This is Chatham, an antebellum home on the Rappahannock River and is a part of the Fredericksburg National Battlefield. This is the river side of the house and was the "front" until the early 1900's when the main door was moved to the other side. Union forces occupied this and set up canon across the fields to shell Confederate positions on the heights. The second photo shows a view of Fredericksburg today with the two church towers still standing from the Civil War. This is a part of the river where the union also constructed pontoon bridges for the troops to cross. The failure to take any part of the town was at a great cost in men lost.
Ready (2 photos) /
At the Petersburg National Battlefield the Park Service has recreated a small portion of a fort to show more accurately what the string of forts protecting or attacking Petersburg and Richmond would have looked like. Even with their effort the trees add an element missing from the battlefield as they were cut down for a great distance to build forts and other defenses, camp homes and storages, used for cooking and heating, bridges and roads, and to clear fields of fire. Yet this is still instructive. You can see the two outer ditches, the built up earthwork fortification reinforced with extra defenses and the perspective of both the attacker and the defender.
Westover (2 photos) /
The colony was not yet 10 years old when this parish was organized. The first church complete in 1630 and this version, one hundred years later in 1730. The years after both the Revolution and the Civil Wars took a toll on the small church but it still stands as an active congregation. Walking around the cemetery you notice no graves older than the Civil War and that is because the stones were taken and used for floors in the soldier's tents. Five presidents have worshiped within the walls of this church.
The church is closely associated with the Westover Plantation famous as the home of the Byrds who included the founder of Richmond with Williams E Byrd II. The original airport here was first called Byrd Field and the famous movie theatre in Carytown built in the early 1900's is Byrd Theatre (home of Area 10 Church!). The original church was closer to the house and a grave there dates from 1637, that of Captain William Perry, whose stone is the third oldest in the US.
The entrance is almost hidden behind the towering Magnolia trees.
Overboard (eight photos) /
High muddy water on the James River leads to misreading the correct course and ends with everyone in the river. I was at Hollywood Cemetery high on the bluff overlooking the James on Saturday. My friend was photographing a train in an "s" bend. I saw the rafts coming down the river and switched to my long lens and went behind the mausoleum to shoot some of them, then the third one made an error - well here is the sequence of photos.
Oops, maybe this is the wrong angle?
Lean right!
Hold on to the oars.
At least one made it
Nope
Drifting away
Got the raft
No rescue from that boat
Going Down /
Shades of black, white and grey in the lighthouse staircase.
Twilight /
The sound of the horses trotting down the road is very soothing, clearly some of the charm of the area. This buggy passed by while I was preparing for a different shot. I took it only when it was far enough away so it would not be identifiable as a specific buggy.
Storms Ahead /
Another beautiful night in the Lancaster, PA farm country. This one brief light in the otherwise rainy sky.
"Yet they don’t ask, ‘Where is God my Creator, the one who gives songs in the night?"
Job 35:10 NLT
10 More Yards /
This section of the Gettysburg battlefield is the Union right during Pickett's charge. This stone marks the advance of the NC troops who ended their effort 10 yards from the wall. The cannon were firing with double loads of canister, basically large shotguns and the wall was shoulder to shoulder with Union rifles. The amazing thing is not that they did not get across the wall but that they got so far. Just to the right other troops from Virginia's 38th breeched the wall but could not hold their position, thus the High Water Mark of the Confederacy.
Crowded /
Looking Glass falls in the Pisgah National Forest. There were people everywhere, many in the water! Parking was a problem! I took this using the large rock and the angle to screen most of the folks. Nice place.
Myra /
I am on a bit of an adventure with Myra. She is a Personal Trainer at North Raleigh Fitness. I am amazed that I am here. The first time I have been in a gym since 10th grade was last November. I wondered if my old and increasingly decrepit self could improve with strength training. After all, we still have more than 200 parks to visit and hike in. She said of course and I have been going about twice a week now for eight months. My strength has increased by a factor of four and I am amazed. She works on balance and flexibility as well. I have learned how to lift without hurting my back, I do exercises I never expected to do (she has something new every time!) - and she is encouraging, optimistic and ...relentless. Most exciting, Cindy has joined me so now we can compare what hurts the most for the days between sessions. Seriously, this has had significant benefits and, if you are thinking. "maybe," talk to Myra - she is excellent at what she does. Or if you don't live here, find a good PT and start.
Oh, Joy! (Bonus) /
This is for she who takes rural sky photos. It is in Lancaster, PA along the Black Horse Road. Always lovely.
Esses /
A nice Triumph TR-3 trails the faster cars through the uphill esses and under the bridge.
Not What It Feels Like (three photos) /
This is not a golf course. It is a path leading to a fort at the Petersburg National Battlefield. One of many forts that were part of the siege of Richmond/ Petersburg by the Union Army. This one, constructed by and used by the Confederate troops was captured June 15th, 1864. A huge mortar was set up here to shell troops across the river. It was nicknamed "The Dictator."
The Dictator replica set up today at the park.
The original from a wartime photo. The picture was likely taken by Dennis as he is quite old and likes to prattle on about B&W photos...
Paasages /
This is my grandson in the MINI learning, successfully I may add, to drive the stick shift. He is a super young man with a variety of interests and accomplishments. A genuine pleasure to be around and a great companion for photo walks and other adventures. He even is good natured about letting his grandfather re-stage a photo. The time between the two shots seems like hours. And, yes, it is the same car.
Joshua Tree Sunset /
I loved this park, its space and color and contrasts and, in May, the flowers. Here is a small butte catching the last rays of the sun while the desert floor is in shadow and already cooling. The unique Joshua Trees stand a stately watch.
"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord , make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
Isaiah 40:3 NLT
I Can't Stop /
Actually that is me not the cars. I love these old racing automobiles and the noise they make. Here is a bunch. A Porsche, Volvo P 1800, Porsche, Porsche, Porsche, Jaguar XKE, the old 64 Falcon, and a Vette head out of the Roller Coaster - a tricky reverse camber turn and then into a sweeping right hand fast bend onto the main straight.
Monet /
Ever wonder what it might be like to live in a Monet painting?
Opus had his dandelion patch, i have the serene photos.
Flag Day /
"In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. The United States Army also celebrates the U.S. Army Birthdays on this date; Congress adopted "the American continental army" after reaching a consensus position in the Committee of the Whole on June 14, 1775." From Wikipedia
So happy 241st birthday to the most successful color scheme in history and 243rd to the US Army. This photo is from Fort Bowie in Arizona where the US Army served the area for many years in harsh conditions.
Thanks to Army personnel like Tom Light, Lt. Col, Ret., & my multi great grandfather who served under that flag with only thirteen stars in that first Army, Pvt. Peter Hileman.
Behind Lines /
This monument at Petersburg National Battlefield is behind the remnant of the Confederate line that did not collapse when the Union miners exploded their mine under the Confederate lines creating what came to be known as The Crater.
Idyllic /
An idyllic place or experience is extremely pleasant, beautiful, or peaceful and so it was on Saturday afternoon walking at the Cold Harbor Battlefield. It was none of those things 154 years ago in June. The field just beyond the trees was the center of the fighting and the location of the futile attack by Grant across 200 yards of open ground against prepared Confederate troops. Grant lost 6000 men that afternoon, killed, wounded or captured. This field is just outside of the boundary of the park. I hope that one day it can be acquired by the National Park Service to add to the story of this critical battle.
