Civil War Museum & Courthouse, Carthage, Missouri

Yesterday, we went into the small town of Carthage, Missouri and visited the Civil War Museum.  It was a small museum with a few artifacts, but it was the mannequins that the kids enjoyed that day for some odd reason! :)

Here, is a portrait of the "Pettycoat Flag."  I LOVE the bravery and loyalty it took for her to pin the cherished flag.  :) 

Afterwards, we strolled around town and came across this quaint little icecream shop.  Nostalgia at its best!
I like to think that if I could live in a different time period, I would like to have been a pioneer woman, or Peggy-Sue in the 50's. :)

So, after our wafflecones, we went across the street to this unbelievably, beautiful building.

The original, burned down to the ground during the Civil War.  In fact, everything but the Kendrick House burned.  The Courthouse was rebuilt in 1895.  It only took one year, and $100,000!!  WOW!  (If you put that in today's money, that is roughly 2 million dollars!)

Here is an old time elevator, and a sweet lady operated it for us, just like they had to back then. :)

They had an old telephone booth.....Zach could not resist with his Superman t-shirt! HA! :)

The staircase was also ornate.  The lobby was full of old artifacts from the war, but also other times in history to enjoy.

Overall, it was simply, a lovely afternoon.  But, it did not end here!
We drove by the Kendrick House.  The ONLY home that did not burn down.

Then, we got to visit our FIRST Civil War Battlefield!

Is this not the most peaceful place? 
I have the kids write in their journals everyday, and Zach made the comment in his: "this place made me feel like being a soldier!"  You just could not help but to reflect about those soldiers and what they experienced on these very grounds.
Well, as quiet as it was, it did not stay that way for long.  Before I knew it, Todd and I had sat under a shaded tree and we watched the kids re-enact scenes from Narnia. :)

"For Narnia....And for Aslan!!!"  I have to admit, it was pretty cool.  Especially when Parker was running with all his might!  He has not even seen the movie (too young) but it does not stop him from participating. :)


In all seriousness, here is a description:
Preceding the Battle of Bull Run by 11 days, the Battle of Carthage, fought on July 5, 1861, was one of the earliest engagements in the Civil War. Battle of Carthage State Historic Site is the location of one of the last skirmishes of the battle, and the campsite for both armies -- the Union troops the night before the battle and the Confederate troops the night following the battle.

The battle itself was a mobile engagement that was spread out over a distance of 10 miles. Col. Franz Sigel and his army of 1,100 well-drilled, fully armed men were sent to southeast Missouri to stop Gov. Claiborne Jackson's army of 4,000 armed and 2,000 unarmed soldiers from banding up with Confederate troops in nearby Arkansas. On July 5, the troops met about nine miles north of Carthage and the skirmishes began. The most severe fighting took place at crossings of Dry Fork Creek, Buck Branch and Spring River. After the smoke cleared and the sun set, the Confederate Missouri State Guard was victorious, however, the Union troops skillfully escaped a superior force with minimal losses.

Battle of Carthage State Historic Site encompasses the Carter Spring area, which remains little changed from its 1861 appearance. The site interprets this historic battle through an informational kiosk.

Blessings,
Steph