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| From Fredericksburg, VA |
Before going up to Fredericksburg we had to stop at Safford RV to buy a couple of fluorescent bulbs and ended buying a few other items. On the way to Safford RV we saw a sign for Stonewall Jackson's Shrine and decided to stop there first.
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| From Fredericksburg, VA |
On May 2, 1863 at the Battle of Chancellorsville Stonewall Jackson was mistakenly shot by his own men and doctors amputated Jackson's left arm. Jackson was moved by ambulance to Guinea Station, a 27-mile trip, to evacuate him to Richmond. The rail lines had been cut
by the Union Army and Thomas C. Chandler offered his home for Jackson to stay in. Jackson's doctors chose the plantation's office building and the Chandler family furnished the building for Stonewall Jackson and his staff.
We saw the actual bed frame that Jackson slept on
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| From Fredericksburg, VA |
and a clock dating from the 1700's that was in his room. The Ranger, Sara, explained that someone in the park service started the clock and is still working today. It just needs to be wound twice a week.
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| From Fredericksburg, VA |
After stopping at Safford RV, we drove up to the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center and passed by several Civil War historic markers.
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| From Fredericksburg, VA |
We parked the car in back of the Visitor Center and looked around in the Book Store before going into the Visitor Center.
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| From Fredericksburg, VA |
There is no fee for the Visitor Center, but we paid $1 (senior price) each to watch a 22 minute orientation movie. After the movie we looked at the displays there before going outside.
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| From Fredericksburg, VA |
It was now 3:00 and hot (94°), so we decided to walk part of the Sunken Road Walking Trail and not take the optional section up on Marye's Heights by the National Cemetery. We were not the only ones feeling the heat and this squirrel has found his own solution for beating the heat without air conditioning!
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| From Fredericksburg, VA |
We walked down the Sunken Road and stopped at the Innis House where there are still hundreds of bullet holes in the house walls.
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| From Fredericksburg, VA |
We walked on down to the Kirkland Monument erected in memory of 19 year old Confederate soldier Sgt. Kirkland who crossed Union lines to give water to the wounded Union soldiers who for 2 days had been calling for water. Sgt. Kirkland later was called "the Angel of Marye's Heights".
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| From Fredericksburg, VA |
We stopped in at the Book Store to buy some post cards and souvenirs. We decided to drive downtown to look for a cafe or restaurant to have a snack and something cold to drink. I looked up places on my phone and suggested we try The Blarney Stone Public House. We found a parking place around the corner from the Blarney Stone and walked back to the pub.
We chose a table up front by a window, but moved back to the Pub. We decided to split the Corned Beef Sandwich and Steak Fries. Mike ordered Tennants and I ordered Smithwicks, both imported beers on tap. The sandwich was OK (I still think the one we had at Firehorse Deli in Newberry, SC was the best).
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| From Fredericksburg, VA |
We left the Blarney Stone about 4:30 and then drove back to visit the Fredericksburg Battlefield. It was still quite hot and getting later, so we didn't stop at some of the sites to walk on the trails. We did stop and walk out on Dead Horse Hill just below Prospect Hill to look at the cannons and the artillery earthworks. It was named Dead Horse Hill because so many Confederate artillery horses were killed during the Union bombardment of the hill.
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| From Fredericksburg, VA |
We drove back out of the Battlefield and then headed south on SR-2. We saw a sign for the Slaughter Pen Farm and decided to stop there to take a look. There is a walking trail out on the fields where the battle took place, but we didn't walk out there.
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| From Fredericksburg, VA |
On December 13, 1862 8,000 Union and 10,000 Confederate troops fought to keep the Union from capturing Prospect Hill. The battle at Prospect Hill and Slaughter Pen Farm resulted in 9,000 casualties between both armies (how Slaughter Pen got its name) and five Medals of Honor were earned by Union soldiers.
After leaving Slaughter Pen Farm, we stopped at a Food Lion for a few groceries before going back to the campground.
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