One thing Donald Trump loves to do is put his name on golf courses.
There’s a bunch of Trump Nationals so when you talk about a Trump National, you have to add some sort of geographic designation after it.
Today we’re interested in the Trump National Northern Virginia.
It has stirred some controversy lately because there’s a plaque there on the course between the 14th and 15th holes, overlooking the peaceful Potomac River and it commemorates a battle the plaque calls The River Of Blood.
Here’s how the plaque reads:
“Many great American soldiers both of the North and South died at this spot. The casualties were so great that the water would turn red and thus become known as “The River Of Blood.” It is my great honor to preserve this important section of the Potomac River.”
Of course, it is signed by The President.
My growing-up days took place in Northern Virginia and back then, you got a huge helping of Civil War history. Fact is, there were more battles fought in Virginia during the Civil War than any other state.
There was the first Battle Of Bull Run in July of 1861 and that starts the long list.
The bloodiest battle came at Chancellorsville in May of 1863.
The Wilderness campaign started in 1864.
Our neighbor in McLean, Va., got my father hooked on Civil War relic hunting and they’d head off at least once or twice a month on Saturdays. They became friendly with many farmers who owned large tracts of land adjacent to the Wilderness Battlefields. Dad would come home with troves of bullets, cannon balls, belt buckles, bayonets, all sorts of historical artifacts that I am still honored to have.
So yes, we learned a lot about Civil War battlefields. Went hunting with them several times. It was hard work.
Which brings us back to Northern Virginia, Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia and all that history.
The Trump National Northern Virginia sits north of my high school home — McLean. It is up in Sterling, on the Potomac River. Maryland is on the other side of the river.
We didn’t study any major battles in that vicinity and historians confirm that there was no major battle that could be termed “The River Of Blood.”
That spot is a long way from Chancellorsville where there was the most blood shed on a Virginia battlefield.
There were so many battles, so much history. There was Naval history as well. The Monitor fought the Merrimac, aka the CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads.
There was a second Battle Of Bull Run, battles at Fredericksburg, Yorktown, Shenandoah Valley and more.
But it seems Trump National has created it’s own fictional battle.
Perhaps it should be re-named:
How about: The First Battle Of Bull Crap.
