I only spent one night camping in Historic Blakeley State Park, just outside Mobile, Alabama, but it was quite an interesting place.  Briefly, the town of Blakeley was established in 1814, and a fort established there, Fort Blakeley, was the site of a battle in the Civil War.  They have a very nice write up of the history of the area on their web site, so I encourage you to go there if you’re interested in more details: http://www.blakeleypark.com/.  The park is in a nice private area, secluded from the noise of the city, and there are reminders of the fort and the battle throughout, such as old cannons.

The Battle of Blakeley seems to have been quite significant, and it’s possible to follow the progress of the battle from information and signs, like this one in front of a Confederate trench.

The Blakeley Cemetery is not, as I originally thought, a burial place for soldiers killed in the battle.  It’s the original cemetery for the settlers of the town of Blakeley.  The crosses below are the only visible headstones, and are thought to be from a time when yellow fever swept through the town.  There are many dips and divots in the ground, however, that seem to indicate that there are many other people buried here whose markers no longer remain.

Interestingly, the town was actually established by “enterprising young gentlemen from the north.”  I’d like to know more of their story, and why they chose to move so far south.  The town no longer exists, but I wonder if any of their descendants are still alive?

Driving down a dirt road, I came to the battlefield, and to one side were earthworks for defense.  As I wondered around, it seemed odd to me once again to be in a country that has actual battlefields, after living so long in Australia.

In fact, it felt a little eerie at times to think of all the lives that were lived and lost on this spot.  The town, the yellow fever, the fort, the battle… maybe the spirits of the departed enjoyed having people today come to learn about them, and to picnic and camp among them, to keep them company?

I certainly hoped so, because as the sun set, and I set up camp, I realized that the little path from the back of my site led…. directly to the graveyard….