Several years ago I found a old trench dug all around the top of a hill near our home in Stafford VA. Recently a neighbor said he'd seen a map which showed Union Army encampments over the creek which lies below. Upon revisiting the area, I also found 3 trenches large enough to have been graves. Also, despite the fact that the area surrounding this hill top is heavily wooded with tall hardwoods, this area remains almost barren, with only scrubby pines, briars and grasses growing there. The main trench is of regular depth (about 3') but does not appear to have been made by machines. It goes along one hill side and continues around the hill top as the land contours for over a few hundred yards. Anyone care to share thoughts on this site? Could those grave looking sites been latrines, or did they pre-dig graves for the sick? Or is it more sinister than either? Also, why wouldn't the trees come back? I'm not certain this is a civil war campsite, just can't figure any other reason for this very old trench.

Grge Smith