Touring Charlottesville, VA

    Today is Day 11 of our Going to See America 2017 escapade, and we're sitting comfortably in the KOA Charlottesville, VA.  We've been on the run nearly everyday, so today we've decided to rest and catch up with ourselves.  More importantly it gives me the opportunity to update our adventures.  As I mentioned previously, Virginia is full of touring opportunities and Charlottesville is no exemption.  So on Sunday we departed Mount Jackson but stopped to revisit the New Market Battlefield, and the Virginia Museum of the Civil War.

The museum has some terrific artifacts and a wonderful display of the weaponry used during the war.  The Museum also has a 45 minute movie that demonstrates the role of the VMI Cadets in the Battle of New Market.

      We safely arrived at our campsite at the KOA, and within a few minutes I was meeting the neighbors and planning out the night's Happy Hour.  Our neighbors to the left were new to the RV lifestyle, and had just recently purchased the Tiffin Vanleigh 5th Wheel. They were also retired LEO's and I knew we were going to get along just fine!

     On Monday, Debbie and I returned to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah NP, and toured the bottom portion of the park.  We found the colors a little more vibrant, and the addition of numerous evergreens to the forest, made the drive extremely pleasant.  We also had a nice visit with Liam from CA, who was in quite the talkative mood.  And when Ben mentioned that Liam had rubbed his eyes and it was time for a nap, we both swore Liam replied, "but I'm not tired yet!"
     The traffic was minimal, even though the RV parks seemed to be full of  "leaf peepers", and we had a nice picnic at one of the numerous overlooks highlighting the Shenandoah Valley below.

      As we sat there enjoying the afternoon sunlight streaming into the Jeep, we couldn't help but think back 155 years, when massive armies, some with over 100,000 men and equipment, moved north and south through the valleys below.  And all the devastation and destruction that was left in their wake.  We drove slowly north on the Skyline Drive hoping to glance a black bear or a deer crossing the road, but we didn't get that lucky.  Debbie seems to have a sharp eye for wildlife, but she didn't come through for us this time.  We left the park about 1/3 of the way up from the southern entrance, and worked our way back to the KOA.  Monday had been a success, and we looked forward to our next adventure.
      On Tuesday we eased into the day, enjoying a nice breakfast at our campsite.  Debbie did some laundry and I worked on planning our next week in VA.  We decided to take a late lunch at Michie Tavern, which is located a short distance from Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.

The menu included southern fried chicken, pork barbecue,  stewed tomatoes, (to die for) and buttermilk biscuits!  The staff were all dressed in period garb, and again, minimal crowd made for a very enjoyable lunch.  Debbie even met a celebrity on the steps leaving the tavern.  In the picture above, Debbie is in the pink shirt and the gentleman to the left is Joe Kendra, AKA: Homicide Hunter, on the Discovery Channel.  Fortunately, he wasn't investigating a homicide at the tavern!  After lunch, we played tourist in the gift shop, before returning to the campground and prepared a nice evening fire.  Then we had to get ready to tune in the World Series and root for the Chicago Cubs, who haven't won a World Series in 104 years!  (Spoiler Alert: they won Game 7, in Cleveland; in extra innings!)
 



     On Wednesday we jumped in the Jeep, and headed over to the Manassas National Battlefield Park in Manassas, VA.  This battle is also known more commonly

as the Battle of Bull Run.  Actually 2 major battles occurred here a Bull Run, and the Confederates were victorious in both instances.  The 1st Battle of Manassas, was the 1st major battle of the war since the attack at Fort Sumter which occurred in April 1861.   In July 1861, the Union Army of nearly 35,000 unseasoned troops departed Washington to seize the railroad junction in Manassas, VA.  This was a vital railroad link, which the Union believed would lead to the capture of Richmond and put a quick end to the war.  A Confederate Army of 22,000 troops also moved north to secure the railroad at Manassas.  Additionally, an additional Confederate force of 10,000 men, was moving north from the Shenandoah Valley to assist.

     Accompanying the Union Army south from Washington, were spectators, who anticipated a quick battle and end to the Civil War.  The battle last only 1 day, and in the end, the Union forces limped back to Washington in full retreat.  And the legend "Stonewall Jackson" was created.  A monument to Jackson is featured prominently out on the battlefield, placed there by the State of Virginia.  Union and Confederate casualties exceeded 4700 men, and the war would drag on for 4 more years.
   

      Yesterday, we jumped ahead 4 years, and toured the Appomattox Courthouse National Park, which was the site of the surrender of Lee's Army to Grant in April 1865, and the beginning of the end of the Civil War.  Lee's Army had fled south from Richmond and Petersburg, with the Union Armies led by Grant, in close pursuit.  For 9 days, the armies battled until all escape routes were blocked near Appomattox.  On April 9, 1865, Lee had no choice but to surrender or face annihilation.

At the McLean residence, the 2 generals met for 90 minutes to work out the terms of the surrender. Three days later, April 12, 1865,the Army of Northern Virginia stacked their weapons, and began their journeys home.  Tragically, on April 15, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated, just 1 day after receiving a report on the details of Lee's surrender, by his son Robert.

   After completing our tour around Appomattox, we continued into the village of Appomattox, and visited The Museum of the Confederacy Appomattox.  Inside the museum we found extensive exhibits of photos, letters, and uniforms.  General Lee's sword, worn at Appomattox, is on display, along with his uniform jacket.  There are multiple displays and photographs showing the devastation of the campaigns against the southern cities.

      The State of Virginia has done a remarkable job of preserving the numerous Civil War sites around the state.  After touring the multiple Museums, we have a better understanding of the emotions still surfacing in the South over the issue of the Confederacy.
      Tomorrow we are heading into Tennessee for a few days and then down into South Carolina where we are going to rest and relax along the shores of Lake Greenwood.  I apologize for the length of this page, but as you can see, we've been pretty busy visiting these historic sites.  And that seemed to be one of the reasons we're making this journey.