Brenda Rose

Message: 20
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 18:44:39 -0500
From: "Laura Bourdo" <LauraBourdo@...>
Subject: Civil War Battlefields Trip

Hi all --

Please excuse the cross-post, but I want to reach as many people as
possible.

Liam (16) and I are taking a road trip this October (hopefully) to visit
Civil War battlefields, and I was thinking that some of you might have input
about good places to stop and see on the way.

I've got a guidebook for National Civil War Parks, and we are looking at
sites in Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania -- all
the major battle sites, plus Appomatox Courthouse and Washington DC. We'll
also be travelling the Natchez Trace from southern Mississippi to southern
Tennessee and taking a look at some non-Civil War sites there, as well.

Question first: Have you been to any CW sites that were particularly
riveting that we just shouldn't miss?

Second: We've only got two weeks altogether, and will be driving from
Houston to DC and back, so time is of the essence. What would you
particularly recommend in the DC area? We just can't do the whole thing,
and this is not the trip for it. I was thinking of Ford's Theater...are
there any other particular CW sites that we should visit there? (I
know....I'm checking online too. :-)

Third: Any great places to eat or stay? We're looking at a tight budget,
but can splurge once in awhile.

Fourth: Good scenic routes? In particular, can anyone tell me if
Interstate 81 through western Virginia is good? I'd love to be able to get
off the interstates altogether and take back roads, but we just won't have
the time. The map looks like 81 goes right through the long middle of the
W. Virginia mountains on the west and the Blue Ridge on the East. Is it
nice there, or have they managed to make that interstate as boring as so
many others? We will, however, be able to take back roads for select
periods. Any favorites?

Thanks in advance for your time in responding!
Laura B.
----------------------------------------------------------

Laura,

I live in Staunton VA, right at the intersection of I-81 and I-64 East. We
also love going to the Civil War sites and have been to lots of them. I can
suggest places to stop and routes you might take to see as much as possible
in this area of the country.

We've been to Vicksburg, MS and Chattanooga/Chickamuagua parks and enjoyed
them both.

I'll put it in the closest to chronological order that makes sense
travelling a circuit.

I'd go up I-81 into VA (you'll be travelling through the Great Smoky Mts. in
TN) and stop at Lexington. There you'll find Stonewall Jackson's House
(I'd skip it with time constraints) and the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery,
where he is buried. Right down the road is Washington & Lee University,
with Lee Chapel on the grounds, where Robert E. Lee is buried. At the VMI
Museum you could see Jackson's horse (I forget his name) and other Civil war
memoribilia. This is a very small town and worth getting off the interstate
to drive through. Everything is right on/by the main street (Hwy 11)
through town.

Continue north on 81 to New Market Battlefield. The VMI cadets marched from
Lexington to there and fought in that battle - very moving story. We've
never spent the time or $ to go to the private museum that's next door, so I
can't say if it's any good.

West on I-66 to Manassas (Bull Run) where the first land battle took place.
It's amazing that people from DC came out in their carriages for a picnic to
see the show! Also, it's the place where "Stonewall" got his nickname.

Into DC - Ford's Theater is great, but be sure and check times and rehearsal
schedules! We took my MIL there and couldn't get in because of a rehearsal.
Across the stree is the "House where Lincoln died" - They give a lot of info
in a little time.

North you want to see Antietam (MD) and Gettysburg, for sure.

If you come back down I-95 to Fredericksburg (nice site, interesting because
of them crossing the river), go slightly west and also see Chancelorsville
(where Jackson was shot) and The Wilderness.

If you have time and want to, continue south on 95 to see Richmond (capital
of the Confederacy) and Petersburg (supposed to be good - I haven't been to
that one).

Go west, either from Chancelorsville, Richmond, or Petersburg (all smaller
roads through the Piedmont - rolling hills - scenic) to Appomatox
Courthouse.

West through Lynchburg to I-81 and south.

There's plenty more to see here, and the country along I-81 is beautiful, I
think. As you travel north, first you're in Mts., but then in the Great
Valley of VA, with the Alleghenies on the west and the Blue Ridge on the
east. You could take a little time to go up on the Blue Ridge Parkway if
you like mt. views, but you'll get plenty of those along the trip anyway.
Also, you could get off the Interstate some and travel Hwy 11(the
Lee-Jackson Hwy). It was the main route even back in the 1800s. You'll see
little towns (like villages), some interesting eating places,
bed&breakfasts, and lots of antiques shops. But I'd mostly stay on 81 to
get to places faster.

