We have set out on our journey. The travel began on May 16th when we drove to Jacksonville for a short layover if you would. We met up with a childhood friend (David Baird) who is a RV Mechanic who did a run through before we got to far out on the road. We really appreciated what he did to set our minds at ease that we are starting out with everything working proper. We also met up for a brief visit with another friend(Tammy Soest) that I have worked with most of my career. We Boon-docked our first night in the parking lot of Wal Mart on San Jose Blvd.
We left Tuesday after lunch heading for Camden, South Carolina. A former customer, Burt Morris, who was a buyer for Discount Drug Mart in Ohio is now working for Petsmart in Columbia, SC. and is living in Camden. He lives in a little cottage(4000 sq ft.) on the historic Kamschatka property. The house was built James Chesnut, Jr., United States Senator from South Carolina, 1859-1861, and afterward an Aide to Jefferson Davis and a Brigadier-General in the Confederate Army and just as famous the wife of James Chesnut, Jr. MARY BOYKIN CHESNUT, author of A DIARY FROM DIXIE, as written by MARY BOYKIN CHESNUT.
This Georgian Mansion overlooking the original town of Camden was originally built 1777-1780 by Joseph Kershaw. A wealthy merchant and leader of the town, Kershaw modeled his home after the William Washington house in Charleston. The home later served as a Confederate Supply Depot before being burned in 1865 and was not rebuilt until 1974-1977.
The Camden area is full of Revolutionary and Civil War History. To the left is the tomb of Richard Kirkland who joined the CSA at age 13.
Civil War Confederate Army Officer. After a frontal charge on December 13, 1862 at Fredericksburg, Virginia, thousands of men from the armed forces of Union General Ambrose Everett Burnside’s Army of the Potomac lay dead and dying on the ice-covered slope of Marye’s Heights. The pleas for water from the wounded men echoed for all to perceive. However, no one from either side dared to render aid for fear of them becoming a target as Union and Confederate marksmen were willing and able to fell anyone who entered this killing ground. To the conscious ears of Richard Rowland Kirkland, a Confederate soldier of the Second South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, the cries of the battle casualties became unbearable. He sought and gained the hesitant permission of his superior, Joseph Brevard Kershaw, to leave his position with the optimism of rendering aid to the battle sufferers. After gathering canteens, Kirkland leaped over the wall and entered this “no mans land”. At the outset, the federal frontline took shots at him but quickly ceased fire when it became evident what his purposes were. Zigzagging between the wounded and dying, Kirkland gave water to the thirsty, care to the wounded and provided warmth for the cold. Accounts have the wounded federal infantrymen raising their arms to attract his notice. For ninety minutes, he continued this meandering of aid to the enemy and when he returned to his station, the two opposing armies unleashed a shout of approval to show their respect and admiration for his compassion. His humanitarian deeds earned him the title “The Angel of Marye’s Heights”. Kirkland survived the battle of Fredericksburg and would come through the violent fighting at the Peach Orchard and the Wheatfield during the Pennsylvania battle of Gettysburg yet would not survive the war. At the forefront of the advancing Confederates, he was charging up Snodgrass Hill during the battle of Chickamauga on September 20, 1863 when a rifle ball pierced his chest. Brushing away aid, he knew the wound was mortal, “No, I am done for. You can do me no good. Save yourselves and tell Pa good-bye and I died right. I did my duty. I died at my post.”
Below are Cannons left by the British.
Dr. Todd was brother in law to President Lincoln.
Served as a CSA Surgeon. Married to Martha Lyles of
Camden. An unreconstructed rebel!!
We left Tuesday after lunch heading for Camden, South Carolina. A former customer, Burt Morris, who was a buyer for Discount Drug Mart in Ohio is now working for Petsmart in Columbia, SC. and is living in Camden. He lives in a little cottage(4000 sq ft.) on the historic Kamschatka property. The house was built James Chesnut, Jr., United States Senator from South Carolina, 1859-1861, and afterward an Aide to Jefferson Davis and a Brigadier-General in the Confederate Army and just as famous the wife of James Chesnut, Jr. MARY BOYKIN CHESNUT, author of A DIARY FROM DIXIE, as written by MARY BOYKIN CHESNUT.
