Independence Seaport Museum

From my travels, December 14, 2019.

I heard through Facebook that the Independence Seaport Museum was hosting a “Family-friendly” tailgating event in celebration of the fact that the 2019 Army-Navy game was taking place that day in Philadelphia. That sounded like a fun thing to do with my boys, and while I had visited the museum ships there several years ago, the boys had never been aboard any kind of historic ship before. No better way to spend a day!

The tailgating turned out to be a bit of a bust. I didn’t see any activities set up, and there was hardly anyone in the museum during our visit. At least we weren’t fighting the crowds, huh? We got combo tickets for the museum and the ships, and started our visit in the museum.

This remote-control submersible was a hit with my guys. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
This remote-control submersible was a hit with my guys. – Photo by the author

We spent about 45 minutes going through the exhibits in the museum, which were all very kid-friendly. There was a ton of hands-on stuff, too. My guys really enjoyed playing with the remote-control submersible that was in the lobby, as well as the nearly life-size model of a schooner (complete with a sail to raise), and the exhibit on the river as habitat.

Isaac raises the sail! - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Isaac raises the sail! – Photo by the author

It was also cool to see some local history highlighted that was not explicitly maritime in nature – the very interactive exhibit about Fort Mifflin was a nice introduction to that story. And that’s another place that I need to take the boys to explore soon.

John raises the stars-and-stripes over "Fort Miffln" - <i>Photo by the author</i>
John raises the stars-and-stripes over “Fort Miffln” – Photo by the author

Finally it was time to head outside for the main event: the ships!

My boys aboard the <i>Becuna</i> with the <i>Olympia</i> in the background. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
My boys aboard the Becuna with the Olympia in the background. – Photo by the author

Our first stop was the WWII-era Balao-class diesel-electric submarine, USS Becuna (SS-319). This was the very first warship that the boys had ever been on, and I think they both had a really good time. Neither one seemed to have difficulty moving through the water-tight doors, or through the confined spaces. I had downloaded a tour app that the museum provides on my phone, and that also helped engage the boys with what we were seeing. Isaac especially enjoyed the control room – all those buttons!

The boys in the control room aboard the <i>Becuna</i> - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The boys in the control room aboard the BecunaPhoto by the author

Next, we went aboard the Protected Cruiser USS Olympia (C-6). This ship is most famous for being Commodore George Dewey’s flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. She also brought the unknown soldier home following WWI. I believe that she is also the oldest steel-hulled warship still afloat in the world.

The boys noted how much larger and fancier this was than the newer submarine. I think that John especially enjoyed this ship – he took a couple of turns in the demonstation hammock aboard in the berthing area. We got to do the whole tour here, but weren’t able to go up on the deck because of the rainy conditions that day.

John tries out a Navy hammock! - <i>Photo by the author</i>
John tries out a Navy hammock! – Photo by the author

As we disembarked, the boys looked across the river to the massive Iowa-class Battleship USS New Jersey (BB-62) over in Camden, NJ, and told me that they wanted to visit that ship next. It was a really great day for my crew that set up some more adventures to come.

Technology History in New Jersey

From my travels, November 27, 2019.

This post is a continuation of the trip I started with the Ten Crucial Days.

On the far side of the square in Princeton, there is a monument to Albert Einstein, who worked at the Institute for Advanced Study after fleeing Nazi Germany. I actually drove past the house that he lived in for the rest of his life. The road trip had now turned to the realm of technology history.

The monument to Albert Einstein in Princeton. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The monument to Albert Einstein in Princeton. – Photo by the author

Skillman, NJ

About 20 minutes from Princeton is a very small town – in fact, that’s even generous. There is an intersection and a post office, as well as a large Johnson & Johnson complex nearby that lists its address as being in Skillman, NJ.

I honestly don’t know too much about how it came to be – there are some accounts in the family lore – but they must have some truth to them. I know that my family first came to this country through the New York / New Jersey area, so it makes sense that my family would have a connection here.

Selfie at the Skillman, NJ post office. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Selfie at the Skillman, NJ post office. – Photo by the author

I stopped by the post office and got a selfie, as well as a few postmarked slips of paper inside as souvenirs. The lady working the desk was very kind when I told her of my family connection to this place. One day, I need to find a reason to bring my boys here.

Bell Labs – Murray Hill, NJ

The entrance to Bell Labs. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The entrance to Bell Labs. – Photo by the author

This is one of those stops that the technology nerd in me had been dreaming about for some time. It’s hard to overstate just how important Bell Labs was. This was the “silicon valley” of its day. The modern world was basically invented in this building.

