Farewell to Fall

Our backyard must get a lot of sun because the leaves back there stayed green for a really long time. That meant that we had a long fall over here. When our last batch of leaves fell, we took advantage of fall's final moments. 

Ode to Fall

We moved to Maryland in the fall three years ago, and I think it was good that we moved during this most beautiful season because it made me love Maryland much quicker than I might have otherwise. Every fall I fall in love with Maryland's seasons all over again.

The rest of these pictures were taken near Beckett's preschool. I just love the area behind his school. It is beautiful in every season, and we have spent many afternoons back there.

These brothers. Some days these guys make me crazy but sometimes they are the best pals. Recently we had a day where they have played together happily all day long. Beckett said things like, "it's always fun with Felix" and "Felix is the best kind of friend." On the day I'm describing, not even flu shots could dampen the good cheer. No tears. No drama (and Beckett can really pour on the drama). They even told the nurse "thank you" and "goodbye." The next day they were back to being frenemies, of course, but it's nice to remember the golden days.

Fall Means Harpers Ferry

We have a tradition around here: every fall we go to Harpers Ferry. There's really no place that I love more. This year we visited all of our favorite spots and did all our favorite activities:

1. Ice cream in our favorite courtyard.

2. Throwing rocks in the water.




3. Watching trains! We were at Harpers Ferry for about four hours, and we saw FIFTEEN trains. That's a new record. There are two tracks in Harpers Ferry: one that goes by the station and one that goes along a trestle. We ran halfway across the town to watch the train go across the trestle because that is a rare sight.  Lots of trains makes for happy children.

We also did a few things that we haven't done before.

1. We finally hiked up to the cemetery. The boys were tired after all those stairs.

2. We checked out the ruins of St. John's Episcopal Church. The church was built in 1852 and was used as a barracks and a hospital during the Civil War, where it sustained heavy damage. It was rebuilt, but later abandoned when a new Episcopal Church opened in 1895.

3. We explored a little beach and the surrounding cliffs on Virginius Island.

 
It was a beautiful day.

P.S. So many more visits to Harpers Ferry: here, here, here, here, and here

Fredericksburg

And now another update on how my nerdy tourist goals are coming along. Every year during the sesquicentennial of the Civil War we have made a trek out to a battlefield. Next year is the last year, so we'll have to make sure that our Civil War site for 2015 is extra awesome.

This year we went to Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg was the site for three Civil War battlefields. We visited the location of the first battle, a Confederate victory, which took place in December of 1862.

The Confederate troops lined up in the Sunken Road--part of the road system that went from Washington, D.C. to Richmond. They used this stone wall for protection as they fired upon the exposed Union troops.

The Innis house is still standing. It was located right in the line of fire and, even after many walls were replaced, still has bullet holes from the attack.

I didn't know the story of the Angel of Marye Heights before we visited Fredericksburg, but Nate did. Sergeant Richard R. Kirkland of the 2nd South Carolina Volunteers brought water to the wounded Union soldiers caught between the lines despite the danger to himself. Kirkland died in battle in Chickamauga, Georgia in September 1863.


Brompton stands on the hill directly behind the Sunken Road. The house was built in 1824 and served as headquarters for Colonel James B. Walton of the Washington Artillery. In 1864, it became a hospital for wounded Union soldiers. Today the house is owned by the University of Mary Washington.

We then wound our way up the hill to the ridge the Confederate reinforcements had to crest to come to their compatriots' aid. From there we could see down to the Sunken Road and the Innis house. Making their way down the hill left many soldiers exposed to Union fire.


A small cemetery at the top of the hill dates to the mid-eighteenth century. During the battle, it sheltered Confederate soldiers, some of whom were treated for wounds behind the brick walls. Other regiments paused here to regroup before charging down the hill. By the end of the battle the graveyard was a wreck. The brick walls had been toppled by Union artillery and many headstones were shattered.


Approximately 20,000 soldiers died in the Fredericksburg area during the Civil War. In 1865 Congress established the Fredericksburg National Cemetery for the Union soldiers who died in the area. Of the 15,300 soldiers buried here only 3,000 are known, and 300 of those are from later wars.

The cemetery was the boys favorite part of the excursion.



Fredericksburg was a nice battlefield to visit because we could walk the whole thing. The signage is really good, and the walk up the hill was especially nice.

P.S. We visit Manassas in 2013, Antietam in 2012, and Gettysburg in 2011.