Malvern Hill Battlefield

This morning, I left my alternate undisclosed location and went over to my intended undisclosed location, and could check in because its water had been restored.

After settling in, I drove over to Malvern Hill Battlefield.  The Battle of Malvern Hill took place during the Civil War on July 1st, 1862 and was the last of what became known as the Seven Days Battles.  These battles marked the end of the Union's Peninsula Campaign, whose goal was to take the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.  The Confederates drove the Union back, but the Union had a resounding victory at Malvern Hill.

Today, VA Route 156 runs roughly north-south through the battlefield.  On the west side of the road are a parking lot and four cannons, which are seen here.

Here's the cannon farthest away in the above shot, which is close to the road.

Next to the road is this historical marker.

On the other side of the road were two more cannons.  All these cannons are located in the general area of the Union firing line.

Also on the east side of the road, south of these last two cannons is the West House, which was a landmark during the battle.  Its cellar was a hiding place for the West family and some neighbors.  The current West House was rebuilt decades after the Civil War.  In this shot, as seen from the north, the house is behind a cornfield.

A short distance north of the aforementioned parking lot and cannons is a second parking lot and the ruins of the Willis Church parsonage, which consists mainly of these two brick chimneys.  The Confederate forces were based close to the parsonage.

Here are the chimneys from a different angle.

A hiking trail connects the parking lots, the cannons, and the parsonage ruins, but due to temperatures being above 95°F, I decided to keep my pedestrian activity to a minimum.  What I found interesting about this battle is that the Union (Northern) troops were located south of the Confederate (Southern) troops.  To learn more, besides the links above, go to the National Park Service's site, American Battlefield Trust, Encyclopedia Virginia and Essential Civil War Curriculum.