[DL] Richmond, VA

[J Tolle <jwtolle@altavista.com>]

I managed to get up to Richmond, VA for a short while.  I actually went rafting down the James River, right past Belle Isle, the home of the notorious Confederate Prison.  The guide told a great story about Mitchel's Gut, a rapid just upriver of Belle Isle.  Apparently, a Union soldier named Mitchell led a resuce team in Bateaux's (flat bottomed boats) downriver through these rapids.  They were spotted, and while the floundered in the rapids they were picked off by confederates.  If they came ashore, they were disembowled, and thier entrails were spread over the rocks as a warning.

As many of you may know a "gut" is a type of rapid, so some of the story is probably Legend, but we all know what happens to Legends in the Deadlands!

Oh yeah, I also got to see the Capitol of the Confederacy.  *wink*  At least thats what the guides tried to tell us those buildings were.  When I called him on it, he confessed it was actually the HQ of a local oil company.

While there I picked up a great book called _Locust Ally_ it is set in Richmond, and discusses the attempts of a "Maryland Deputys" (exiled in the south) attempts to track down a multiple murderer / Union spy.  Excellent book with lots of history to sink your teeth inot - as well as lots of adventure ideas and character backgrounds.  I counted at least 4 characters who were not fighting in the war for different but legitimate reasons.  It also discusses the Belle Isle prison (Castle Thunder).  Pick it up if you can!

Unfortunately I was unable to see the Edgar Allen Poe museum. (Poe live in Richmond off and on throughout his life, and died there in 1849.)

Later all

Jeff Tolle


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