Thanksgiving Is Near

Growing up in Ontario Thanksgiving and the following week was awash in the colors of the season. Thursday is American Thanksgiving. This year in Virginia we are about a week beyond the peak of the season. Following are pictures taken this past Friday. The first two are in the Front Royal area.

The last one, of the tree in the middle of the field is part of the Manassas II battlefield. The battle took place over three days. This is the field was on the Union right on the third day. The Union forces were in disarray and were in danger of being destroyed. This was the area through which Longstreet's forces moved to crush the Union Army. Mistakenly thinking the Confederates were retreating the Union General had pulled over half of the forces on his right for a pursuit charge. He was unaware that 30,000 troop under Longstreet arrived overnight.

Nearly 20,000 Confederates charged through this area where they ran into 2,200 Union units from Ohio and their solitary cannon. The Ohio units losses were heavy but they delayed the Confederates long enough to allow the Union to organize behind them and to structure an organized retreat. The Ohio brigades suffered tremendously, 33% of their men, and inflicted heavy losses on the Confederates. If they had not held, it is well possible the bulk of the Union troops which were a mile to the north (left side of the picture) would have been surrounded, thereby effectively putting the South in a position to win the war.

This lone tree which existed at the time of the battle has survived to be a witness of the carnage that took place before and around it. The three is viewed from the Confederate side with the Union forces alined across the ridge by the tree.

The heart of Manassas I (Bull Run I), the first major battle of the Civil War lies behind the ridge of trees at the back of the field.

I share this since it was Lincoln in the midst the Civil War made Thanksgiving a national holiday. In the midst of struggle and turmoil he called for the country to pause to remember the blessings they have enjoyed and to give thanks to God for their country, freedom and the harvest. This country could look greatly different if those 2,200 men who volunteered from Ohio had run from the field of battle. I am thankful for the character and character of those farmers and store clerks who stood their ground against overwhelming numbers.