We drove to Fredericksburg, Virginia to hang out until Matt arrived. We stayed at a nice KOA campground. Unfortunately the WiFi (Wireless internet) was a little spotty so we cut the stay from a week to two days. The campground had a lovely pond with a few resident Canada Geese, a few perch, and fortunately a large group of purple martins (insect control and very effective), and some humans.
There were a few large clouds around but they eventually disappeared.
Some campers enjoyed the paddleboats although it looked like one was just riding or asleep at the wheel.
This family was out looking for a fish dinner. Not sure but I think they ended up with hot dogs.
There were two Purple Martin houses on high poles and they were constantly flying all around the pond. While campers in RVs and tents surrounded the pond.
My favorite, but definitely not the largest RV was this Silver Airstream in mint condition.
The Battle of Fredericksburg
It's interesting to note that Matthew's middle name in McClellan and it was General George McClellan who sent General Ambrose E. Burnside to interdict Robert E. Lee at Fredericksburg at the Stafford Heights. Matthew's sweet daughters Ansley and Sierra are living in Stafford, Virginia near the RV Resort where we are staying after the Fredericksburg KOA.
General Burnside is the origin of the word sideburns (little known fact)
The Battle of Fredericksburg ended with a Confederate victory as Lt. Gen. James Longstreet's cannons wrecked havoc on Burnside's army and though both sides suffered heavy losses (Confererates 5,300 and the Federals 12,600) the victory was hollow. These losses are less that half lost at Gettysburg
At Fredericksburg, December 13,1862 (I used an online calculator to determine it was a Saturday), Franklin with the Federal left broke through Jackson's lines. The Confederates restored their line after heavy losses, and in this counterstroke a North Carolina regiment, fresh from home, drove headlong through the Northern lines and was with difficulty recalled. The apology of one of its privates, when it got back into line, caused a laugh all through the army. " If we had a-knowed how to fight like you fellows, we could have done better!"
Robert E. Lee said "It is well that war is so terrible -- lest we should grow too fond of it." The more I look at the Civil War and for that matter any war this statement seems intuitive and yet wars go on in the name of freedom at a cost too high for my mind to understand who's freedom was gained and whose freedom was lost. I am very thankful for the freedoms I inherited from those who preceded me and made my life better. From my grandfather's Isaac and Paul Alexander and my father Paul John and Uncle Sam who was a second father when I was young and their wives on the verge of Father's day I say thank you.
Happy Father's Day Steven, Matt, Larry, Jim, Ed, Gary Michael, Doug, Vincent, Robert, Johnny, Eddie, Ron, Greg, Brian, Keith, the other Ed. Eric and those I knew when they were with us Earl, Mike, Don any other fathers I missed in my list.
Tonight we camped at Aquia Pines near Stafford. WiFi and Satellite TV are working all the hookups were easy and night is falling over the cell tower to the southwest. All is right with the world (we havn't watched the news)ahhhhhhhhhh!
Yippee! Matt will be in tomorrow and we will meet him with Sierra and Ansley.
Scrabble Score Scrabble Queen 301 (she had all the good letters Z, X, J, Q and K)
The Contender 326 (I was lucky and got a bingo L-O-A-D-I-N-G)
Quote of the Day"Most travel is best of all in the anticipation or the remembering; the reality has more to do with losing your luggage." ~ Regina Nadelson
Good luck with the luggage Matt!!
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