Bull Run. VA trip part 3

Cannons at Bull Run.

On July 3rd we were in Manassas,VA. Where we visited the site of the Battle of Bull Run.  

The first major battle of the Civil War was fought here at Manassas ,VA on July 21,1861.

Union General Irvin McDowell faced Confederate General Joseph Johnston.  The confederacy won the first battle here. On August 28,1862 there was a second battle here where the confederates won again.
Interestingly enough, both sides thought this would be a one battle war between the two sides. Neither realized until the end of the Battle of Bull Run that it was only the beginning.  The North went home and gathered more troops, as did the South.   Another interesting fact, the south called this the battle of Manassas. The North called it the Battle of Bull Run. 

This is a picture of the Henry Farm where most of the battle took place.  It was 128 acre wheat farm at the time the fighting happened. Judith Henry in her 80's was in the house during the battle.  Confederate snipers were inside the house firing down on the union army. Because of  this the Union turned their firing onto the house and Judith Henry was killed.  

This is a monument erected by the Union Army  in the middle of the farm the following year to honor the fallen Union soldiers.   

Judith Hill is buried on the farm with two of her children.  

A better view of the house.   There were also 2 other houses on the farm at the time. One belonged to a freed slave and his family.

The fences are interesting to me. One would wonder if this would truly stand up to a hers of cows running through it.  : )

We had an older gentlemen as our tour guide. He grew up in Appomattox,VA.  He shared many interesting facts and where they believed certain things happened.  I think when we study this in school with the kids it might be worth a trip to travel the countryside to visit some of the other battlefields and of course Washington DC.,Arlington Cemetery, Fords Theater.  When we left the farm it had begun to rain. Hurricane Earnest was coming into the East Coast. Nothing terrible, just wind and rain. But it was enough rain that neither of us wanted to start back home. Especially since the first couple hours would be mountain driving. So we decided to stay one more night. in Virginia.