Central Virginia Civil War – Fredericksburg and Area

Excellent walking tour brochures detailing street fighting in the city are available at the Fredericksburg City Visitor Center, 706 Caroline St. Just outside the building are Civil War Trails signs describing city and area Civil War sites.

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

Main visitor center

1013 Lafayette Blvd, Fredericksburg VA 22401
www.nps.gov/frsp, 540-693-3200 (choose option 2)

Significant areas of four major battlefields plus a handful of historic buildings are maintained in this large park. More than 100,000 men became casualties in the fighting in and around Fredericksburg, making it perhaps the bloodiest piece of ground in the country.

Start at the main visitor center for a short audiovisual presentation, maps, exhibits and ranger help. Other visitor centers are manned year-round at Chatham and Chancellorsville. Main visitor center hours are 9 am–5 pm daily. No park entry fee but there is a $2 charge (ages 10–61) for movies at the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville visitor centers.

Park highlights

Source: meisterdrucke.de

Fredericksburg battlefield – The visitor center is just steps away from the famous stone wall at Marye’s Heights that was successfully defended by Confederates Dec. 13, 1862. Short self-guided walking tours along the wall and up to Confederate positions on the heights are available. The National Cemetery is located just above the center. A driving tour with several stops takes visitors through the lesser-known Prospect Hill area of the battlefield on the Federal left.
Animated map from Civil War Preservation Trust

Chancellorsville battlefield

9001 Plank Road, Spotsylvania VA 22553

The visitor center here is located just off Route 3 about 10 miles west of Fredericksburg. Stop there for information about this site, scene of intense fighting in early May, 1863. Stonewall Jackson was severely wounded May 2 at a spot marked near the visitor center. The famous general died about a week later. This battle is regarded by many as Robert E. Lee’s greatest victory. A driving tour highlights significant areas. Visitor center open 9 am–5 pm daily.

Other Chancellorsville sites

First day’s battlefield

Civil War Trails sign describing the action early on May 1 located just off the westbound lanes of Route 3, 0.07 miles west of Route 626.

Short interpreted trail highlights the fighting May 1, 1863, the first day of the battle.

Attack on Ely’s Ford Road

Cluster of interpretive signs located on Ely’s Ford Road, across from 10315 Elys Ford Road, Fredericksburg VA 22407

Interpretive wayside tells the story of the May 3, 1863 attack by Confederate Gen. Alfred Colquitt on Union troops heading for the Rapidan River ford during the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Wilderness battlefield

Source: medium.com

VA 20 and Hill-Ewell Drive
Spotsylvania and Orange counties

An exhibit shelter (manned during the summer) helps explain the action here May 5–6, 1864, as Federal soldiers pushed forward in what would become the Overland Campaign. A short walking tour from the shelter routes visitors through Saunders Field, one of the most fought-over areas in the battle. Ellwood, a plantation home, became a Federal headquarters during the battle and is open daily during the summer and on weekends from late spring to early fall. It’s also the burial place of Jackson’s arm. Exhibit shelter staffed seasonally. See nps.gov/frsp/planyourvisit/hours.htm for hours.

Spotsylvania battlefield

Visitor Center, Brock Road and Grant Drive West Spotsylvania VA 22553

Another exhibit shelter (manned during the summer) highlights the fighting as the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia slugged it out in mid-May 1864. Among the short walking tours in this park unit explores the Confederate salient that became known as the “Bloody Angle.” Exhibit shelter staffed seasonally. See nps.gov/frsp/planyourvisit/hours.htm for hours.

Harris Farm

Trails signs located at 9906 S Harris Farm Road, Spotsylvania VA 22553

Two Trails signs describe the action here May 19, 1864, as Robert E. Lee attempted to counter U.S. Grant’s attempt to move around Lee’s lines at Spotsylvania. A brief, intense fight (which included untested Union artillerists) led to an eventual Confederate withdrawal. Also noted here are the efforts of the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust to save local Civil War sites.

Stonewall Jackson Shrine

Caroline County between Fredericksburg and Richmond, watch for the signs along I-95
804-633-6076
Jackson died here May 10, 1863 following his wounding at Chancellorsville. Site is staffed seasonally. See nps.gov/frsp/planyourvisit/hours.htm for hours.

Chatham

120 Chatham Lane, Fredericksburg VA 22405
Located in Stafford County across the river from downtown Fredericksburg

Great views of the city from here, a Federal position during the 1862 fighting. Restored rooms in the Georgian mansion and exhibits tell the story here. Open daily 9 am–4:30 pm.

Old Salem Church

4054 Plank Road, Fredericksburg VA 22407
Located in Spotsylvania County on busy Route 3 just west of Fredericksburg

1844 church was site of fighting during the Chancellorsville campaign and a refuge for Fredericksburg citizens in 1862.

City of Fredericksburg

Source: medium.com

Slaughter Pen Farm

Walking trail with interpretive signs located just off Route 2 south of Fredericksburg.

Entrance at 11232 Tidewater Trail, Fredericksburg VA 22408

A 1.75-mile walking trail with interpretive signs covers the site of an 8,000-man Union attack south of Fredericksburg Dec. 13, 1862, battle there. The area is known as the “Slaughter Pen Farm” because the soldiers advanced with little or no cover against strongly positioned Confederates on high ground (Prospect Hill) and sustained heavy casualties. This was supposed to be the main Union attack that day, followed by the more famous (now) assault at Marye’s Heights. The land has been preserved by the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT).

The Trust asks that groups of five or more register before going on the site, still an active farm. Call 800-298-7878. See www.civilwar.org for a virtual tour of the property.
Related sites: Pelham’s Corner (just south on Route 2) and Prospect HIll area of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.

