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Jason English
Historical Landmarks Contest: Winner by an Arm
by Jason English - September 3, 2008 - 1:59 PM

Last week, looking for stories about your obscure local landmarks, we dangled a copy of James Loewen’s Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong. Now it’s time to pick a winner.

The grand prize (the book) goes to Liz:

stonewall-arm.jpgIn Orange County, Virginia there is a tombstone marking the final resting place of Stonewall Jackson’s left arm. After a successful Civil War battle, Jackson was mistakenly shot in the arm by his own troops. His arm was amputated and he was transported to another area to catch a train to Richmond. He died along the way.

His left arm was then taken to a hill near the field hospital and buried.

I love the quote from Robert E. Lee after learning of Jackson’s death: “He lost his left arm, but I have lost my right arm.”

As for the runner-up…

…we’ll award a mental_floss t-shirt to Zach:

I live down the road from Wolf Den State Park in Connecticut, where the last wolf in Connecticut was killed. A state park for eliminating a species?

The town next to us is also the birthplace of Benedict Arnold and proud of it.

I’ll be in touch about your prizes. And don’t stray too far from your desktop—we’ll get a new book giveaway up this afternoon.

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Comments (6)

  1. i think zack should have won!

    posted by kat on 9-3-2008 at 2:26 pm

  2. Joke is on you guys, I just checked the book out from the library, and his other book as well, “Lies my teacher told me”

    posted by Witty Nickname on 9-3-2008 at 3:07 pm

  3. I resent Zach’s remarks about my birthplace and the birthplace of Benedict Arnold (Norwich, CT). I don’t think that anyone from Norwich or any true Nutmegger (which Zach claims to be) has ever claimed to be proud of the Benedict Arnold legacy. I take offense sir and ask for a retraction and a apology.

    posted by Shawn on 9-3-2008 at 3:33 pm

  4. I wish I had entered Benedict Arnold’s Boot. Ben took over a sloppy command and won the battle known as “The Turning Point Of The American Revolution”. Ben was wounded in the leg. Years later a group wanted to honor his actions, without changing his traitor reputation. It was decided to honor his wound, so a statue of his boot was made and placed on the site, now a National Historical Park. Do I get a consolation tee-shirt? I’m not picky and wear a large!!

    posted by gus on 9-3-2008 at 8:56 pm

  5. In my defense, I grew up in Brooklyn, about 2/10ths of a mile from serial killer Michael Ross’ egg farm. His step mother was even my parents’ real estate agent and a very lovely woman. I wouldn’t say we’re proud of it, but we own up to it. I love norwich, but The Rose City does have several plaques and signs proclaiming “The Birthplace of Benedict Arnold!”

    posted by zach on 9-4-2008 at 11:25 am

  6. Yay, Arm! I was not aware this was considered obscure. I grew up thereabouts and when I am home Thanksgiving, my parents and I frequently make a pilgrimage to visit the Arm.

    posted by ponytime on 9-4-2008 at 12:53 pm

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