I went to my first civil war battlefield.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBozMFnQykV8jH2aG1457junPjCD6jp0I2-mY8t6am4pDexQcWHXZY60AO9f6zsO2eGza0TgFubY4QjYOIo4nhsyoTItl_mDWsGvF8MXiv9IIaA0GFtfMgaplKrPGXe8Wt0CXxAeaI5s/s320/Chickamunga+National+Battlefield+oct+22+2016+%252832%2529.jpg) |
Along this drive were monuments to Ohio, Pennsylvania & Texas too. |
Over the years I've 'talked' with many people about the Civil War on the internet. It was there that I first heard it called "The war of northern aggression" & the argument that it was about money. I'd heard that it was about slavery too.
The only thing I know for sure was that more Americans died in it than any other war & it settled the States Rights question.
Chickamauga is up by the Georgia/Tennessee state line, it's the first established National Battlefield and it's a big place.
The 20 minute movie in the visitors center was well worth the time as was a trip through the museum there. Taking a close look at the cannon on display out front was a help during the rest of the day.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tIhyphenhyphenDok7780D5YuMus3wHjeOVZ-OPf_dNt22Rm-b8O2wchYUt9Jq-0BvcjWaa74fW4AlWRGJeLbezcMLFM4UH7MeOgVtIi82UZN-4zdutVFbPUsYY4B5GYgbX6eR9bcnOrfA-jytwDw/s320/Chickamunga+National+Battlefield+oct+22+2016+%25281%2529.jpg) |
Start here, seriously!
ID the different cannon, watch the video & see the timeline |
For me, the timeline they have running around the walls in the museum was a huge education on that war...
I had many misconceptions on when things happened, that timeline straightened out those misconceptions.
The battlefield is huge. There are markers, placards, statutes & cannon scattered everywhere. "Scattered" is not the best word, they are put up where event actually happened & explain who was there, when they were there & what they did.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5wzTOdCGSYzh-SAeoxi3EY0VJ3oRNjFwabo1u9A_qL2Itds5hf_sC-6AdhZSsfdmToVhvMiX-15FCarTEOV0DPCXqjVSvadz039kqpghmL-oUdmr_QqUu1PR3V2g6Xhu1D2zUde1m0Y/s320/Chickamunga+National+Battlefield+oct+22+2016+%252850%2529.jpg) |
Forest or cleared, the way didn't care |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZ-5ydxfxb31HFRTwkZU5La6k430Ezy5G3xrXYSR3rDdSA9aZdH7a1gPvgcShDAzhFCPeZW3d56QcIOA8EzQubLV03cF0yIL06AKh-_4k5ID1SLeYfFcV9lcaY1mQNZ8sEwxKM_ny0dg/s320/Chickamunga+National+Battlefield+oct+22+2016+%252822%2529.jpg) |
Names, dates, times & the number lost |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FO0MXd2tut3F4FNjXT0hNQZ_MEbEGYYAYGWJDP1kKwlycxu0vYeRqVK9deKsQXoW7vgoY2HByzNimxzHfm4KKrsNVaLEWvABChQAF6npgUsnyzeKxSW32lan5MUFiuMtuxAP39Ugy3c/s320/Chickamunga+National+Battlefield+oct+22+2016+%252840%2529.jpg) |
War was hard on the horses |
Drive, park, walk & read, walk & read. Read the signs, look at the small map from the visitors center, walk & read. Go back to the car & do it again.
It took us several hours and we just browsed. There were many people on bicycles & that looked like a good way to view the battlefield.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRoShngO8JwBqfh-Czq0cvNcWwRUfjfaiqaUmnXgEJoyJQuAFFYYyXEd3UHtaq8kSXKyGMgwFBtOYG8ScXPiDQf8CUciKc7gFZeJZ6UWUf1l4ZzPs1zl5gtW1053OC2thOTEDx8qnlCk/s320/Chickamunga+National+Battlefield+oct+22+2016+%252828%2529.jpg) |
Some states had people on both sides of the conflit |
Karen did not expect to get into this, it's not her choice in history....but she did.
It was more than a historic battlefield, it's a park. There were families having picnic's, groups having outings and a kid trying to fly a kite (with his mother's help).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_uo4zDb3qX7rG-HvAGxtwURvyf8cKKGL_e9Zkvf3fUKR8ZSELtd3tP81V_wEtePMVM2FJ3h3s6dHpXa-_TXr1oPstPmkIwDortLcCANmWgzcCFL7oe2yoBOMBzeBGtzGl6a2vCOsudE/s320/Chickamunga+National+Battlefield+oct+22+2016+%252837%2529.jpg) |
Markers & cannon & signs that explained |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwV4R_f66zGZcqp5er1WFANiYFMXq-DZt-ayAlBlyb1QrgdvVT_uNHYlr0mZK8ZntmW80gWRVvP9lr32he3HO72iR-_qODm0lNbhFodXezAKfkMT2iasEWlnRGk1wLmrsJrcp4vqcQnM/s320/Chickamunga+National+Battlefield+oct+22+2016+%252843%2529.jpg) |
Monuments from the states,
this one is from Georgia |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0jLJRoKFfaMr0jDz_yBUKs00oNjTBhetgpTgCe2kWbUkMOiioJwPpR0FpzbdSyw5n0XfzhOxm_nJBsDOqTcvfoI4NYr-U29SM8r8w8R1mX32l1eHsXssInkh1YzfjD4KMIM73CsRuBQ/s320/Chickamunga+National+Battlefield+oct+22+2016%252C+Wilder+Monument+%25281%2529.jpg) |
This was new to me & interesting |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSYRr7OL7_EOJE9uuPfP00wWa47jVhQ9XQLW0f0IlO_rK00liUPt9dHD9ykYc-elDK4TR1VttWtYtuE0b2x9AHPWEMlArhUP_s97ekF2XU6TjmYmVX8dwG_-AFFDJW_uOyMUOhlXGF5g/s320/Chickamunga+National+Battlefield+oct+22+2016%252C+Wilder+Monument+%25283%2529.jpg) |
I learned a new bit of history
|
A very moving place.