Manassas Milestone

Well, here I am about to participate, as a Park Ranger, in the observance of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Manassas.

In 1966, after all the centennial hoopla, which I was swept up in, I asked my mother when the nation would being doing such a thing again. She replied "In the year twenty eleven, fifty years from now."

My first thought, honestly, was "I'll be dead by then."

You can only imagine my delight at still being here, though you might also note that it will be 100 degrees on Friday.

Maybe that thirteen-year-old version of me knew what he was talking about after all.

Staying hydrated, in preparation for the big event.

Ranger Mannie

I wonder...

Will the miniseries "To Appomattox" be anything more than folkloric comfort food?

We've had that a'plenty already.


p.s. J.D. comments "yes".

I take that as a good sign.

Report from Area 51

What the H!?

Mannie Gentile - Antietam

Karlton Smith - Gettysburg

Wait just a minute!

Like some diabolical plot from the X-files, armies of dopplegangers in gray and green are fanning out through the park system.  What's the deal? Who can we trust? Where's my survival radio?

Heading for my bunker (Just north of Boonsboro)

Ranger Mannie - the real Ranger Mannie (really)

Rare Opportunity to Tour the D.R. Miller House

Rarer than a sighting of El Chupacabra comes the opportunity for visitors to tour the interior of the historic D. R. Miller house on the Antietam Battlefield.

Come this Thursday you will have that rare opportunity.

This, from my friend and colleague, Ranger Alann Schmidt:

This summer we have been highlighting some of the unsung heroes here at

Antietam, namely the staff in the Cultural Resources and Natural Resources

divisions.  Every Thursday at 11:00 a program is held showing off some of

the important projects going on in the park, things that the general public

doesn’t always get to see.  Yesterday the Cultural Resource folks were the

star and presented a full tour of the extensive restoration work taking

place at the D.R. Miller house.  Next Thursday’s program will again focus

on the Miller house, and the following weeks will likely take a look at

other historic structures.  In any case, these programs are a terrific

chance to have a truly “behind the scenes” look at Antietam.  Come on out

and join us for these unique opportunities.

I've profiled the Miller house and our Cultural Resources crew in earlier blog entries , however much progress has been made since then, and this tour will be a real "don't miss" if you will be in the Sharpsburg area this coming Thursday.

They might even show you the Enfield bayonet that they found within the structure.

See you at the park...them 'em Mannie sent you.

Leading the Preservation Charge

Andrew Druart.

If you think that all of the boy heros of the Civil War were at the Battle of New Market, you haven't met Andrew Druart.

Andrew visited the park today and came along on my tour.  He's a leading light in the battlefield preservation movement raising nearly seven thousand dollars on the website that he started for other kids interested in the Civil War.  He's a great kid and a delight to talk with.

After an afternoon with Andrew, I think that the future of our battlefields is in very good hands.

Ranger Mannie