BehindTheLinesInNoVA
Private
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2021
Good late-morning all,
This is my first real post on the forum. I took the family on a little day trip through Loudoun county and up through the Catoctin mountains to the South Mountain "gap" battlefields. I had only been there once before, about a decade ago, and I always enjoy seeing these sites in the winter when the foliage is less dense and the topography is better appreciated.
Here is the War Correspondents' memorial arch at the top of Crampton's Gap, above the village of Burkittsville, MD (famous for its portrayal in the Blair Witch Project). The unique arch has more than 150 names of war correspondents from both sides, and was built in 1896 by Union war correspondent George Alfred Townsend, who signed his dispatches with his initials "GAT." He later bought property here, and built the arch. The area is now called "Gathland," and the Appalachian Trail cuts through here. It was neat to see through-backpackers walking by us in their long-haul kit.
What has changed in 10 years? There is a lot of wonderful signage now interpreting the battle up here and the overall context of the Maryland Campaign. None of this was here when I last visited. It is wonderful.
Rebuilt memorial to George Washington atop South Mountain, above Turner's Gap and scene of fierce fighting. This monument is reputedly the first memorial dedicated to the memory of George Washington, and was dedicated in 1829, 30 years after Washington's death. The site was used as a Union signal station after the battle, and it overlooks the entire Cumberland Valley for miles and miles around. I didn't get any good shots of the panorama because the wind was brutal up there and my eyes kept watering.
Cleared area near Wise's Field with the Reno memorial and SCV Garland memorial at Fox's Gap, about a mile from Turner's Gap.
Close up of the memorial to Union 9th Corps commander Jesse Reno, who was killed near here during the battle for Fox's Gap. The last time I was here a decade ago the fields were choked with brambles and high grass and swarms of aggressive and angry insects. One of the many good reasons to visit in winter. You can also see the terrain the Michiganders attacked across in the center distance across the road.
Recent SCV monument to North Carolina BG Samuel Garland, who was killed here at Wise's field during the early day fighting for Fox's Gap. This memorial appears to have been attacked with red paint and a chisel, and shows evidence of vandalism or violence. Thankfully, the vandals did not destroy the monument, and did not make it the 1300 feet back into the woods to vandalize the moving North Carolina monument.
North Carolina state memorial at the base of the stone wall back in the woods off of Fox's Gap and Wise field, dedicated in 2003. I don't recall seeing this a decade ago either but it was obviously here. There is also excellent signage to orient the visitor along a trail that leads from the small parking area by the Reno memorial back through the woods to this monument.
Opposite vantage point, looking past the stone wall to the next peak.
The Pry House at Keedysville, MD. This was McClellan's HQ during the battle of Antietam, and it now houses a really good museum on Civil War medicine (it later served as a field hospital), complete with General Joseph Hooker mannequin with foot wound on a table. Unfortunately, it was closed during our visit, but we visited last year and highly recommend it.
I annotated this image from McClellan's HQ at the Pry House. When we were here last year the foliage was full and it was difficult to make out the various battlefield locations. In winter, you can really see the dominant ridgeline where Lee set up his defenses. From here, McClellan could see the southern boundary of the Cornfield and the area to roughly the Antietam visitor's center.
We made it this far because I had kids with me, and I had promised them a stop at Nutter's Ice Cream in Sharpsburg, which may well be the best ice cream in the mid-Atlantic region, and is absolutely the least expensive.
That's all for that trip. I enjoy seeing all of your travels and learning from all the experts and amateurs here.
This is my first real post on the forum. I took the family on a little day trip through Loudoun county and up through the Catoctin mountains to the South Mountain "gap" battlefields. I had only been there once before, about a decade ago, and I always enjoy seeing these sites in the winter when the foliage is less dense and the topography is better appreciated.
North Carolina state memorial at the base of the stone wall back in the woods off of Fox's Gap and Wise field, dedicated in 2003. I don't recall seeing this a decade ago either but it was obviously here. There is also excellent signage to orient the visitor along a trail that leads from the small parking area by the Reno memorial back through the woods to this monument.
We made it this far because I had kids with me, and I had promised them a stop at Nutter's Ice Cream in Sharpsburg, which may well be the best ice cream in the mid-Atlantic region, and is absolutely the least expensive.
That's all for that trip. I enjoy seeing all of your travels and learning from all the experts and amateurs here.
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