America’s volatile history

by YankeeJim | September 17, 2010 at 12:12 pm

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It doesn’t get any more volatile than the War Between the States does it? Today, the electorate is fired up because the economy is a disaster. Between 2001 and 2009, the middle class lost 5% of its income. We’re sinking, and the prospects of improvement are a faint glimmer at best. The Obama administration and Congress must continue to address the most complex challenges the nation has faced in modern history. History has shown that when our political forces pull together with focus on our needs and problems, progress is made and problems are solved. The consequence of not doing so is evident this day as I take my walk in the neighborhood.

Come along with me and I will show what I mean.

See the first picture post of a marker in the neighborhood that reveals how close the Confederates waged battle against the Nation's Capital. This land was originally surveyed by George Washington and his family members lived along Four Mile Run.

Four miles or so from the White House an historical marker reads as follows:

“CONFEDERATE OUTPOST

In August 1861, while the U. S. forces were constructing the Arlington Line three miles to the east, the Confederates established a fortified outpost on the high ground about 200 yards west of here to guard the bridge by which Georgetown-Falls Church road crossed Four Mile Run. In October they withdrew to Fairfax Court House. The Federals then established a signal station at the top of the hill and constructed Fort Ramsay just across the county line.”

You see, we were fighting amongst ourselves with bullets flying neighborhood to neighborhood.

See the second picture.

“This red oak and stone were placed here as a bicentennial memorial to the men in gray who served on Upton Hill – Arlington Chapter United Delegates of the Confederacy.”

The last picture is the Confederate Bridge over Four Mile Run.

History is humbling.