Day 12

We started to DC after having breakfast at the hotel. Thank goodness for the GPS we got from Stacey and Bobby for Christmas. It has been so helpful on this trip. Most of you know how Linwood hates to drive in any place that has more traffic than Tallassee. Well, he has done great on this trip. I have not driven a single mile. He was nervous in DC but there was not a problem. We turned onto Constitution Ave and immediately saw a parking place. The last time we were in DC and saw the WWII and Viet Nam monuments it was night and raining. I really wanted to see them in the light and my sweet husband said we would do it. The WWII monument was only about three blocks from where we parked. It was so beautiful.

This is the Washington Monument

This is the World War II monument

We walked next to the reflection pool all the way to the Lincoln Memorial.

We then walked over to the Viet Nam Memorial. It is so simple but so powerful.

We left DC and went to the battlefields in Fredericksburg, VA. There were four battles during three years of the Civil War and the battles were only 25 miles apart. In 1862, the Union Army crossed the Rappahannock River. Lee's Army was on the high ground west of the city. His army was behind a stone wall. The Union soldiers was slaughtered in this battle.

In 1863. the battle was in Chancellorsville, VA. Stonewall Jackson destroyed Hooker's right in a surprise attact. Jackson was wounded by his own troops by accident. His arm had to be amputated and he died several days later of pneumonia. In 1864, Grant and Lee faced each other for the first time. This battle was after Gettysburg and was considered a draw. In 1864, both armies turned toward the intersection at Spotsylania about eight miles south of Chancellorsville. The battle lasted for 20 hours and many consider it the most intense hand-to-hand combat of the war. The place is also called "bloody angle.

The traffic from Washington DC to Richmond was terrible. I do not think we got over 20 mph most of the trip. We are staying in Williamsburg tonight. It was also on my wish list.

The house is on the battlefield. Look at the cat on the wall. I had to check to see if it was alive and it was. It did not move but I could see his body moving.