Other things to see - in Staunton, where I live, there is the Blackfriar's
Playhouse, the only re-creation in the world of Shakespeare's indoor
theater. Beautiful place, great plays!

Also, The American Frontier Culture Museum, with working farms, English,
German, Scotch-Irish, American blend, but from an earlier era than the Civil
War.

Along the entire valley there are caverns (as in TX).

In DC the new American Indian Museum will be open at the Smithsonian.
Sounds fantastic.

Well, I hope this helps and was not too boring for anyone else reading it!
I'm from Arlington, VA and lived in TX for years, so have made many trips
back and forth.

In case you don't have this, I'd recommend getting the Passport book at the
National park service. You can save money just getting the cancellations in
another book or notebook, but my kids really treasure their special
passports). Get cancellations at all of the National sites, but also ask
at non-national park sites if they have a stamp (like the Alamo does). It's
a wonderful keepsake.

Well, sorry this was so long. Have a wonderful trip!

Brenda Rose

crazeemom77043

--- In [email protected], "Brenda Rose"
<rosebl@a...> wrote:
> Laura,
>
> I live in Staunton VA, right at the intersection of I-81 and I-64
East. <snip>
> We've been to Vicksburg, MS and Chattanooga/Chickamuagua parks and
enjoyed
> them both.

Both are on the agenda. Good.

<snip> Right down the road is Washington & Lee University,
> with Lee Chapel on the grounds, where Robert E. Lee is buried. At
the VMI
> Museum you could see Jackson's horse (I forget his name) and other
Civil war
> memoribilia.

On it.

> Continue north on 81 to New Market Battlefield. The VMI cadets
marched from
> Lexington to there and fought in that battle - very moving story.

Interesting. This was part of the Shenandoah campaign, right? I
don't know much about this. Interesting angle on the VMI cadets.
We'll probably be seeing some of this story when we watch 'Gods and
Generals' soon, so I just might add it in, although we've got a lot
on the plate already!

<snip>
> Into DC - Ford's Theater is great, but be sure and check times and
rehearsal
> schedules! We took my MIL there and couldn't get in because of a
rehearsal.
> Across the stree is the "House where Lincoln died" - They give a
lot of info
> in a little time.

Thank you so much for this insider information. Never would have
thought of it.

>
> North you want to see Antietam (MD) and Gettysburg, for sure.

Yep and yep.

>
> If you come back down I-95 to Fredericksburg (nice site,
interesting because
> of them crossing the river), go slightly west and also see
Chancelorsville
> (where Jackson was shot) and The Wilderness.

Yep again.

>
> If you have time and want to, continue south on 95 to see Richmond
(capital
> of the Confederacy) and Petersburg (supposed to be good - I haven't
been to
> that one).
>
> Go west, either from Chancelorsville, Richmond, or Petersburg (all
smaller
> roads through the Piedmont - rolling hills - scenic) to Appomatox
> Courthouse.

This is exactly the way I'd planned it! Were you lookin over my
shoulder last night, or what?

>
> West through Lynchburg to I-81 and south.

Well, actually, here I got you. :-) We'll be heading due south down
to visit friends in western North Carolina -- but you couldn't have
know THAT (unless you really were looking over my shoulder last night
<g>).

>
> There's plenty more to see here, and the country along I-81 is
beautiful, I
> think. As you travel north, first you're in Mts., but then in the
Great
> Valley of VA, with the Alleghenies on the west and the Blue Ridge
on the
> east.

This is what I needed to know. It is a large valley -- the maps
weren't entirely clear. I didn't know how close the mountains would
be.

You could take a little time to go up on the Blue Ridge Parkway if
> you like mt. views, but you'll get plenty of those along the trip
anyway.
> Also, you could get off the Interstate some and travel Hwy 11(the
> Lee-Jackson Hwy). It was the main route even back in the 1800s.
You'll see
> little towns (like villages), some interesting eating places,
> bed&breakfasts, and lots of antiques shops. But I'd mostly stay on
81 to
> get to places faster.

Good advice.

<snip>
> Also, The American Frontier Culture Museum, with working farms,
English,
> German, Scotch-Irish, American blend, but from an earlier era than
the Civil
> War.

This sounds cool, even though we're trying to keep this trip focused
on the Civil War. I'm of Scots-Irish extraction, and my dad's family
comes from that neck of the woods. I'll have to find this online.
Maybe we'll stop if we're on battlefield burnout. (I almost
certainly will be by this time.)

<snip>>
> Well, sorry this was so long. Have a wonderful trip!
>
> Brenda Rose

Brenda Rose, this was fantastic! Thanks so much for taking the time.

:-)
Laura B.