After giving myself a day off, I have resumed by intermittent exploration of Virginia and its historical sites. Today I visited Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park, which includes the Cedar Creek battlefield and the Belle Grove plantation. The park is located along U.S. Route 11 between Strasburg and Middletown, Virginia where the battle took place. At dawn on October 19, 1864 (which means that I just missed the battle's anniversary), Confederate soldiers under General Jubal Early attacked Union troops led by General Philip Sheridan, but were defeated by a Union counterattack.
The first place within the park where I visited was this monument to the 128th New York Volunteer Infantry, which is just off U.S. 11. The area behind the monument and the fence is a private residence.
A parking lot next to this monument is also a trailhead. Hiking about 800 feet brings you to the South Carolina Monument, shown here with a shadow from a tree across its front surface.
I returned to the parking lot and drove the Bigfootmobile over to a trailhead on the other side of U.S. 11, and hiked the short distance to the Vermont Monument, which is surrounded by an iron fence. The side which includes text is in shade. During the battle, the Eighth Vermont Regiment lost two thirds of its men.
Back on U.S. 11, north of the monument to New York soldiers seen above, is a monument to Confederate General Stephen Dodson Ramseur, who was shot through his lungs during the battle and died a day later, and a sign pointing to the entrance of Belle Grove. The cannonballs at the top of the monument were added in 2007.
Across the end of the side road leading to Belle Grove is this informational marker.
I drove down the side road to Belle Grove and took this pic of its manor house, seen from the south side. It was completed in 1797.
Theses two buildings connected by a roofed area are the blacksmith forge (left) and a storehouse for meat (right).
The red barn, known as the Bank Barn, was built in 1918, and now includes a museum. In front of the white buildings is the foundation of a former smokehouse.
This area is a slave cemetery, or so I thought, but it's not well marked.
Lastly before driving away, I stopped at this building, which looks like a house but was really the plantation's office and store. Built in 1788, it's the oldest structure still standing at Belle Grove.
For more about the Battle of Cedar Creek, go to Virginia Is For Lovers, Shenandoah Valley Battlefields, Stone Sentinels and Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation.
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