More than 12,000 Union soldiers died at the Battle of Fredericksburg, when newly instated General Ambrose E. Burnside’s attempt to surprise General Robert Lee’s Confederate troops went horribly wrong.
This Saturday, Dec. 13, marks the 152nd Anniversary of that fateful day and The National Park Service has planned a full weekend of events for the occasion.
The celebration will include tours of historic Fredericksburg homes, the grand opening of new exhibits at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center and a recollection of the battle.
Check here for the full list of events this weekend:
Saturday, December 13, 2014:
Throughout the day, historians Frank O’Reilly, Greg Mertz, and Beth Parnicza will present four special walking tours ranging from 60-90 minutes—often matching the precise time in history 152 years after the fact. These tours will explore areas of significant battle action and highlight our powerful battlefield landscapes, including the recently rehabilitated vista at Chatham Manor. All tours are free, and on-site parking will be available at all locations.
8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m., To the Upper Pontoon Crossing from Chatham Manor Join us for a walking tour of the newly rehabilitated landscape around Chatham Manor, which witnessed the struggle of Union engineers to complete pontoon bridges across the Rappahannock River on the morning of December 11, 1862. Meet on the river side terraces at Chatham Manor, 120 Chatham Lane, 22405.
10:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m., Slaughter Pen Farm Walk the Slaughter Pen Farm to explore the fighting on the southern end of the field against “Stonewall” Jackson’s line. Meet at the Slaughter Pen Farm, 11232 Tidewater Trail, 22408. This program is a cooperative effort between the National Park Service and the Civil War Trust, owners of the Slaughter Pen Farm.
1:00 p.m. — 2:30 p.m., Prospect Hill Here the Union army achieved the only breakthrough at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Follow the footsteps of Union success and Confederate counterattack at Prospect Hill, Fredericksburg Battlefield Driving Tour Stop 6, South Lee Drive.
3:30 p.m.—5:00 p.m., Marye’s Heights Union soldiers charged into fame, glory, and defeat as they repeatedly charged the Confederate-held heights. Hear of their unsuccessful attacks and the strong Confederate defense on this walk. Meet at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center, 1013 Lafayette Boulevard, 22401.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
11:00 a.m. Official opening of new exhibits at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center. These exhibits replace 50-year-old displays, and convey not just the story of the Battle of Fredericksburg, but also the impact of the war on the Fredericksburg community. 1013 Lafayette Boulevard, 22401
Noon – 2:00 p.m. Irish Brigade Walking Tour, led by Frank O’Reilly. This annual tradition will begin at the Fredericksburg City Dock and follow the footsteps of the Irish Brigade on December 13, 1862, concluding at the Sunken Road in time for the 2 p.m. anniversary program. Note: visitors will have to return to the City Dock by foot after the program.
2:00 p.m. The Battle of Fredericksburg Anniversary Program, Kirkland Memorial, on the Sunken Road. This 40-minute program will recall the battle and will feature Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw as the keynote speaker. Mayor Greenlaw’s ancestors were residents of Fredericksburg during the war; she will reflect on the town’s connection to the battle and battlefield.
image via wikimedia: PD-US
