THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862

THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862: THROUGH ARKANSAS EYES

During one of our Civil War Excursions back east we journeyed to Richmond, VA.
Neither I nor Nancy had been to that part of Virginia before and we were looked forward to the excursion.

We stayed in Linden Row, which was a series of brownstone townhouses that had been connected to form a hotel of sorts. Our room was huge with 14 foot ceilings and a huge bed. The breakfast was fabulous with cheese grits, oatmeal, yogurt, breads and the best coffee in the world. We loved it. We toured all the landmarks such as St. John’s Church where Patrick Henry gave his “give me liberty or give me death” speech. We, of course, went to Monument Avenue and took pictures of the statues of Jeff Davis, Marse Robert and Jeb Stuart. We toured the Confederate White House and the Museum of the Confederacy, but the place that had the most meaning for me was when we visited the Virginia State Capitol. In the foyer of the building is a white marble statue of George Washington that is a masterful work.

However, in the House of Representatives is a life size marble statue of Robert
E. Lee set on the floor where he accepted command of the Eastern Confederate Army, which he promptly named the Army of Northern Virginia. There is no barricade around it. It is touchable. And when I gently placed my hand on the shoulder it was as if I was touching Marse Robert and feeling connected to him personally. I know it is quite uncanny, but for the first time I had communicated with a person that I have read about all my life. I believe I waited until the room was empty; put on my gray cavalry hat; and saluted.