Prior to the breakup of the Bell System, a small portion of every phone bill in America went to fund technology research here. They basically just hired a ton a really smart people across an array of disciplines, and put them in a building together hoping that magic would happen that would be useful to the phone system. So many inventions – and Nobel prizes – came out of their efforts.

In recent years, it has gone through multiple owners, and the most recent, Nokia, has announced that they no longer need this building and will be leaving in a few years. I hope that something of it can be preserved. It’s an incredible feeling to be inside that structure.

The small museum here: the “Bell Labs Technology Showcase”, really gives a sense of the impact of all these brilliant people working together in the “Idea Factory“. I took a bunch of photos, with the highlights below.

Battlefield Visits, Revolutionary War Edition: The Ten Crucial Days (and more!)

From my travels, November 27, 2019.

Back in 2019, I was invited by my brother to spend Thanksgiving with his family in New York. Since I had the Wednesday before off of work, I thought I’d make a day of it and hit a few interesting historical sites along the way. I left the house around 8:30am and started north.

Battle of Paoli

I titled this post as being about the Ten Crucial Days, and Paoli is not part of that campaign, but it was along my route and I had wanted to visit for a while. A few months before, I had learned about how “Mad” Anthony Wayne had been inspired by the sneak attack tactics that the British had used against him at Paoli and repeated those at Stony Point.

The monument to the 53 American soldiers who are buried here.  The monument itself is over 200 years old, so it is being preserved. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The monument to the 53 American soldiers who are buried here. The monument itself is over 200 years old, so it is being preserved. – Photo by the author

Despite the fact that there are baseball diamonds and tennis courts on part of the property, the field of the Battle of Paoli is well preserved by a small park. There are numerous monuments to the action that took place here, as well as a good number of waysides that help the visitor to understand. There is even a re-creation of the fence line and disabled artillery piece that factored so heavily here. This is a place that deserves to be visited.

Looking toward the site of the American encampment, past the disabled artillery piece. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Looking toward the site of the American encampment, past the disabled artillery piece. – Photo by the author

Old Barracks Museum / Trenton, NJ

Modern Trenton looks nothing like it did in the winter of 1776-1777. Only a few small pieces of that time remain. One of those is the Old Barracks Museum. Dating from 1758, this structure was built by the British to house troops during the French and Indian War. It is the only one that is left of five similar structures that were built across the colonies.

The Old Barracks Museum was a highlight of this roadtrip. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The Old Barracks Museum was a highlight of this roadtrip. – Photo by the author

I took a tour – I was the only member of my “group” that day – and it was very informative. The tour guides dress in period clothing and even adopt something of a character. In addition to showing you through the different rooms of the structure, they emphasize its use as a hospital, and highlight the successful smallpox inoculation program that was carried out. There is also a good museum here with some exhibits about the Battle of Trenton.

The main part of the fighting in Trenton happened in two parts – both areas are not far from the barracks. There is a large monument at the top of the hill where the American artillery was placed, but that neighborhood is a little rough and run down. I feel like the monument has seen better days, sadly.

The Trenton Battle Monument - complete with plywood door. Kind of sad. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The Trenton Battle Monument – complete with plywood door. Kind of sad. – Photo by the author

The second battle that took place here – the Battle of Assunpink Creek – took place toward the bottom of the hill. There’s a small park there, but it’s hard to get a sense of the action because of all the modern construction.

Battle of Princeton

A short distance north of Trenton is the town of Princeton. The Battle of Princeton was arguably the climax of the Ten Crucial Days.

A view of the field at Princeton, from the Colonnade Monument. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
A view of the field at Princeton, from the Colonnade Monument. – Photo by the author

The field itself is small, and there are a few waysides, but they barely mention the battle action. The museum was closed during my visit – perhaps that would have helped. The monuments here are mainly to Brig. Gen. Hugh Mercer who was mortally-wounded here. I also took the opportunity to go up into town, where the impressive Princeton Battle Monument dominates the town square.

The Princeton Battle Monument - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The Princeton Battle Monument – Photo by the author

It was here in Princeton that my trip took a turn from “history nerd” to “regular nerd”. There was plenty of history still left to see on my journey north, but it would take a decidedly more modern and technological character from here on out. And that’s a story for the next post.

Battlefield Visits: More Virginia Battlefields

From my travels, September 21, 2019.

I had a weekend to myself, and there were a few events that I wanted to attend: a show by the amazing comedy bluegrass band The Cleverlys, and a 155th anniversary hike / tour around the field of the Battle of Fisher’s Hill that I posted about before. Both were taking place that weekend in the Shenandoah Valley, so why not visit a few more battlefields while I’m on the way?

