The DC Traveler » national-battlefield http://www.thedctraveler.com A Washington DC insider's travel guide that's full of area information for both tourists and residents. Covers area attractions, activities, events, nightlife, memorials and monuments, historic sites, museums, the Smithsonian... Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:17:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 144th Anniversary of the Battle of Fredricksburg – Dec. 9th & 10th http://www.thedctraveler.com/2006/11/144th-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-fredricksburg-dec-9th-10th/ http://www.thedctraveler.com/2006/11/144th-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-fredricksburg-dec-9th-10th/#comments Wed, 29 Nov 2006 11:05:52 +0000 http://www.thedctraveler.com/144th-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-fredricksburg-dec-9th-10th/ Post from: The DC Traveler

]]> In late 1862 during the second year of the Civil War, the ineffective and indecisive Union General, George B. McClellan, was replaced by President Lincoln with General Burnside. A month later, and after being pushed by Lincoln, Burside developed an offensive plan of attack against General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.

Washington DC - Robert E. LeeWashington DC - BurnsideHis plan involved staging part of his army of 120,000 men to a visible site so that the Confererate army could follow their movements. Then, after signaling his intentions, he planned on rapidly moving his forces in front of the Confederate troops.

After a series of errors, miscommunications and significant delays in crossing the Rappahannock River to get ahead of Lee’s smaller force of 85,000, the battle began south of the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia on the morning of December 13th, 1862.  

Burnside’s tactics proved to be disastrous for the Union army, as they suffered over 12,500 casualties versus the Confederacy suffering just under 5,400 casualties.

The defeat was communicated to President Lincoln by the Governor of Pennsylvania, who told Lincoln “It was not a battle, it was a butchery.” Later, Lincoln wrote to himself, “If there is a worse place than hell, I am in it.”

You can visit parts of the battlefield that are now a National Battlefield Park, and take several self-guided walking and driving tours of the area.

Washington DC - Civil War reenactorsThere are several anniversary actitvities in Fredricksburg, including period army encampments, a telegraph center, field hospitals and scripted street skirmishes put on by Civil War reenactors.

All in town anniversary activities will take place in downtown Fredricksburg between Charles Street and Washington Avenues from 11:00 a.m until 5:00 p.m.

Reenactors from the 1st Virginia Calvary will also be recruiting and enlistmenting volunteers and drilling at Washington’s Ferry Farm, across the river from downtown Fredericksburg. 

Ferry Farm activities: Saturday, Dec. 9th (10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) and Sunday, Dec. 10th (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.). $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children over 5. Free for kids under 6.268 Kings Highway (Rt. 3). 

The Fredericksburg National Park Battlefield Visitor Center
1013 Lafayette BoulevardWashington DC - Confederate artillery
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Hours
Visitors Center: Daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Park: Daily dawn til dusk.

Getting There
Fredericksburg, VA is approximately 50 miles southeast of Washington, DC off I-95 South. Directions to the Battlefield Park. Directions to the anniversary activities.

Expect traffic into and out of the park and activities areas to be heavy.

Photo credits: Re-enactors flickr, artillery flickr

Post from: The DC Traveler

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