First Manassas Battlefield

Good Evening Everyone

Today was the perfect start to our three week adventure. Ms. Edwards and I got up around 6:30 AM and headed to the airport in Manchester New Hampshire with her parents and Katie the dog.

The plane left at 8:20 AM and landed at 9:30 AM. Ms. Edwards slept for most of the flight. I had to hangout in the storage area above her head. She wouldn't purchase a ticket for me. :(

We arrived at the airport in Baltimore and had to take a shuttle to pick up our car. Below is a picture of the car that we will be driving around in for the next three weeks. They offered us a mustang. Ms. Edwards was more interested in the gas milage though then having a really cool car. There is plenty of room in this car though. I get to stretch out in the back seat.

After leaving the airport we headed to our first stop in Manassas Virginia. We went to the Manassas National Battlefield Park. We spent about three hours and a half hours at the battlefield. Ms. Edwards took a walk through part of the First Manassas Battlefield. I took a nap in the car while she walked. She told me some interesting facts about the battle and shared some of her photos with me.

• The First Battle of Manassas took place on July 21, 1861.


• It was the first major land battle of the Civil War.


• Union troops were lead by Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell. They advanced across Bull Run.
  
• Confederate troops were lead by Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and P.G.T. Beauregard.


• The Union army was forced to retreat back to Washington D.C.
  
• Before this battle occurred both sides believed the war would be over quickly.
  
• Judith Carter Henry was the only civilian casualty from the battle. She was an 85 year-old widow who was unable to leave her bedroom in Henry House. A shell crashed through her bedroom wall and tore off one of the widow's feet and inflicted many injuries. She died later in the day. She is buried near Henry House and her grave can be visited.
  
• General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson received his nickname from this battle. Brig. Gen. Barnard Bee is said to have told his troops "Look at Jackson standing there like a stone wall!"
  
• Brig. Gen. Barnard Bee was killed on the battlefield. There is a marker there in his honor

Below are some pictures that Ms. Edwards took of the First Manassas Battlefield

This first picture is of Henry House. It is not the original house.







The next is a picture of the monument to Stonewall Jackson.









Here is a picture the monument that was placed to honor General Bernard Bee.

The final picture of the First Manassas Battlefield is of a bridge that Ms. Edwards walked across during her stroll.

For those of you keeping track. The snake count is currently at zero. The geese count is high though.

Ms. Edwards was surfing on the web and found this really interesting interactive map of the First Battle of Manassas. http://www.historyanimated.com/BullRunh.html

I think our GPS system was made by Yankees. It refers to the area as Bull Run. Not very politically correct at all.