Manassas Battlefield and the 150th Commemoration

Today I attended the 150th Commemoration of the First Battle of Manassas at the Manassas National Battlefield Park.  The traffic was relatively light on the way out I-66 W, and I arrived at the battlefield with plenty of time to spare before the commemorative ceremony.   The National Park Service did an excellent job of arranging for air conditioned shuttle buses to take spectators from the parking lot to the day's events.  The only really annoying part of the whole day was the stifling heat and humidity, with temperatures reaching around 100 degrees at the start of the afternoon.

Walking across the very ground where so many men fell 150 years ago to the day was a sobering and reflective experience.  Even with all the tourists around me, I found myself lost in time as I explored Henry Hill and looked out over Matthews Hill.  I actually felt a deep sense of sadness as I walked over the hard-fought ground around Captain Charles Griffin's Union battery.  I have been to Manassas before; visiting on such an anniversary brings new meaning to the experience.

Morning on Henry Hill, looking towards the famous Rambo-like statue of  "Stonewall" Jackson.

Reenactors hanging out in front of the Henry House.  The Henry Hill Monument, erected in 1865 by Union veterans, sits in the background.

 

Looking past the Stone House to Matthews Hill, site of the first phase of the battle.





Looking towards the two-gun contingent of Griffin's Battery from the vantage point of the 33rd Virginia Infantry, part of what would become known as the "Stonewall" Brigade.

A  commemorative ceremony kicked off four days of events at the park.  Unfortunately, the numbers in the audience weren't as high as they could have been -- all told, possibly around 1,000.  Perhaps the heat had something to do with it, rather than some dwindling interest in the war or the Sesquicentennial.  Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell delivered a speech commemorating the sacrifices of Union and Confederate troops and recalling the evils of slavery. McDonnell was not going to make the same mistake he made over Confederate History Month last year.  The highlight of the ceremony was the animated keynote address by Dr. Edward Ayers, President of the University of Richmond, who placed the battle in context with just the right amount of detail.  I particularly liked his discussion of how Northern Virginia fit into the secession debate in the winter and spring of 1861 -- a subject near and dear to me on this blog.

Governor McDonnell of Virginia addresses the crowd.

Dr. Ayers speaks about the history surrounding the Battle of First Manassas.

The event was quite the social occasion as well.  I was able to catch up with some friends, such as writer and local historian William Connery, a.k.a. "the History Guy."  I also had the opportunity to meet in person some of my fellow bloggers, including Robert Moore, Mannie Gentile, John Hoptak, and Scott Patchan.  I really had an enlightening time chatting with such knowledgeable individuals about the Civil War. (And in the case of Robert, about World War I, too!)

The National Park Service has sponsored several activities and events over the next four days.  Here, tourists visit the Civil War 150 HistoryMobile.  Although aiming to make the wartime experience in Virginia more accessible, the mobile museum was at times just a little overdone.

A living history camp area has been established on the grounds of Henry Hill.  Visitors can see what camp life was like, minus the outhouses!

Living history reenactors portraying U.S. Marines drill in front of the Henry House.  The Marine Corps also has a display on the grounds of the house detailing its interesting and little-known involvement in the Battle of First Manassas.  The National Park Service recently erected a marker on Henry Hill about the "Marines of '61."


After about five hours, I called it a day, and am still wondering where I got the burst of energy to do this post.  On Saturday I will be attending the reenactment and possibly a few other events.  I look forward to sharing additional thoughts.  Until then, keep cool.

**For more information on the 150th Commemoration, visit the website of the Manassas National Battlefield Park.