What Is Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park!?
This national military park preserves four of the bloodiest battlefields of the Civil War: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, The Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House!
What Makes It Historical?
This area lay directly between the Union and Confederate capitals, so it was super important to have as a buffer! First shots at Fredericksburg rang out on December 11, 1862, with the Union forces of Ambrose Burnside against the Confederate troops of Robert E. Lee and “Stonewall” Jackson! The Confederates won here, rattling the Union and casting doubt on Abraham Lincoln’s upcoming Emancipation Proclamation!
The Union returned in the spring to Chancellorsville, and from April 27 to May 6, 1863, Generals Lee and Jackson trounced General Joseph Hooker, forcing another retreat, but in the process, General Stonewall Jackson was shot by one of his own troops and died of pneumonia on May 10th.
Almost exactly a year later, with Ulysses S. Grant in command, the two sides clashed again here on May 5, 1864, this time at a spot called The Wilderness because of how thickly wooded and brambled it was! Because of that, the battle ended in a stalemate, but General Grant was not to be put off by that and kept on marching!
Spotsylvania Court House sat at a critical crossroads, leading directly to the Confederate capital of Richmond! General Grant really wanted it, especially because the Election of 1864 was coming up! The Confederates really dug in, though, with a huge line called the “Mule Shoe” salient with a critical bend in it called the Bloody Angle. Both sides fought over this spot for nearly two weeks, so fiercely that the bullets shredded an oak tree, whose stump is now on display at the Smithsonian! Ultimately, on May 21, the Union gave up this battle and turned their attention to reaching Richmond!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Volunteer at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park!!
- Donate to Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park!!
- Be a responsible visitor! Remember the old adages: Pack out what you pack in! Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints!
How Do I Get There?
Fredericksburg Battlefield:
- 1013 Lafayette Blvd
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Chancellorsville Battlefield:
- 9001 Plank Rd
Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA 22553
The Wilderness Battlefield:
- 35347 Constitution Hwy
Orange, VA 22160
Spotsylvania Courthouse Battlefield:
- 9550 Grant Dr
Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA 22553
When Should I Visit the Park?
The battlefields are open daily from sunrise to sunset, and the visitor centers are open from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM!
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