Battle of Aquia Creek – Civil War Battlefield #130

There is a park with a marker right at the landing. This site is mostly interpreted for its later use as a logistical hub for several Union campaigns. Across the street, there is a small park that is used for Native American ceremonies. Up on the hill nearby, there is an artillery position that was used by the Confederates during the Battle of Aquia Creek.

The remains of the Confederate artillery position at the Battle of Aquia Creek. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The remains of the Confederate artillery position at the Battle of Aquia Creek. – Photo by the author

I decided to drive down through Fredericksburg, with a stop at the Chancellorsville Visitor Center to see if they had any information about my next stop. Turns out that they had a brochure describing a driving tour. As a bonus, I got to drive through the Wilderness battlefield along the way, too.

Battle of Mine Run – Civil War Battlefield #131

I stopped by the Payne’s Farm site of the Battle of Mine Run that the American Battlefield Trust has preserved in the last few years. They appear to have a nice interpretive trail laid out here, but it was very overgrown at the time of my visit. I didn’t push too far. I might return to try in colder weather.

#SignSelfie with one of the waysides at Mine Run. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
#SignSelfie with one of the waysides at Mine Run. – Photo by the author

It was disappointing to see that there is no interpretation along Mine Run where the Confederate line ended up. This was, indeed, “The Great Battle Never Fought“.

Battle of Morton’s Ford – Civil War Battlefield #132

The Battle of Morton’s Ford is a bit of a strange one. I believe that this is the first battlefield that I’ve visited with absolutely no interpretation of any kind. No roadside markers. You just have to know where you’re going and what you’re looking at.

The field is all privately-held, and the closest access is along a gravel road called Horseshoe Road. I believe I was able to pick out the old road trace that led down to the ford itself, but there is little else here.

Battle of Cedar Mountain – Civil War Battlefield #133

Another field where the American Battlefield Trust has taken the lead with preservation is the Battle of Cedar Mountain. They have a set of trails with some good interpretive markers along the way. I particularly enjoyed the view across the field from the gate.

Cedar Mountain is a lovely place. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Cedar Mountain is a lovely place. – Photo by the author

Battle of Trevilian Station – Civil War Battlefield #134

Being a Custer fan, the Battle of Trevilian Station has been on my radar for a while. There is a web-based driving tour, and I did part of it because of time constraints. There are numerous monuments and markers in the vicinity of the old railroad station where Custer had his “first last stand”.

One of the typical markers at the Battle of Trevilian Station. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
One of the typical markers at the Battle of Trevilian Station. – Photo by the author

As it was getting late in the afternoon, and I’d seen all the fields that I had planned on, I had to make my way down to Bold Rock for the Cleverlys’ show. It was a great way to end the day!

The Cleverlys put on a great show! - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The Cleverlys put on a great show! – Photo by the author

Battlefield Visits #129 – The Battle of Cedar Creek

From my travels, August 1, 2019.

While on another road trip to visit Chattanooga – this time with more family members along, including my two boys – I decided that it would be nice to finally visit the site of the Battle of Cedar Creek. I could check it out for myself, and the boys could get another Junior Ranger badge. That’s fun for everyone!

The Visitor Contact Station at Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The Visitor Contact Station at Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park. – Photo by the author

Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park is a fairly new unit in the NPS – having only been established in late 2002. During our visit, it felt like a site that was still trying to figure itself out. For instance, the visitor contact station is at a strip mall in Middletown, VA. This is the only NPS site in the Shenandoah Valley, so I think they are trying to tell the whole story of both campaigns, with Cedar Creek as the climax of all that activity.

The visitor contact station had some cool museum stuff – including some interactive “try on” pieces for the boys. And you’ve got to love any battlefield with an electric map!

Isaac and "Nene" examine the electric map! - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Isaac and “Nene” examine the electric map! – Photo by the author

During our visit, I felt like the driving tour was a little rough, but thorough. The terrain here is gorgeous with rolling hills and valleys, and it isn’t too hard to imagine what it would have been like in the mid 19th century. It’s also pretty easy to see how the Confederates’ approach during their early morning attack would have been effectively covered by the lay of the land.

The standard Shenandoah Battle Plaque out on the field during the driving tour. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The standard Shenandoah Battle Plaque out on the field during the driving tour. – Photo by the author

Back at the contact station, I helped the boys work through their Junior Ranger books and struck up a conversation with the ranger about all things Civil War – including my goal of seeing all the battlefields. Like most rangers I’ve encountered on these visits, he was a pleasure to speak with – I could have stayed there all day. Eventually, the boys had their books checked, got sworn in, and made a nice memory with their dad, and their “nene” and “baba”.

