Robert Morris Rides to D.C. - Day 5

The following is a post by Valentine Brkich, RMU senior writer, who along with 27 other RMU staff members, students, alumni, and friends, is taking part in a 300-mile bike ride from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. Over the past four days, leading up to and in honor of Memorial Day, Val has been writing about each stop along the way and its connection to the Civil War, which began 150 years ago. This is the final day of their journey. Watch this week for more posts/photos/video about the ride…

Harper’s Ferry (W. Va.) to Washington, D.C.

We did it! We actually made it to Washington, D.C., five days and 300+ miles after hitting the Montour Trail in Boston, Pa. I have to admit, at times I thought the trail would never end. But it did, and boy, are my legs happy.

Later on this week I’ll be posting some great stories about the people who joined me in this adventure. I’ll also be sharing some photos and video from the ride. Stay tuned…

One last thing…I’d like to personally thank RMU’s Wellness Committee for funding our bus ride back to Pittsburgh. Otherwise it would have been a looooong ride home (342.08 miles, to be exact).

In the meantime, if anyone needs me, I’ll be sitting on a bag of frozen peas.

Robert Morris Rides to D.C. - Day 4

The following is a post by Valentine Brkich, RMU senior writer, who along with 27 other RMU staff members, students, alumni, and friends, is taking part in a 300-mile bike ride from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. Over the next two days, leading up to and in honor of Memorial Day, Val will be writing about each stop along the way and its connection to the Civil War, which began 150 years ago…

Hancock (Md.) to Harper’s Ferry (W. Va.)

Harpers Ferry is situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, where Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia all come together. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) headquarters is also located here, making it one of the few towns that the Appalachian Trail passes through directly.

Surrounded by rocky, higher ground, Harpers Ferry is a picturesque town that is best known for John Brown's raid on the local armory in 1859. This doomed attack served as one of the precursors to the Civil War.

Because of the town's strategic location, it was coveted by both the North and South during the war. In fact, Harpers Ferry changed hands eight times from 1861 to 1865.

During the war, as Gen. Robert E. Lee’s forces moved north into Maryland, the Union garrison at Harpers Ferry decided to stay and try to hold the town because of its strategic importance for Union supply lines. Confederate forces under Gen. Stonewall Jackson converged on the town on Sept. 15, 1862, and placed artillery on the heights overlooking the town. Recognizing that his position was defenseless, Union commander Col. Dixon S. Miles, who was mortally wounded in the battle, surrendered his more than 12,000 troops. From here Jackson led most of his men to join with Lee at the Battle of Antietam in Sharpsburg, Md.

This is my second time in Harpers Ferry (my first visit coming in May 2010 with RMU’s Civil War Study Tour), and I’m still taken by its natural beauty and the power of the town’s storied history.

Well, this is it. Just one more day to go. Next stop Washington, D.C.!

____

Sources: www.nps.gov, www.wikipedia.org

Robert Morris Rides to D.C. - Day 3

The following is a post by Valentine Brkich, RMU senior writer, who along with 27 other RMU staff members, students, alumni, and friends, is taking part in a 300-mile bike ride from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. Over the next three days, leading up to and in honor of Memorial Day, Val will be writing about each stop along the way and its connection to the Civil War, which began 150 years ago…

Cumberland to Hancock (Md.)

Today is the third day of our pedal-powered journey to D.C., and we have now past the halfway point to our destination. Tonight we will rest our weary legs (and sore rear-ends) in Hancock, Md.

Other than being known as an old canal town along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, Hancock can also lay claim to being located at the narrowest part of the state. The north-south distance between the Pennsylvania and West Virginia state lines here is a mere 1.8 miles.

During the Civil War, the Battle of Hancock occurred January 5–6, 1862, as part of Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's campaign to disrupt operations on the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad and, therefore, cut off Union supply lines.

On January 5, after skirmishing with Federal troops, Jackson’s force reached the Potomac River opposite Hancock, where his artillery fired on the town but did little damage. As the bombardment continued for two days, Union forces under Brig. Gen. F.W. Lander stood strong, refusing the Confederate commander’s demands for surrender. Jackson, unable to locate a safe river crossing to take the town, decided to withdraw his forces and instead marched on Romney, W. Va.

Thanks to the brave fighting men under Gen. Lander, today we are able to enjoy this scenic hamlet from the safety and comfort of our Schwinns and Huffys and Treks.

