Stephan surprised Karen this morning by preparing a full breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, and toast in recognition of her ongoing birthday celebration. It was a great meal and a good way to end our little holiday with Stephanie and Stephan. It was really nice to do some outdoor activities, play some cards, laugh and have fun. We appreciate the dual birthday treatment they gave us! They had to get back to work this week, so after checking out of our town home, Karen and I went out on our own to see one last historical site for the week.
Above: One of my birthday presents from Steph and Stephan - a bullet recovered from the Monocacy Battlefield.
The Monocacy National Battlefield is just south of Frederick, set among cornfields and farms that lie near the Monocacy River. The short version of events is that a Confederate Army on its way to invade Washington, D.C. ran into a small Union Army force in this area. The Union forces, led by General Lew Wallace (who, many years later, wrote the novel, “Ben Hur”), were ultimately defeated, but they delayed the Confederates enough to allow Union reinforcements to get to Washington, D.C. in time to prevent an invasion.
It was hot, humid, and slightly rainy today as we toured the battlefields. We could (almost) get some sense of how uncomfortable it must have been for those Civil War soldiers as they marched through miles of soggy fields in their woolen uniforms.
Above: The Best Farm, site of fierce artillery fighting.
Above: The Gambrill Mill, where Union forces burned a wooden railroad bridge on the Monocacy River in order to slow the Confederate advance. We arrived just in time to see a freight train crossing on the new bridge. The old mill pond looked like it was filled with primordial ooze today. The humidity and the buzzing insects helped complete the experience. The wildlife seemed to enjoy it.
Above: The Worthington Farm, which got pretty shot up during the battle.
Above: The Thomas Farm, where the Confederates marched into an ambush in the cornfields; and where the Union force eventually decided to end the fighting and retreat.
We drove back to Arlington this afternoon to begin our quarantine in preparation for Arthur’s birthday festivities. In the meantime, we’ll update the blog periodically.
Next: Relaxing in Arlington
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