Civil War top sites -- others

	But there are more than 50 Civil War sites, and I retain a keen interest in seeing many more, so we continue . . .	15-year-old Don looks at the forest at the Wilderness, not long after the Civil War centennial (photo by B.B. Roberson; June 1967)	Somewhat later, an older Don sees his first re-enactment at the Mansfield sesquicentennial (photo by Rita Carratello, April 2014)
#	Site	Comments	Photo	Visits
51	Battery Wagner Charleston Fort Sumter National Monument South Carolina	Battery Wagner was a sand fortification, supported by palmetto logs, on Morris Island that covered the southern approach to Charleston harbor. Its arsenal included 14 cannons, and its land face was protected by a moat, buried land mines, and sharpened stakes. Taking Charleston was a Union objective, so taking the Battery was considered necessary. Two beach assaults were made: 11 July 1863 and a more famous one 18 July, led by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, composed of black soldiers. Col. Robert Gould Shaw led the charge and was killed. The assaults failed but Battery Wagner was abandoned in Sep 1863, primarily from lack of water. Later, two drunk Union soldiers went exploring the bomb proofs and set off stored gunpowder, killing and injuring another 300 Union soldiers. Battery Wagner was washed away by the Atlantic long ago, but Morris Island still exists and the approximate site can be viewed across a channel. The movie Glory tells the story most dramatically.	Contemporary painting of the Union attack on Battery Wagner (top); looking across towards Morris Island today (below; Aug 1997)	Aug 1997
52	Baxter Springs Baxter Springs Civil War tour route Kansas	It was near the outskirts of the little prairie town of Baxter Springs, Kansas, on 4 Oct 1863, that up to 500 Missouri guerillas, led by bushwhacker William Quantrill who had burned Lawrence, Kansas back in August, surprised and overwhelmed a party of ~100 Union troops under Gen. James Blunt. About half were massacred, many while attempting to surrender. Quantrill's official report stated that he "took no prisoners." Women, children, and members of the regimental band were among those killed. Gen. Blunt barely escaped after a wild ride on his horse. This is about the only site where one can see a locale specific to the vicious guerilla warfare that engulfed Missouri and Kansas during the War. An auto tour with printed pamphlet takes one to various sites, including the massacre field, and the local cemetery with its huge monument to Union dead.	Cemetery & Soldier Monument at Baxter Springs KS (Mar 1997)	Mar 1997
53	Brices Cross Roads Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site Mississippi	On 10 June 1864, 7800 Union infantry and cavalry under Gen. Samuel Sturgis, sent from Memphis to destroy CSA forces under Nathan Bedford Forrest, were ambushed and routed by Forrest's cavalry at Brices Cross Roads. Not only did Forrest defeat the Union force with less than half as many men, but he captured 16 cannon and all Sturgis's 250 baggage wagons with ammunition and supplies. It was one of the worst Union disasters of the War. During my 1997 visit, the entire Site was one acre with a sign, a flagpole, a monument, and a couple of cannon. A real estate office glowered over the field, traffic sped by, and power lines ruined every view. From the perspective of the interested visitor, it was pathetic. However, I've read that local citizens formed a commission to preserve battlefield land, and with assistance from the Civil War Preservation Trust have purchased over 800 acres. Plus, I'm told, a Brice's Crossroads Museum is in Baldwyn, just over a mile from the site. So I look forward to a much enhanced visit some day.	A couple of cannons and a flagpole were about the entire extent of the one-acre site in 1997 (Mar 1997)	Mar 1997
54	Drewrys Bluff Richmond National Battlefield Virginia	As part of U.S. Grant's overall plan for victory in Virginia in 1864, the Army of the James was created to threaten Richmond from the south. Gen. Benjamin Butler, an important politician, was placed in charge. In a confused series of fights 4-16 May 1864, hampered by fog and rain, his Army was "bottled up" by Confederate forces at Bermuda Hundred, a bend in the James River, and were basically out of the war thereafter. Rebel guns at Drewrys Bluff were important, as they stopped Union gunboats attempting to assist Butler. The battlefields in this 'side' part of the 1864 campaign were not preserved, excepting Drewrys Bluff itself, where one can view Confederate fortifications and have a fine view over the James River.	View over the James River from Drewrys Bluff with storm clouds approaching (Aug 1997)	Aug 1997
55	Kellys Ford Kellys Ford Battlefield Virginia	This battle between Union cavalry (under William Averell) and CSA horsemen (under Fitzhugh Lee) took place on March 17, 1863, after newly appointed Union commander Joe Hooker had reorganized Union cavalry. Averell forced a crossing of the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford and repulsed several counterattacks, forcing the rebel cavalry back several miles. Confederate artillerist John Pelham, more of an observer here without his artillery, was killed aided a southern counterattack. With potential victory at hand, Averell withdrew to Union territory that evening, leaving his major aim -- to crush Lee's cavalry -- unfulfilled. This site has not been interpreted until very recently. The Civil War Trust recently acquired nearly 1200 acres. During my visit in May 2013, only limited signage was up and much of the newly-acquired land was not yet open. I was able to visit the the memorial to “the Gallant Pelham,” named for his courage at Fredericksburg the preceding winter, along the Rappahannock River Trail on adjacent C.F. Phelps WMA. At the time of this writing, I am not sure what the Trust will do to open and/or interpret this mostly wooded site. It is a nice area for wildlife.	Memorial at site of the death of "the Gallant Pelham," near Kelly's Ford (May 2013)	May 2013
56	Yorktown Colonial National Historic Park -- Yorktown Battlefield Virginia	The Yorktown Battlefield is where the British army surrendered to the Americans to end the Revolutionary War in Oct 1781. It is primarily preserved and interpreted for its major importance in the 18th Century (and is excellent from that perspective). During the Civil War, Confederate troops were besieged here by Gen. George McClellan during his Peninsular Campaign in Apr 1862. Yorktown was abandoned by the rebels on May 3, 1862. The National Park Service provides signs about its part during the Civil War (below).	Revolutionary War siege line; that's me at age 15 (June 1967; photo by B.B. Roberson)	June 1967, Aug 1997