Independence Day

Happy Birthday America!!

Well, we've driven the family south again (John Fuckface Fonda Kerry bumper stickers seen = ZERO), and are once more at our home outside Chattanooga. We got in late last night and missed the local fireworks but expect to see them after the Lookouts game tonite. Luckily, as Glenn Reynolds discussed yesterday, we are in a part of the country that loves to celebrate the 4th of July and loves to show off its firework abilities!!!

In the meantime, we are heading out this morning to go hiking at Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, America's first National Battlefield Park.

Between 1890 and 1899 the Congress of the United States authorized the establishment of the first four national military parks: Chickamauga and Chattanooga, Shiloh, Gettysburg, and Vicksburg. The first and largest of these, and the one upon which the establishment and development of most other national military and historical parks was based, was Chickamauga and Chattanooga.

There is a good history of the battle here.

On these fields and hills, Union and Confederate armies clashed during the fall of 1863 in some of the hardest fighting of the Civil War. The prize was Chattanooga, key rail center and gateway to the heart of the Confederacy. The campaign that brought the armies here began late in June 1863 when General William S. Rosecrans' Army of the Cumberland, almost 60,000 strong, moved from Murfreesboro, Tennessee against General Braxton Bragg's 43,000 Confederates dug in 20 miles to the southwest defending the road to Chattanooga.

Finally, for what its worth, I got in too late yesterday to purchase my SKS, so that will have to wait till Monday. Look for the photobloggin then.

Hope you and your family have a safe and happy 4th of July.