Forgotten Field

A town under siege, 1863. A relief column approached, and the besieging troops setout to intercept. They dug in well, with the only bridge thru vast wetlands at their back; just to be sure, they also removed the planks. Earthworks were created that would allow the defenders to turn the road into an impassable gauntlet.

The relieving troop advanced, but a few thrusts indicated an impregnable position. They turned around and marched away, as did the defenders in response.

Astonishingly, the site today is just as they left it. Berms and trenches remain, still commanding the still discernible road. A highway and a new bridge have since been built upstream a ways. The bridge they fought over is gone, but the posts and bridge beams still mark the spot.