The Sunken Road

The second phase of the battle was here at this sunken road.  Repeated Federal attacks were repulsed by Rebel soldiers using the road as a natural trench until they managed to outflank the road and shoot down it's length.  That's Kelly and I in the sunken road, or Bloody Lane.  It's one of the eeriest places I've ever been.  Dad says it's the only place he's ever vistited of the Civil War parks that made him feel spooked too.  Maybe it's from remembering the photos of the road taken after the battle.  This strip of it was literally covered with the bodies of the Confederate defenders who died there.  When the road was taken the center of Lee's defensive line was wide open, but the attackers were unable to take advantage and McClellan, who could have won the war at that moment, refused to send in his reserves.