Sunday, March 30th was a rainy but warm day. We decided to go to the Fredericksburg Battlefield visitor center. Unfortunately, all of the exhibits were under renovation. We did get to see a film about the battle.
There was also a very knowledgeable ranger there. He took the time to explain the battle to the kids.
He also gave them each a set of Civil War Battlefield trading cards. I was very impressed with how our kids interacted with the Ranger.
We then drove around part of the battlefield. We really didn't get to see a lot as much of it needs to be walked & it was just too wet outside.
This is a hilltop command post of General Lee. From here he could observe the day's action. From this position, Lee uttered his famous words, "It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it."
Here is where General Meade & his troops broke through the Confederate lines.
At the Union breakthrough, Confederate Brig. General Maxcy Gregg took a bullet that severed his spine, mortally wounding him.
The Civil War Trust works with the government & non-profit groups to save as much of the Civil War Battlefields as possible. In some place like Fredericksburg, the fighting took place in cities so only houses here & there are saved. In other places, the entire battlefield has been reclaimed & saved.
A lone canon on Prospect Hill. Here heavy fighting took place.
The Meade Pyramid was constructed in 1897 by the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomic Railroad.
It bears the name of a Union General even though it was conceived by the Confederate Literary Society. They wanted it to inform railroad passengers that they were passing through the Fredericksburg battlefield.
All along the road, there are trenches built to protect the Confederate Soldiers. This battle, fought December 11-15, 1862, was one of the largest & deadliest of the Civil War. Nearly 200,000 men fought here. The Union lost nearly 12,600 men & the Confederates some 5,300. It is considered the bloodiest soil in America.
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