Date: 2008-03-17
From: Home, Where the Heart is...

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Miles today: 0.0

I thought you might enjoy a picture from one of my practice hikes.   I took this one on my return from a circuit hike following the path that both Union and Confederate soldiers used during both sieges of Fredericksburg during the Civil War. To reach this place, one would trek down through the forest behind my house, down through a grove of Oaks and Beech trees, down into the abandoned railroad gorge, and follow this East toward the first crossing of Hazel Run [currently flowing very well and normal stepping stone crossing spots are now under water].This area was under construction in 1862. Railroad trestles were being constructed and large quantities of earth were being moved because the Confederate States of America realized that this new railroad would provide an easier way to move large numbers of troops, cannon, and supplies to defend their homeland from the invading Federal Forces (as had been demonstrated at both battles of Manassas [or Bull Run as the victors called them]).My house sits on what had been the foundation of one of the original homesteads of the area, then surrounded by encampments of soldiers, supporting units, and refugees (Fredericksburg townspeople whose homes were being bombarded from the Stafford Heights on the north side of the Rappahannock River.Near the mid-point of my almost standard conditioning hike, I turn off the abandoned rail bed, just past Alum Springs Park and begin a very long and rather steep trek up the power line that runs over what is now called, Lee¢s Hill (because it was the highest ground around, General Robert E. Lee used it as both his headquarters and the site of several batteries of artillery). He actually had sleeping quarters near the base of the opposite side of Lee¢s Hill near present day Mine Road.Every step I make on this hallowed ground reminds me of what it must have been like for those who lived through this historic internal struggle. Early in the War, General Lee was not as well respected by his troops. They had such names for him as, ¢Granny Lee (because of his gray hair and beard),¢ and ¢The King of Spades (he won many battles because he forced his troops to dig entrenchments and to build field fortifications against the horrendously efficient weapons that had recently been developed for warfare).In this place, however, both his men and the civilian population were fully behind him, racing to put up defenses to, ¢¢¦repel the invaders¢¦¢ Messengers had climbed the same steep hill as I, with news from his commanders stretched for miles around the base of this and three other hills¢¦ ¢¦and only several hundred yards to the North of this line of entrenchments and earthworks is the open plane of the southern bank of the Rappahannock River, now covered with trees and buildings, but then open farmers¢ fields, across which such now famous Union units as the Irish Brigade, attempted to cross and were mowed down by the determined Army of Northern Virginia.I¢m rambling again, but history is, ¢who we are¢¦¢ I get this same sense in many places along the Appalachian Trail as well. For me, this trek is so much more than simply a journey through what¢s left of the American Wilderness.Time is speeding up for me now. The Contractors will begin in earnest today ¢ doing their best to finish all three bathrooms before I leave for the Trail. Son Number One has now taken his first steps out of his hospital bed (with a walker and assistance, of course). My re-supply boxes (at least the first seven of them) are almost ready to close and to pre-address. I¢m simply waiting for a few medicine refills to do this¢¦ It really looks as though it¢s going to happen according to plan!More Appalachian Trail Corollaries to Murphy¢s Law:- Wild pigs always have the right-of-way along the trail.- Bears always have the right-of-way along the trail.- Hunters always have the right away in West Virginia¢¦- Hostel mattresses are not hard. It¢s your imagination.- Spring Breakers believe that everybody wants to hoot and howl in the moonlight.- The Five Second Rule was invented by a hungry Thru-Hiker.p.s. Thanks, Ben, for your self-portrait in your yesterday's Journal! What an expression... *laughing* I'll see you out there in a few days...