A Beautiful Day Out At Hainesville's Civil War Encampment & Battle-- Part 1: A Battle Log?

Saturday, October 19, I drove out to Hainesville, Illinois, for their annual Civil War encampment and it sure was a perfect day for it, especially after the horrible weather we had last weekend.  There was a good-sized crowd on hand and quite a few children and other young folks, most of whom were not on their cell phones.

There was plenty of educational and learning experiences available for young and old (like me).

I learned from a person describing Civil War ammunition about "Battle Logs."  He had one on hand and I'd never heard of the term.  It seems that after the war, people started touring battlefields.  Farmers who had suffered ruination from the battle would sell them pieces of fences or trees with bullets embedded in them as souvenirs.

The one he had with him had at least five bullets in it and he said it might have been from Shiloh.  At least that is what he was told when he acquired it.

That would be making the best of a bad situation.

A Big Ol' Log.  --Old Secesh

12 Fascinating Civil War Sites-- Part 3: Stonewall's Arm

Places to see, but with something else above and beyond.

** 6. SHILOH, TENNESSEE-- 120 miles from Memphis and one of the biggest battles in the West. DON'T MISS Hagy's Catfish Hotel. A fish shack near the battlefield for some good-eatin'.

** 7. MOBILE, ALABAMA-- The battle that was a face-off between the Confederate admiral from the North (Buchanan) vs. the Union admiral from the South (Farragut). Forts Morgan and Gaines. Don't miss the Dauphin Island (Fort Gaines) Sea Lab and Estuarium. Plus those great oyster houses, mini Moon pies (and not the regular stuff), the birthplace of North American Mardi Gras and the battleship USS Alabama.

** 8. FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA-- Big battlefield and Northern defeat. DON'T MISS Ellwood Farm where Stonewall Jackson's amputated arm is buried in its own marked grave.

Going Beyond the Usual. Stonewall's Arm Buried Here.  --Old Secesh

The Gettysburg 150 Experience-- Part 1

From the May 11, 2013, Potpouri Trumball Edition "Travel: Gettysburg's 150th is gateway to Civil War experiences" by News USA

Of course and obviously there is to be a big to-do at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1-3 this year.

But, there are other places to explore in the area.  Here are some:

NATIONAL CIVIL WAR MUSEUM  Harrisburg, Pa., shows both sides, both soldier and civilian.

U.S. ARMY HERITAGE AND EDUCATION CENTER--  Carlisle, Pa., interactive one-mile outdoor trail with several Civil War aspects.  Huge Civil War photo collection.

HOPEWELL EXPERIENCE--  Reading, Pa.  Pig iron production was vital for Civil War weapons  On Reading Civil War Trail.  Also Central Pennsylvania.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM--  Reading, Pa.  A stop on the Underground Railroad.  See www.gogreaterreading.com .

More Sites to See.  --Old Secesh