Pre-Trip Tromp: The Overland Campaign

Looks like we'll be focusing on Richmond, Petersburg, and Appomattox during our upcoming three-day trip. I am very much looking forward to this.

As we'll be doing that over Memorial Day weekend, I plan to run out to The Wildnerness and Spotsylvania (and possibly North Anna) this Sunday. I really feel that having this background will help bring it all home as we make our way to the place where all the killing stopped.

The forecast is calling for rain, and I'd almost have it no other way. I read today that a dark mist hovered over the Spotsylvania fields in the predawn hours, with intermittent downpours throughout the day.


Eager to tromp those fields and add some new mud to the ol' boots.

First Trip of Season

Pristine earthworks at Cold Harbor, 2009.

I've got plenty to share from the offseason, but I'm jumping out of my britches in anticipation of a tentative trip planned for the end of May or early June.

My battlefield buddy and I are in the process of planning a looong weekend trip (3-4 days). We almost ALWAYS over-prepare - and often end up throwing the guides aside and doing it our way - but on this one we're open to any and all suggestions. A very early plan is as follows:

Day One: Overland Campaign. The Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Totopotomoy  . . . This seems a bit ambitious, so we may fit in some of this the following day.

Day Two: Seven Days Battles plus some of Richmond. Gaines Mill, Malvern Hill, etc. Really, Richmond could take a whole day. I want my friend to see Monument Avenue and, especially, Hollywood Cemetery. We'll also fit in the Confederate White House, CSA Museum, Belle Isle Prison, Tredegar Iron Works, and some 'Lincoln in Richmond' sites.

Day Three: Whatever we want to wrap up in Richmond, plus Petersburg. Neither of us has seen Petersburg or the rest of the following sites planned for the trip.

Day Four: The Road to Appomattox. This is sure to be a poignant one for us. If time permits, we may head home via the Shenandoah Valley to catch some of those sites.

If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to leave comments or email me at: dehbird@yahoo.com.
They'd be much appreciated!

I'll be sure to take notebook and camera along. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of an exciting season. Hope to see you on the field!