I'M BEHIND ON POSTING

I'm going to use the excuse that I've had a lot to do, so I haven't been posting. It's true, I've been having lots of fun so far this week, so here's some info on the past few days!!

On Sunday we went to Williamsburg in the afternoon and hung out/had fun/yay. We went to the brickyard, which I'd never seen, so it was cool, and the coffee shop (I recommend going if you're in the area; it's fun, and they give you free samples). Sunday night we had a walking tour of CW given by a NJ man who's now in charge of the Civil War trails in VA (I believe). He was really engaging, so the tour was awesome! For anyone who's wondering "But nothing happened in Williamsburg??" YES there was a battle in Williamsburg and there were about 4000 casualties! And African American slaves gave information to the Union soldiers which allowed them to take the enemy flag! SO COOL!

Making bricks!! They let kids walk in the clay, which looked fun but messy.

On Monday we checked out some Confederate fortifications and Ft. Monroe, which overlooks Hampton Roads, where the Monitor and the Merrimack dueled it out. Edgar Allan Poe was also a soldier there and Jefferson Davis was held there too. They had some really interesting exhibits as well as a Civil War diary in the gift shop that I almost bought...

Bad fortifications picture

View from the top of Ft. Monroe overlooking Hampton Roads!

A part of the 'moat' at Ft. Monroe. It was to the gate by this body of water that 3 slaves rowed up and were taken as contraband by the Union forces at Ft. Monroe. This began the practice of taking male slaves as contraband and females/children as wives/kids of contraband. Slaves would then be sent to contraband camps. 

Today we went to the Mariners' Museum; first to check out the USS Monitor Center, then to see the rest of the Museum. We got to see preserved pieces of the Monitor, which sunk in 1862, and learn about life on the ironclad (which actually was really uncomfortable because it was over 100 degrees and smelled bad and was cramped). We also watched a little yet intense video on the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack, which I would argue accomplished nothing in the war but was big for technology and PR. Also the Mariner's Museum had a little Titanic exhibit, so guess who was happy?

A preserved piece of the Monitor's gun turret. This doesn't really convey how big it is, but it's HUGE. THIS IS HISTORY, PEOPLE!

I found a lifeboat. Also Boxhall is in the background. (I'm on a last name basis with the crew of the Titanic??)

A picture showing the different sections of the Titanic and which classes they were available for. Basically a poster I need on my bedroom wall. 

I have to get started on my next journal, which will be on women and their involvement in the Civil War, but that's what's been going on recently. I can't believe that I leave in a couple days. :(

-Tessa :D