It is a cool 46 degrees in MD this morning, turned the electric fireplace on.
We completed the battlefield tour yesterday with a trip to Antietam, the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. We visited Monocacy Battlefield in Frederick, MD, a smaller but very important battle waged to protect Washington DC. The crazy thing is I grew up in Frederick and never knew the history. My sister loved horses and she rode the Monocacy Battlefield all the time, her instructor and horse lived at the former farm before it became an historical site, in fact she lived in this house that is now a park building,
While there I sent pics to my sister, I told her I was looking for her horse Josie, she sent an emoji back of a tear in her eye.
We also visited the first Washington Monument. Located on top of South Mountain between Middletown and Boonsboro. The monument was used during the war as a Union lookout. "We" locals refer to it as the Mayonnaise Jar
Harpers Ferry WV is always a great place to visit for multiple historical reasons. John Brown was captured and executed here. Merriweather Lewis stopped here for supplies and to build his boat here starting his expedition. It is a railroad junction, C and O Canal and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. It is also a major stop on the Appalachian Trail It is a must see stop. The picture below is taken from the railroad bridge, part of the trail.
Antietam is a somber place, walking on the Burnside bridge you thing of how many men died on it. This battle took place 3 days ahead of Gettysburg and was the bloodiest. Below is a picture of the Burnside Bridge.
It is strange to see the changes in the area but I can still get around the county without a map.
Today we hook up and head to New York. for the next leg of the adventure. Most of the preplanned items are done, now moving into parts unknown, all part of the adventure.
I’ve never been to Gettysburg but for some strange reason Do Not like the place 
