Tooth #6

She pulled this one too!

Antietam National Battlefield

Previously, I shared about the development of my son's passionate interest in the Civil War. As a result, we make an effort to visit Civil War related sites wherever we go. After visiting the Manassas Battlefield outside of Washington DC, I thought it would be worth a day trip to the Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg, Maryland.

The Battle of Antietam occurred more than a year after the battle of First Manassas and a month after Second Manassas (a.k.a 1st and 2nd Battle of Bull Run). By this time both armies were much more experienced and skilled at killing one another. This, along with the fact that this battle was the first major one to be fought on union soil, meant that this battle was destined to be brutal. The resulting casualties were well in excess of 22,000 Americans thus taking it's place in the annals of American history as the deadliest one-day battle in all of United States history.

As in the case of Manassas, the battlefield is kept much as it would have appeared in 1862. Compared to the Manassas Battlefield though, the serenity and beauty of this battlefield is significantly enhanced by the more sparsely populated area and the terrain of the Appalachian foothills within which it is located.

There are numerous walking trails on the grounds including the now infamous "bloody lane." Confederates piled fence rails along what was then called the "sunken road" and dug in. In three hours of fighting, it is believed that 5,500 soldiers were killed or wounded and the "sunken road" got it's new name. Four hours later, Federal troops finally forced the Confederates out. At the end of the day, neither side had won a decisive advantage and General Lee's army retreated back across the Potomac River.

Another amazing thing about the battlefield is the number of elaborate monuments to the men that fought and died here. Find out more about the monuments on the National Park website where you can see detailed information and even adopt one.

A stone observation tower was built on the site and is accessible to the public. From the top, the views are spectacular.

As you follow the driving tour you will also come to what has come to be called "Burnsides Bridge" another landmark where intense fighting occurred on this day. Details surrounding the defense of the bridge by the Confederates and taking of the bridge by Union troops can be found here. 

Related articles

• Manassas: Civil War Firsts (shannafern.com)
• Antietam Memorial Illumination (exploratorius.us)

RV Life: The New Playroom

Rain is a bummer when you're camping, even when you have an RV. When it's raining, this family of four lives, works, and homeschools in about 240 sq. ft. If the weather is nice, we have lots of outdoor space as our "living room." We just moved out of my parents house where we took over the guest bedrooms for 6 weeks during the holidays. Of course, our first day at the new campsite we get drizzle, followed by sunshine, followed by downpour after downpour and then drizzle. Welcome to Florida!

Luckily, with some input from me, the kids Great Grandma Hall got them a tent and some sleeping bags for Christmas. I was thankful for that little extra dry space today. After getting soaked coming out of the grocery store, I got home and had to put things away which is like putting a puzzle together in our limited cabinet space. Having two little people hopping around in the way does not help the process. They did help get the bags inside and then voluntarily disappeared into their new "playroom." Meanwhile, I was able to get organized and start supper in peace. Yay!

So, if your staying in an RV for any length of time with kids, a tent is still a valuable asset particularly on rainy days.

Related articles

• For Everything There is a Season (shannafern.com)