Day 965-Keys to Canada-Virginia

 Upon Hollow Ground

Upon the hollow ground I walk, My steps where they once stood before. The silence hums with echoes lost, Of distant drums and cannon roar. It makes my trembling heart to quake, To feel what lingers in this place— Where men and boys, with steady breath, Stood face to face with fate’s embrace. They chose to stand upon this earth, Willing their blood to stain the ground, For causes blurred by time’s slow march, Where truth and doubt are tightly bound. Who then was right, and who was wrong? The wind gives no reply to me. It carries whispers through the grass Of lives once lost to history. And as I walk where they once fell, A question stirs I cannot hide: If I were called to stand alone—Would I have strength to choose a side?

Antietam National Battlefield is a National Park Service-protected area along Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, Washington County, northwestern Maryland. It commemorates the American Civil War Battle of Antietam that occurred on September 17, 1862. The Bloodiest Day in American History--Hope for Freedom 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat. 

The sunken road, known as the "bloody lane," on the Antietam battlefield, where over 5,600 soldiers were killed or wounded (Union 3,000, Confederate 2,600) in four hours of combat along the 800-yard (700 m) road, on September 17, 1862, during the Battle of Antietam

The Dunker Church, built in 1852 by the German Baptist Brethren (or "Dunkers"), served as a vital focal point during the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. Its prominent white-washed walls on the Confederate left flank endured intense, direct artillery and rifle fire before the church became a temporary hospital for wounded soldiers. 

Why Dunker? They do a full body dunk for baptism.

I found a groundhog!

Clara Barton was the pioneering nurse and humanitarian who founded the American Red Cross. Known as the "Angel of the Battlefield," she brought vital supplies and medical care directly to wounded soldiers during the Civil War, most notably at the 1862 Battle of Antietam, and later established the American Red Cross in 1881.

The introduction of standardized left and right shoes (chiral shoes) is often attributed to Georg Hermann von Meyer, a German academic who published Über die richtige Gestalt des Schuhes in 1858, advocating for the design just years before the 1862 Battle of Antietam. Earlier, French industrialist Alexis Godillot also introduced differentiated boots

Gettysburg National Military Park, located in Pennsylvania, preserves the site of the pivotal July 1–3, 1863, Civil War battle where Union forces defeated1863 Confederate troops, ending the invasion of the North. The 6,000-acre park features over 1,300 monuments, famous sites like Little Round Top and Devil's Den, and the Soldiers National Cemetery.

Gettysburg was a three-day, 46,000+ casualty Union victory featuring large-scale troop movements and intense, concentrated fighting, while Antietam was a one-day, 22,000+ casualty.

The monument to North Carolina soldiers who fought and died at the Battle of Gettysburg created by Gutzon Borglum of San Antonio, Texas. He also created Mt Rushmore. The monument includes five images of charging Confederates and stands 12 feet in height. It is situated on West Confederate Avenue, where the North Carolinians emerged from the trees to join Pickett's Charge on 3 July. 

"Bull Run" and "Manassas" refer to the same two major American Civil War battles, fought in 1861 and 1862 near Manassas, Virginia. Union forces named the battles after a nearby stream (Bull Run), while Confederates used the name of the nearest town (Manassas). Both were decisive Confederate victories. 

Union forces favored geographical features (creeks/rivers) for battle names, while Confederates preferred towns or junctions.

This is where Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson gets his famous nickname at the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) in July 1861, when Gen. Bernard Bee described him as standing "like a stone wall"

First Bull Run / First Manassas (July 21, 1861): The first major land battle of the war. Union Gen. Irvin McDowell attacked Confederate Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard. It saw a chaotic Union retreat and proved the war would be long, shattering illusions of a quick victory.

Second Bull Run / Second Manassas (August 28–30, 1862): A much larger, more violent battle over similar ground, where Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee defeated Union Gen. John Pope, solidifying Lee's reputation.

he "Field of Lost Shoes" refers to a muddy section of the battlefield at the Battle of New Market (May 15, 1864), where torrential rain and freshly plowed ground caused many Confederate soldiers—specifically Virginia Military Institute (VMI) cadets—to lose their footwear,. The name highlights the harrowing conditions and the sacrifice of the VMI cadets, 10 of whom died and 45 were wounded

During the Confederate charge on May 15, 1864, the field behind the Bushong farmhouse was turned into deep mud. Many young VMI cadets lost their shoes, forcing them to continue the charge in their socks. 