Swearing in the Junior Rangers. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Swearing in the Junior Rangers. – Photo by the author

Phoenixville

From my travels, June 17, 2019.

Since I had already taken the day off work to get some dental work done in the morning, I figured that I might as well use the rest of the day to check out some history stuff that had been on my list for a while. It was time to head north, to Phoenixville, PA.

The 1882 Foundry Building has been preserved as an event venue. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The 1882 Foundry Building has been preserved as an event venue. – Photo by the author

This cool town was once the home of the Phoenix Iron Works, a large industrial operation that made a number of iron products. The most interesting ones for my purposes were the 3-inch Ordnance Rifle that was used by the Union army during the Civil War. A large majority of the cannons of this type were made right here in Pennsylvania along the Schuylkill River.

After my recent visit to the West Point Foundry in New York, I felt that I had to see this other artillery factory that was closer to home. In retrospect, I’m really glad that I decided not to wait any longer – as you’ll see in a little bit.

Signage for the Schuylkill River Trail near the old ironworks site. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Signage for the Schuylkill River Trail near the old iron works site. – Photo by the author

There are a few remnants of the old iron works still around. The most notable is the Foundry Building that was built in 1882. This structure has been restored and now serves as an event venue (with a small museum as well). A few blocks over, the Superintendent’s Office Building still exists as a restaurant. It was vacant during my visit.

The Superintendent's Office Building. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The Superintendent’s Office Building. – Photo by the author

Opposite the Foundry Building, on the path of the Schuylkill River Trail, was a “demo” bridge built out of Phoenix Columns – another of the company’s products for creating pre-fab bridges – that dates to 1871. This bridge carries the trail across French Creek.

The Phoenix Column Bridge. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The Phoenix Column Bridge. – Photo by the author

Sadly, all of these structures were built in the post-Civil War years. The site where the artillery was made was on the north side of French Creek, along the trail. I was able to walk along the path, and even went off on some side trails, but I couldn’t find any ruins that looked to be from the right era. There was a lot of poured concrete, which I think would have been installed later. The iron works eventually made the transition to steel, and continued to operate into the 1970s.

Overgrown ruins in the area where the Civil War-era portion of the iron works would have been. These are gone now. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Overgrown ruins in the area where the Civil War-era portion of the iron works would have been. These are gone now. – Photo by the author

Today, the site where the cannons would have been forged is a new neighborhood called “Steelpointe“. Nothing of these houses existed when I visited in 2019, so I’m glad that I was able to see the site in as “pure” a form as possible. I wonder how many of the people who live here realize how important this stretch of land along the creek was to the Union war effort. I’m constantly reminded of how much history is directly under our feet, if we only have the will to explore it.

While I was in the area, I also rolled through Valley Forge National Historical Park, but that’s a story from another post, as I decided to go back the next weekend with my boys.

Battlefield Visits: Road Trip to Chattanooga, Part 6: Back to Baltimore

From my travels, May 31, 2019.

I had a great time visiting Chattanooga and driving the route of the Atlanta Campaign with my nephew, but every history nerd road trip has to come to an end eventually. As I made my way back home, I stopped at a few more battlefields that I’d never visited.

As a bonus, I even got to see some reenactment artillery being towed up I-81 along side me.

It's always an adventure driving down the Shenandoah Valley! - <i>Photo by the author</i>
It’s always an adventure driving down the Shenandoah Valley! – Photo by the author

Battle of Guard Hill – Civil War Battlefield #126

There is one marker to the Battle of Guard Hill within the cluster of markers along US-522 near the base of Guard Hill. The position is definitely elevated above Front Royal, and you can readily see the defensive advantages. Even so, Union cavalry was able to prevail, sweeping the rebels back toward town.

The marker to the battle along US-522. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The marker to the battle along US-522. – Photo by the author

Battle of Front Royal – Civil War Battlefield #127

If you wanted to avoid the fighting during the Civil War, the lower Shenandoah Valley was NOT the place to be. There were constant battles, raids, occupations, and even burnings throughout this area from 1861-1865.

The Battle of Front Royal was part of Jackson’s 1862 Valley Campaign, and was a decisive Confederate victory. Maj. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson utterly overwhelmed the small Union force in town and forced them to flee to Winchester. Famous southern spy Belle Boyd also played a role in helping prepare the rebels for their attack.

Nice map of the Battle of Front Royal. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Nice map of the Battle of Front Royal. – Photo by the author

There are some markers discussing this action near the Guard Hill one in that standard “Shenandoah Valley” style – with more embossed maps on large, vertical boards. In the town square near the courthouse there are more markers and a good wayside. I found this fight to be particularly interesting as it is another field with Maryland vs. Maryland action.

