"Knock! Knock!"

Knock! Knock jokes have started in our household.   However, the hang of them has not been grasped..

S:  "Knock, Knock!"
R:  "Who's there?"
S:  "Avani"
R: "Avani who?'
S:  "Avani hola esta"
R: "hmm, I think we have a transitional Spanish speaker in the car."
S   Laughs...


On another note, we have noted Sabrina's new favorite thing to do is put a DVD on Spanish for the language of the movie.   We are not sure if she is trying to learn the new language or if it helps her sleep as she usually conks out ten minutes into the show and sleeps.   Maybe she is mastering the "learn by sleeping on it" method.

On the crafty side, Sabrina is desiring to learn how to sew.   She has been helping pull the needle on the hand stitching on projects and is a helper handing pins and learning how to do basic stitches on the sewing machine.   We are planning on making a small quilt for her teddy bear soon.

Train Station

Kids are amazing with the games they invent.   These two invented a game called "Train Station".

The passenger would load onto the back of the train and then the train would back up to the stop (stroller).   

Then the passenger would call for a train and would be picked up and brought back.

The blue chair was the Grand Station.   The roles changed and driver became passenger.

Juggling

Road Trip to Andersonville

For many months we have been talking about the best day to visit Andersonville, the site of the Civil War Prison Camp.   Our waiting and timing proved to be perfect for yesterday of exploring the outdoor site.   Looking at the sunny, rolling grounds where the prison once stood, it is hard to imagine how many soldiers died here in such a short period of time. Originally built on sixteen and a half acres to house up to 6 - 10,000 men, it had over 32,000 in August 1864.  Opened in February 1864, the yard was expanded by another ten acres for a grand total of twenty-six and half acres in June 1864.   This was not enough to house the numbers and the conditions were like "hell on earth".

Now standing in what the top left corner of the prison's enclosure are about ten monuments from various states to remember those who lived and died within the walls of Andersonville prison.

 

Adjacent to the main building lobby and museum is a patio with walls and a reflecting stream ...like the one that ran through the camp for provided drinking water (and the washing away of sewage.)

This National Historic Site recognizes and commemorates all POWs for all wars.  Above is a bronze plaque commemorating Allied Forces' POWs in the Indo-China area.

Most of the walls were taken down and are shown by the placement of white marker poles.   This replica of part of the wall gives an idea of  the height of walls. The gate had double doors and was highly guarded by soldiers in towers.  About ten feet from the wall was a "dead line".   Those who crossed it were shot by the sentries in the guard perches overlooking the wall.

An exterior view of the wall (recreated).  Note the wooden "shackles".

Prisoners had to make their own shelter using blankets, coats and any scraps they could find.   The first prisoners were allowed to use wood from the trees that were left and some were allowed to use wood from the wall when the prison was expanded.   Many prisoners carried out those who died so they could pick up twigs for firewood.

The barber shop.

Many fresh water springs were dug by captured Union Soldiers to offset the disease found in the streams (which also served as toilets).   During the hot summer months water was in high demand and prisoners would try to get fresh water from these springs.   However, there were gangs of prisoners who controlled some of the supplies which did make supplies scarce for many.

Over the wall, the guards would watch from prison roosts.   These guards were young or old.   The stronger soldiers were sent to fight Sherman and the Union Army who they believed was on its way to liberate Anderson prisoners.

Canons on the outskirts of the prison that were strategically placed to fight off the Union Army if it should arrive.  The Confederates were certain that Sherman's army would invade Andersonville.  However, Sherman had other plans.

Living conditions within the prison were atrocious to say the least.  Many prisoners died of disease or starvation.  Several prisoners were desperate enough to try to tunnel their way out of the prison.   Two deep holes in the ground still exist, but now there are tall trees fenced off at the entries of these old holes.

The view from the Star Fort looking toward the prison camp area.  The Star Fort is in one corner of the prison area where Confederate soldiers lived, along with cannons and ammunition.

In an isolated section of the park, is the cemetery.  The cemetery marks the final resting place of all the Union soldiers who died at Andersonville Prison. Note that originally these soldiers were buried in mass graves.  These headstones were created and set in place near the end of the 19th century.

