MANASSAS, Va. -- Just in time for the 149th anniversary of the First Battle of Manassas, Civil War Traveler.com has posted a free podcast walking tour of Henry Hill on Manassas National Battlefield Park.
The July 21, 1861, battle was the first major engagement of the Civil War.
Union forces achieved early success that day only to run into a strong Confederate defensive line located on Henry Hill. Charges and counter-charges, often resulting in hand-to-hand fighting, marked the action there.
The fight on Henry Hill proved to be the turning point. Amid the confusion resulting from inexperienced soldiers and multi-color uniforms, the Union army dissolved, eventually returning to the Washington defenses in disorder.
Among the Confederate heroes that day was Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, who would become “Stonewall” during the action.
Henry Hill and most of the historic battlefield is preserved in the park. The first stop of this tour is located just outside the park visitor center.
The nine-stop tour is narrated by park ranger Greg Wolf and takes about an hour.
This is the 25th free Civil War tour podcast offered by Civil War Traveler.com. Other tours include Antietam, Gettysburg, Gaines’ Mill, the Crater at Petersburg and Appomattox.
In June 2010, the total Civil War Tours downloads numbered 60,230, with each podcast episode downloaded between 2,000 and 5,000 times. In the past year, Civil WarTraveler.com has attracted more than 880,000 visitors,.
Those interested can listen to the Henry Hill tour and other podcasts at CivilWarTraveler.com/audio.
A podcast allows a viewer to walk with a noted historian as his/her personal audio guide on fields where decisive, dramatic battles took place.
Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703 369-6707.
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