Stillness At Appomattox
Bob and I were staying at a lovely B&B just outside Charlottesville, VA while doing a drive around northern Virginia. We were seeing historic sights, beautiful countryside, and battlefields. At one breakfast there, we heard another party at the B&B talk about a visit to the Appomattox battlefield area and where Lee surrendered to Grant at the end of the Civil War. They commented that the area seemed to have an extra "quiet" and "hush", likely a stillness to it due to the significance of the surrender. Bob and I talked and decided it was worth a 3 hour drive to the location to see it. It was definitely worth a visit and there was a stillness to it.
Here is info on the site from the list of battlefields to visit:
No battlefield tour is complete without a visit to the village of Appomattox Court House, the place where the American Civil War ended on April 9, 1865. After a series of battles known as the Appomattox Campaign, which engaged almost 90,000 soldiers, Confederate General Robert E. Lee officially surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at McLean House, bringing an end to the war. The park covers approximately 1,800 acres and encompasses many of the village’s original structures and over two dozen restored buildings, including a reconstruction of the McLean House. Visitors can walk on the same dirt road where Lee’s army folded their flags, visit the Confederate cemetery, and discover the quaint village of Appomattox Court House.
Our photo of McLean House.
An old photo from an internet site.
Here is info on the site from the list of battlefields to visit:
No battlefield tour is complete without a visit to the village of Appomattox Court House, the place where the American Civil War ended on April 9, 1865. After a series of battles known as the Appomattox Campaign, which engaged almost 90,000 soldiers, Confederate General Robert E. Lee officially surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at McLean House, bringing an end to the war. The park covers approximately 1,800 acres and encompasses many of the village’s original structures and over two dozen restored buildings, including a reconstruction of the McLean House. Visitors can walk on the same dirt road where Lee’s army folded their flags, visit the Confederate cemetery, and discover the quaint village of Appomattox Court House.
Our photo of McLean House.
An old photo from an internet site.
Comments
Gettysburg-The Turning Point
20/04/24 15:40 Filed in: History
Bob and I visited Gettysburg one summer and made the driving tour around the town and battlefield. It is an amazing location and story of a battle that changed a war, then history.
We stayed at a lovely B&B there and had dinner with a person Bob knew from his work in logistics. It would be great to go back there. Here is more on Gettysburg…
"Those immortal words spoken by President Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address — “four score and seven years ago…” — were inspired by a major turning point in the American Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg, which took place from July 1 to 3, 1863, marked the end of General Robert E. Lee’s second failed invasion of the North. The Union victory defeated the Confederacy’s ambition of bringing the war to a swift end, but with over 51,000 casualties, the battle stands as the deadliest in the war."
The Angle
Seminary Ridge
We stayed at a lovely B&B there and had dinner with a person Bob knew from his work in logistics. It would be great to go back there. Here is more on Gettysburg…
"Those immortal words spoken by President Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address — “four score and seven years ago…” — were inspired by a major turning point in the American Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg, which took place from July 1 to 3, 1863, marked the end of General Robert E. Lee’s second failed invasion of the North. The Union victory defeated the Confederacy’s ambition of bringing the war to a swift end, but with over 51,000 casualties, the battle stands as the deadliest in the war."
The Angle
Seminary Ridge
Silver Lake and Dining
15/04/24 18:09 Filed in: Oregon
A travel article today listed towns that were remote locations in the United States to other towns. One of the places listed was Silver Lake, OR which is in south central Oregon. One of the highlights is dinner at Cowboy Dinner Tree which we have eaten at twice. The photo below was taken in 2019 at our anniversary dinner there. Always tasty and lots of food to take away and eat later. We have not visited the geological site called Crack in the Ground but will look to make a trip to do so. This is within a day's drive from our home.
Silver Lake is a town of roughly 150 people in southern Oregon, 39.3 miles from the nearest other town. It was founded in the late 1800s and remains quite small, with a single gas station and a handful of restaurants. One such eatery is the Cowboy Dinner Tree, which was inspired by an eatery that existed many decades ago. Back then, a wagon set up underneath a large juniper tree and sold beans and biscuits to passing cowboys. While that wagon is gone, the restaurant serves up local fare in a rustic albeit slightly more modern setting.
