Americus,Andersonville and The Plains. Day 5.13 April.

A leisurely start to the day after a great night's sleep.  Then off to Andersonville where the prisoner of war fort for the Union soldiers captured by the Confederates were brought in 1864-5. They have now made the whole place a memorial to all US POWS.

A somber memorial and video. We then went out to explore where the fort had been built to keep the captured prisoners  in. Nothing inside except a small stream that was polluted by the cooks and often ran slowly until storms. No shelter except that made by any blankets or anything they might have had. Conditions were so bad that of 34,000 men, 13,000 died in the year. Most would have preferred to die in battle than go there.





We then drove around the perimeter and then to the Cemetery which was amazing. Due to excellent bookworm most bodies were identified and given markers. As the bodies were buried in trenches the markers are very close together.


This Cemetery can also be used by other POWS or any veteran wishing to be buried there. A bit like Arlington. A beautiful cemetery.


We then went onto the Plains where Jimmy Carter was born. Checked out his school and his peanut business. He and his wife still live there and tomorrow  he will take the Sunday service for the adults. We went to a little place for a very late lunch and the delightful cook took great delight in letting us try everything. Bbq chicken, pulled pork,hamburger meat in gravy,  mac and cheese and grits. Yum. All chased down with unsweetened tea!!! Cake followed. And was continually called ma'am.



Back in Americus we checked out the beautiful old homes around us and now a cuppa and some Rummikub. Tomorrow  we head to Athens where Tom and Paula will drop me off for the COST conference. We've had a ball and I'll  miss them terribly.

Comments

  1. Karyn 14 April 2019 at 14:26

    Second try at publishing!! A most interesting area. Loved the photos of Savannah and those sooo pretty squares. Great escapism on what i can imagine are hot nights during summer. Lucky you to have a bike ride. THE BEST way to see anything. And that food.....any veggies coming up? All fun. K x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anne14 April 2019 at 14:54

    Still like Savannah best. The "Civil War"- not too much civility- was so costly in terms of loss of life. 2% of the population was killed and your chances of dying were higher if you were captured!

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