2023 DC Trip Day 7 – Monday, April 10th – Winchester to Fredericksburg, VA
Pulled out of my motel at 0645, heading southeastward on US-522, changing to VA-3 at Culpepper. I kept looking for a cafe, but finally settled for McD's for breakfast. Wouldn't you know, it was right at the corner I needed to use to reach my first battlefield of the day: The Wilderness (1864).
This is the view at the info kiosk:
Confederate trenches at one of the open areas:
The wilderness was much more overgrown than this photo along a trail shows
Next stop was Chancellorsville (1863). This one actually has a small visitor center. A driving tour brings you out at the Chancellor House site. You can see how well preserved the site is and how little the modern world intrudes:
A little humor there – This is the remnant of the Catharine Furnace – an ironworks site along Jackson's flanking march.
Confederate guns at Hazel Grove outdueled Federal ones at the far end of this open area.
On to Spotsylvania (1864)! This was the site of action for an extended period, but is best known for the attack on the Mule Shoe salient. A dawn Federal assault by 20,000 men captured an exposed portion, but desperate counter attacks by Lee's army held them at bay until a new line could be completed. So many men were killed here that it's known as the Bloody Angle. Here's a view of the trench line.
This field looks so peaceful now.
Gordon's division recovered this part of the line.
Stepping back to December of 1862, Burnside's doomed assault on well-prepared positions at Fredericksburg made this a one-sided Confederate victory. The stone wall along the sunken road in front of Marye's Heights is symbolic of the battle:
Rebels had time to place commanding batteries before the attack. This is a 30-pounder at Prospect Hill.
Here at the Confederate far right, I watched a modern train go by on the nearby railroad.
After some misadventures in finding my hotel, I settled in around 1600. Tomorrow I'll take some back roads to Manasas, then end up at my reunion hotel near Arlington.
138 miles for the day, 1618.2 for the trip.
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