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SOME OF THOSE AZALEADay 36 May 25 2009 Virginia, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland? HUH?
That sequence above, will be explained when we cross the Shenandoah River and the Potomac River a few seconds apart from one another . Stay tuned.
It was a good day to be in the center of Civil War battle sites as it was THEE day to remember those who fought and died for our freedom. There certainly were many memorials and we just missed the one in the Park that was held at 11:30 just before we arrived.
Driving from Winchester VA, to Freeland MD, near the PA border did not take long and probably allowed us to at least drive by some of the most historical battle sites of the Civil War. It didn’t take us long to get out of Virginia and we did see a lot of horses on the farms there. When there are acres of pasture surrounded by white fences it is a “key” to what is being raised there. Soon we were in the eastern tip of West Virginia and the city of Charlestown and then Harper’s Ferry. Here the Army of Gen. Lee had its staging area and massed 40,000 troops to battle the Union’s 85,000 troops on the other side of the Potomac River. Lee’s Special Order Number 191 which explained his tactics was captured by the Union army and offset the advantage he would have had. During this period of time Lee divided his Northern Virginia Army into three portions (later four) and decided to make a stand at Sharpsburg (Antietam). It was his second and last attack during the war of any consequence. The first was at Bull Run. More than 18,000 men were wounded during one day’s fighting there at Antietam and over 3,000 at the Battle of South Mountain three days earlier. “Stonewall” Jackson surrounded the Union soldiers at Harpers Ferry and captured 25,000 men and all of their stores which the Confederates could sorely use.
It was a good day to be in the center of Civil War battle sites as it was THEE day to remember those who fought and died for our freedom. There certainly were many memorials and we just missed the one in the Park that was held at 11:30 just before we arrived.
Driving from Winchester VA, to Freeland MD, near the PA border did not take long and probably allowed us to at least drive by some of the most historical battle sites of the Civil War. It didn’t take us long to get out of Virginia and we did see a lot of horses on the farms there. When there are acres of pasture surrounded by white fences it is a “key” to what is being raised there. Soon we were in the eastern tip of West Virginia and the city of Charlestown and then Harper’s Ferry. Here the Army of Gen. Lee had its staging area and massed 40,000 troops to battle the Union’s 85,000 troops on the other side of the Potomac River. Lee’s Special Order Number 191 which explained his tactics was captured by the Union army and offset the advantage he would have had. During this period of time Lee divided his Northern Virginia Army into three portions (later four) and decided to make a stand at Sharpsburg (Antietam). It was his second and last attack during the war of any consequence. The first was at Bull Run. More than 18,000 men were wounded during one day’s fighting there at Antietam and over 3,000 at the Battle of South Mountain three days earlier. “Stonewall” Jackson surrounded the Union soldiers at Harpers Ferry and captured 25,000 men and all of their stores which the Confederates could sorely use.
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CLOUDS LOOKING DOWN FROM THE BLUE RIDGE
But that was not the only place that we thought about as we moved along I-70 toward Baltimore. There were also Olney, Frederick, and Mt. Airy. All significant in the Civil War.
Now about the chronology alluded to in the opening statement. While driving US 340, there is a place where the road is located in West Virginia, then Virginia, West Virginia and then Maryland, all in just a few miles. At that point near Harpers Ferry, it crosses the Shenandoah River to the Virginia side and then crosses the Potomac River to the Maryland side. The Shenandoah River enters the Potomac River at that point which made Harper’s ferry all that more important as a strategic spot during the Civil War...
Along the Shenandoah River are many flat rocks, and from these “perches” fishermen were plying their trade on this Holiday especially. At this point the road (an old two lane converted into a one way two lane), has a “tunnel like” effect as the trees hang over the road shielding us from the sun. It is very picturesque.
As we continued to drive easterly, the traffic heading to the eastern corridor of NY, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington continued to increase in volume and contained some inconsiderate drivers. They were not many mind you but enough to see that others lives on the road can be in danger at any time... The main offense I saw were, those who changed two lanes at one time and the ubiquitous “tailgater”. I don’t believe that any state has a “premium” on more or less offenders on the road
We ran across a road name (overpass) named “Catholic Church Road”. Honest! O course John Carroll founder of the first University in these has a street or two named after him. Along the way we crossed the “Old National Pike” (historic road), and the Appalachian Trail again. It is affectionately called “A.T.” as well. Then there was Sykesville, and Clarkesville.
