A Civil War Cemetery & a Peanut Farmer who became President

Oct19/15 Weather sunny but cool high 65 low 45.  Within 65 miles of our Twin Oaks RV Park in Elko, Georgia are two National Historic Sites run by the NPS.  It will be an easy ride with our leathers on today; our first stop is about 30 miles to  Andersonville then on to Plains for our second stop.

150 years ago the Civil War claimed 750,000 lives in America when it ended in 1865.  We are at the Camp Sumter Military prison site, also known as Andersonville.  A mere 26 1/2 acres that was intended to hold a maximum of 10,000 prisoners. Hastily built it started taking prisoners in February, 1864 and by August over 32,000 soldiers struggled to survive in what men called 'hell on earth'.  The museum highlights the difficulties a POW endured.   Death was rampant averaging 130 men per day from disease, starvation or exposure.   

Next to the prison is the hallowed ground of the Andersonville National Cemetery.  Mass grave rows were dug where bodies were laid beside each other then buried.  Monument markers are inches of each other.   Rows and rows and rows.  Over 13,000 prisoners buried.  Monuments from the Union States representing the soldiers are scattered throughout the cemetery.  The footprint of the prison and cemetery is small, but Andersonville left a large mark on American history.  Lest we never forget this very sad time. 

We left with a shadow hanging over us.  Riding on another half hour we were both deep in thought and reverence for the soldiers.  

We pulled into a little crossroads of a town called Plains, Georgia where the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site showcases the 39th President of the United States. 

Few Presidents have kept such close ties with where they were born and raised, and come full circle back to live out their lives.  You can tour the Plains depot which was Jimmy's headquarters, the Carter Boyhood farm, the Plains high school and drive by where Jimmy and Rosalind still live today.   In the nearby Marantha baptist church Jimmy still teaches Sunday school.  In 2002 he won the Nobel Peace prize for his work for peace and humanity.  

The simplicity of what Jimmy Carter did was pretty incredible.  Running for President now seems light years away from 1977.