Civil War Battlefields-which ones?
Jun 27th, 2001 | 10:36 AM
#1
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Civil War Battlefields-which ones?
We are going to be in DC July 29th for a week. My 15 yr. old wants to see some "cool" battlefields. Where should we go? We are flying, so have no car- but could rent one. Also, do you know the Embassy Square Summerfield Suites? ANY tips on DC would be appreciated....
Jun 27th, 2001 | 11:15 AM
#2
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Aaah, good question. I have spent quite a bit of time over the past few months visiting battlefields and have a major interest in the war.
The only major one I have not visited on the East Coast and north of Georgia is Manassas. That would be my top choice because it is closest to D.C. I am saving it for my next trip to the nation's capital. Two major battles took place there in 1861 and 1862.
Other good ones not so terribly far away:
Fredericksburg, Virginia - about an hour south of D.C. - you can tour the major battlefields of Fredericksburg (nice town too), Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and Spottsylvania Courthouse, all within a few miles of one another - plan on two full days to do it well. You can also visit the house where Stonewall Jackson died after his wound at Chancellorsville (some would say the turning point of the war even though the South won the battle). The house is just a few miles south of Fredericksburg at Guinea Station, not far off the Interstate.
Richmond - maybe two hours south of D.C. - In less than a day, you can see lots of battlefields, though there are few cannons or monuments. Important battles like Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, and Gaines Mill. Richmond also is home to the Museum of the Confederacy and Confederate White House, which I visited last week. The house and museum are fascinating. The whole upper floor of the museum is housing an exhibit of artifacts relating to Robert E. Lee. Your son might also be interested in the exhibits and buildings at the new visitor center, located at the former site of the all important Tredegar Iron Works (made weapons and other metal things for the Confederacy).
Petersburg, VA - a few miles south of Richmond; you can tour the major part of the park in about 2-3 hours and see lots of cannon, well-preserved earthworks, and the site of the famous Battle of the Crater, where the Union troops exploded a tunnel under the Confederate lines. At Petersburg also is Pamplin Park (just off Highway 85). It is a private facility, housing the superb Museum of the Civil War Soldier, and is great for kids. The park has artillery and rifle demonstrations at reconstructed trenches, as well as a small encampment. It is located at the site of the Union breakthrough that led to the chase to Appomattox. The earthworks there are extremely well-preserved, with some reaching 8 feet in height.
Antietam, Maryland - not too far east of Frederick, Maryland. A marvelously preserved battlefied. Numerous cannons and monuments, but the battlefield looks much like it did in 1862, when it was the site of the bloodiest day in American military history. Well worth the trip. You could see the battlefield in about three hours in some detail.
Gettysburg - Not sure about this as a daytrip, but some have done it through tour companies. It is a superb battlefield, although the town is pretty commercialized. About an hour to 1 1/2 hours north of Frederick, Maryland.
If you are hoping to use D.C. as a base, I would suggest going to Manassas, and if you want to do more, make Antietam the second one. Then the Fredericksburg area.
I have written travelogues on many of these battlefields and on Washington. You can see them at www.oneeyed.homestead.com. I plan to add Petersburg within a week.
Another tip. If you plan to visit battlefields, if your son hasn't already done so, get him to read about the places you are visiting beforehand. It will make the experience so much more rewarding and easy to understand. Get the driving tour tape too, unless you use a tour company.
The only major one I have not visited on the East Coast and north of Georgia is Manassas. That would be my top choice because it is closest to D.C. I am saving it for my next trip to the nation's capital. Two major battles took place there in 1861 and 1862.
Other good ones not so terribly far away:
Fredericksburg, Virginia - about an hour south of D.C. - you can tour the major battlefields of Fredericksburg (nice town too), Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and Spottsylvania Courthouse, all within a few miles of one another - plan on two full days to do it well. You can also visit the house where Stonewall Jackson died after his wound at Chancellorsville (some would say the turning point of the war even though the South won the battle). The house is just a few miles south of Fredericksburg at Guinea Station, not far off the Interstate.
Richmond - maybe two hours south of D.C. - In less than a day, you can see lots of battlefields, though there are few cannons or monuments. Important battles like Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, and Gaines Mill. Richmond also is home to the Museum of the Confederacy and Confederate White House, which I visited last week. The house and museum are fascinating. The whole upper floor of the museum is housing an exhibit of artifacts relating to Robert E. Lee. Your son might also be interested in the exhibits and buildings at the new visitor center, located at the former site of the all important Tredegar Iron Works (made weapons and other metal things for the Confederacy).
Petersburg, VA - a few miles south of Richmond; you can tour the major part of the park in about 2-3 hours and see lots of cannon, well-preserved earthworks, and the site of the famous Battle of the Crater, where the Union troops exploded a tunnel under the Confederate lines. At Petersburg also is Pamplin Park (just off Highway 85). It is a private facility, housing the superb Museum of the Civil War Soldier, and is great for kids. The park has artillery and rifle demonstrations at reconstructed trenches, as well as a small encampment. It is located at the site of the Union breakthrough that led to the chase to Appomattox. The earthworks there are extremely well-preserved, with some reaching 8 feet in height.
