We're spending a couple of weeks in Virginia, and would like to visit some Civil War battlefields--but not all of them! Based on what else we'll be doing, I think that I've narrowed down to: Frederiscksburg & Spotsylvania, Manassas, New Market, Pamplin, Petersburg, and Richmond. Which one or two would you recommend and why? Thanks!
Virginia Civil War battlefields
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If you decide on New Market, then also consider the Belle Grove Plantation/Battle of Cedar Creek site on route 11 just north of Strasburg. This has become very popular for reenactments. The two are about thirty five minutes apart using I-81.
I don't consider myself to be a battlefield expert but Manassas and New Market are my two favorites. Manassas is a very pretty battlefield and we had an engaging interpretor when we visited. Every time I see a reference to Stonewall Jackson (which is surprisingly often around here), I want to yell "There stands Jackson like a stone wall!"
The battlefield at New Market really affected me. I found the story of the young cadets particularly poignant. The fact that I was visiting with my own teenage son, I'm sure had a lot to do with it.
And if you go from New Market to Strasburg, stop at the Rte. 11 potato chip factory!
No potato chips or planations for us, but I really appreciate the opinions about the battlefields.
Also a thumbs up for Manassas, and we too had an awesome interpreter there. Will try to get the next chapter of my trip report done tomorrow.
Fredericksburg, Petersburg and Richmond are all just a couple of minutes off I-95. Fredericksburg and Petersburg are pretty much localized and can be visited in an hour or so from the VC, depending on how much time you spend reading the interpretive signs.
Richmond is more spread out and has other sites related to the war, like the hospital, iron works, island where they kept prisoners, etc.
Manassas is one I would want to include, but as a Yankee who's family members fought in the war of secession, I also would want to visit Appomatox Courthouse.
There are many other stops on our two week trip (including Appomattox Court House), but in this thread, I was just trying to get help narrowing down the battlefield choices.
If I had to choose two from that list, I would pick Manassas and Petersburg.
Are you staying in one place during your visit or traveling around?
Traveling around.
If this helps: Fredericksburg and Petersburg are primarily urban sites; Richmond and Manassas feature a combination or urban, suburban and rural landscapes; Spotsylvania and Chancellorsville (not on your list but very close by) are primarily rural landscapes. New Market is a fair drive from these battlefield sites (about 1-1/2 to 2 hours from Manassas), is primarily rural, and could easily be combined with sites in the Shenandoah Valley specific to Stonewall Jackson's 1862 Valley Campaign ( http://www.shenandoahatwar.org/The-History/The-Campaigns/Jackson-s-1862-Valley-Campaign ).
If you like Civil War stuff, you really need to see the Museum of the Confederacy and the Confederate White House in Richmond. Both are fairly small, and you can see them easily in 3 hours. The White House is almost completely as it was when the Davis' lived there. The Museum has all sorts of artifacts, including Lee's field tent and saddle, etc. Also, Hollywood Cemetery is the burial site for Jefferson Davis, JEB Stuart, Pickett, and numerous other Civil War generals, as well as two US Presidents. It is very impressive! Treadegar Ironworks is also a nice Civil War museum downtown.
Petersburg Battlefield is neat because it has the Crater, and also a recreation of the earthworks. But it's nowhere near as impressive as the bigger battlefields further north.