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Portici, Chinn Ridge, and Sudley at Manassas National Battlefield Park

Portici, Chinn Ridge, and Sudley at Manassas National Battlefield Park
Portici, Chinn Ridge, and Sudley at Manassas National Battlefield Park
Portici, Chinn Ridge, and Sudley at Manassas National Battlefield Park
Portici, Chinn Ridge, and Sudley at Manassas National Battlefield Park

MANASSAS, Va. — The Manassas National Battlefield Park features several sites that chronicle the events and actions of the Civil War in and around the Manassas area.

Portici was the plantation house of Francis Lewis and served as the Confederate headquarters during the First Battle of Manassas. The surrounding grounds were the site of the 1861-1862 winter encampment for a brigade of Confederate troops. On Aug. 30, 1862, during the Second Battle of Manassas, Union cavalry stopped the Confederate cavalry as they sought to cut off the Union army's line of retreat.

Located on "Hazel Plain," the two-and-a-half-story frame farmhouse of Benjamin Chinn and his family overlooked the Warrenton Turnpike and Young's Branch. During both battles of Manassas, the plantation was engulfed by war and witnessed some of the heaviest fighting.

In 1860, the crossroads hamlet of Sudley Springs consisted of fewer than a dozen households but featured a prosperous mill, a prominent church, and a hotel for visitors attracted to the mineral waters of a nearby spring. During the Second Battle of Manassas, on Aug. 29, 1862, Federal troops repeatedly attacked Stonewall Jackson's left flank in this area, and only darkness prevented a fatal collapse of the Confederates. Today, only the Sudley Church remains as a testament to times past.

 

Walking the National Mall

Walking the National Mall

WASHINGTON — I enjoyed today’s walk with my fellow Savannah State alum and soror L. Michelle Woods and Miss G. (Go Bubbles Soap) around parts of the National Mall. Our stops included the Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and World War II memorials, and the Washington Monument.

 

Lost River State Park

Lost River State Park
Lost River State Park

MATHIAS, W.Va. — Nestled within the Appalachian Mountains, Lost River State Park spans 3,712 acres of lush forests, rolling hills, and meandering streams. The park boasts an extensive trail network, meandering through picturesque landscapes and offering breathtaking vistas adorned with vibrant wildflowers and towering hardwoods. Tranquil waters in the park's ponds and creeks provide ideal spots for anglers to cast their lines. With abundant wildlife, cozy cabins, and rustic campgrounds, Lost River State Park invites visitors to unwind, recharge, and reconnect with the natural world.