tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22656823.post5028919669425478382..comments2023-08-19T03:32:21.869-04:00Comments on My year of living Rangerously: Ferry Hill Place visitMannie Gentilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225923971073419275noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22656823.post-3638619293995424732021-05-13T00:28:40.786-04:002021-05-13T00:28:40.786-04:00In all fairness to Mr. Douglas's comment about...In all fairness to Mr. Douglas's comment about Burnsides failure to cross the Antietam. When I read his book and his comment about "the hop, ship and jump" resonated with me as tongue and cheek. Born in the area and being a student of the war and spending my summers camping at the then free Antietam Campground. Not to mention being somewhat of a Potomac River rat. At the time of the battle the creek was nowhere near the level that your photo shows, that's probably close to reaching flood stage on the Potomac. There were places that the creek could've been forded by the Burnside's forces. Didn't some Union troops find such a place? A good topic would be if Mr. Douglas was the person responsible for losing the copy of Gen. Lees Special Order number 191 as many have suggested. Well never know but it's a worthy discussion.<br /> My paternal and maternal family have been in the area (both sides of the Potomac) for over two hundred years. They fought and died on both sides of that war. My maternal grandmother's one grandfather was in Harpers Ferry when Jackson captured it prior to the participation in the Sharpsburg battle. Her other grandfather was attached to and a first cousin of Col. Elijah Viers White Calvary under Jackson's command. White's ferry is still in use to this day. So one grandfather was in Harpers Ferry and the other outside attacking it.<br /> My father was born in Shepherdstown in 1939. My paternal 2nd great grandfather whom I'm named after (John Custer) bore my great grandfather twelve months before Sharpsburg's battle. As a Virginia resident he named his son after the top military officer in the Union at that time, Winfield Scott Custer (George Armstrong is my 4th cousin). <br /> Throughout my life I've lived close to Civil War sites. Two miles as the crow flies from Antietam and two miles south of Gettysburg Battlefield on the Emmitsburg Pike. I lived a hundred yards away from Mr. Douglas's last residence on Potomac St. in Hagerstown for ten years. I currently live halfway between Richmond and Petersburg. Thanks for helping to keep our history alive. <br /> Regards, John Barry CusterJBCusterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14740666867035231935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22656823.post-60897865450675995182021-04-25T14:59:18.189-04:002021-04-25T14:59:18.189-04:00In all fairness to Mr. Douglas's comment about...In all fairness to Mr. Douglas's comment about Burnsides failure to cross the Antietam. When I read his book and his comment about "the hop, ship and jump" resonated with me as tongue and cheek. Born in the area and being a student of the war and spending my summers camping at the then free Antietam Campground. Not to mention being somewhat of a Potomac River rat. At the time of the battle the creek was nowhere near the level that your photo shows, that's probably close to reaching flood stage on the Potomac. There were places that the creek could've been forded by the Burnside's forces. Didn't some Union troops find such a place? A good topic would be if Mr. Douglas was the person responsible for losing the copy of Gen. Lees Special Order number 191 as many have suggested. Well never know but it's a worthy discussion.<br /> My paternal and maternal family have been in the area (both sides of the Potomac) for over two hundred years. They fought and died on both sides of that war. My maternal grandmother's one grandfather was in Harpers Ferry when Jackson captured it prior to the participation in the Sharpsburg battle. Her other grandfather was attached to and a first cousin of Col. Elijah Viers White Calvary under Jackson's command. White's ferry is still in use to this day. So one grandfather was in Harpers Ferry and the other outside attacking it.<br /> My father was born in Shepherdstown in 1939. My paternal 2nd great grandfather whom I'm named after (John Custer) bore my great grandfather twelve months before Sharpsburg's battle. As a Virginia resident he named his son after the top military officer in the Union at that time, Winfield Scott Custer (George Armstrong is my 4th cousin). <br /> Throughout my life I've lived close to Civil War sites. Two miles as the crow flies from Antietam and two miles south of Gettysburg Battlefield on the Emmitsburg Pike. I lived a hundred yards away from Mr. Douglas's last residence on Potomac St. in Hagerstown for ten years. I currently live halfway between Richmond and Petersburg. Thanks for helping to keep our history alive. <br /> Regards, John Barry CusterJBCusterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14740666867035231935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22656823.post-36736195649200421272021-03-04T17:04:31.865-05:002021-03-04T17:04:31.865-05:00I use to go there in 1970 i believe there was a sm...I use to go there in 1970 i believe there was a small bar area to hang out. I lived in the the private owned Antietam National Museum in Sharpsburg. