Summer is coming.
Well, maybe it is coming. Some parts
of the country haven’t seen very many concrete signs that warm weather is on
its way. Mrs. Leeway shoveled snow off the driveway yesterday and that is not
typically an indicator of summer temperatures.
Still, it is best to plan for the
chance that summer will visit sometime this calendar year.
For the time being, spring has
allegedly arrived and you know what they say about spring: Spring comes and
everyone’s mind turns to visiting Civil War battlefields.
A few pointers then about making
successful visits to those wonderful historic sights.
Every visit should start at the
Visitor Center. Get a park map (battlefields are national parks) and be sure to
ask any questions you have concerning directions. The Rangers at battlefield
parks are both helpful and friendly. Most battlefield visitor centers have
theaters and show short films about the battlefield or the battle fought there
and the films are interesting.
Most parks have driving tours that you
can drive yourself at your own pace and listen to an audio guide. The tour’s
stops are indicated on the park map. Take advantage of your car’s heater (or
air conditioner) while you look at the history in front of you.
If you leave your car, you’ll want to
have sturdy walking shoes and I recommend high top shoes or boots. Sometimes
the ground of a battlefield is uneven and it is pretty easy to turn your ankle
unless you are very careful about where you put each step. You should also use
sun screen and bug spray (get the kind that works against tics), wear a hat,
carry water and keep your map with you.
When my plans allow for an extended
day on the battlefield, I usually spend the lunch period indoors. At
Gettysburg, for example, I’ll return to the Visitors Center for lunch. This
gets me out of the sun and allows me to sit down. The restrooms are an
important consideration, too. If your time is short, a lunchtime sit-down might
not work for you. Still, I have found the midday break to be very beneficial.
The midday break also allows you to
reapply the sun screen and bug spray while resting.
Battlefield walks are best done with
company, particularly at places like Chickamauga where much of the battlefield
is isolated. Bring a friend and enjoy the visit together.
Plan ahead. Know some of the history
before you visit where it was made. It’s a lot easier to understand what you
see if you know what happened where you stand.
A friend once told me that you have to
listen to what you see at a battlefield and I did not understand what he meant
at the time. Now I do and it is an experience that changes with every visit I
make.
I hope you get a chance to experience
the same thing.
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