Fredricksburg & Stonewall Jackson...

Got an early start to the day today, after a much needed rest.  The car and I headed west/northwest.  The first thing we came upon, for an unscheduled stop was the Jackson Shrine.  Stonewall Jackson (you first met him at Manases Battlefield where he earned the nickname Stonewall) had been shot 3 times at one of the 4 battles of Fredricksburg.  He was shot in the left hand once, and in the right arm twice.  He Doctors and aides took him to Fairfield Plantation to recuperate from the injuries.  It was quieter, cleaner and more befitting the famous and popular general.  
     But, as fate would have it, the General only got sicker.  It is unknown if he had a cold or feeling poorly before the battle, if his men had a cold, but Stonewall came down with pneumonia.  Everything was done to try and save his life, such as medicine was in those days, but within 3 days he died.  His passing was a very difficult blow for the south.
      The plantation was bought by the P- G and A railroad.  When there was no longer any need for the land or the location, it was all donated to the National Park Service and called the Jackson Shrine.
      The next stop was the Fredricksburg battlefields.  They were huge, spread over several miles.  There were actually 4 different battles fought there.  Todays Blip is a painting, done at the time, representing the devastation the the cannons caused when they were aimed at the city.  Hundreds and hundreds, I dare say thousands, were killed in their homes as the war was waged all around them.  
   The first extra is the house where Jackson died at the Fairfield Plantation.
   Extra 2  is the actual Jackson laid in and died.     Extra 4 is the monument at the lower part of the hill leading towards the cemetery where thousands and thousands of men are buried.  There are rows of over 7000 men who couldn't be identified.  The Park Ranger said that it is the larges burial site of unknown soldiers in the US. 
Extra 5  For the known soldiers, each row is marked with a silent cannon, buried butt end down.  The silent muzzle is skyward, with a cannon ball placed on top.  There is a marker for each division, for each state.
Extra 6 is the view from the top of the hill, looking out over the sky......
I couldn't but help look at the wind farms and wonder at the irony.....
All of the dead who sacrificed their lives for a cause, a reason.  
And the view is now cluttered wind turbines, just making a mess of things, and signifying that times and technology wait for man......
     I did get to the Flight 93 National Museum from the 9/11 attack on the US.   Even though I got some really cool pics, I am going to keep them for tomorrow, when I go back (It was late and the museum was closed).  I wanted to catch the setting sun light on a tower that was built.......
But that story is for another day.......

I am very sorry that I haven't gotten around to all of your wonderful journals that I enjoy, so much.   The miles are long (over 500 miles today) the activities are fascinating, the posting takes time and somewheres in there I have to eat dinner, gas the car, plan for the next day, and let my family know all is well.  Thank you so much, for following my grand adventure.