Confederate Memorial in the town square in Front Royal. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Confederate Memorial in the town square in Front Royal. – Photo by the author

Battle of Manassas Gap – Civil War Battlefield #128

There is a single wayside in the park and ride on Dismal Hollow Road to tell the story of the Battle of Manassas Gap, and it does that pretty well, I think. The gap is visible behind you from that location.

My one quibble would be that the wayside declares this battle to be the final action of the Gettysburg Campaign, but I feel like that was over as soon as the Confederates got back across the Potomac River.

Battlefield Visits: Road Trip to Chattanooga, Part 5: Revisits

From my travels, May 30, 2019.

Chickamauga, Revisited

Since I was still in town – and largely done with the Atlanta Campaign – I decided to go back and really properly do Chickamauga since the only other time I had visited, I didn’t really know what I was doing. Luckily, my nephew was game.

The entrance to the visitors center at Chickamauga - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The entrance to the visitors center at Chickamauga – Photo by the author

We started, appropriately enough, at the visitors center. There is a great display of artillery out front, so I got to nerd out with my nephew about that. Around the side, they even have a mountain howitzer. Very cool! For the rest of the day, my nephew tried his hand at identifying the cannons – and he did pretty well!

After orienting ourselves, we did the standard auto tour. What really impressed me about the place was the old War Department tablets. There are similar monuments at Gettysburg – one for each corps, division, brigade, and battery. Here at Chickamauga, though, each unit has multiple tablets, at places where they fought or maneuvered. With enough time, you can follow the movements of individual units – with some markers even being hidden in the middle of the woods. It’s wild. I could spend a lot of time here.

One highlight of this visit was that I was able to get over my acrophobia enough to climb the Wilder Brigade Monument Tower. It honestly wasn’t that bad since the spiral staircase is enclosed. The view from the top was pretty cool.

We took a selfie at the top of the Wilder Tower. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
We took a selfie at the top of the Wilder Tower. – Photo by the author

The farthest “off the beaten path” we went, was to the far right of Maj. Gen. George Henry “The Rock of Chickamauga” Thomas’ line to find the monument to the 121st OH. My old high school buddy, Jim, had sent me a photo years ago of him shaking his fist at the marker. I really wanted to give a proper response. Being able to do that along with my nephew was a really special memory.

My response on behalf of Thomas' men. - Photo by my nephew
My response on behalf of Thomas’ men. – Photo by my nephew

Missionary Ridge

The Iowa Monument marks the start of the road along Missionary Ridge. Lookout Mountain is in the background. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The Iowa Monument marks the start of the road along Missionary Ridge. Lookout Mountain is in the background. – Photo by the author

After a quick stop for lunch, we headed north. I wanted to actually drive along Missionary Ridge and see what was left of the field. There’s not much – it’s mostly very expensive houses now. The route is utterly littered with War Department plaques, but I doubt anyone ever reads them. There is no where safe to pull off and park near the vast majority of these monuments and markers. You’d almost have to walk along the road to take them all in, and it’s a narrow road. I don’t think that would be very safe.

There are a few spots called “reservations” where there is about a block or so of “park.” While there weren’t very many of these to stop at, the views when you did were awesome. Not as good as Lookout Mountain, but better than your average Civil War battlefield.

Panorama of the view to the north from the Bragg Reservation. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Panorama of the view to the north from the Bragg Reservation. – Photo by the author

I had a great visit to Chattanooga and Atlanta. It was time to get on the road back to Baltimore. But there were a few more spots to hit along the way.

Battlefield Visits: Road Trip to Chattanooga, Part 4: Kennesaw Mountain and Beyond

From my travels, May 29, 2019.

Once again, we were able to get going from Chattanooga pretty early in the morning. I was really looking forward to finishing off the Atlanta area battlefields, and was pretty sure we were going to be able to do it. The universe had other plans.

Battle of Kennesaw Mountain – Civil War Battlefield #120

We were able to arrive at the NPS site for the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain by about 10am. It was a Wednesday morning. The parking lot was absolutely PACKED. Was I here on the battle anniversary or something? No that wasn’t until June 27th – almost a month away. What was going on?

My nephew and I got parked in a massive overflow lot about a half-mile away. Even that was filling up fast. What is the deal here? Either way, we were all set to start our visit by checking out the museum in the visitors center.

As we approached the building, I noticed that they had posted hours: they opened at 9am, but there is a separate vestibule with restrooms that opens at 7:30am. That seems a little odd. When we got into the main information desk, I asked the ranger about it. As it turns out – or so he told me – Kennesaw Mountain gets more visitation than ANY other NPS Civil War battlefield. This is because it is set right in the midst of the Atlanta suburbs, and is overwhelmingly used by joggers who like to run up the mountain. I would come to find out just how many in a little while.