Did I mention how lucky I feel to be living in the 21^st century?

And now…off to Harper’s Ferry!

_____

Sources: www.nps.gov, www.wikipedia.org

Robert Morris Rides to D.C. - Day 2

The following is a post by Valentine Brkich, RMU senior writer, who along with 27 other RMU staff members, students, alumni, and friends, is taking part in a 300-mile bike ride from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. Over the next four days, leading up to and in honor of Memorial Day, Val will be writing about each stop along the way and its connection to the Civil War, which began 150 years ago…

Ohio Pyle (Pa.) to Cumberland (Md.)

Today my fellow RMU colleagues and I pedaled our way to Cumberland, Md., along the former towpath of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which had its western terminus here. The city itself was built on the site of Fort Cumberland, which served as the starting point for British General Edward Braddock's ill-fated attack on Fort Duquesne (present-day Pittsburgh) during the French and Indian War.

The Battle of Folck's Mill, also known as the Battle of Cumberland, was a small cavalry battle fought August 1, 1864, as part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864 during the Civil War.

After burning Chambersburg, Pa., on July 30, Confederate Gens. Bradley T. Johnson and John McCausland led their cavalry brigades towards Cumberland to disrupt the B&O Railroad. On August 1, Union Brig. Gen. Benjamin Kelly, leading a small force of soldiers and citizens, ambushed the Rebel cavalrymen near Folck’s Mill, just outside of town. After several hours of fighting, the Confederates were forced to withdraw. In the end, Kelley's stand saved the town of Cumberland and prevented further damage to the all-important railroads.

Check back tomorrow as we ride further down the old Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath to Hancock, Maryland…

_____

Sources: www.nps.gov, www.wikipedia.org

Robert Morris Rides to D.C. - Day One

The following is a post by Valentine Brkich, RMU senior writer, who along with 27 other RMU staff members, students, alumni, and friends, is taking part in a 300-mile bike ride from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. Over the next five days, leading up to and in honor of Memorial Day, Val will be writing about each stop along the way and its connection to the Civil War, which began 150 years ago…

Boston (Pa.) to Ohio Pyle (Pa.)

Today is the first day of our five-day biking adventure to Washington, D.C. Our first stop along the way is Ohio Pyle—a quaint little town on a bend in the Youghiogheny River. In recent times Ohio Pyle has become known as a “trail town,” thanks to its location along the Great Allegheny Passage. It’s also a hot spot for whitewater rafting enthusiasts.

And, like many small towns across Pennsylvania, Ohio Pyle was not left untouched by the Civil War.

Take Ohio Pyle resident James Rowan (1810-1880), for example, who served in the war along with and four of his sons. James, husband of Catherine (Harbaugh) (1808-1893), enlisted in the 85th Pa. Volunteer Infantry, along with his son Leonard. Three other sons—David, Josiah and Jonas—all followed suit in various regiments.

Jonas (1833-1872) and his brother David (1845-1876) enlisted with Company F of the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Jonas was captured by the Confederates on Oct. 19, 1864, at Cedar Creek, Va. After the war he was sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where he was discharged on Aug. 24, 1865. In the winter of 1872, he contracted typhoid pneumonia and never recovered. David survived the fighting but was killed in a railroad accident in Fayette County in 1876, some 11 years after the war's end.

Josiah (1833-1865) served in the 5th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company D, and died "on his way home from the war." Nothing else is known of his service.

Leonard Rowan (1838-1862) enlisted with the 85th Pennsylvania Infantry and saw heavy action in the battle of Fair Oaks/Seven Pines, Va., on May 30-31, 1862. He also took part in the Seven Days' Battle. On Aug. 18, 1862, while on a march from Harrison’s Landing, Va., he became ill and was transferred some 60 miles southeast to Hygeia General Hospital near Hampton, Va. He passed away shortly thereafter.

James, the father, died of heart disease on June 12, 1880, and is buried at the Indian Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Mill Run (Fayette Co.) Pa., along with David, Josiah, and Jonas.

As I ride through this sleepy little town, people all around me biking and hiking and braving the rapids of the Yough, I think about the sacrifices made by the Rowan/Harbaugh family almost 150 years ago, and it makes me appreciate how truly lucky I am today. So to them I say thank you.