Pelham’s Corner

Interpretive signs located southwest corner of Route 2 and Benchmark Road south of downtownThis is the spot where Confederate artillerist John Pelham shelled the Federal flank as it advanced toward the Southern line during the December 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg.

Kenmore and Washington Street Tour

Begins at Kenmore, 1201 Washington St, Fredericksburg VA 22401
540-373-3781

A walking tour of an often overlooked area of the Frederickburg battlefield focuses on Kenmore, the 1775 home of Fielding Lewis and his wife Betty Washington Lewis (George Washington’s sister). The tour includes Kenmore’s grounds with views of a cannon ball imbedded in the mansion’s walls and stories about its use as a hospital in December 1862. A short walk covers Civil War action along and below Washington Street. Stops include the Mary Washington Monument and the Confederate Cemetery. Pick up a free tour map/brochure at Kenmore. Request a copy by writing Kenmore.

Union attack route

Group of interpretive signs located at intersection of Hanover Street and Kenmore Avenue, Fredericksburg VA 22401

Signs with contemporary photographs describe the action at this critical spot on the Union attack route to Mayre’s Heights Dec. 13, 1862. Among the topics are landscape features still visible and the site of an old canal (now Kenmore Avenue) that soldiers crossed during the attack.

Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center

1001 Princess Anne St, Fredericksburg VA 22401
540-371-3037

Downtown museum devoted to area history including the Civil War. Highlight is a Confederate flag that flew over the city during the 1862 battle.
Open noon-5 pm Monday, Thursday-Saturday and 1-5 pm Sunday (March-November). Shortened hours in December. Closed January-February. $7/adult.

City Dock

Sophia Street, downtown Fredericksburg VA

The site of one of the Federal pontoon bridges constructed under fire in December 1862. Located at the east end of Sophia Street at the Rappahannock River. Civil War Trails interpretation.

Upper Pontoon Bridge Site

Sophia and Hawke streets

Interpretive marker and a monument to the 7th Michigan Vol. Infantry at the site of one of the Union pontoon bridges used to cross the Rappahannock River during the battle.

Stafford County, north of Fredericksburg

Stafford Civil War Park

400 Mount Hope Church Road, Stafford VA 22554

This 41-acre county park encompasses preserved features of a fortified campsite used by the Union Army of the Potomac the winter of 1863. Paved park roads lead to five interpreted stops including hut sites and remains of battery earthworks that once guarded the camp. Short walking trails explore the trace of an old corduroy road running through the site, the remains of a 1780s quarry and a stone bridge. Open 8 am-8 pm mid-March-October. (Closes 5:30 pm other times.) Free.

White Oak Museum and White Oak Church

985 White Oak Road, Falmouth VA 22405
(Intersection of Routes 218 and 603 about 5 miles east of Fredericksburg)

Great presentation of primarily local artifacts found at camp sites in the area. Some rare military and personal items are on display. Soldier huts replicated in a demonstration of Union camp life in Stafford County. Wednesday–Sunday, 9 am–5 pm. $3/adult. 540-371-4234. A Civil War Trails marker outside the museum describes White Oak Church across the road, which was the center of much activity during the Federal “occupation” in the winter of 1862.

Aquia Creek Landing

2846 Brooke Road, Stafford VA 22554

Confederates began fortifying this spot soon after Virginia seceded. Shore batteries dueled with Union navy here early in war; Grant used it as supply base in 1864. Virginia Civil War Trails interpretation.

Hartwood Church

50 Hartwood Church Road, Fredericksburg VA 22406

Federal troops, occupying the area early in the war, ripped out the woodwork and wrote on the walls of this historic Presbyterian Church. Confederate cavalry captured a group of inattentive Union troops here Nov. 28, 1862. Trails sign.

Potomac Creek Bridge

Trails sign located at end of paved section of Leeland Road, Stafford VA 22405

Looked like “beanpoles and cornstalks” to Lincoln when he crossed in 1862. Bridge helped carry the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad between Fredericksburg and the Potomac River. Used by both sides. Civil War Trails interpretation.

Ferry Farm

268 Kings Highway, Fredericksburg VA 22405
www.ferryfarm.org, 540-371-3363

Site just across the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg was George Washington’s boyhood home and saw considerable Union activity during the December 1862 battle. Open daily 10 am–5 pm. Fee charged.

Spotsylvania County, south and west of Fredericksburg

Source: history.com

Some of the heaviest fighting of the war occurred in Spotsylvania County, south and west of Fredericksburg. The Overland Campaign began when Union troops crossed the Rapidan River into the county in May 1864. Stonewall Jackson sustained injuries that later proved fatal during the vicious fighting near Chancellorsville in 1863. For more on these battles, see the listings on this page. For more on the national parks in the county, see nps.gov/frsp. For county sites involved in the Civil War Trails “Lee vs. Grant” Overland Campaign tour.

Spotsylvania County Museum

9019 Old Battlefield Blvd, Spotsylvania VA 22553
540-507-7278

The history of the county since 1722 traced here with special focus on the Civil War. The exhibit “17 days in May,” is devoted to the 1864 battles in the county with emphasis on the local experience. Open Wednesday–Monday 9 am-5 pm. Free.

Caroline County, southeast of Fredericksburg

See the 1864 Overland Campaign tour for more information about Caroline County’s Guinea Station, Bowling Green and Carmel Church. Also noted on a state historical marker on US Route 301 about 9 miles north of Bowling Green is the site of the Garrett Farm where Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth was cornered.