Virginia Battlefields Mega-Trip

[Chattahooch33]

Would love to get some thoughts on a trip I'm planning for this October with @CheathamHill and my son. I will post a very rough outline below of places we plan to hit. Some are just pulling in to see the place as we drive by, some are more in depth. I would like to know everything that is in the area in case I sub out something for something else.
Dates are the first week of October, probably Sunday though Friday type range.

• Kings Mountain
• Guilford Courthouse
• Danville
• Lynchburg (maybe)
• Appomattox
• Bremo
• Boswell Tavern
• Trevelian Station (maybe)
• Gordonsville
• Orange and St. Thomas Episcopal Church
• Cedar Mountain
• Culpeper
• Brandy Station
• Remington (Rappahannock Station)
• Manassas
• Thoroughfare Gap
• Fredericksburg
• Chancellorsville
• Massaponax Church
• Spotsylvania
• Guinea Station
• North Anna
• Guinea Station (maybe)
• Pass through Richmond\Petersburg

Like I said some of these are pass throughs and point and some are full days. For Instance, everything from the start to Manassas is one day. Then I expect a day at each from Manassas down to Spotsylvania. We are relatively fit and mobile so we can move pretty fast. I expect Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville to be our focus with Spotsylvania a close third. Just wanted to make sure there was nothing obvious I was missing, should avoid, or any other travel trips.

 

[LCYingling3rd]

You don't have it down, but I am sure you know that The Wilderness is essentially attached to Chancellorsville? A mile or so west of it. And, of course while I was there, I had to stop at Ellwood Manor on the edge of the Wilderness battlefield where Stonewall Jackson's arm is buried. It is a short walk back the lane, past the home, to the small family graveyard. I have been to the rock monument at Chancellorsville where he was shot, the Ellwood Manor graveyard, and Guinea Station where he died; now I just need to get to Lexington where he is actually buried.

On the road between the Wilderness and Spotsylvania I stopped at a roadside marker where the Cavalry fight of Todd's Tavern was. I guess there are a lot of those kinds of little stops though. Hard to do them all. My great, great grandfather and his brother of the 7th VA Cav. were in that fight, so that is why I stopped. My avatar is a picture of me standing next to the Sedgwick monument at Spotsylvania where he was killed by the sniper. My great grandfather in the 87th PA would have been very near when that happened. Sedgwick was with the 14th NJ when he was shot and the 87th was right next to them.

Enjoy your travels! That was all I could think of off the top of my head.

 

[CheathamHill]

We are relatively fit and mobile

 

[Chattahooch33]

You don't have it down, but I am sure you know that The Wilderness is essentially attached to Chancellorsville? A mile or so west of it. And, of course while I was there, I had to stop at Ellwood Manor on the edge of the Wilderness battlefield where Stonewall Jackson's arm is buried. It is a short walk back the lane, past the home, to the small family graveyard. I have been to the rock monument at Chancellorsville where he was shot, the Ellwood Manor graveyard, and Guinea Station where he died; now I just need to get to Lexington where he is actually buried.

On the road between the Wilderness and Spotsylvania I stopped at a roadside marker where the Cavalry fight of Todd's Tavern was. I guess there are a lot of those kinds of little stops though. Hard to do them all. My great, great grandfather and his brother of the 7th VA Cav. were in that fight, so that is why I stopped. My avatar is a picture of me standing next to the Sedgwick monument at Spotsylvania where he was killed by the sniper. My great grandfather in the 87th PA would have been very near when that happened. Sedgwick was with the 14th NJ when he was shot and the 87th was right next to them.

Enjoy your travels! That was all I could think of off the top of my head.

I was planning on Ellwood. My plan is to focus on Chancellorsville one day then the Wilderness the next. At least try to keep them separated. And good call on the Todd's Farm site. I would like to see that, I assume we will pass a million little spots like that along the way.

 

[Chattahooch33]

View attachment 474852

My steroids and meth regimen will have me around 350% by that time. At least hotels won't be necessary since I won't have to sleep.

 

[WScott]

Kings Mountain is just a stones throw away from Cowpens, which is a nice visit. I have done both in half a day.

 

[Chattahooch33]

We actually did Cowpens a couple years ago. Excellent battlefield.

 

[LCYingling3rd]

I was planning on Ellwood. My plan is to focus on Chancellorsville one day then the Wilderness the next. At least try to keep them separated. And good call on the Todd's Farm site. I would like to see that, I assume we will pass a million little spots like that along the way.

Sounds fantastic! I'm jealous! I have done Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and the northern portion of the '64 Overland campaign which are relatively close to one another. I have yet to do North Anna through Richmond and Petersburg to Appomattox. That would get me to Seven Days sites as well. I would love to hike the trails at Cold Harbor and Pamplin Park is on my list as well. Have a blast!!!

 

[Chattahooch33]

@LCYingling3rd:
Went to Pamplin after the Sailors Creek 150th. Very cool place. The Petersburg works are very awesome.