Antietam, Maryland - not too far east of Frederick, Maryland. A marvelously preserved battlefied. Numerous cannons and monuments, but the battlefield looks much like it did in 1862, when it was the site of the bloodiest day in American military history. Well worth the trip. You could see the battlefield in about three hours in some detail.
Gettysburg - Not sure about this as a daytrip, but some have done it through tour companies. It is a superb battlefield, although the town is pretty commercialized. About an hour to 1 1/2 hours north of Frederick, Maryland.
If you are hoping to use D.C. as a base, I would suggest going to Manassas, and if you want to do more, make Antietam the second one. Then the Fredericksburg area.
I have written travelogues on many of these battlefields and on Washington. You can see them at www.oneeyed.homestead.com. I plan to add Petersburg within a week.
Another tip. If you plan to visit battlefields, if your son hasn't already done so, get him to read about the places you are visiting beforehand. It will make the experience so much more rewarding and easy to understand. Get the driving tour tape too, unless you use a tour company.
Jun 27th, 2001 | 11:25 AM
#3
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www.civilwarnews.com/calendar/calendar.cfm?action=display&id=1227
Check out the above site. Your son would likely really enjoy a reenactment. In Leesburg, on August 3-5, they are holding the 140th reenactment of the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) in Leesburg, VA. These are very interesting events for Civil War buffs.
Check out the above site. Your son would likely really enjoy a reenactment. In Leesburg, on August 3-5, they are holding the 140th reenactment of the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) in Leesburg, VA. These are very interesting events for Civil War buffs.
Jun 27th, 2001 | 11:39 AM
#4
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There are also some good Civil War sights in D.C. itself. Arlington House is located in Arlington National Cemetery. It was Robert E. Lee's House up until the war. I would definitely go there. There is also Ford's Theater, where Lincoln was assassinated. The Smithsonian's Museum of American History is superb. It has been a while since I was there, but among other things, it is supposed to contain part of a tree that was shot in half by rifle fire at Spotsylvania.
Jun 27th, 2001 | 11:40 AM
#5
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Hi Deb,
This note is for Dan (sorry for tagging on). Dan, have you taken any Civil War courses from UNC Cont. Ed. with Fred Kiger? Amazing teacher and takes you on battlefield trips. Back when I was a girl his classes were the most popular at CHHS. If you haven't, I recommend his courses.
This note is for Dan (sorry for tagging on). Dan, have you taken any Civil War courses from UNC Cont. Ed. with Fred Kiger? Amazing teacher and takes you on battlefield trips. Back when I was a girl his classes were the most popular at CHHS. If you haven't, I recommend his courses.
Jun 27th, 2001 | 12:06 PM
#6
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I will have to look into those. How long ago was that, if you don't mind my asking? When I was an undergrad at UNC-CH, I did take a couple of military history courses with James Leutze, who was an amazing teacher. He was the favorite of many alumni for the Chancellor post last year. I signed up to go on a battlefield tour with him when I was in school, and the trip was cancelled due to lack of interest (my luck, wouldn't ya know it). Then it was off to Wisconsin for grad school and away from the battlefields. I did visit Appomattox with my parents on a trip home one year but just got my interest back a year ago. Thanks for the tip.
Jun 27th, 2001 | 05:01 PM
#7
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I don't know as much as Dan, but I can comment on Gettysburg, which I have done twice as a day trip from DC.
Both times, we hired an "official" guide. They are sanctioned by the Park Service (I think) and they have to pass a detailed exam about the battle to qualify.
The way it works is that you call in advance for a reservation (you can drop in, but they book up quickly). Your guide meets you and drives you around the battlefield in your car, telling you the whole story of the battle along the way. You stop at key locations and anywhere else you'd like.
The cost was maybe $20-$30 for the 90-120 minute tour, plus tip. Our guide (Mike Phelps or Phipps) was very good and has written a book on the battle. Really made it come alive.
Call yesterday for a reservation, as the summer is busy.
Both times, we hired an "official" guide. They are sanctioned by the Park Service (I think) and they have to pass a detailed exam about the battle to qualify.
The way it works is that you call in advance for a reservation (you can drop in, but they book up quickly). Your guide meets you and drives you around the battlefield in your car, telling you the whole story of the battle along the way. You stop at key locations and anywhere else you'd like.
The cost was maybe $20-$30 for the 90-120 minute tour, plus tip. Our guide (Mike Phelps or Phipps) was very good and has written a book on the battle. Really made it come alive.
Call yesterday for a reservation, as the summer is busy.
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Jun 28th, 2001 | 05:56 AM
#8
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Hi Dan,
The UNC continuing ed. course was in the last year or two. Saw one of those flyers sent to alums (at my parent's house because I didn't go to college at Carolina). I guess you could just call cont. ed. and find out if he's going to teach it again.
The UNC continuing ed. course was in the last year or two. Saw one of those flyers sent to alums (at my parent's house because I didn't go to college at Carolina). I guess you could just call cont. ed. and find out if he's going to teach it again.
Jun 28th, 2001 | 06:56 AM
#10
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You're welcome Deb. Ncgrrl, I looked at the Web site for Continuing Education. It looks interesting. They have several different topics relating to the Civil War each year. I will have to look into it more. I get a lot of those brochures, but I have so little time in the evenings between the gym and a 2-year old that I usually don't look hard at the programs. I will have to pay more attention. Thanks again.
