Soldiers Rest in Alexandria, Virginia

 In a previous post [click here], I shared a part of a letter written by Sgt. William Henry Austin of the 109th New York Infantry.  He knew Rosetta Wakeman from back home and mentioned that he encountered her at Soldiers Rest in Alexandria, Virginia.  What is interesting is that at the time, she was serving as Pvt. Lyons Wakeman in the 153rd New York Infantry and sported an "insipid moustache."  Despite the disguise, Austin nevertheless recognized her.  In this post, I wanted to share images and information of Soldiers Rest where he encountered her prior to the 153rd New York's assignment to the western theater where Wakeman and her regiment participated in the ill-fated Red River Campaign.  Rosetta ultimately would not live to see the end of the war as she succumbed to dysentery in June 1864.

Rosetta Wakeman sans "insipid moustache"

As its name implies, Soldiers Rest served as a rest stop for soldiers traveling through Alexandria.  A note on the Quartermaster plan stated, 

"These buildings are constructed substantially & finished in an efficient & tasty style, and every precaution taken to render them pleasant, comfortable and healthy." 

I always enjoy making connections to women soldiers.  And so I thought it "tasty" to see pictures of Soldiers Rest in Alexandria, Virginia, a place where one of the most prolific women soldiers spent some time.  I hope you enjoy them as well, so that you, too, can perhaps feel just a little bit closer to these extraordinary women.

 

Library of Congress

Library of Congress

Cooks in the kitchen at Soldiers Rest
Library of Congress

To see pictures of the Quartermaster map and learn more, visit [THIS WEBSITE].  If you scroll down to see the list of buildings, you will notice that the site had a water closet, which is a toilet separate from the bathing area.   Thus, Rosetta would have had privacy to take care of her toilet needs.

Also of note on the website are a few first-person accounts of Soldiers Rest.  

And here is the modern-day location of Soldiers Rest:

This is an area I'll have to be sure to visit the next time I am out east so that I can walk in the footsteps of woman soldier, Rosetta Wakeman.

 Thanks again to Ashley for the links to the helpful websites.

Until next formation......rest.....at Soldiers Rest.