On the trail

Even though I have a bum knee, I'll be getting out on the trails as much as possible over the next two months.  Yesterday I checked out Worthington ford...or at least where Worthington ford was 156 years ago...rivers have minds of their own.

See you on the trail!

Ranger Mannie

Monocacy covered bridge.

At the battle of Monocacy there were three crucial bridges:  The stone "jug bridge", the wooden covered bridge, and the iron railroad bridge.  The latter two were in very close proximity to each other and spanned o the Monocacy river.  The outnumbered Federals of General Lew Wallace were on the east side of the River and Early's Confederates were on the west side.  Wallace had selected an exceptionally strong position, and the bridges were key.

As the inevitable tide turned against Wallace, as he knew it would, he pulled most of the troops that he had deployed on the west side of the river back to the eastern side with orders to torch the wooden covered bridge behind them.

Today at the same point a steel  highway bridge spans the river

A few companies of Federals hadn't received the word to evacuate and had to use the railroad bridge as an alternate route of escape.

Today, supporting the modern bridge, you can still see the original stone pilings of the original wooden covered bridge

Come see for yourself at this little gem of a battlefield.

Ranger Mannie

Monocacy Junction

Yesterday was my second day at Monocacy, and I feel like I took ownership of the place.  I went for a hike along the junction trail on what turned out to be a beautiful afternoon.

Monocacy was key to Early's drive toward Washington DC.  The roads to both Washington and Baltimore were available there as well as an important junction of the B&O railroad, which was so vital to the efforts of the Federals.

CSX has superseded the Baltimore and Ohio, but Monocacy junction is still an important hub.

During the war, the Federals had two blockhouses protected the junction, unfortunately though, their exact locations are lost to time.

More to come.

First day at Monocacy National Battlefield

The eagle has landed.

More to come!

Ranger Mannie

Anticipation

I swung by the visitor center this afternoon just to say hello.

Saw an old pal and made some new ones.  One of the volunteers that I met was stationed at Naval Communications Station Guam the same time I was, he lived in the barracks next to mine.  Our paths probably crossed hundreds of times.  We had a great conversation.

I start the day after tomorrow.  I'll keep you posted.

Ranger Mannie