The museum was pretty good. Being the only NPS site along the Atlanta Campaign, they tell the story of the whole campaign here – not just Kennesaw Mountain’s part. After checking out all the exhibits, we made the hike back to the car to begin the auto tour. Stop 1 was the top of Kennesaw Mountain itself.

There’s a two lane road up the mountain, but it was absolutely choked with joggers – most of whom did not want to move to the side of the road, and several of whom gave me irritated looks as I drove past them – as if I was using the park the wrong way or something. It is the most bizarre experience I have ever had on a battlefield. At the top, we parked and walked a trail along the ridge. There are a few artillery pieces up there, and one can see the skyline of downtown Atlanta if it’s a clear enough day – it was for us.

The skyline of Atlanta is just visible in the haze at center. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The skyline of Atlanta is just visible in the haze at center. – Photo by the author

We had to fight our way back down the mountain with the joggers, but once we moved on to the second stop and beyond, we barely saw another soul on the battlefield. I suppose it is nice that people visit, but it really seems to me like the vast majority of them are missing the point of the place.

The hike to the Illinois Monument was the one big highlight of our visit to Kennesaw Mountain. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The hike to the Illinois Monument was the one big highlight of our visit to Kennesaw Mountain. – Photo by the author

And part of me feels like the NPS has largely caved to that user base here. It certainly could be that the visit started with a bad experience and that colored the rest of it for me, but I honestly found the auto tour to be somewhat hard to follow, and the stops to be not well-interpreted. The one exception was the Illinois Monument, which we hiked to along the route of the Union attack. That was a really nice moment. Apart from the initial stops, the place is oddly peaceful. It’s one of the strangest battlefields I’ve visited so far.

Battle of Kolb’s Farm – Civil War Battlefield #121

While the CWSAC considers the Battle of Kolb’s Farm to be a separate action, the site is included as the final stop on the Kennesaw Mountain auto tour route.

There are a few markers here, and the field seems to be mostly intact – though the modern road intersections are larger than they were in 1864. Sadly, the disappointment continued, as one of the NPS waysides here had Brig. Gen. John White Geary’s name misspelled on a battle map as “Greary”. It was fitting, I suppose.

Atlanta History Center

It was time to finally head into Atlanta. I had been looking forward to seeing the newly-restored Atlanta Cyclorama at the Atlanta History Center ever since I heard about it online. I’ve been to see the Gettysburg one several times, and being able to see the only other surviving cyclorama is pretty cool. The restoration looked great – complete with a diorama as it would have been presented back in the late 19th century.

The Atlanta Cyclorama. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The Atlanta Cyclorama. – Photo by the author

The rest of the museum was great as well. They have a Civil War section that contains some cool weapons, along with the coat that Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon wore at Appomattox. At the time, they also had a large exhibit about the history of BBQ, which I’m sure my now-wife would have loved.

Battle of Peachtree Creek – Civil War Battlefield #122

As I mentioned in previous entries, the battlefields in modern metro Atlanta are all obliterated now by the sprawl of neighborhoods radiating from the city. Only small parcels here and there exist to memorialize these actions. The Battle of Peachtree Creek is an excellent example of this.

One of the tablets in the small neighborhood park that commemorates the battle. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
One of the tablets in the small neighborhood park that commemorates the battle. – Photo by the author

We visited Tanyard Creek Park, where a few markers exist in a variation of the “pocket park” from before. While the story is told on the tablets, the modern visitor simply can’t visualize what the fighting here was like. It’s a theme that will continue through the rest of our day.

That said, the park itself is lovely and peaceful with some trails. We walked down to Tanyard Creek and the rush of the water was calming. I’ve started to record the sound of the streams at all the battlefields that I visit, and I particularly enjoyed this one.

Battle of Utoy Creek – Civil War Battlefield #123

The landscape of the Battle of Utoy Creek is completely gone. We had no trouble finding the two markers that exist along Cascade Road, but they are entirely surrounded by neighborhoods that did not exist 150 years ago.

Battle of Ezra Church – Civil War Battlefield #124

The Battle of Ezra Church also has a small “pocket park” adjacent to the C.A. Scott Recreation Center, with several tablets attempting to explain the action to the modern visitor. Once again, though, nothing of the field remains as it was in 1864.