Due to a shortage of manpower, roughly 247 VMI cadets were called into action, taking a critical role in charging against Union forces under Gen. Franz Sigel.

Day 953-Keys to Canada-Virginia

 Still working our way through Virginia. The rich history surrounding us leaves us in love with history. From the Revolutionary war to Civil War battlefields, it's a honor to walk among the multitude of significant events that shaped our country.  We stumbled upon the Annual NATO international festival. Engaging booths with countries represented, a grand parade, and an electrifying Military Tattoo (concert not ink)with 5 countries delivering a truly phenomenal show.

Yorktown, PA

The site of the final major battle of the American Revolution in 1781, where Lord Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington.

While in Norfolk, VA, we stumbled upon a NATO parade and festival. Countries had floats, bands, and booths with travel information and food. Looking around, with military service members everywhere, we spotted a sniper on a rooftop. It made us feel safe, but also left us wondering… where are the ones we don’t see?

Later that night we attended a Military Tattoo.  A military tattoo originated in the 17th-century Netherlands as a signal for soldiers to return to barracks, evolving from the Dutch phrase doe den tap toe ("turn off the tap"). Drummer-led performances instructed tavern keepers to stop serving beer, ensuring soldiers' return. 

Frank O’Reilly, author of the definitive study The Fredericksburg Campaign: Winter War on the Rappahannock, has stated that this ground is absolutely critical to understanding the battle. He writes: “The Slaughter Pen is the very heart and soul of the Fredericksburg Battlefield. Without it, nothing makes sense. This is the point where the battle was won and lost on December 13, 1862.”

Chatham Manor is one of America's most beautiful and historic houses. Built in the 18th century by William Fitzhugh, the house served as a headquarters and hospital for the Union army during the Battle of Fredericksburg.

George Washington’s Ferry Farm is where young Washington spent his formative years and became an extraordinary man. The future general and first president was 6 years old when his family moved to King George County (now Stafford County), Virginia, in 1738.

The Battle of Chancellorsville and the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (May 8–21, 1864) were two major American Civil War engagements fought in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. While separated by a year, they are deeply linked as part of the pivotal campaigns fought in the "Wilderness" region

Despite the victory, the Confederates suffered a devastating loss when Stonewall Jackson was accidentally shot by his own men and died days later.

Day 950-Keys to Canada-North Carolina-Virginia

 

From North Carolina to Virginia , this trip was filled with history, family, and moments that really stick with you. Walking the grounds of Virginia Military Institute, reflecting at Appomattox, and appreciating the stories behind each place—it all connects in a way that reminds you how the past shapes where we are today.

Rob and Rose Dickson in North Carolina

The Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway Company is the largest privately held shortline or regional railroad in North Carolina. Getting a sneak peak made this place extra special. 

The Pisgah Covered Bridge is a historic 54-foot structure located in Asheboro, NC, within the Uwharrie National Forest. Built in 1911 it is one of only two original covered bridges remaining in North Carolina. It spans the West Fork Branch of the Little River

The Virginia Military Institute is a public senior military college in Lexington, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1839 as America's first state-sponsored and -supported military college and is the oldest public senior military college in the United States

Grace Episcopal Church in Lexington, Virginia, has a deeply intertwined history with the local community and, specifically, the Washington and Lee University campus, serving as a landmark institution.

Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s most famous horse during the American Civil War, renowned for his grey coat, strength, and courage

Confederate General Stonewall Jackson is buried in the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery (formerly Oak Grove Cemetery) in Lexington, Virginia. He was laid to rest on May 15, 1863, following his death from pneumonia after being wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile scenic motor road connecting Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park to North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

‎⁨Appomattox Court House is significant as the site of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the American Civil War. This surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia began the nation’s reunification and triggered the collapse of other Confederate forces

Hollins Mill Park Lynchburg, VA