Civil War Rolling Come Around

               1 October through 13 October 2007

Joining co-Firsties Susan and Charlie Norton ‘62 and Marion and Frank Conery ‘58, were Dee and Bill Bradford ‘63, Janet and Anson Burlingame ‘65, Lynn and Dave ‘Red Dog’ Cannon ‘53, Kathie and Bill Corroum ‘59, Mary and Jack Glaser ‘59, Vicki and Joe Hansen ’65, Maryjane and Bob Metcalf ’60, Tom Monaghan ’59, Marie and Jim Roberts ‘59, Glenn Shindler ‘64, Margo and Gary Snyder ‘55. This was a new venture for us all, and we really wondered how it would work out. We gathered in Williamsport, MD, a day early (Sept 30) to get everything organized.

The Rolling Come Around was to be organized in four locations, and would stretch through 13 days. Locations were to be Williamsport, MD, Fredericksburg, VA, Petersburg, VA, and Appomattox, VA. We would visit eight different battlefields and several museums along the way.

On Day 1, Oct 1, we briefed the specifics for the next three days, passed out folders containing information about all the battlefields we were to visit, and continued to enjoy each other‘s company. While ‘home ported’ in Williamsport’ we spent a day visiting the town of Harpers Ferry, where there was a battle fought in 1862, as well as the scene of John Brown’s raid on the Federal Arsenal in 1859. The following day was spent at the Antietam battlefield, scene of the bloodiest single day of combat during the War. The Ranger presentation was excellent and gave us a terrific picture of the swirling movements and fighting all across the battlefield. Awesome! The next day we drove into Winchester, VA, where we were joined for the day by Jan and Charlie Pinkham ‘58, and we toured the Old Courthouse Museum. It had by far the largest and most varied collection of artillery shells used by both forces, that we had ever seen. After a fine lunch at an outside Mall nearby, we walked to the house that had been used by General Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson as his headquarters during the start of his Shenandoah Campaign. Again, there were some marvelous artifacts of the Confederacy as well as personal memorabilia of Jackson himself. Of extra note is the fact(s) that Winchester was the site of three major battles during the war, 117 skirmishes and changed ‘flags’ 72 times, 13 on one day. Quite a history.

Day 5 saw us headed for Fredericksburg, VA, scene of four major battles at different periods of the war. Kay and Tom Powell ‘58 joined us for this phase of the journey, as we trolley toured the town of Fredericksburg and dined out as well. We visited The Wilderness, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania Courthouse and Fredericksburg itself. At each visit we received informative presentations by the National Park Rangers, that helped put so many facets of the war and its battles in focus. Tours of the town and visits to several restaurants filled out the five nights we were there.

We motored down the road to Petersburg, VA, on Day 10, and most of the group used this day to visit the scene of The Crater, a battle that then culminated in a 10 month seige of the city after the Union could not break through the Confederate lines. Also on that battlefield area, a number of us were able to Visit the Blandford Church, a smallish building containing 13 Tiffany stained glass windows, dedicated to each of the states in the Confederacy. Very pretty and very impressive. We were also enriched by the prescence of Lynn and Norm Mims '60, who just happened to be at the same campground, passing through. It was so good to see them after all they've gone through for the past number of months. The following day we assembled at the Pamplin Museum, Museum of the Civil War Soldier. This is comparatively new and none had been there or seen it before. We were there for almost 7 hours, thoroughly involved with the exhibits and the docents and the re-enactors, and having a really good view of what it must have been like for so many of the soldiers on both sides, when they were not actually in battle. Campground setups, fortifications, cooking meals, practicing with their firearms, leisure time (?) activities, etc. Both sides played baseball, a newly invented game, sang and listened to music, and in fact, did much the same kind of things that we did in our day, and the troops are doing these days. A fine experience, and a worthwhile stop for anyone transiting the Petersburg area.

Day 12 saw us moving west to Appomattox. We were joined by Terry Murray, MGEN USMC (Ret), assistant to George Watt, who is head of the Alumni Foundation, and he presented us with a very informative talk on the Alumni Association and the Alumni Foundation, and all they are trying to do to support and grow the Naval Academy. We were most pleased to have him with us for the business meeting , Happy Hour and pot luck dinner. The following day the group visited the old Appomattox Court House and the MacLean House, where the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia took place. Though we had had a look at only a small portion of those tumultuous events, and had visited but a few of the historic sites, I think we were all possessed by a feeling of sadness for the terrible loss of life on both sides, and the terrible price we had to pay to solidify our young country.

Day 13 saw us spreading to the four winds, carrying some very emotional experiences, with wet eyes having been a frequent visitor to many of us. It was a very good experience at a new type of Come Around, and was a wonderful learning experience. We were constantly on the move, starting early each day and lasting far into the afternoon. This Come Around took a lot of effort on the part of all the participants. Because of their commitment and contributions, this new type of venture was a resounding success. Thanks to you all. See you down the road, when once again,

“Where ever two or three shall meet……”