Cedar Creek National Battlefield and Belle Grove

Friday we decided to go to Cedar Creek National Battlefield and to Belle Grove plantation which is about 10 miles from here. Hurricane Earl was definitely in the east - you should have seen the cloud formations! No rain forecasted - but supposed to be hot so off we went. Belle Grove Plantation is a home built in 1785, designed by Thomas Jefferson, and the wife of the owner was the sister of James Madison, the 4th president. Again, no pictures on the inside, but was amazing to see and hear the history and how people lived. Notice how this home is so huge - and only 2 bedrooms. And one level - notice the steps going up high? Alot of furniture is still from the Hite's (that's the original family). Across the road is the Cedar Creek National Battlefield Historic Park. I had never heard of this battle in the Civil War and found out it only became a national park in 2002. Cedar Creek and Belle Grove are connected because during the battle, Major General Ramseur of the South was mortally wounded and brought here to die. At his bedside was Northern Lt. George Armstrong Custer (the same of the tragic Battle of Little Big Horn - Custer's last stand). Others who fought in this battle were William McKinley and Rutherford B. Hayes -future presidents! This battle was a turning point in the Civil War because the North (Union) were not doing so well, being defeated by the South (Confederates) and Abraham Lincoln was campaigning for re-election, also the Shenandoah Valley was key to provisioning the South. This battle happened in October, two weeks before election of a president. Most of the battles of the Civil War were fought here in the Shenandoah Valley, some towns had 4 battles during the 4 1/2 years. Talk about devastating your town and economy and all the lives lost. Anyhow, General Sheridan got his troops to rally and won this battle for Lincoln, the North became optomistic that Lincoln could finally end this war, re-elected him and end slavery forever. You have to use your imagination to see this battle. Even the visitor center didn't have any interpreting - just some guns/bullets/uniforms/books. Not enough money to do anything right now. "But come on back in October when we fight this battle all over again - over 4,000 people come to do this!" Ahhh, no thanks, but didn't tell him that.


Having learned that the majority of the battles of the Civil War were fought in the Shenandoah Valley - it is so fertile, many rivers beside the Shenandoah, major thoroughfare between North and South - it makes sense that everywhere we go you see "Viriginia Civil War Trails" signs and historical placques everywhere. And most battles are reinacted every year! Big business even now!