12 May 2007 called "Turnaround point."

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Turnaround point

I walked along Strait Creek Rd, where I met Robert Mustoe, originally from Highland. He was working in his garage. He told me that Jackson had taken a drink from the spring house behind his house, and offered to show me. I gratefully accepted. Above the spring, was a plaque that Mr. Mustoe said his mother had made stating that Jackson had taken a drink from this spring on May 9th, 1862. Of course, I had to take a drink as well. Mr. Mustoe showed me a picture of his great uncle, William Seybert, who was killed in the battle of Winchester.

Mr. Mustoe at the spring house, behind his house, in Highland County.

I met Gary Swacker, the postman, who invited me to spend the evening in his fields the next night.

It rained that evening, which made for a dismal night.

I continued on to the Swacker place. Henry Simmons was his great grandfather. Simmons' house still stands, and Jackson used the house as his headquarters for two nights. The field where I slept was used by Confederate troops advancing on Franklin.

Today, I continued towards Franklin, and, at 9:20 am, arrived at Trout Rock Fort, which is where Jackson learned that Fremont had reinforced Schenk, and Jackson decided to leave Fremont and return to the Shenandoah Valley, so I retraced my steps arriving back at the Swacker place a little after noon.

Me at Trout Rock Fort, just south of Franklin, West Virginia, the western turnaround point.

Tomorrow, I will continue to retrace my steps towards McDowell and the Shenandoah.