Search for the S Bridge!

Took a little trip today, 6 miles back into Old Washington which is the town just east of Cambridge.  There we found the roadside markers that explained the Civil War battle that took place in this town in 1863. The third most populous state in the Union at the time, Ohio raised nearly 320,000 soldiers for the Union army, third behind only New York and Pennsylvania in total manpower contributed to the military.  Several leading generals hailed from Ohio, including Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, and Philip H. Sheridan. Five Ohio-born Civil War officers would later serve as the President of the United States.  Morgan's Raid was a highly publicized event by Confederate cavalry into the Northern states of Indiana and Ohio during the Civil War. The raid took place from June 11–July 26, 1863, and is named for the commander of the Confederates, Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan.  As we walked through the old cemetery we were stunned at how old some graves were - some gravestones dating back to 1805.  Saw the Confederate flags of the 3 southern men killed during this particular phase of Morgan's run.

The Path Morgan Took

Plaque describing memorial to 3 Confederate soldiers

While we were visiting with Dennis and Jackie a couple days ago, we asked them about the S Bridge that is somewhere around the area.  When the National Road, Route 40, was being built, usually when they came to a river or stream, they wanted to build the bridge over it at a 90 degree angle.  They came up with the S bridge design but once the road was widened, these S bridges often where quite dangerous.   Motorists would not slow down coming around the S curves and often times would hit the concrete sides, or hit the oncoming traffic.  This particular bridge was built in 1828.

The curve is amazing!

Today there are 4 remaining S bridges left in Ohio - still standing although not usable.  The bridge we visited today had a load limit of 3 tons - not enough for a car.  Quite interesting to see the S curve in it.  Drove back into Old Washington to look at the old houses there.  If we could only hear the tales of what these buildings lived through.  Wonderful architect. Wonder what they look like inside? Tomorrow we leave Cambridge for Elizabethtown, Kentucky.  Will be a long day, will be the longest we have driven on this trip.