Richmond Battlefields

[Doc_Ralph]

Howdy ya'll,

I am almost ashamed to post this thread - as I am but perhaps an hour away from Richmond - I have as yet to visit any hallowed ground down there. My defense is the DC excuse as in you live there and so never go anywhere like the museums.

This knowledgeable and fine group of folks could perhaps help me rectify this big gap in my CW journey.

There are different ways to go about it and I am thinking of following Grant out of Spotsy to North Anna and onward. This makes the most sense rather than a whim or pulling a name out of a hat.

I would covet any advice about how to proceed and thinking ya'll in advance for these suggestions.

Thinking about starting when the weather gets cold so no bugs, snakes etc. Plus I have a serious interest in topographical features that might go unnoticed in the green world!

YHS,
Doc Ralph

At Spotsylvania CH

 

[USS ALASKA]

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Chuck (@KLSDAD ), my son and I will be touring the NPS Richmond Battlefields on May 11th, 2016. We will be starting out at the Tredegar Iron Works and end our tour at Drewry's Bluff (Fort Darling). I have attached the official NPS map with my highlighted tour route. I know this is a lot to...

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HTHS,
USS ALASKA

 

[Doc_Ralph]

Thank you for this information. I think I will follow the Yankees out of Spotsy. What's COLD HARBOR like? Is it on a river? So close and yet so far .,,,

 

[gary]

Fortress Monroe - Jeff Davis place of incarceration and near Big Bethel (where Yankee fought Yankees and the Yankees still lost)
Further up the peninsula - Virginia War Museum and the Nautical Museum (?) where the Monitor is housed.
Yorktown - Magruder was there. If you pick up Earl Hess' books on field fortifications, you can find some of the Confederate forts. You may also want to visit the Jamestown site and catch the free car ferry to Suffolk. Longstreet was there to gather supplies. Catch the ferry back as the traffic from Norfolk SUCK.
Williamsburg - site of a rear guard action. Freedom Park was the site of Spencer's Ordinary, a Revolutionary War skirmish between riflemen under Fafayette and Ewald's jagers.
Seven Pines - Last time Joe Johnston commanded the forces that became the Army of Northern Virginia.
Seven Days Battle.
Drury's Bluff - where Confederate coastal defense stopped the Union Navy from sailing up the James and shelling Richmond. Worth a visit.
Grant's Overland Campaign including The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna, Cold Harbor II. Don't overlook City Point and the Army museums in the area.
Then there's Petersburg with the numerous battles around there too. Five Forks isn't far away and if you want to drive more, Sayler's Creek and Appomattox.

 

[Belfoured]

Seven Days - the battle fields at Gaines's Mill and Malvern Hill are definitely worth visiting. Glendale will be once the NPD gets around to interpreting the major chunk that was saved several years ago but for now it's pretty limited. There's nothing left of Savage's Station and a very small part of Beaver Dam Creek.

 

[Jamieva]

If you are going to follow the overland, cold harbor is just a standard land based battlefield. The name is deceiving.

North Anna is well preserved on the confederate side with 2 trails. Cold harbor had walking trails and a driving tour. Gaines mill is like 2 miles away from cold harbor and the battlefields overlap. Those 2 should be done together.

Since it is winter you may encounter some muddy conditions, especially the blue trail at north annna and along the creek at Gaines mill. Don't wear nice shoes.

 

[Belfoured]

If you are going to follow the overland, cold harbor is just a standard land based battlefield. The name is deceiving.

North Anna is well preserved on the confederate side with 2 trails. Cold harbor had walking trails and a driving tour. Gaines mill is like 2 miles away from cold harbor and the battlefields overlap. Those 2 should be done together.

Since it is winter you may encounter some muddy conditions, especially the blue trail at north annna and along the creek at Gaines mill. Don't wear nice shoes.

At least we no longer have to deal with New Cold Harbor and Old Cold Harbor. Stonewall Jackson would be grateful.