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11786678584474184610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22656823.post-13273076949536991872015-01-13T11:12:45.951-05:002015-01-13T11:12:45.951-05:00Yes, Rick Morrison is a friend of mine and he live...Yes, Rick Morrison is a friend of mine and he lived there from 1951-1978. We stopped by on 1-10-15 and visited his former home and I am very impressed with not only the house but its scenic location, however I just don't understand why the NPS purchased this structure and have now left it unoccupied. The front porch with its towering columns needs work above as birds have taken up refuge as the porch roof ceiling is deteriorating. Trees have grown so high that areas that were once visible from the home when Rick lived can no longer be seen, such as trains across the Potomac. I would think that the NPS would rent out this house(with strict guidelines)like they do with the Moore House that also overlooks the C&O Canal in Oldtown.<br /><br />BrianAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03240783299819512257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22656823.post-26234111897384326292011-06-27T01:23:19.220-04:002011-06-27T01:23:19.220-04:00Mannie, you should have seen Ferry Hill Place with...Mannie, you should have seen Ferry Hill Place with furniture when the Morrison family owned it. It was very beautiful. I even had the opportunity to stay over night as a friend in one of the bedrooms. The food at the restaurant was excellent.Gerrinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22656823.post-55107470480754008542008-07-21T18:42:00.000-04:002008-07-21T18:42:00.000-04:00Hank,I like your take on autobiography.It wasn't t...Hank,<BR/><BR/>I like your take on autobiography.<BR/><BR/>It wasn't the family house that was burned, it was a large part of the family livelihood that was put to the torch.<BR/><BR/>The big, covered toll bridge that crossed the Potomac, within view of the front porch of the house was burned at the very beginning of the war to deny that crossing to the Yankees.<BR/><BR/>Henry Kyd Douglas' father was the major stockholder in that very profitable bridge.<BR/><BR/>Henry Kyd Douglas was the dutiful young Confederate who set his father's bridge ablaze.<BR/><BR/>Way different then the time you put a dent in the fender of your dad's Buick, wouldn't you agree?<BR/><BR/>Best wishes and thanks for the comment.<BR/><BR/>MannieMannie Gentilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06225923971073419275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22656823.post-17239260141519515212008-07-21T09:53:00.000-04:002008-07-21T09:53:00.000-04:00Ranger Mannie, I must be wrong, but at some point ...Ranger Mannie, <BR/><BR/>I must be wrong, but at some point in his book 'Stonewall rode with me' I thought HKD recounted the burning of his home.<BR/><BR/><BR/>HankCHankChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01512324703271088233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22656823.post-18245857191394064312008-07-21T01:23:00.000-04:002008-07-21T01:23:00.000-04:00Mannie,Yet another fascinating post on the blog. ...Mannie,<BR/><BR/>Yet another fascinating post on the blog. Had no idea that the NPS ownded the site, and while I can't get down there as I used to be able to, I thank you for posting stuff I have to see.<BR/><BR/>Not sure if folks remember the CW musical from the late 90's, but one of the songs was "The Day The Sun Stood Still" which alludes to what Henry saw at the Battle of Antietam. Song was recorded bt Travis Tritt, and actually heard it live when I attended a concert of his here in the Garden State a few years ago.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing your latest adventure with us. <BR/><BR/>Hope you are feeling better as well.<BR/><BR/>Regards from the Garden State,<BR/><BR/>Steve BasicSteve Basichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05303765474814808582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22656823.post-51743993283762118022008-07-20T19:44:00.000-04:002008-07-20T19:44:00.000-04:00Barry,You're entirely welcome. Here's something t...Barry,<BR/><BR/>You're entirely welcome. Here's something that I'm very aware of: I get to routinely have access to some very cool things that for a variety of sound reasons most other people don't get to experience.<BR/><BR/>One of my goals in writing this blog is to share those experiences, whether its the view from the trap door in the roof of the Pry House or a camera positioned between the wheels of a ten pounder when it fires, those are the types of behind -the-scenes park experiences that I really want to share with readers of this blog.<BR/><BR/>Do not, however, expect to ever see me on a horse.<BR/><BR/>MannieMannie Gentilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06225923971073419275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22656823.post-81782105233593715822008-07-20T19:37:00.000-04:002008-07-20T19:37:00.000-04:00Mannie, once again thank you for that behind the s...Mannie, once again thank you for that behind the scenes look at a great historical structure! I've been there many times but have only walked around the outside of the home. It was really nice seeing your pics of the inside of that great american home!<BR/><BR/>BarryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com