General J.E.B. Stuart on Monument Ave, Richmond, VA

   Located along historic Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. This sculpture was done by Frederick Moynihan and unveiled to the public in May of 1907.

Audie Murphy

   Audie Murphy was born June 20, 1925 in Kingston, Texas. He tried to enlist after Pearl Harbor but was rejected by all branches for being underage and too small. Sounds like Captain America doesn't it? His sister forged papers for him and he was finally taken into the United State Army.
   His first tours of duty were in the Mediterranean, where he was promoted all the way to platoon sergeant and received a Bronze Star for helping take out a German tank in Italy. His platoon eventually took to the European campaign through southern France. Near Ramatuelle, he advanced on a house alone that was occupied by German soldiers, where he killed six, wounded two and took eleven of them as prisoner. For this he received the Distinguished Service Cross.
   He received his first Purple Heart after being wounded by shrapnel on September 15, 1944 in L'Omet, France. Over the next month he helped attack and capture more German held areas and prisoners and was also shot in the hip. He was back with his unit by January 1945, in the Colmar area of France. Near the town of Holtzwhir, the platoon came under attack and he was wounded in both legs. Despite his wounds, he was made commander of his company.
   On this day in 1945, January 26th, his company was forced to take position in the woods after the Germans had destroyed one of their tanks, though he remained at his post. He alone fired upon the Germans and directed artillery fire at them. He climbed on the destroyed tank, fired the massive machine gun mounted on it, and killed a squad of Germans who were crawling toward him. He killed or wounded nearly 50 Germans, only stopping when he ran out of ammo. He had been wounded again in the leg. He insisted on staying with his platoon. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Two weeks later he would be promoted again and removed from the front lines.
   Murphy was one of the most decorated combat soldiers of World War II. He would go on after the war to be a Captain in the Texas Army National Guard. He also starred in nearly 40 movies including playing himself in the film "To Hell and Back".
   He died on May 28, 1971 when a small plane he was riding in crashed in the mountains of Virginia. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia

   Over the days of December 11th to the 15th in 1862, the Battle of Fredericksburg was fought in Virginia. The Confederate Army led by General Robert E Lee were entrenched along a sunken road upon Marye's Heights above the town. In the first days, the Union Army, led by General Ambrose Burnside, made their way across the Rappahanock River on pontoons and in boats. Once they arrived in the small town they were met with building by building skirmishing.

The Real First Thanksgiving-in Virginia

   Despite what most people think or are taught, there was a feast to give thanks before the Pilgrims up in Plymouth had their infamous gathering. Of course, most people also think that Plymouth was the first English settlement in America-more people should learn about Jamestown and Virginia. The plantation just north of Jamestown, known as Berkeley, was the place where the first official Thanksgiving was held.

Rememberance

   Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

National Register of Historic Places

   The National Register of Historic Places was created in the United States in 1966 after the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act. The NRHP is the official list of buildings, structures, sites and districts that have been regarded as deserving of preservation. There are more than a million places in the register, with roughly 30,000 added each year. Inclusion on the list does not guarantee protection, and many properties are lost each year due to demolition and neglect.

Time to Learn About Nathaniel Bacon

    There are many interesting stories in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia that most people don't know, this is one of them.
   Nathaniel Bacon was born in England in 1647. He is one of many of his family with the name Nathaniel, so it can be somewhat confusing when doing research on him. He moved to Virginia in 1673 and lived along the James River, south of Richmond. The capital of Virginia at the time was still Jamestown, the original settlement founded in 1607. The town of Richmond had yet to be founded(that would happen in 1737 by William Byrd, owner of Westover Plantation along the James). The governor of the time was William Berkeley.

October 19th, America's True Independence Day

   Americans in the United States celebrate the Fourth of July every year as Independence Day. But perhaps we should be celebrating on October 19th as well. On this date, in 1781, at a small fishing town in Virginia, the articles of capitulation(surrender) were signed. Inside a farm house owned by Augustine Moore, British Lieutenant General Cornwallis surrendered to future president and commander of American forces, George Washington. Also present and signing the articles were Captain Thomas Symonds, British Navy, and Rochambeau, French commander who had assisted Washington in the final years of the war.

