Bloody Angle

On May 12 Union General Grant captured the tip of the Mule Shoe Salient. For the following 22 hours, hand-to-hand and close range fighting ensued. The fighting concentrated around a slight bend in the trenches that became known as the Bloody Angle.

• A 10 car parking lot on the left of the road and a pullout on the right side provide parking for the Bloody Angle. From the parking, a walking path leads alongside the road to a trail around the location. The trail is lined by the remains of Civil War earthworks. A wide open field separates the earthworks from the tree line.

Bullock House Site

Union troops marched past this location on April 30, 1863 on their way to the Chancellor House, and again on May 3, pulling back after 5 hours of brutal fighting. Earthworks and artillery pits nearby mark the Unions last line of the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Catharine Furnace Ruins

The base of the furnace stack is all that remains of this ironworks which dates to the mid-1800s. Confederate General Stonewall Jackson's troops passed here during their march around the Union Army on May 2, 1863.

Chandler House Site

The Chandler House Site was the location of the home around which stood the Fairfield Plantation. A large slave plantation complex located near Guinea Station, Fairfield was located in the path of moving armies during the Civil War and became most associated with the death of Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, who died in the nearby office on May 10, 1863.

• A metal sign that says, Chandler House Site, sits in front of four posts that mark the outline of the former house.

Chatham Gardens

The Chatham gardens are one of the most popular features of the Chatham landscape. These gardens were designed by landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman in the 1920s. The flower beds, paths, and sculptural features that bring a sense of peace and beauty to those who visit today were once a place of enslavement of the people whose forced labor generated wealth for Chatham's owners.

• The gardenside patio is a large, raised slate patio in front of a large two-story brick house with a garden on the opposite side. The house has a center portion and two wings extending in both directions with several windows with black shutters and a stone entryway. On each side of the house are small brick outbuildings. In the other direction there is a large garden encircled by a brick wall with slate and brick paths running through it. The garden contains seasonal ornamental flowerbeds, several trees, arches, and a small fishpond.

Chatham Kitchen

The Chatham kitchen is one of three buildings at Chatham, the others being the main house and the laundry, that dates to the 1770s. Note: The Chatham kitchen building is a park office and is not open to the public. 

• The Kitchen is a one and one half-story, 3-bay, gable roof brick building located approximately 44 feet to the southeast of the manor house. The Kitchen is approximately 22 x 37 feet. The building features recessed chimneys and three dormers on the southeast side. The brick exterior is laid in a Flemish bond pattern with glazed headers and grapevine joints Next to the kitchen building is a side entrance. This wooden ramp with a black metal railing leads up to the accessible entrance of Chatham. It is marked by a small brown sign. The garden is full of ornamental seasonal beds of the filled with flowers and trees and encircled by a brick wall. There is also a large decorative globe-shaped metal weathervane on a plinth to the left.

Chatham Laundry

The Chatham laundry is one of the original structures at Chatham, dating to the 1770s. Enslaved women labored and likely lived in this building. In the 1900s the laundry was converted to a guest house, then an office. Today, it is an office for park staff.

• The laundry is a small one-and-a-half story partially white-washed brick building to the right of the main house. There is a flight of steps with a wrought-iron railing leading up to the entrance, a wooden door painted black. The building has two windows facing the entrance, both with black shutters. The laundry is flanked by small beds of ornamental grasses. It is marked by a small brown sign that reads “Laundry”.

Chatham's Diana Statue

The Diana statue marks the entrance to the Chatham gardens. This terracotta artwork was placed in the garden in the 1920s. After being donated to the Virginia Musuem of Fine Arts many years ago, it was restored to its place in the garden in 2019.

• The Diana statue is a terracotta statue of the Roman goddess Diana. She is portrayed as a young woman dressed in a flowing, toga-style dress with a quiver of arrows over one shoulder. A hunting dog jumps up toward one of her outstretched hands, with both its front legs resting on her thigh. The statue is surrounded by a slate path with decorative seasonal flowerbeds and trees around the path. Beyond the statue are the wrought-iron front gates of Chatham, set into a brick wall that encircles the formal Chatham gardens. There is a small white sign that reads “Chatham” on the gates. In the distance is a large two-story brick house.

