Calvin J. Kirkland, 1840-1862 - Virginia

The Civil War battlefield at Manassas, Virginia is probably the most beautiful place we've been on this trip.  The day was absolutely gorgeous - sunny, but not hot.  I thought I had heard that because of the proximity to Washington, DC, the Manassas battlefield was not much to see, but happily, I was wrong!

Two battles occurred here during the Civil War, now known as First and Second Manassas, or Bull Run.  Did you know that the North and South had separate names for many of the battles?  Manassas is the southern name for what you may know of as "Bull Run."

First Manassas was the first major battle of the war.  Enthusiastic raw recruits were eager to take part in what they felt might be their only chance to see action in what both sides were certain would be very short war.  The Union believed that a quick show of force would send the Rebels scurrying home and put an end to notions of secession.  The Confederates believed that if the Yankees met sound opposition they would not have the stomach to continue the fight.  Soldiers on both sides were were proven wrong on July 21, 1861, and stunned by the violence and destruction they encountered.  At day's end nearly 900 young men lay lifeless on the fields.

Incredibly, because they expected an easy Union victory, the wealthy elite of nearby Washington, including congressmen and their families, came out to picnic and watch the battle. When the Union army was driven back in disorder, the roads back to Washington were blocked by panicked civilians attempting to flee in their carriages and the Union retreat turned into a rout.

Second Manassas occurred a year later, August 28-30, 1862, and was a much larger battle.  Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson captured the Union supply depot at Manassas Junction, threatening the Union's line of communications with Washington, D.C.  On August 28, 1862, Jackson attacked a Union column, resulting in a stalemate. On that same day, the wing of Lee's army commanded by Maj. Gen. James Longstreet broke through light Union resistance in the Battle of Thoroughfare Gap and approached the battlefield.

Union General Pope became convinced that he had trapped Jackson and concentrated the bulk of his army against him. On August 29, Pope launched a series of assaults against Jackson's position along an unfinished railroad grade. The attacks were repulsed with heavy casualties on both sides. At noon, Longstreet arrived on the field from Thoroughfare Gap and took position on Jackson's right flank. On August 30, Pope renewed his attacks, seemingly unaware that Longstreet was on the field.  Massed Confederate artillery devastated a Union assault, the Union left flank was crushed and the army driven back to Bull Run.


Private Calvin Kirkland, the soldier whose name Karl uses, was killed at Second Manassas at the age of twenty-two.

Stonewall Jackson statue

We were able to locate the position of the 15th Alabama during the battle, and found that the Confederate units were arrayed along an unfinished railroad cut.  We followed this trail toward the cut...

...and concluded that Calvin Kirkland must have died in a swamp.

But then we found this.  The actual railroad cut, so we think he was killed somewhere in front of us here.

There is a small Confederate cemetery not far from the battle location.  Very few individual soldiers are named, but mass graves exist for each state.  Here is the Alabama grave, and a monument to the fallen Confederates.