Ross Home

Court Square Frederick
A very interesting home where General Lafayette was a guest on New Years Eve 1824. Immediately adjacent is the Courthouse and the Episcopal Church is a bit beyond. Just to the left is FS Key's law practice. His cousin, Eleanor Potts resided here in 1840 and Key wrote a poem for her after a visit here.
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Chancellorsville.jpg

The Chancellor Inn on the Orange Turnpike ruins. Fire from cannon destroyed this inn on May 3, 1863. Jackson's Corps under the command of JEB Stewart overwhelmed the artillery here and at Fairview some 1/2 mile west and infantry took this place which had been Hooker's HQ. The Federals here and at Salem church to the East fled across the fords of the river to safety. But perhaps the south had the biggest loss in the wounding and subsequent death of Stonewall Jackson. Who can say what might have been had he been with the ANV in latter years.
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Pedestal Mushroom

This beautiful plant picks up the evening sun in the Wilderness where Hooker called his staff and commanders together. The Union sat in very sound breast works with 75,000 men and Lee had maybe 35,000. Hooker had declined to attack down this trail a bit and Reynolds had sent Stone out on a recon hoping to get the battle going. Now, later, ever commander advised Hooker to stay and fight, indeed attack. But Hooker was beaten in spirit and ordered the AoP to turn and go home. Lincoln let him go home too. "Fighting Joe Hooker" did not live up to his reputation. Lee was disappointed, and felt like he could have ended it here and rolled up the AoP.

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Praying Mantus on Window

I captured this BB shot with max zoom and flash very early in the morning. I have never before seen a brown praying mantus like this. Note his body Back in Ky they are bigger and green
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Kettle-Creek-West

Evening shot of the west side of the track. Note the tree line along the creek and the rail peaking through above.
This is a couple of hundred yard to the rear of the main action and the previous shot. The site said Early executed a very well organized withdrawal inflicting significant casualties on the Union. An AMTRACK just blew by
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Battle of Kettle Run

At this very point on Aug 27th, 1862, was fought the retrograde action as part of Jackson's Corps as it moved up this rail line to pillage and burn the Union trains and massive supplies at Manassas Junction. Afterwards Jackson retired to defensive positions north of Manassas and then with the remainder of Lee's ANV defeated the Army of the Potomac. This was a text-book envelopment. Polk, out of food and whipped, retired to Washington--whereupon Lincoln relieved him of his command. See battle summary here
http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=10745

Other battles followed on these grounds to the favor of the AoP on about 17 October 1863 in the Battle of Bristoe Station
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Cold Harbor

Killing Fields. June 1864.

"The men bent down as the pushed forward, as if trying...to breast a tempest, and the files of men went down like rows of blocks or bricks pushed over by striking each other" John Piper 12th NH Inf.

The Federal losses, about 7,000, were the heaviest ever sustained in America in so brief an action Seven miles of defensive line protecting Richmond. "We must hold this line". This photo looks past one of the type of smoothbore guns that unleashed grapeshot against the advancing Federals. Even this did not dampen the resolve of Grant. He withdrew and maneuvered to the southeast of the line to continue his advance toward Richmond. We remember Kentuckian John Breckenridge who stood here with Longstreet and AP Hill
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String Band

Waynesboro Penn.
This is the 2nd South Carolina String Band. The are playing many songs from the period of War. Just now my favorite Bonnie Blue Flag...for Southern rights hurrah! Banjos, fiddles, flutes, bone, and guitar.
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Red Shirts

Waynesboro PA
The boys donned their red shirts and dark blue trousers this day to reenact as the New York Fire Brigade. I am thankful for the cooler weather in this Pleasant Valley just two miles north of the Mason Dixon line. I picked me up a rubberized blanket to make up my blanket roll which will serve as my abode in the open this eve

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Jamming

Baker Park
Great show tonight in the park. Very good group now playing: "Hey, The Blues is Alright". They recruited a fellow from the audience on the harmonica who was outstanding. Love those blues.
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