The town is also home to a fascinating nearby geological site known as the Crack in the Ground. This volcanic fissure is two miles long and 70 feet deep, and formed due to volcanic activity that occurred thousands of years ago. Today, it offers a great opportunity for curious hikers looking to explore the country’s volcanic history.
Silver Lake is a town of roughly 150 people in southern Oregon, 39.3 miles from the nearest other town. It was founded in the late 1800s and remains quite small, with a single gas station and a handful of restaurants. One such eatery is the Cowboy Dinner Tree, which was inspired by an eatery that existed many decades ago. Back then, a wagon set up underneath a large juniper tree and sold beans and biscuits to passing cowboys. While that wagon is gone, the restaurant serves up local fare in a rustic albeit slightly more modern setting.
The town is also home to a fascinating nearby geological site known as the Crack in the Ground. This volcanic fissure is two miles long and 70 feet deep, and formed due to volcanic activity that occurred thousands of years ago. Today, it offers a great opportunity for curious hikers looking to explore the country’s volcanic history.
Coolest Waterfall Category
07/04/24 16:23 Filed in: Photography | Travel
A recent article on special sights to visit included Yellowstone Falls. The photo that I took when we visited in May 2023 was taken from Artist's Point. It is clear why this viewpoint is so named since the photo looks more like a painting than a photo. It is lovely!
Info about the Falls follows:
"Rushing through the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Yellowstone Falls is actually two enormous waterfalls connected by the Yellowstone River, traveling downstream from Yellowstone Lake. This waterfall is known for being festooned in rainbows, reaching across the cascades like banners in the mist. Uncle Tom’s Point is the best way to see the falls up close but Artist Point offers a picture-perfect view of the falls from down the gorge, framed in the very golden rock that gave Yellowstone its name."
Info about the Falls follows:
"Rushing through the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Yellowstone Falls is actually two enormous waterfalls connected by the Yellowstone River, traveling downstream from Yellowstone Lake. This waterfall is known for being festooned in rainbows, reaching across the cascades like banners in the mist. Uncle Tom’s Point is the best way to see the falls up close but Artist Point offers a picture-perfect view of the falls from down the gorge, framed in the very golden rock that gave Yellowstone its name."
Ben Hur-One of My Favorites
31/03/24 10:19 Filed in: Culture
Ben Hur has long been one of my favorite movies since a child. It helped turn me into a Charlton Heston fan as an actor and speaker. The chariot race scene in the 1950s movie version is probably one of the best if not the best action cinemaphotography scenes in a movie.
The movie was made from a book published in 1880 by General Lew Wallace.
From a well-written article about the back story on Ben Hur and appropriate for this Easter Day, March 31, 2024.
In the American Masters documentary Directed by William Wyler (1986), Charlton Heston tells the kind of story that gives actors night terrors. He is starring in the title role of MGM’s $15 million epic Ben-Hur. The dailies are coming back and director William Wyler is not happy. Heston can take criticism, he can work with a director, he appreciates guidance. What do you need? he asks.
“Better,” snaps Wyler.
Heston got better of course. Ben-Hur went on to win 11 Academy Awards, save MGM from insolvency, and imprint itself on the popular imagination.
The movie was made from a book published in 1880 by General Lew Wallace.
From a well-written article about the back story on Ben Hur and appropriate for this Easter Day, March 31, 2024.
In the American Masters documentary Directed by William Wyler (1986), Charlton Heston tells the kind of story that gives actors night terrors. He is starring in the title role of MGM’s $15 million epic Ben-Hur. The dailies are coming back and director William Wyler is not happy. Heston can take criticism, he can work with a director, he appreciates guidance. What do you need? he asks.
“Better,” snaps Wyler.
Heston got better of course. Ben-Hur went on to win 11 Academy Awards, save MGM from insolvency, and imprint itself on the popular imagination.
Fort Sumter-Charleston
30/03/24 14:20 Filed in: History | United States of America
We got to see Fort Sumter National Monument, not by a regular tour, but by a friend of a friend who took us out be boat to the small island outcropping. We clambered up some stairs above the Charleston harbor waters. It was a glorious day to visit.
More on Fort Sumpter:
On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter — marking the beginning of the American Civil War. Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park protects both these historical forts standing guard over Charleston Harbor, in addition to the Charleston Light and Liberty Square. Fort Sumter is accessible only by the official ferry boat, departing from Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum and Fort Sumter Visitor Center. There, you can learn about how the fort was built and the events leading to the 1861 battle. Activities at the fort include rangers talks and — for visitors taking the first and last ferries — the raising and lowering of the American flag.
