Question of the Week: What’s your favorite type of Civil War site to visit?
What type of Civil War themed site do you prefer visiting: battlefield, museum, fort, cemetery, prison camp, something else entirely?
What type of Civil War themed site do you prefer visiting: battlefield, museum, fort, cemetery, prison camp, something else entirely?
I prefer battlefields so that I can walk the ground and study the terrain. I am a firm believer that the terrain decides the fate of the campaign, battle and decides who is wounded, killed and who survives.
Battlefields are number one, for the reasons stated above. However a second is statues, be they on battlefields or off.
Each statue has something different to offer. Some simply are beautiful, some odd looking.
Many statues have stories waiting to be explored. Why is there a hatchet at the feet of the standing officer? Who is the dog? Why is there a bird’s nest in one sculpture? Why does the statute consist of a locomotive and cars? Who was this local officer clutching a sword in such a heroic pose? (The answer to this last-a cook who had a widow with money and illusions of her late husband’s wartime glory). How do the inscriptions reveal the motivations of those who erected the memorials?
Statutes can inspire, mislead, or tell us about history. But they also can be wonderfully fertile ground for further research into & understanding of the past.
Statues can also be misspelled. Sorry.
Battlefields, always first and foremost. Museums, cemeteries and forts naturally follow.
I find battlefields the most evocative.
Battlefields for sure. It’s easy to gain a real appreciation for the fortitude of the soldiers involved as they traversed the terrain hauling their packs and weapons, regardless of weather conditions and often under fire while being among dead and dying men and animals and the accompanying noise, smells, and other elements that assault the senses. Gee, all I usually carry is a water bottle and maybe a walking stick and I am pretty tired by the end of my visit.
I am no different — battlefields- I must see the ground for the reasons already articulated by others. That said, I am not limited to just that- I want to see it all! Being from Texas, I travel a long way to see most sites and I want to see all that time allows.
Battlefields. I enjoy observing the terrain and then walking amongst it to understand the challenges and intricacies that it presented and to get feel for the flow of the battle.
Not to be contrarian, but I enjoy visiting forts and fortifications whether or not they are connected with battlefields. Seeing the terrain is one thing, but seeing the remnants of earthworks is a physical reminder of the soldiers who fought there. You can actually see the lines and sometimes where cannon would be placed. I find it very educational.