Sun. 4/23.
Did 2 Park Ranger led walks at Manassas National Battlefield Park, VA.
Henry House Hill is a location near Bull Run in Virginia, with a slow, constant rise toward the south over a length of approximately 730 meters. This hill was an important site of the battles of First and Second Bull Run (also known as First and Second Manassas) in the American Civil War. The battle raged on the north side of the hill in predominantly open grass country; the south side was relatively closely covered with trees. July 16, 1861, ranks of both armies were filled with enthusiastic young volunteers in colorful new uniforms, confident their foes would run at the first shot. Citizens and congressmen with wine and picnic baskets followed the army into the field to watch. Thoughts of pageantry were soon lost in smoke, din, dirt, and death of battle.
The hill received its name from Dr. Isaac Henry, who lived with his family in a house on the plateau of the hill. On July 21, 1861, the house was inhabited by his widow, Judith Carter Henry, and their two sons. The 85-year-old woman was bed-ridden and unable to leave the house. Mrs. Henry was mortally wounded when a projectile of the Union artillery crashed through the bedroom wall and tore off one of her feet and inflicted multiple injuries, from which she died later that day.
3,300 soldiers died at 2nd Manassas. It was the height of the Confederate States of America (CSA) power.