Bruton Parish Churchyard in Colonial Williamsburg

 Here lieth the Body of Mr Joseph

Scrivener who was born at Oldney

in Buckinghamshire in England

and died here the 14th of October

1772 in the Fiftieth Year of his Age 

Confederate General Robert E Lee died October 12, 1870

   In October of 1865, Robert Edward Lee was inaugurated as president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. In September of 1870 he suffered a stroke, and passed away on October 12th. He is buried in the Chapel at Washington College, along with many other members of his family. Even his horse, Traveler, is buried just outside the door. In the main chapel is the statue in the photo above, "Recumbent Lee", designed by Edward Valentine.

Liberty Tour Day 1, the Long Drive

 Like many of our trips, I chart nearly every course. I like knowing roughly where we will go, how long it might take, and what interesting things are in the area to see. It's frustrating to get home and see that you were only a few blocks from some awesome thing and had no idea it was there. I make the routes ahead of time so as to avoid getting lost(though it still happens-wait for the day we went to Boston!). Also I just like maps in general and I refuse to use automated gps's.

Tuesday's Battle

Tuesday is named for Tyr, the Norse God of War. I believe it is fitting to show photos from the various battlegrounds, mostly Civil War, that I visit.

This is Appomattox Court House, Virginia. Despite what may be perceived by many people, this is not actually the "court house". And to be factual, this isn't completely the actual house where General Robert E Lee signed terms of surrender to General Ulysses S Grant on April 9, 1865, either-it is mostly a reproduction.

The town of Appomattox is located a few miles from here, in the county of Appomattox. The old court house(now reconstructed at the National Park) was located at this town, which was called Clover Hill. The town of Appomattox, a few miles away, is the location of the current county court house. The county seat was moved when a train station was built in 1854 at Appomattox Station. The Civil War culminated at this place, Clover Hill, in April of 1865 after several days of fighting.

This home, the McLean home, was where both sides met to draw up the formal agreement to end the war. After the war, the home was sold a few times. One owner wanted to move it to Chicago for the 1893 World's Fair, but it never happened. Then they decided to move it to Washington DC and put it on display. The house was taken apart and readied to be moved, but that idea fell through as well. The home then lay in piles for nearly fifty years. Environment as well as thieves and collectors took their toll on the home. It wasn't until 1940 that the National Park was created and the home was to be rebuilt. About 5000 of the original bricks were able to be used, but much of the wood had to be replaced. It was opened to the public on April 9, 1949.

We visited the park in March of 2006.

Sunday Sermon

It is only fitting that Sunday's photos are churches.

This church is St Luke's, also known as "Old Brick", in Isle of Wight, Virginia. It is America's only original Gothic church and the oldest existing church of English foundation. Construction on this church is believed to have begun in 1632 due to a date found on a brick during a renovation.

It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been declared a national shrine.

Forgotten Friday

Friday is my day to recall those places that seem to have been forgotten by all those who pass by-except for those of us with an "abandoned addiction". I don't usually go so far as to trespass or venture inside, but the look of old places whose time has come and gone draw me like moths to a flame.

This particular home is located in Surry, Virginia off of State Route 10. I can only assume that it was once the home of the Jameson's who are buried in a small cemetery out front of the home. This photo was taken in 2003. I'm not sure if the home is still standing, but it still shows up on Google Street View.

Tuesday's Battle

Tuesday is named for Tyr, the Norse God of War. I believe it is fitting to show photos from the various battlegrounds, mostly Civil War, that I visit.

Today's photo is from Manassas National Battlefield Park. The monument is of General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, who supposedly earned his famous nickname here. It is near the park's visitor center, and in roughly the area where the First Virginia began their attack on Union forces. The artist is Joseph P Pollia and was dedicated at the park in 1940. Some folks call this the "Superman" monument. I can see why. It's one of my very favorites.

Don't try this!

Taken on the trip to Virginia, somewhere along I-81 in December 2003.

Yes, yes, I took this with my little digital camera while I was driving. I know, stupid. But honestly, I still had one hand on the wheel and I never took my eyes off the road in front of me. I actually took several shots, in the hope that one would come out decent-and one did.

All that being said, I am in no way a Junior fan! In fact, he is my LEAST favorite Nascar driver. And whether or not this is actually one of the semi's that hauls his stuff or just a huge fan, I have no idea-but I still thought it was cool enough to want to get a shot of it!