In the summer of 1861, enthusiastic volunteers in colorful uniforms gathered to fight the first major land battle of the war. Confident that their foes would turn and run, neither side anticipated the smoke, din and death of battle. Nearly one year later, both sides met again on the same battlefield with the Confederates winning a solid victory bringing them to the height of their power. Many neighboring villagers came to take in a picnic and watch the battle, much like our own modern adaptation of dinner and a movie.
Only one civilian was killed during the battle of Bull Run. Judith Carter Henry, an 85 year old bed-ridden widow, was mortally wounded by Union artillery fire. She is buried in a small family cemetery located on Henry Hill.
We spent a very very pleasant afternoon here before we had to prepare for Lucy's big birthday bash. We took every opportunity of enjoying ourselves and had lots of fun discovering a great love for jumping pictures. It is said that some of the earliest documented jumping pictures occurred here on the Manassas National Battle Field. I know this because I took them!
We decided to break away from the tour group just outside the Henry home and had Anna read to us about the battles instead. This was infinitely better because we were then able to spend as much time taking pictures of each other as we wanted, which we did with no shame or hesitation!
I'm the one on the ground and Stonewall is the one on the horse... just in case you were wondering...
Heel jumps!
Courtney's shot of me and my self portrait. Can you find me?
3 comments:
Nice post, dude. I recently read about Bull Run 1 and 2 in Team of Rivals. Crazy Victorians picnicking at the battle site: weird!
D.
It seems like we had one of the funnest times ever at that battlefield. Of course it was much funner for us than the picnickers or the soliders.
That was one of the best days of my life. Way too much fun at a battlefield. I'll call in sick for that any day.
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