We continued on I-70 until it became I 695 and finally into I 83. This took us to but not into Baltimore, I 83 went directly north to Freeland where the campground was located. The campground is on land that is still in the Morris family since the original deed (I saw the copy) dated December 4, 1793 on a piece of goatskin.
The family worked off their indenture (for passage) in the Susquehanna area and then walked to this place when it was paid... Today, after 7 generations of continuous owners, the land is used for grain growing, Angus cattle, and recreation. The campground is very unique as it is divided into use areas. Large RV’s in one area, trailers in another families in another, tents in another and they are all divided by woods and a very circuitous road system. One could get lost easily. The hills add to the ambience of the park. It is closely monitored and rules are established to create respect and quiet. Ex: “must have proper attire at all times and no “poorly worded “T shirts. and …”pets must have vaccination certification”.”
The birds here are very abundant and a Baltimore Oriole is nesting just above (way above) our trailer. This first evening (after many went home) is very quiet. Ruth and I did one load of laundry to get us home at least. It was $2.00 a wash and $1.00 per dryer (2 times). We settled in for the evening and will look at doing Annapolis tomorrow if the rains hold off. Doesn’t look like it.
But that was not the only place that we thought about as we moved along I-70 toward Baltimore. There were also Olney, Frederick, and Mt. Airy. All significant in the Civil War.
Now about the chronology alluded to in the opening statement. While driving US 340, there is a place where the road is located in West Virginia, then Virginia, West Virginia and then Maryland, all in just a few miles. At that point near Harpers Ferry, it crosses the Shenandoah River to the Virginia side and then crosses the Potomac River to the Maryland side. The Shenandoah River enters the Potomac River at that point which made Harper’s ferry all that more important as a strategic spot during the Civil War...
Along the Shenandoah River are many flat rocks, and from these “perches” fishermen were plying their trade on this Holiday especially. At this point the road (an old two lane converted into a one way two lane), has a “tunnel like” effect as the trees hang over the road shielding us from the sun. It is very picturesque.
As we continued to drive easterly, the traffic heading to the eastern corridor of NY, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington continued to increase in volume and contained some inconsiderate drivers. They were not many mind you but enough to see that others lives on the road can be in danger at any time... The main offense I saw were, those who changed two lanes at one time and the ubiquitous “tailgater”. I don’t believe that any state has a “premium” on more or less offenders on the road
We ran across a road name (overpass) named “Catholic Church Road”. Honest! O course John Carroll founder of the first University in these has a street or two named after him. Along the way we crossed the “Old National Pike” (historic road), and the Appalachian Trail again. It is affectionately called “A.T.” as well. Then there was Sykesville, and Clarkesville.
We continued on I-70 until it became I 695 and finally into I 83. This took us to but not into Baltimore, I 83 went directly north to Freeland where the campground was located. The campground is on land that is still in the Morris family since the original deed (I saw the copy) dated December 4, 1793 on a piece of goatskin.
The family worked off their indenture (for passage) in the Susquehanna area and then walked to this place when it was paid... Today, after 7 generations of continuous owners, the land is used for grain growing, Angus cattle, and recreation. The campground is very unique as it is divided into use areas. Large RV’s in one area, trailers in another families in another, tents in another and they are all divided by woods and a very circuitous road system. One could get lost easily. The hills add to the ambience of the park. It is closely monitored and rules are established to create respect and quiet. Ex: “must have proper attire at all times and no “poorly worded “T shirts. and …”pets must have vaccination certification”.”
The birds here are very abundant and a Baltimore Oriole is nesting just above (way above) our trailer. This first evening (after many went home) is very quiet. Ruth and I did one load of laundry to get us home at least. It was $2.00 a wash and $1.00 per dryer (2 times). We settled in for the evening and will look at doing Annapolis tomorrow if the rains hold off. Doesn’t look like it.
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