Lees' Chimney

["goearth" <goearth@shentel.net>]

Hello,  it was just a pile of stones.  we made a circular ring and had a blazing fire at dark for the first time at the site in 137 years even tho because of the drought it was illegal.  i was wrong about 19,000 men staying the winter at the site.  it was 60,000 men.  i felt the pain and passion they must have felt as they came back to Va. after Gettysburg.  Our plan is to research from photos the way the camp would have looked and rebuild Lees' Tent as close to realism as possible.  The property is owned by The Honorable Helen Marie Taylor, Virginias largest landowner at 18,000 acres and the Orders VP of Historical Preservation, who enjoyed our fire and dinner by the fire of Venison, fried potatoes, squash cooked in the fire and a nice salad.  Cherry Pie and coffee made the night so warm i slept on the ground beside the fire, partly because of the fire danger but also because the stars were so clear and 2 shooting stars made it a most beautiful night.  Our next step is more research and going back to build and ride the rolling countryside and work with the Re-enactors to some day have the 60,000 men at the camp. Quite a plan is it not?    tom sites