After the Civil War the house was sold to William F. Buckley, Sr. who used it as a summer home and had the six cottages built around the home for his children.
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| Mom bribing one of the Judges for the 24 Hour of LeMons |
During our stay we noticed something was being set up in town. We set out to find out what it was. To our amazement it was the "24hrs of LeMons" which was run that weekend.
We also drove to my fathers home town of Sanford, NC to visit my great-aunt Sally Mayfield who will be 94 in a few months. It was great to see her since it had been about 7-8 yrs since I had seen her. We also saw another friend and one of my photography mentors Danny Batchelor and his wife Trish in Southern Pines near Pinehurst, NC.
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| Our Friend and Host, Burt Morris. |
We set up camp near the cottage where Burt is living and spent a week until the sub 100 degree days sent us packing for cooler weather.
Since Charles Kuralt was from Charlotte we thought it would be proper to stay a night or two near there. We found a spot available at the KOA in Statesville, NC where we also met some great friends. We were able to sit and share stories with Inge, Susie and Rudy who are full timers at the camp. We hated to leave there as the hospitality was so good. We pulled out Friday morning and headed for Virginia. We set down the jacks around 8pm in Harrisonburg, VA at a very nice KOA Park the Shenandoah Valley KOA. I finally have wireless and have set up the computer to catch up on the blog. As of this writing we are now up to date and plan to head for Harrisburg, PA in the morning. I have been able to organize today so more photos will also appear in the future.
Here are a few random photos from the trip:
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| The Tomb of the Youngest Confederate Soldier. |
Civil War Confederate Army Officer. After a frontal charge on December 13, 1862 at Fredericksburg, Virginia, thousands of men from the armed forces of Union General Ambrose Everett Burnside’s Army of the Potomac lay dead and dying on the ice-covered slope of Marye’s Heights. The pleas for water from the wounded men echoed for all to perceive. However, no one from either side dared to render aid for fear of them becoming a target as Union and Confederate marksmen were willing and able to fell anyone who entered this killing ground. To the conscious ears of Richard Rowland Kirkland, a Confederate soldier of the Second South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, the cries of the battle casualties became unbearable. He sought and gained the hesitant permission of his superior, Joseph Brevard Kershaw, to leave his position with the optimism of rendering aid to the battle sufferers. After gathering canteens, Kirkland leaped over the wall and entered this “no mans land”. At the outset, the federal frontline took shots at him but quickly ceased fire when it became evident what his purposes were. Zigzagging between the wounded and dying, Kirkland gave water to the thirsty, care to the wounded and provided warmth for the cold. Accounts have the wounded federal infantrymen raising their arms to attract his notice. For ninety minutes, he continued this meandering of aid to the enemy and when he returned to his station, the two opposing armies unleashed a shout of approval to show their respect and admiration for his compassion. His humanitarian deeds earned him the title “The Angel of Marye’s Heights”. Kirkland survived the battle of Fredericksburg and would come through the violent fighting at the Peach Orchard and the Wheatfield during the Pennsylvania battle of Gettysburg yet would not survive the war. At the forefront of the advancing Confederates, he was charging up Snodgrass Hill during the battle of Chickamauga on September 20, 1863 when a rifle ball pierced his chest. Brushing away aid, he knew the wound was mortal, “No, I am done for. You can do me no good. Save yourselves and tell Pa good-bye and I died right. I did my duty. I died at my post.”
Below are Cannons left by the British.
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| The Tomb of Mary Todd Lincoln's Brother and CSA Surgeon. |
Served as a CSA Surgeon. Married to Martha Lyles of
Camden. An unreconstructed rebel!!
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