Here's my list, ranked...
1. SHEPHERDSTOWN (W. Va.) | Sept. 20, 1862: Fascinating terrain at final Maryland Campaign battle. Most of battlefield is private property -- including this ground (above) upon which A.P. Hill soldiers advanced (toward camera). Recent visit made doubly good by excellent time spent with town parking cop, who uses a Segway on the job. Regarding the battlefield, he warned me about bears, coyotes, snakes, and ticks. What, no sea serpents? Read about amazing heroism on this battlefield.
3. BRANDY STATION: (Va.) | June 9, 1863: View from Fleetwood Hill. Oh my. Meet the man who was instrumental in saving this hallowed ground. Explore panorama.
4. PICKETT'S MILL (Ga.) | May 27, 1864: The Yankees attacked through that ravine? Really? Ranger Jeff Wright (above) warned snakes lurk here. Grrrr. Another Shepherdstown.
6. PIEDMONT (Va.) | June 5, 1864: “Grumble” Jones death site at extreme right of panorama. Best Civil War nickname, by the way. Mrs. B could use for me.
8. NEW MARKET (Va.) | May 15, 1864: Field of Lost Shoes! Explore panorama.
9. BALL'S BLUFF (Va.) | Oct. 21, 1861: Federals -- including this 15th Massachusetts soldier -- swam Potomac under fire. (Video from Visit Loudoun via YouTube.)
2. SOUTH MOUNTAIN: (Md.) | Sept. 14, 1862: Rugged! How the hell did they fight here? George Meade’s men marched past this old house on Frostown Road on Sept. 14, 1862. Once owned by two brothers, locals told me, it and surrounding land were acquired by American Battlefield Trust. As you can tell by the deep-blue sky, this was one of those fabulous western Maryland afternoons.
4. PICKETT'S MILL (Ga.) | May 27, 1864: The Yankees attacked through that ravine? Really? Ranger Jeff Wright (above) warned snakes lurk here. Grrrr. Another Shepherdstown.
5. CROSS KEYS (Va.) | June 8, 1862: I lost recent staredown here with cows and bull here, preventing a higher ranking. Long story. 😫
7. CEDAR CREEK (Va.) | Oct. 19, 1864: Would be higher if they bagged I-81. Ugh. Here's where 8th Vermont advanced through a ravine. Read more.
10. FISHER'S HILL (Va.) | Sept. 21-22, 1864: I deftly eluded “cow mines.” Angry herd here eyed me warily, apparently despondent over recent death of one of their own. Weird vibe. Dandy view and a magnificent witness tree (above). Curses to you, I-81!
HONORABLE MENTION: Port Republic, Va., above (June 9, 1862), Britton's Lane, Tenn. (Sept. 1, 1862), Tebbs Bend, Ky. (July 4, 1863), Morton's Ford, Va. (Feb. 6-7, 1864), Monocacy, Md. (July 9, 1864), Allatoona Pass, Ga. (Oct. 5, 1864), Spring Hill, Tenn. (Nov. 29, 1864),
What do you think of my list?
