2018 03-24 Manassas National Battle Park

Manassas National Battlefield Park, Virginia - March 24, 2018

We like to visit National Parks because it gets us outside and we can take the dogs with us. They like National Parks because it's new experiences and they are not left behind in the RV. 

Standing on the battlefield gives us a better perspective of the extent acres involved with lines of cannon and fields of soldiers maneuvering. The rolling hills allow visualization of the entire battle. On the top of this hill is the Henry House which was used by Confederate sharpshooters to fire on the Union soldiers manning the cannons. The home's owner was Judith Henry, a widow, was bedridden and still residing in the house. She was mortally wounded by Union artillery fire trying to dislodge the sharpshooters and was the only civilian killed during the first battle.  

The Stone House was used by Union troops as a hospital. This house is just visible in the prior picture in the distance to the right of the sign. 

The statue dedicated to Thomas J. Jackson who earned the moniker "Stonewall" during the first battle. Some liberties were taken in this depiction as he is practically bursting out of his uniform, a la Thor. 

Bull Run and the remade Stone Bridge where 22,000 Southern troops awaited the Union soldiers marching from Washington. Both sides heading for the vital railroad junction of Manassas where the Orange & Alexandria Railroad met the Manassa Gap Railroad leading west to the Shenandoah Valley, the key to the Confederate capital in Richmond.

The original bridge was blown up by Confederate soldiers.

The new (1870) Henry House which was rebuilt after the devastation of the Union shelling. 

The tree near the Henry House is a black walnut tree which had dropped it's fruit. Difficult to open but a sturdy pocket knife broke it open.

I have never had black walnut meat. It has a funny flavor compared to the usual walnuts. We would have to spend a lot of time and energy to get enough for a snack.  

Dinner at the local Mexican restaurant, El Paso Grille with margaritas, salsa, queso and fresh warm chips. 

My dinner was carne asada burrito as long as my forearm and bigger around. Half of that came home for lunch tomorrow. 

Bob had Mar-y-tierra burrito, a surf and turf combination of shrimp and carne asada.