Civil War Soldier's Grave

This grave marks the final resting place of one of over 100 United States soldiers who died at Chatham in the aftermath of the Battle of Fredericksburg. The majority of the soldiers buried on the property were reinterred at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. Today, three graves remain at Chatham.

• The Union soldier’s grave is a small slate stone laid into a mown grass lawn. The stone reads “U.S.A. Unknown, 1862.” The grave is marked by a small American flag. The grave is in the corner of the brick wall that separates the terraces from Chatham’s riverside lawn. The intersections of the wall are topped with pineapple statues. Beyond the wall, the slope of the land goes down to the banks of the Rappahannock River.

Ellwood Brooder Barn

The Ellwood Brooder Barn was built around 1950 for raising chickens. The owner of Ellwood at the time, Leo Jones, had turned Ellwood into a productive livestock farm. Today the main part of the building is used for storage. Public restrooms are located at the side of the building.

• The brooder barn is a rectangular building with gable roof. If approaching from the parking lot, the left face of the barn has a door to enter the Ellwood bathrooms.

Ellwood Cemetery

Established in 1807, the Ellwood cemetery contains the remains of fifteen members of the Jones family who owned Ellwood in the 1800s. Today, the cemetery contains one marker, for the amputated arm of Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson. How did this small family cemetery become intertwined with the history of Jackson and the Lost Cause?

• The Ellwood Cemetery is located about 400 feet to the south of the main house. The cemetery has one rectangular stone marker labelled arm of Stonewall Jackson and one tree enclosed in a wooden fence.

Ellwood Grounds

First constructed in the 1700s, Ellwood is best known for its association with the Battles of Chancellorsville and the Wilderness during the Civil War. However, this place has a much wider and more expansive history. Learn about the people who first inhabited this land and the ways that colonial settlement altered the physical landscape.

• The Ellwood parking area is located about 0.4 miles from the turn of Route 20. The grounds include agricultural leases where crops are still grown and open manicured lawns. The main house sits about 200 feet away from the parking area across the lawn.

Ellwood House

Ellwood was a slave plantation dating to the 1790s. During the Battle of Chancellorsville, this building was a Confederate field hospital. During the Battle of the Wilderness it was the headquarters for US Generals Warren and Burnside. Though most famous because Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson's amputated left arm is buried in the family cemetery, the house has many more stories to tell. The house is open seasonally.

• Taking a left turn from Constitution Highway to a gravel single lane road will lead to the Ellwood gate. If the gate is closed, park to the side, and walk a quarter mile up the dirt road to Ellwood Manor. If the gate is open, drive up until you reach the parking area to the right of the long driveway. The grounds of Ellwood are surrounded by agricultural fields. The lawn from the parking area to the house is flat, but there is no set pathway through the grass. The building is a two-story, T-shaped, frame building clad in red weatherboard siding with a one-story porch facing east. There is an accessible ramp in the rear of the house, facing the parking area.

Ellwood Service Yard

The open, grassy field besides the main house was the location of the Ellwood service yard. Many buildings where enslaved people once lived and worked once stood here.

• Between the parking area and the main house, there is a low profile wayside directed towards an open lawn.

Fairfield Office

The Stonewall Jackson Death Site is the plantation office building near Guinea Station where Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson died on May 10, 1863.

• The building is a one-and-a-half-story, square, frame structure clad in white weatherboard siding and with little ornamentation. A cobblestone path leads from the parking area to the porch.

Fairview

For about five hours Union artillery here dueled with Confederate artillery on Hazel Grove, while opposing infantry clashed in some of the bloodiest fighting of the war.

Fredericksburg National Cemetery

The Fredericksburg National Cemetery is the final resting place for over 15,000 United States soldiers, the majority of whom died during the Civil War, plus about 100 soldiers from the 1900s and a handful of spouses. Over 80% of the soldiers here are unidentified.

