As the world becomes more populous, the land available for housing and modern society has become more scarce. When land was plentiful, more land could be designated for historical monuments and landmarks. But since our towns and cities are growing at an alarming rate, modern society has begun to invade historical areas. For example, the battlefield at Ox Hill was once a large field that was the scene of Union Maj. Gen. Pope and Confederate Gen. Jackson fighting for control of Chantilly and Fairfax. Now, all that remains is a small corner of wooded land, surrounded by apartments, offices, and shopping centers.
I intend to highlight the changes of both Ox Hill and Ball’s Bluff, looking at historical images as well as modern pictures of the landscape. All of the illustrations are linked to larger versions with a brief commentary on the image and how it relates to the topic. In addition please feel free to visit the discussion board at the Civil War and Presevation Blog. Ask questions, answer questions, and have fun talking with other Civil War and preservation enthusiasts.