Visiting the Local Battlefields

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Posted on March 21, 2016
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Visiting the Local Battlefields

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The Bloody Angle in the fall

from Chris

We recently had an inquiry from a guest about the local battlefields (Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania). She and her family were trying to plan their visit, and she asked me one of the hardest-possible questions: “Which battlefield do you think would be the most interesting to visit?”

That’s such a hard question because each battlefield is different, and each has something different to offer visitors. That makes for a different experience, depending on what a visitor already knows and what a visitor’s interest level is. Without knowing that, it’s hard to say which one is “most interesting.”

So here’s how I answered:

You can get a good overview of the four battlefields at the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park website.

The battlefields at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville both have visitor centers with museums and 22-minute movies, which always seem to be a hit with visitors. All four battlefields have some excellent hiking trails if you’re interested in that.

Otherwise, Fredericksburg probably has the most “stuff” to see–the Sunken Road, the Stone Wall, Marye’s Heights, the Innis House, the Kirkland monument–although if you limit your visit only to the area are the visitor center, the battlefield will seem quite small. Be sure to take the driving tour to get the full effect, including a trip across the river to the historic home Chatham, as well as the drive down to the Civil War Trust-preserved Slaughter Pen Farm.

Chancellorsville, where Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded by his own men, is probably the most famous of the battlefields because so many people are fascinated by the Jackson story. It’s a big battlefield, too, with a number of stops worth checking out.

The Wilderness at this time of year won’t seem too wild because the leaves aren’t out yet. It is, unfortunately, probably the most overlooked of our four battlefields, although the fighting there is probably some of the most legendary because of the fires that broke out during the battle. There is a small exhibit shelter there, and I believe Ellwood, a historic home on the battlefield, opens for the season this weekend; guides there can show you the house, its rooms of exhibits, and the burial place of Stonewall Jackson’s amputated arm.

The battlefield closest to Stevenson Ridge is Spotsylvania (in fact, SR is located on part of the battlefield not protected by the Park Service). It’s my favorite of the four because it’s in the best-preserved condition. There’s an exhibit shelter that explains some of the action there, and the Bloody Angle is a must-see location. Aside from the few monuments there, the battlefield is the most pristine of the four.

I would also encourage a visit down to Guinea Station to the Jackson Shrine, the building where Stonewall Jackson died.

And of course, don’t forget about the extensive earthworks and covered ways we have here at Stevenson Ridge. The Federal IX Corps occupied this ground during much of the battle, although the Federal V and VI corps also moved through.

You can get driving tour CDs from either of the visitor center bookstores. If you want something a little more in depth, I’ve written intro-level books about each of the battlefields, which are available at the bookstores or through the Stevenson Ridge office. The books provide narratives about each battle as well as tour-guide sections for the battlefields, plus about 200 photos each and a bunch of maps. Folks in the office can provide more info on those if you’re interested.

And don’t forget, just to the west is Brandy Station, the site of the largest cavalry battle of the war. That land is preserved by the Civil War Trust. And to the south is the North Anna battlefield; the armies went to North Anna after leaving Spotsylvania.

Have a wonderful visit!

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Chris’s books on the local battlefiels:

Simply Murder: The Battle of Fredericksburg (co-authored with Kristopher D. White)

That Furious Struggle: The Battle of Chancellorsville (co-authored with Kristopher D. White)

The Last Days of Stonewall Jackson (co-authored with Kristopher D. White)

Hell Itself: The Battle of the Wilderness

A Season of Slaughter: The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (co-authored with Kristopher D. White)

Strike Them a Blow: Battles Along the North Anna River

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