One-tank road trips: February 2008 Archives

The Battle of South Mountain was a integral part of the Maryland Campaign, yet it receives little attention from authors, writers, and tourists. Located within a 2 and a half hour drive from York, the battlefield consists of three distinct sections, from north to south being Turner's Gap, Fox's Gap, and Crampton's Gap. D.H. Hill's Division of Confederates, assisted by parts of Longstreet's Corps, held off the Union I, VI, and IX Corps for all day on September 14, 1862, blocking the mountain passes and keeping McClellan from attacking Lee's weak force until September 17 (Antietam).

The National Civil War Museum (Harrisburg) is sponsoring a special Shenandoah Valley / Winchester Tour on April 11, 2008. This promises to be an exciting one-day event, and reservations are being accepted from the public. Many of the Confederates who camped in York County fought at Winchester, as did York County's very own 87th Pennsylvania Infantry. Come walk in their footsteps, and see some of the most impressive scenery in Virginia!

The National Park Service has set a date of April 14 for the formal opening of the new $105 million museum and visitors center at the Gettysburg National Military Park. Nearly everything is complete at the new 139,000 square-foot Baltimore Pike facility, except for transferring the artifacts from storage and the old VC to the new building. The Cyclorama will notbe ready on time, and is expected to reopen this autumn. There are nearly 2 million visitors a year to the battlefield, and the new VC is expected to be a showplace and a solid introduction to the battle. Nearly half the visitors go into the visitors center, according to the Park Service.

Brandy Station was the largest cavalry engagement ever fought in the United States. It marked the opening battle of the Gettysburg Campaign, and was one of the few times the Federal cavalry held its own against J.E.B. Stuart's vaunted cavaliers. Over the past few years, the battlefield has been reasonably well preserved, and the Brandy Station Foundation is to be commended for their excellent efforts.

If you are looking for a Civil War fix over the next few months, why not consider taking in one of Brandy Station's frequent lectures or tours? It's a relatively easy drive from York County through parts of historic Virginia.

Abraham Lincoln remains one of the most well-known and revered Americans of the 19th Century. He was a complex man, with far more nuances and characteristics than the common public perception. Andy Martin will explore some of these facets of Lincoln's personality in his upcoming talk at the York Civil War Round Table on February 20 at the York County Heritage Trust at 7 p.m.

Unlike today's presidents, Lincoln was highly visible around Washington, with frequent walks, carriage rides, horseback rides, and other casual pursuits that often compelled his bodyguards to implore him to use more caution. Washington at the time was a hot, muggy place in the summer, and the White House was not the most comfortable living quarters. Lincoln often rode out to a breezier location and sojourned in a small cottage. This home has recently been restored and will be open to the public beginning on President's Day. It will make a perfect one-tank day trip down to D.C.

For more information, see the CNN article.