• The Fredericksburg National Cemetery covers 12 acres and sits on the corner of Marye's Heights, with tiered terraces along the boundary of the cemetery. The cemetery is surrounded by a brick gate. An entrance walkway can be accessed to the west of the visitor center, up a pathway. The entrance is on a hill with uneven walkways and is steep. Once up the hill, the main cemetery consists of rows and columns of grave stones across gently sloping hills.

Fredericksburg Park Store

Visit the Fredericksburg Park Store, managed by America's National Parks, for books, gifts, souvenirs, and information about the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Fredericksburg Road

The Fredericksburg Road became the lifeline for the United States Army, allowing Grant to bring up supplies and reinforcements. Robert E. Lee tried to cut the Army of the Potomac's access to this road on May 19 with attacks here and at the Harris Farm. Lee was ultimately unsuccessful and the US maintained control of the road and continued to move south.

• There is a small pull out on the right of the road with an interpretive wayside.

Hamilton's Crossing

This stop along the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad served as a critical supply hub for the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and was the right flank of Jackson's line during the Battle of Fredericksburg.

• A wooden fence with an opening 3 feet wide leads to a trail through the woods.

Higgerson Farm

Some of the heaviest and most chaotic fighting occurred here. From the pullout, a short trail leads to the location of the Higgerson House.

• A pullout on the south side of Hill-Ewell Drive leads to an area surrounded by woods with a trail crossed with a metal chain fence.

Innis House

The Innis House is one of the few standing structures along the Sunken Road that was standing during the battle in December 1862. The house is still riddled with bullet holes from the battle, a stark testament to the brutality of war.

• The Innis House is a small, two-story, white house with a gable roof. The dimensions of the house are approximately 30ft by 15ft and the house is 25ft tall. An single story addition with a slanted roof extends from the south end of the house. Four windows along the east and west, the 30ft side, of the house peer into an unfurnished main room, with scattered bullet holes still visible in the walls. A walkway follows the western side of the house parallel to the Sunken Road.

Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area

The Journey is a unique historic, natural and scenic region, with farms and orchards; woodlands and forests; rivers and streams; rolling hills and mountain views; and unspoiled landscapes that can be explored by car, bike, canoe, foot or on horseback The region is alive with vibrant historic downtowns, rich agriculture and an abundant bounty of wineries, inns and unique cultural events.

Kirkland Memorial

The Kirkland Memorial pays homage to the deeds of Richard Kirkland, a Confederate sergeant, who crossed over the stone wall to give water to wounded US soldiers after the fighting of December 13, 1864 at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

• The Richard Kirkland Memorial is a bronze statue that sits atop a granite pedestal. The statue depicts a man in Confederate uniforms lifting a Union soldier off the grounds and into his arms and giving the Union soldier water from a canteen. On the pedestal is the text, "In memoriam, Richard Rowland Kirkland, Co. G, 2nd South Carolina Volunteers, C.S.A. At the risk of his life, this American soldier of sublime compassion, brought water to his wounded foes at Fredericksburg. The fighting men on both sides of the line called him The Angel of Marye’s Heights. Born Kershaw County, S.C., August, 1843, Sergeant at Fredericksburg, December 1862, Lieutenant at Gettysburg, July, 1863, Killed in action at Chickamauga, September 1863. Dedicated to National Unity and the Brotherhood of Man." There is a flat pathway leading up to and around the monument from the Sunken Road.

Lee-Jackson Bivouac

Here on the night of May 1, 1863, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson met to plan Jackson's flank attack that would begin the next morning.

Lower Terrace

Today, visitors enjoy this picturesque view of the Rappahannock River and Fredericksburg from the Chatham terraces. While the view is peaceful now, it was once a scene of labor and war.

• The lower terrace has a slate path leading to a small slate patio. The patio in front of a pontoon bridge display has two waist-high interpretive signs describing how pontoons were used during the Civil War. The display shows a replica pontoon bridge made out of planks, rope, and a small rowboat. Beyond the pontoon bridge, a small slope of grass leads down to the bank of the Rappahannock River, which is shaded by trees and bushes.

Marye's Heights

From Marye's Heights, the high ground hovering over the Sunken Road, Confederate troops held an imposing defensive line during the Battle of Fredericksburg.