What can I say? I love a tablet with an embossed map. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
What can I say? I love a tablet with an embossed map. – Photo by the author

Battle of Atlanta – Civil War Battlefield #125

The action that the cyclorama was made to portray. And again, modern Atlanta has just wiped the field of the Battle of Atlanta right off the map. In addition to being packed with neighborhoods, modern I-20 bisects the battlefield and makes it impossible to visualize.

A vertical cannon marks the approximate spot of Maj. Gen. McPherson's death. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
A vertical cannon marks the approximate spot of Maj. Gen. McPherson’s death. – Photo by the author

I visited the intersection of McPherson Ave. and Monument Ave. to see the monument to the death of Maj. Gen. James Birdseye McPherson.

Just For Fun…

As we were driving down toward the Atlanta History Center, we passed by what was at that time Sun Trust Park – now Truist Park – where the Atlanta Braves play. I had never been to any MLB stadium outside of my beloved Baltimore Orioles, nor had my nephew. On a whim, I checked whether they were in town, and when I saw that they were scheduled to play the rival Washington Nationals that night, I made the rather spontaneous decision to buy a couple of tickets.

The view from our seats. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
The view from our seats. – Photo by the author

We had a great time! And with former Orioles Kevin Gausman pitching, and Nick Markakis in left field for the Braves, it was almost like seeing my guys. Sadly, the home team was thrashed that night, 14-4.

A couple of happy guys at the ball game. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
A couple of happy guys at the ball game. – Photo by the author

After the game, we made the drive back to Chattanooga. There was one more day in town for me to revisit an old favorite, and see a couple of new places, too.

Battlefield Visits: Road Trip to Chattanooga, Part 3: On to Atlanta!

From my travels, May 28, 2019.

This was going to be an exciting day. My nephew and I were going to check a lot of battlefields off the list. We got up early (no small task for a teenager) and got on the road before 9:30am.

Battle of Ringgold Gap – Civil War Battlefield #109

Not too far down the road, we came to our first stop, the Battle of Ringgold Gap. While not considered part of the Atlanta Campaign, this was right along our route, and I’d never visited before.

The story here is that Maj. Gen. Patrick Cleburne’s men fought for over 5 hours as a rear guard after the Confederate army was forced off of Missionary Ridge outside of Chattanooga. The Union attack here was not well executed, and Grant made the call not to pursue beyond the gap, returning his troops to the defenses of Chattanooga.

Patrick Cleburne is the Confederate hero of the battle. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Patrick Cleburne is the Confederate hero of the battle. – Photo by the author

We checked out another of the New York monuments – very much like the one at Wauhatchie the day before. It was a little off the beaten path, so that was pretty cool. The main visitor focus for this battlefield is on the small “pocket park” that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps back during the Great Depression. It’s a parking area with a few markers and picnic tables right off of US-41.

There are a lot of these "pocket parks" along the route to Atlanta. These maps they have are pretty cool. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
There are a lot of these “pocket parks” along the route to Atlanta. These maps they have are pretty cool. – Photo by the author

The gap itself has clearly been widened over the years to make room for I-75, but you can see that even in its natural state it would have been quite substantial in late 1863.

First Battle of Dalton – Civil War Battlefield #110

Fighting at the First Battle of Dalton took place in Mill Creek Gap. This is another location that is marked by a CCC “pocket park” just in front of the Georgia State Patrol Station on US-41.

I just <i>had</i> to take my nephew here. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
I just had to take my nephew here. – Photo by the author

There’s a trail near the parking area that leads a little farther up the ridge to the site of Fort Fisk – perhaps named for some distant relative of his? The surprise of seeing that sign definitely put a smile on his face. A nice memory to be sure.

Second Battle of Dalton – Civil War Battlefield #111

The field of the Second Battle of Dalton seems to have been obliterated by modern development. I had a hard time finding any markers for it, and even a couple of the visitors centers and museums in town were unable to direct me to anything concrete.

There is a statue of Joseph E. Johnston in downtown Dalton, but no trace of the second battle fought here. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
There is a statue of Joseph E. Johnston in downtown Dalton, but no trace of the second battle fought here. – Photo by the author

That said, my nephew and I got to spend a little time driving around the town, and it seems like a pretty nice place.

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The Tunnel Hill Heritage Center and Museum had this cool display outside. What are Sherman’s Neckties? They’re AWESOME – that’s what! – Photo by the author

Battle of Rocky Face Ridge – Civil War Battlefield #112

I know that a park has since been established north of Dalton to help preserve some of the history of the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge, but that did not exist at the time of my visit. My nephew and I took a look at the southern portion of the field, in Dug Gap.

There is a small parking area there and a few markers and waysides to give the visitor a little bit of the story. From there, we walked on a short trail up to the ridge and saw some of the rock formations and cliffs. It was a very peaceful spot.