 

[J C J Barefoot]

Would love to get some thoughts on a trip I'm planning for this October with @CheathamHill and my son. I will post a very rough outline below of places we plan to hit. Some are just pulling in to see the place as we drive by, some are more in depth. I would like to know everything that is in the area in case I sub out something for something else.
Dates are the first week of October, probably Sunday though Friday type range.

• Kings Mountain
• Guilford Courthouse
• Danville
• Lynchburg (maybe)
• Appomattox
• Bremo
• Boswell Tavern
• Trevelian Station (maybe)
• Gordonsville
• Orange and St. Thomas Episcopal Church
• Cedar Mountain
• Culpeper
• Brandy Station
• Remington (Rappahannock Station)
• Manassas
• Thoroughfare Gap
• Fredericksburg
• Chancellorsville
• Massaponax Church
• Spotsylvania
• Guinea Station
• North Anna
• Guinea Station (maybe)
• Pass through Richmond\Petersburg

Like I said some of these are pass throughs and point and some are full days. For Instance, everything from the start to Manassas is one day. Then I expect a day at each from Manassas down to Spotsylvania. We are relatively fit and mobile so we can move pretty fast. I expect Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville to be our focus with Spotsylvania a close third. Just wanted to make sure there was nothing obvious I was missing, should avoid, or any other travel trips.

I have been to all most of these CW sites-and the main ones more than once. I have been to 49 battlefields some outstanding---some just ok. Here are a few comments I hope will help.

1. Bull Run. One of the very best battle sites. Very good visitor center on the grounds of First Bull Run. First BR is a great walk around site. Takes two hours to cover it all , including getting to the old bridge. Many take in First BR and miss out on the sites surrounding the area that make up Second Bull Run which are very well done and take about two and half to three hours. Second BR is all laid out well and well market. Right up the road are plenty of hotels and place to eat.

2. Fredericksburg is also one of the best. It's worth retracing the Union march coming out of the town toward the fields and the stone wall. Then flip to the Reb side. Make sure you get to the monuments and burial grounds on the Heights. This is a four hour visit. The city of Fredericksburg is excellent. The Martha Washington Home is interesting.

3. Spotsylvania is a surprise. Due to it's ground and topography it is a better site ( ignoring historical importance) than Chancelorsville and The Wilderness because both of those spots are quite spread out and on relatively flat ground.

4. The Brandy Staton site--all the battle can all be seen on the high hill. The signage explains the battle very well. Very much worth the time. Doesn't need more than an hour.

5. I just went to North Anna in May. It's basically in a state park and has stopping points on a trail. It's not well preserved. To walk the entire thing is about 90 minutes. There is not much to it and the postings are ok but not excellent. Real CW geeks would enjoy it because it was an important point on the Overland fights but I would swap out more time at Petersburg than the simple drive through on your list.

6. Appomattox is my favorite on your list. For a moving walk—go down to the Appomattox creek base where the Rebs were camped and make the surrender walk they followed from there to the Courthouse where they staked arms. It's quite moving. The speakers and guides there are very good. There are few hotels close buy but there are a few good Bed and Breakfast spots with decent food.

7. Consider taking the tour of the Harrison House at Harrison Landing. Birth place of President William Henry Harrison. His father was in the US House and his Grandson was also President. The place is beautifully preserved and the tour guides are excellent. old Tippe Canoe was not born in a cabin!

You did not mention anything about the SEVEN Days. Malvern is very much wort the time. If you are coming up from the Valley are your way to Bull Run you don't want to miss Battle of New Market and the great visitor center,,,,same for Cedar Creek.


Hope it helps——sounds like an amazing trip.

 

[Chattahooch33]

@J C J Barefoot, thanks for all of this:

1. I assume we will spend the first few nights around Manassas. I would like to ride over to Thoroughfare Gap early in the morning then come back to Manassas. I would like to walk Longstreet's attack route (Hoods Texas Brigade) then see the unfinished RR there. From there we'd reset and do 1st Manassas. I assume we can do all of this in one day.

2. I have the national park service walking tour that goes from the river up to Marye's. I wanted to do that and yes check out the old buildings in Fburg on the way up. All of that plus the southern end of the Confederate line I assumed to be one day as well.

3. I am excited about Spotsylvania. Not sure why, that battle has always fascinated me.

4. Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain I figured would be 30-60 min apiece, let me know if that is wrong.

5. Good info about North Anna, I figured there wouldn't be much but we are suckers for earthworks. We visited Petersburg a few years ago along with Pamplin, Five Forks, Crater, etc. Wouldn't mind stopping by again though for my son.

6. Appomattox will be a bit rushed, but the excitement of the trip beginning will put some pep in our step. The surrender walk sounds fascinating. Is it well marked and easy to find?

7. That may be too far off route, but as you said I don't have anything seven days or peninsula. I assume that will be a separate trip down the road. I have a backroads route mapped out from Appomattox to Cedar Mountain so we won't be going through the valley... which again will be a separate trip down the road.

Thanks for all the help. Let me know if there is anything else.