, the tragedy that took place in the farmhouse, and how General Jackson got his famous nickname, "Stonewall Jackson."



This is a marker put up by the Georgia Infantry to mark their position in the battle.

Ruthie on one of the Confederate cannons. We later read that climbing on the cannons was not allowed. We apologize.

Papa's new nickname for Mac is "Cannon Boy."

Harris was so excited to sit on a cannon too.

The statue of Stonewall Jackson overlooking the field of battle.

" There stands Jackson like a stone wall."

This was the farmhouse where an 85 year old bed-ridden woman refused to leave as the troops advanced on her family's property. She was killed by artillery fire.

This is the Stone Bridge over Bull Run. Part of what is there now was there in 1861, but it was also partly wood and was burnt during the course of the fighting.

We hiked on the trail that led along Bull Run, a beautiful, quiet stream.

ADIEU O soldier,

You of the rude campaigning, (which we shared,)

The rapid march, the life of the camp,

The hot contention of opposing fronts, the long manoeuvre,

Red battles with their slaughter, the stimulus, the strong terrific

game,

Spell of all brave and manly hearts, the trains of time through you

and like of you all fill'd,

With war and war's expression.

Adieu dear comrade,

Your mission is fulfill'd- but I, more warlike,

Myself and this contentious soul of mine,

Still on our own campaigning bound,

Through untried roads with ambushes opponents lined,

Through many a sharp defeat and many a crisis, often baffled,

Here marching, ever marching on, a war fight out- aye here,

To fiercer, weightier battles give expression.

-Walt Whitman