Gratuitous Civil War Posting

"There stands Jackson like a stone wall. Rally behind the Virginians!" - Gen. Barnard Bee

Today is the anniversary, in 1861 of the First Battle of Bull Run (or, if you prefer, First Manassas), the first major engagement of the Civil War. Basically a clash of amateurs, the day ended in a stunning Union defeat and panicked retreat, made even worse by the numerous tourons who came out from Washington to watch what they thought would be an easy mopping up of the Confederate forces.

As I've mentioned before, the First Bull Run battlefield is an excellent place for first time battlefield visitors. It is small enough that one can see virtually all of it from any one position. In addition, despite the cancerous growth in northern Prince William County, the battlefield itself and its immediate environs remain pretty much the way they looked one hundred and forty five years ago.

Commuter-Thought Inspired Update: Of course, the weather 'round Dee Cee in July, 1861 was just as beastly as it is now. I've got a half-hour non-air conditioned car ride and a fifteen minute walk each way on my commute. I'm dressed in a nice, light cotton shirt and khakis and usually just carry my blazer. I am utterly burnt out after a few days of this. Just imagine what it must have been like for these men in their heavy wool uniforms and God knows how many pounds of equipment on their backs force-marching in this kind of heat and then having to go into battle. It's utterly mind-boggling when you stop to think about it.

When I gripe about the heat, I know somewhere deep down that I'm just being a wuss.