When I woke up Jerry and Michele had already left to go exploring, so I set off on my own to Fort Gaines. Fort Gaines and its companion, Fort Morgan on the other side of the opening to Mobile Bay formed the gauntlet that Admiral Farragut ran with Union forces to capture one of the last remaining ports available to the blockade runners in the Civil War. That battle along with the capture of Atlanta are considered key factors in his re-election.
It was during this battle that Farragut utter the famous words "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" after the Federal Monitor Tecumseh was sunk by a mine (called torpedoes at the time).
We were fortunate in our timing because today was one of only a few days during the year when the fort is staffed by folks in period costume. I saw a woman making chicken and dumplings using period kitchen utensils (didn't get to taste it), ate bread and butter made with an 1860's recipe, watched a mock firing squad with civil war era rifles, watched the firing of a civil war cannon (loud!), saw women making clothes and a blacksmith at work. I had a great time, but it was hot and humid, I had to take refuge in the air conditioned museum a couple of times to recharge before continuing my exploration.
The rest of the day was spent resting, doing laundry, bike maintenance and the like. And I watched a little TV in my room, check out the size of that remote.
This is our lasted planned rest day, we should be in Florida tomorrow and we should be in St. Augustine a week from
Monday (May 14th).
How fun everyone was in period costume! Period prices would be good, too.
ReplyDeleteTom and I must get one of those remotes; maybe we won't lose it as often as our current one.
Savor the few remaining days of your adventure!
Alayne