Battle of Resaca – Civil War Battlefield #113

We hit the first of our disappointments for the day at the next stop: the Battle of Resaca. There is a nice park here preserving part of the Union section of the battlefield, but it is only open Friday – Sunday. Of course, we were visiting on a Tuesday.

Chevaux de frise guard the modern entrance to the Resaca battlefield park. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Chevaux de frise guard the modern entrance to the Resaca battlefield park. – Photo by the author

We were able to park just outside the gate, and see a couple of markers that were nearby, but neither of us wanted to press our luck exploring any farther. One thing that I really liked was the reproduction chevaux de frise that stand right next to the gate. At least there won’t be any cavalry attacks here!

Battle of Adairsville – Civil War Battlefield #114

There isn’t much going on at the site of the Battle of Adairsville. In truth – none of the battles of this campaign produced the kind of fighting and casualties that one would expect from major Civil War battles. This campaign was really a master class in maneuver given by Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman.

One of the markers at Adairsville. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
One of the markers at Adairsville. – Photo by the author

We were able to find a few, kind of rough-looking, roadside markers near a cemetery in town, but that was about it.

Battle of Allatoona – Civil War Battlefield #115

There have been a lot of changes to the field of the Battle of Allatoona since 1864. The most obvious one hits you as soon as you park your car and see the huge earthen dam that holds back the artificially-created Lake Allatoona. That means that a part of this field is now underwater. The day we were there featured plenty of activity going on, with people walking along the trails and taking out their boats.

Like so many of the battlefields we are seeing on this trip, the reason it came to be was all about the railroad. The Western and Atlantic Railroad cut right through a gap here, and that narrow channel through the mountain still exists. The railroad has been converted to a walking path, and about half way down the trail, there is a set of stairs leading up the side to the star fort which commanded the approaches here.

This trail lies where the railroad once came through. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
This trail lies where the railroad once came through. – Photo by the author

Apart from the remains of the fort, there are several waysides and even a few monuments – the coolest of which are stone markers that commemorate the different States that supplied men for this fight. I couldn’t resist having my nephew pose with the North Carolina one, since that is where he grew up. Sadly, there was no Maryland monument.

My nephew poses with the monument to North Carolina troops at Allatoona. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
My nephew poses with the monument to North Carolina troops at Allatoona. – Photo by the author

Battle of New Hope Church – Civil War Battlefield #116

The church from the Battle of New Hope Church still exists, and while there is another of the “pocket parks” here, I get the sense that the congregation takes a certain amount of pride in the field. There are worm fences and even some earthworks here, and they were in pretty good shape.

My nephew tries out the defenses at New Hope Church. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
My nephew tries out the defenses at New Hope Church. – Photo by the author

As we get closer to Atlanta, less and less land is preserved in the sprawl of the modern metropolis. Only small little landmarks are left in the wake of countless new neighborhoods. That’s the story here as well.

Battle of Dallas – Civil War Battlefield #117

I’ll be honest – I was very confused by the Battle of Dallas. And it isn’t like this is my first time on a battlefield. There are plenty of markers scattered around town, but the places that they seem to label as being part of the defensive lines don’t seem all that defensible to me. Maybe the terrain has changed in the last 150+ years with the massive growth of Atlanta?

I found these isolated signs, in the midst of new development, difficult to follow. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
I found these isolated signs, in the midst of new development, difficult to follow. – Photo by the author

This feels like the kind of place that I would need to study a lot, and come back with some period maps to try to get my head around it. I just wasn’t able to grasp it on the field.

I will add: the best wayside that I found was over behind the Chamber of Commerce building.

Battle of Pickett’s Mill – Civil War Battlefield #118

The Battle of Pickett’s Mill has been partially preserved as a Georgia State Park, but like Resaca, it wasn’t open on the day I can through. It’s a shame, because it seems like it may be pretty solidly interpreted. For now, my nephew and I had to settle for the marker in the small parking spot out front.

Pickett's Mill was closed. Bummer! - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Pickett’s Mill was closed. Bummer! – Photo by the author

Battle of Marietta – Civil War Battlefield #119

I was initially confused by the Battle of Marietta. It turns out that this was really a series of smaller actions that occurred around the area rather than one concerted fight. We visited the site of Gilgal Church, which had some cool reconstructed earthworks.

Field fortifications at Gilglal Church. - <i>Photo by the author</i>
Field fortifications at Gilglal Church. – Photo by the author

11 battlefields was a fine number for one day. As it was starting to get late, we decided to head back to Chattanooga and resume closer to Atlanta in the morning. There would be a few surprises coming for us – mostly pleasant ones.