More on Fort Sumpter:
On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter — marking the beginning of the American Civil War. Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park protects both these historical forts standing guard over Charleston Harbor, in addition to the Charleston Light and Liberty Square. Fort Sumter is accessible only by the official ferry boat, departing from Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum and Fort Sumter Visitor Center. There, you can learn about how the fort was built and the events leading to the 1861 battle. Activities at the fort include rangers talks and — for visitors taking the first and last ferries — the raising and lowering of the American flag.
Antietam Battlefield
29/03/24 10:01 Filed in: History | United State of America
Bob and I have visited the Antietam National Battlefield near Sharpsburg, MD. It was quite the experience driving along the points of interest and listening to the tour CD. We could get a great sense of the battle and loss of so many soldiers lives. I have different photos from the visit, one of my favorites is a view of Bloody Lane. I have used this photo as a screenshot backdrop for computers.
Here is some additional information about Antietam.
Known as the Battle of Sharpsburg in some Southern states, the Battle of Antietam marked the deadliest single day of combat in American history. Part of the Maryland Campaign, the battle was the first field army engagement to take place on Union soil in the Eastern Theater of the Civil War. It not only put an end to the first invasion into the North by the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, but also paved the way for Abraham Lincoln to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.
Here is some additional information about Antietam.
Known as the Battle of Sharpsburg in some Southern states, the Battle of Antietam marked the deadliest single day of combat in American history. Part of the Maryland Campaign, the battle was the first field army engagement to take place on Union soil in the Eastern Theater of the Civil War. It not only put an end to the first invasion into the North by the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, but also paved the way for Abraham Lincoln to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.
Worm Moon
18/03/24 08:22 Filed in: Culture
Where did the name for the first full moon of spring come from?
Worm Moon - which is present on March 25, just before the big eclipse is present moving from the southwest across the Mid-West to the northeast.
What is a worm moon?
Earthworms might have been on the minds of the Colonial settlers or Native American tribesmen who bequeathed the entire calendar month (not just the full moon itself) this name. But another form of grub (not earthworms) may actually be the true originator of the moniker Full Worm Moon.
It was actually beetles, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. The story goes, in the 1760s, the Colonial explorer from Massachusetts Captain Jonathan Carver met with the Naudowessie (Dakota) and other Native American tribes. He wrote that the name “Worm Moon” originated from beetle larvae which begin to emerge from the bark of thawing trees and other winter hideouts this time of year.
Worm Moon - which is present on March 25, just before the big eclipse is present moving from the southwest across the Mid-West to the northeast.
What is a worm moon?
Earthworms might have been on the minds of the Colonial settlers or Native American tribesmen who bequeathed the entire calendar month (not just the full moon itself) this name. But another form of grub (not earthworms) may actually be the true originator of the moniker Full Worm Moon.
It was actually beetles, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. The story goes, in the 1760s, the Colonial explorer from Massachusetts Captain Jonathan Carver met with the Naudowessie (Dakota) and other Native American tribes. He wrote that the name “Worm Moon” originated from beetle larvae which begin to emerge from the bark of thawing trees and other winter hideouts this time of year.
What Is A Name
16/03/24 09:21 Filed in: Family | Current Affairs
What is a name? My great-great-great grandparents moved from east Tennessee to Missouri and then on the Oregon Trail in 1853 here to the Willamette Valley of Oregon near Lebanon.
Their name was Powell, Joab and Anne, and they had 14 children, all who were living came with them to Oregon.
Yesterday I saw a description of the derivation of Powell. This is similar to family history information.
The Powell's surname is Welsh in origin, not Irish. It is derived from the Welsh name Hywel, with the Welsh prefix ap appended at the start in the same way Mac or O would be in other parts of the Celtic realm, indicating son of. The name Hywel means, we are told, something like eminent.
Their name was Powell, Joab and Anne, and they had 14 children, all who were living came with them to Oregon.
Yesterday I saw a description of the derivation of Powell. This is similar to family history information.
The Powell's surname is Welsh in origin, not Irish. It is derived from the Welsh name Hywel, with the Welsh prefix ap appended at the start in the same way Mac or O would be in other parts of the Celtic realm, indicating son of. The name Hywel means, we are told, something like eminent.
