The West Highland Line reopened for passengers on July 11, following emergency repair works after more than 1,600 tons of material was washed away by a flash flood on June 25.

Virginia had a number of "mosts” that made it appealing, if not representative of all Confederate states: the most citizens among the Southern states; the most slaves; the most men under arms; the most famous Southern generals; the most fighting within its borders; the most divided by the war (what other Southern state lost a quarter of its territory and saw a new state created out of that former territory?); and the most damaged by the war.

The gladius was effective either for cutting or for thrusting and was used by legionaries and auxiliaries.

To these attributes of the sacer vates we can add the religious radicalism that prevented both men from making a profession of their vocation.