Mike and Roxanne travel east

Harper's Ferry Oct 22, 2007

Oct 22 50729 8:52

We are driving across Delaware in just about the middle of the state. It is the agriculture center of Delaware. I never thought of Delaware as an agricultural state but we have passed fields and fields of corn.

I have enjoyed seeing the different types of houses in the different states.

Delaware is smaller than I realized. We have only been on the road for 15 minutes and we are already crossing into Maryland.

Observation: Small town America on the East Coast is big into Halloween. Many of the towns have decorations on the lampposts, windows are painted and many of the houses are all decked out. Some homes just have mums and pumpkins on the porch, other have huge blow up ghost, pumpkins and other things.

We cannot believe the weather we have had on this trip. At 9:00 last night it was still in the low 70's and we went to bed with the window open and only half the covers on the bed. The days are crisp and clear.

We have crossed Chesapeake Bay and we are back in the heavily congested areas again. Annapolis, D.C., Baltimore, it is like all one large metropolitan area. I think I am already beginning to miss the open countryside with only small towns and low speed limits.

1:15 we arrive at the Skyline Ranch Resort. This is an RPI park so our cost for the night is only $8.00; wish we could find more of these. We have full hookups.

Skyline Ranch Resort is just outside of Front Royal. This is the entranceway to the Shenandoah National Park. Front Royal was the site of a decisive battle during the Civil War.

Confederate spy, Belle Boyd, charmed secrets from the Union soldiers and used Front Royal as one of her most effective bases. On May 15, 1862 Boyd overheard plans for the Union forces to leave Front Royal with only a small contingent being left behind. The message was relay to General "Stonewall" Jackson and on May 23, Jackson swept into town with his troops and the Battle at Front Royal ended with the capture of 750 of the 1000 Union soldiers.

The name Front Royal is taken from the command of frustrated military officer for unruly troops to "front the royal oak" which once stood in the public square.

We head out to West Virginia and Harper's Ferry National Historical Park.

Harper's Ferry is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers and separates Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. Harper's Ferry has had an important role in many aspects of American history, early transportation, Lewis and Clark, the War of 1812, slavery, the Civil War and the abolition of slavery.

George Washington had surveyed this area prior to the Revolution and Jefferson first saw the area in 1783 on his way to Philadelphia to serve as a delegate from Virginia to the first Continental Congress. Washington was instrumental in persuading Congress to establish a federal armory here because of the waterpower.

In 1803 Meriweather Lewis came to the arsenal to get supplies, guns, knives, bullets, tomahawks and other necessary items for his exploration of the West.

October 1859 found John Brown, the abolitionist tried to seize the 100,000 rifles and muskets as a first step in his revolution against slavery. The plan failed and a contingent of soldiers commanded by Robert E. Lee seized Brown. J.E.B. Stuart served as an aide to Lee during this time.

This raid has been credited as the start of the Civil War in 1962 "Stonewall" Jackson seized the armory and arsenal, shipped the machinery south and burned the buildings.

On Oct. 1-2 Lincoln reviewed the Union Forces here and in August 1864 Harper's Ferry became the temporary headquarters for Maj. Gen. Sheridan. One of his officers was Gen. George Custer.

Next to grace the area was Frederick Douglas who in 1881 spoke at the 14th anniversary of Storer Collage. This collage had been started in 1867 to teach not only former slaves but also immigrants but could not read or write English. The college continued until 1955 and segregation had been banned.

Not only has historical events shaped the town of Harper's Ferry but so has nature.

Richard Harper ran the first ferry across the rivers before bridges were built. The C & O Canal and the B & O Railroad brought goods to and from the town. Harper's Ferry had many factories, cotton mills, tanneries, and the armory, flour mills, a sawmill and iron foundry. At one time the town had a population of over 3,000.

The Civil War did a lot of damage to the town but it was rebuilt and it was rebuilt several times after disastrous floods.

In 1955 the National Park Service took over the majority of the buildings in the old town section and has gradually restored them. The latest flood in 1996 has also left its mark on the area but the buildings are still being excavated and history is being brought to life here.