Now, if my legs recover by morning, it’s off to Cumberland…

____

Source: minerd.com; Author: Mark A. Miner

Robert Morris is Heading to D.C.!

Tomorrow, May 26, a group of 27 RMU staff members, students, alumni, and friends will be embarking on a 300-mile bike ride from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. These adventurous—and slightly kooky—individuals will be riding approximately 60 miles a day until they reach our nation’s capital, five days later on Memorial Day.

And yours truly will be one of these batty bicyclists.

Being a writer, I wanted to document this trip in some way (although, I’m not sure how I’m going to ride and type at the same time). Since we’ll be finishing the ride on Memorial Day, I thought it might be cool to tie the ride into the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, which is being marked all over the country this year.

As I started to do some research, I discovered that each of our stops along the way—Ohio Pyle (Pa.), Cumberland (Md.), Hancock (Md.), and Harpers Ferry (W. Va.)—has some connection to the war, either through a particular battle or with residents who took part as soldiers. Over the next five days I’ll be publishing a daily post that focuses on that particular day’s destination and its ties to the Civil War. Then, after the ride is complete, I’ll share some stories, photos, and video from the ride itself.

And did I mention I’ll be bringing my good friend RoMo along for the ride? Follow Robert Morris University's official Facebook page for daily photos of RoMo along the trail.

Until then, wish me luck. And if anyone has any tips for mounting a laptop on your handlebars, please pass them along.

"We're the only ones who gave ourselves a chance."

During a recent conversation with RMU men's basketball coach Andy Toole, I learned that the RMU Gameday Exclusive videos, available at our YouTube channel, have been a hit on the recruiting trail. One of Andy's most recently landed recuits and the recruit's father were particularly impressed by the emotionally raw videos that documented the Colonials' up-and-down 2010-11 season. The season ended with an overtime loss in the NEC championship game, which was chronicled in the final Gameday Exclusive installment:



According to Andy, coaches of rival teams have praised the videos, and few offer anything similar. Kudos go to the talent behind Gameday Exclusive, 2010 RMU graduate Nazari Dorosh and senior RMU student Justin Downs.

-- Jonathan Potts

RMU's 2011 Alumni Tour - France

Springtime in Paris? Oui.

This past Sunday a group of Robert Morris University alumni and friends, along with President Greg Dell'Omo and his wife, Polly, embarked on a week-long, guided tour of France.

After touching down at Charles de Gaulle airport, the group headed for Lion d'Or, their hotel in the old quarter of medieval Bayeux. Then, on Monday, they boarded a private coach north to Normandy, with its soaring seaside cliffs, rolling pastures, and medieval cities. After stopping for lunch and a stroll at Rouen, the historic port on the Seine, they made for Ville aux Cent Clochers (City of 100 Belfries) where they got a chance to discover architectural treasures like Notre Dame Cathedral, St. Ouen Abbey, Palais de Justice, and the Bourgtheroulde mansion.

On Tuesday, the group toured Omaha Beach, where on June 6, 1944, the largest invading armada in history broke through the German defenses as they began their push to Berlin. The group also toured battlefields and visited Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, where the remains of 9,386 U.S. soldiers now rest in peace beneath lines of marble crosses and Stars of David.

Today the group is heading to the rocky citadel of Mont-Saint-Michel, historic symbol of France. There they will climb the steep Grande Rue to the 13th century abbey that crowns the island.

Tomorrow the group will be Paris, stopping first to see the iconic water lilies at Giverny, which was once the home of the renowned Impressionist, Claude Monet.

On Friday the group will enjoy a panoramic coach tour of the City of Lights, viewing one legendary attraction after another—The Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, the Place de la Concorde. Saturday, they will take a walking tour of the Latin Quarter, for centuries the heart of Parisian intellectual life and the traditional haunt of artists, poets, and philosophers. Here they will view the baroque Cathedral of Saint-Sulpice, most recently made famous in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.

On Sunday, the group will visit the astonishing Palace of Versailles, Louis XIV’s unequalled architectural extravagance.

RMU’s 2011 Alumni Tour will conclude on Monday, May 23, as the group bids adieu to France and travels back across The Pond to Pittsburgh, which Post-Gazette writer Brian O’Neill refers to, appropriately, as The Paris of Appalachia.

_____

For more photos of RMU’s tour de France, click HERE.