Any American military veteran is allowed to be buried at this cemetery as well.  Most of the graves are for veterans of subsequent wars other than the war between the States.  Pictured above is a more recent addition to the cemetery with Sabrina next to a headstone.

George Bailey, a great, great, great  uncle on Julie's side of the family died at Andersonville, and was laid to rest along with tens of thousands of other soldiers who lost their lives due to the terrible living conditions within the prison.

From a distance, Julie can be seen pointing to George Bailey's headstone in the cemetery.   

  

Number 11930 - George Bailey from Indiana.

The cemetery records stated that Mr.  Bailey died November 8, 1864 within the prison.

 A section of the cemetery marks the final resting place of all the Union soldiers who died at Andersonville Prison. Note that originally these soldiers were buried in mass graves at this site.  A Union soldier and Union doctor accurately recorded the names and locations of those in the mass graves.  Those records were later used to set headstones when the cemetery began in 1870.

Any American military veteran is allowed to be buried at this cemetery as well.  Most of the graves were for veterans of other wars than the Civil War.

The National Park service had computers on hand as tools to find exactly where one's relative(s) can be found within the cemetery.  All headstones are numbered and placed in the ground in numerical order. 

Across the railroad tracks from the park and cemetery is the actual town of Andersonville.  This small town is the location of the Drummer Boy Museum which displays one of the best collections of authentic Civil War Era outfits, memorabilia, letters and journals.  This little one-roomed museum had more authentic pieces than any other museum we have visited.

A Confederate soldier's typical "field dress" uniform.  The Confederate "Battle Flag" in the background is very old but not used in battle.  It is a "veterans flag" that was made a few years after the war ended.  The stars and bars are all hand sown, and irregular in shape. 

All the uniforms are authentic.  However, this white Confederate flag in the background is not.

This is a "practice rifle".  Note there is no trigger or any other moving parts.

Stirrups found at Gettysburg.

Union Calvary Soldier Officer uniform.  The lady's dress and umbrella are from the 1860s era.

A bowl full of spent bullets, stirrups, binoculars, and other pieces either found at various battle fields or discovered in the attics of veterans.

Remington army revolver .44 caliber was dug up at the bloody pond at Shiloh.

Union Army flag with bullet holes.  The museum caretaker said the flag was rolled up when it was shot.

Union Army Calvary uniform.  Note the smaller rifle and saber by his side.

The red uniform was only used by the Union army to attract enlistees and entice them to enlist.  It was not used otherwise.

Drummer boy uniform and drum.  

It is important noting that there were drummer boys at the Andersonville Prison, however any boy at the age of 14 and under, was released by the Confederate army prior to end of the war before they were found within the prison fence.  Those young boys started drawing army pensions immediately starting after the war, and for the rest of their lives.

Bugle of the 3rd Maryland infantry.

Calvary bugle.  This bugle is much smaller than the infantry bugle shown above.

Various camp utensils.

Spent bullets.  Note the two bullets fused together in mid air found at Gettysburg.

Not pictured was one of the most unique Civil War artifacts we have ever seen.  It was a human jaw bone with a bullet lodged in it.  Yes, the molars were still in the jaw bone.  It was found at the Gettysburg battlefield.

This hat was labelled that it belonged to Jefferson Davis.

Among the display of Army surgeon's tools is a bullet that had teeth marks in it.   Undoubtedly used when amputation was necessary.

Leg irons for the most serious offenders.

Pistols!

Navy pistol with interesting trigger.

Union hat.  Notice the elongated shape.

Bonnet wore by May Surratt .  She was the owner of the boarding house where John Wilkes Booth stayed. 

 This bonnet has been thoroughly inspected and certified to be not only original but that it did belong to Surratt.

Hastily written letter relaying Lincoln's death.  It was sent to an officer in Washington DC due to the telegraph lines being down on the night of his death.

Calvary soldier helmets.  The white helmet is belonged to an officer, and the blue one belonged to an enlisted soldier.