Spotsylvania Civil War Blog: Bloggers and Buffs Gather on the Plains of Manassas for 150th Commemoration

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Bloggers and Buffs Gather on the Plains of Manassas for 150th Commemoration

One word is to be universal in describing the 21st of July at Manassas: HOT! It got hotter than most would have imagined, but it didn't keep thousands of enthusiasts away from the anniversary commemoration.
The following is a photo essay of the friendly encounters which took place 150 years to the day after nearly five thousand casualties resulted from the Civil War's first major land engagement.

One of the first on the scene was preservation spokesman and Confederate

in the attic, Robert Lee Hodge. Friends of the Fredericksburg Area

Battlefields board member Ed Bell listens in at center.

Photo by James Anderson.

Garry Adelman of the Center for Civil War Photography and The Civil War Trust,

signs my copy of his new book, Manassas Battlefield Then & Now.

Photo by James Anderson.

Fellow blogger and Antietam Park Ranger Mannie Gentile came down

to lend a hand with the day's events.

Friends of the Fredericksburg Area Battlefields treasurer James

Anderson and I were caught trying to escape the heat at the Marine display.

Robert Quinn, great great grandson of Captain Lewis E. Lindsay of the

4th Alabama, killed at 1st Manassas, July 21, 1861.

NPS historians from Fredericksburg, Greg Mertz, and Frank A. O'Reilly,

chat it up with James Anderson of FoFAB, on Henry Hill.

Owner and curator of the White Oak Museum,

D. P. Newton, came down to be a part of the moment.

Fellow blogger Jared Frederick and I met inside the Henry House.

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania's Cultural Resource

manager, Eric Mink, put in time to help the visitors get around.

Chief Historian at Fred/Spot, John Hennessy was on hand to share

his expertise on the Manassas Battlefield.

Veteran volunteer Kevin Leahy takes a pause to cool down.

Fellow blogger and newspaper columnist Clint Schemmer was taking in the events.

Consummate battlefield trekker Chris Conti made the rounds.

Fair use is allowed only when proper credit is provided.

2 comments:

Todd Berkoff said...: John - thanks for the pics of the anniversary weekend. I'm sorry I wasn't able to attend the festivities as I am still in Tampa on business, although I'm back in one month. Looks like a "who's who" list of the CW community and it was good to see Kevin Leahy in his snazzy blue volunteer shirt! Ha!; July 28, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Jared Frederick said...: Pleasure meeting you as well!; August 1, 2011 at 8:52 PM

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Why I am here:

I am the owner of Spotsylvania Commemorative. For over 20 years I provided battlefield guide services, but as of January 1, 2022, I have retired from that aspect of my work. I continue to conduct historical research and assist and advise fellow historians. Living on the Spotsylvania battlefield has its advantages. The most important to me is that I am right on the ground that played an important but usually disregarded role in the campaign. The actions of May 14, 1864 resulted in the near capture of General George Gordon Meade while it also helped to anchor a new Federal left wing. Known as the battle of Myer's Hill, it focused on what was until recently a wooded summit, one half mile southeast from my driveway. There remains close to 75 acres of land which includes the Myer house site. In 1864 it was a 400 acre farm. I advocated for 20 years to influence the preservation of this property. During this time I sadly witnessed the destruction of some of the cultural resources on the site by deforesting, including what was a beautifully preserved trenchline built by the Federal 6th Corps. Seeing an imminent threat to the house site, I personally negotiated with the logging company and minimized the damage, while the surrounding acres were clear cut.
I have come to know the story of John Henry Myer and his family and the struggle for the farm site they called home. Myer, conscripted into the 40th VA Infantry, watched helpless from the Confederate trenches on May 15, 1864 as his home was destroyed by the Union occupants. It had been intended as a sanctuary from the ravages of war.
Their story, and those of countless others, is my inspiration. Thankfully, in 2018, the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust did purchase, and now aims to interpret, the Myer's Hill battlefield. I shall continue to advocate and assist where I can.

Battlefield Guide Services

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Bloggers and Buffs Gather on the Plains of Manassas for 150th Commemoration

2 comments: