On to the South - Day 17

May 4, 2012

We were up at the crack of dawn, or about 8:15.  Today was planned as a busy day.  Vonna wanted to get at least one suitcase packed and Bob and I were going to Petersburg to look at another Civil War Battle Site.

I put the suitcase on the bed and Vonna told me to leave, in a nice way.  She said that she knew what was not needed and would pack one of the suitcases.  Bob & I decided it was time to leave.  Brenda asked if we knew where we were going and Bob said it would be easy to find.  He was there on a 7th or 8th grade field trip.

We drove to Petersburg, followed the signs and got lost.  I looked on my iPhone and found the Petersburg National Battlefield.  I followed the directions and ended up at the headquarters.  There were instructions on the door on how to get to the correct place.

A part of the visitor's center

For the ones that don't know, there was a battle at Petersburg near the end of the Civil War.  It was the longest event of the Civil War and during the 9 1/2 months there were over 70,000 casualties.  Six days after the battle concluded Lee surrendered.

Could you imagine charging thought this?

A couple of things were very interesting during this event.  The North surprised the South on the first day of the battle.  If they would have continued, instead of stopping, they would have over run the small army that was in Petersburg.  The next day Lee moved more troops into the city.

The big thing that Bob wanted me to see was the Crater.  This was very interesting.  A group of the Northern Army were coal miners from Pennsylvania.  They dug a tunnel under the Southern encampment.  They set off an explosive that created a crater of about 170 foot long, 80 foot wide, and 30 feet deep.  The crater is still there, though grown up with grass and trees.

About 300 Southern soldiers were killed.  It said that about 15,000 Northern soldiers stormed into the area.  There was no place to go.  The Southern Army was on top of them, shooting all that they could.  It was later called a "Turkey Shoot".  This was one of the first battles that blacks were used as soldiers and the Southern soldiers were shooting all that they could.  It was told that even some of the white Northerners were shooting the blacks thinking that they would be able to get out.  In the end, the South lost about 1000 men and the North lost almost 6000 men.

We drove through the Park, looking at the monuments and reading about the battles and how the North eventually over ran the city.  We were getting hungry and finally found a 7-11 for lunch.  It was a very nice day to spend with Bob and very educating.  It is something to see the places that most of us have only read about.

We decided it was time to head for home.  We got back about 2 or 3, and the women got home about 4.  We are going to go to dinner with Angie and family.  The girls were at Angie's shop, getting nails and hair done.  They looked great.  Oh ya, they also went to Cracker Barrel for lunch and a little shopping.

Civil War Veteran

Brenda & Bob's House

Before we left for Angie's, Bob took me next door to the Cemetery.  This right next door - on the other side of the trees.  There is a Civil War Veteran buried there.

We got to Angie's at about 6 and she was just getting home from work.  A few minutes later RL got home and off we went to Lake Gaston for dinner.  The drive was out through the country and it was perfect.  The sun shining through the clouds and onto the water.

Sweet Memories!

The restaurant is run by some friends of RL and Angie.  Everything was perfect.  We were overlooking the water, on the patio.  The food was great.  And most of all, it was a great time with our relatives that we love spending time with.  We wish it could have continued for a long time.  After dinner we walked to the water, talked, and watched the lightning storm in the distance.

Sisters and Friends!

All to soon it was time to leave.  This would be the last time on this trip that we would see Angie, RL, and girls.  We have enjoyed the time together so much and saying goodbye is never easy.  As I get older it gets harder.

We got home, finished packing the second suitcase, and got ready to leave the next morning.  None of us are looking forward to saying good by, but we ate an ice cream and it was time for bed.