American adventure day twelve : Manassas

So I got to the end of my trip and I deliberately left half a day to cover the two Manassas battlefields before getting my flight back from Dulles Airport.

Being close to Washington, Manassas I guess is probably one of the top battlefields visited which is reflected in the quality of the facilities etc.... For those that don't know it was the first major battle when all concerned realised that a single battle wasn't going to see the end of the war. Famously the gentry from Washington came out by carriage to watch the battle but when the Union forces lost and retreated...then fled ......... it caused near panic.

 

Henry Hill scene of the most serious fighting, the Barn in the distance rebuilt is quite famous for the first civilian casualty of the war.

 

Standing like a stonewall.

 

Confederate gun line looking roughly NW to Henry hill.

 

The Stone House used as a hospital and past which the Rebels initially retreated.

 

Matthew Hill in the distance where from where the rebels retreated back to Henry Hill.

A second larger battle took place again over almost the same ground where Stonewall Jackson famously defeated the Union a second time to protect the rail junction at Manassas.

The second battle is less well preserved and harder to follow on the ground covering a larger area.

 

Chinn Ridge a union strongpoint.

 

The unbuilt railway cut where Jackson's men fought back the larger Union attacks. Much of this area now overgrown with woods.