It was a nice week-day in the late Fall, a perfect day for a hike at one of my favorite spots. The fields beyond the Brawner Farm at the Manassas National Battlefield Park (NBP) were calling to me.
I wanted to get out and hike around. I also wanted to see how the Prescribed Fire that the Park had set in the previous week had done its job. Prescribed Fire is a technique used by the National Park Service (NPS) and other federal, state, and private land managers to aid in managing the types of plants on the land.
A Prescribed Fire is used to burn off invasive plants that have choked out native plants. This aids in the recovery of native plants once the invasive species have been burned off. Burning the landscape in a Prescribed Fire can also be used to enhance the visual aspects of a site. This is often called a “viewshed” as it improved the view of the historic site for visitors. It will enable the visitors to have a better sense of how the land looked at the time of a historical event. In the case of this area, the burn can restore the lay of the battlefield as it was at the time of the Second Battle of Manassas fought August 28-30, 1862. At that time the area was pastoral. It was a series of connecting farm lands. The portion being restored by Prescribed Fire is known as the Brawner Farm. The Brawner family owned and farmed the land before and after the battle. The battle began from the front yard of the Brawner’s house and raged around the house and across their farm for three days.
The National Park Service (NPS) uses Prescribed Fires to satisfy both natural and cultural goals for the Parks of the United States. However, as stated by the management of the Manassas NBP, “safety is the main concern”. According the NPS web-page on Prescribed Fire the Park must develop its strategic management plan which provides the background and need for Prescribed Fires. In addition, each burn must have a specific “burn plan” which establishes the conditions that must be met before a burn is executed. For example, a burn would not be started on a windy day that might cause the fire to spread to other areas not intended to be burned. During the burn the fire is monitored by on -site staff who are trained in managing and suppressing fires in grass lands.
The burn has been completed, and I can walk the trails again. I and other visitors to the battlefield can now see in the distance the railroad cut along which the battle on the second day was fought. We can gain a sense of the openness of the fields across which that the Union troops charged while exposed to Confederate rifle and cannon fire.
The native grasses will return along with other native plants including blackberry vines and ground roses. These roses are sometimes called a rose for Wisconsin, in honor of the stand made by the Iron Brigade in the twilight on Brawner’s Farm. These wild roses (Rosa virginiana) grow close to the ground in fields where hay is cut. They may be found across Brawner Farm, growing beneath the scythe.
As the native grasses return, it is hoped that the population of Bob White quail (Colinus virginianus) will increase. The call of the coveys can sometimes be heard across the battlefield in the early mornings.
During the three-day battle 2,800 men were killed and over 14,00 were wounded. Today the land is peaceful again. But a walker who pauses to read the NPS signs can be aware of the pace and horror of the battle.
Information on the Park and on the Prescribed Burns may be found at: http://www.wildlandfirefighter.com/2019/11/21/park-service-starts-prescribed-burns-at-manassas-battlefield/ ; https://www.nps.gov/mana/learn/news/prescribed-fire-april-2019.htm ; https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1965/wildfires-prescribed-fires-fuels.htm ; https://www.nps.gov/articles/600182.htm#4/35.46/-98.57