• Marye's Heights is a hill, approximately 75 feet high, that hovers over and parallels the Sunken Road at the hill's base. A walking path follows the ridge of the hill and leads to the entrance of the Fredericksburg National Cemetery.

Marye's Heights: Artillery Position

This was the position for the nine cannons of the Washington Artillery of New Orleans during the Battle of Fredericksburg. Fire from these heights rained down on the US soldiers tasked with assaulting this position. The futile assaults against these heights led many soldiers to despair and led the American public to question just what could be gained from such a horrible war.

• To the east is a view over the Sunken Road, the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center, the parking lot, and out to the City of Fredericksburg. Much of the town buildings are only visible in the winter when the leaves are off the trees. To the west is a Civil War era cannon. About 200 feet west is a small walled in cemetery with a metal gate. About 200 feet to the south is the entrance through the Fredericksburg National Cemetery.

Musical Staircase

The Chatham staircase is a decorative feature added to the landscape in the 1920s. The staircase's flowing design conveys the musical notes to the song "Home, Sweet, Home", popular in the Civil War era.

• A slate pathway leads up to the musical staircase. The musical staircase is a wrought-iron staircase with music notes to the song “Home, Sweet Home.” The staircase is flanked by a pair of hedges that extend out to either side. The staircase looks out over the terraces and two sets of staircases leading down to the bank of the Rappahannock River. The terrace just below the staircase holds two Civil War cannons pointed out over the river. The bank of the river is shaded by trees and bushes.

Prospect Hill

The Army of Northern Virginia's 2nd Corps, commanded by General Stonewall Jackson defended Lee's right at Prospect Hill. On December 13, this would become the location of an intense artillery standoff between the two armies. Ultimately, Jackson's troops would use the terrain to their advantage and hold off the United States forces, bringing fighting on the southern portion of the battlefield to a close.

Salem Church

Although the Biblical word "Salem" originally derived from a Hebrew verb meaning, amongst other things "peace," Salem Church west of Fredericksburg, Virginia lives on in history because of its connections with war. Its main moment of fame was during the second Battle of Fredericksburg in May of 1863, when it became a field hospital.

Slocum's Line

Union General Henry Slocum's 12th Corps held these earthworks from May 1 through May 3 when Confederate infantry and artillery from Hazel Grove forced the United States soldiers to retreat to Fairview.

Smith Marker, Stonewall Jackson Died

James Power Smith, former staff member of Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, placed this marker near the farm office where Jackson died on May 10, 1863.

• Located next to the parking lot and 150 feet from the Farm Office, this marker is made of stone, is rectangular at 1.5 feet square, with a smooth face, but rough edges, and the text, "Stonewall Jackson Died, May 10, 1863" on the face.

Superintendent's Lodge

*Note: The Superintendent's Lodge is not open to the public.* When the Fredericksburg National Cemetery was established, the lodge, located at the cemetery's entrance, housed the Union veteran who was responsible for managing the cemetery.

• The Cemetery lodge is a historic structure located to the north of the path leading the the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. The building is a two story, federal-style structure, base on the US War Department building.

The Sunken Road

The assaults against the stone wall at the Sunken Road is the most well known event in the Battle of Fredericksburg. It was one of the most lopsided fights in the war, with eight United States casualties for every one Confederate. A critical question still lingers today: why did General Burnside send men to the wall, again and again, after each assault failed?

Upton's Road

On May 10, Colonel Emory Upton led 5,000 United States soldiers in a column attack on a part of the Confederate line known as the Mule Shoe Salient. Though unsuccessful, this assault would be the inspiration for the larger assault on the Confederate line on May 12, 1864.

• A pullout on the right side of the road leads to a trail through the woods. A sign next to the trial says wartime road used by upton.

Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center

• Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center
• The Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center contains exhibits about the battles at Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House and a 22-minute film that plays every 30-minutes. Pick up park maps and talk to park staff about the battles and your visit.

Chatham

• Chatham
• Atop Stafford Heights, over 250 years of history blend with the present at Chatham. Constructed in 1771, the Chatham grounds hold stories of the horrors of slavery, the establishment of the United States, conflict surrounding the institution of slavery and Civil War, Reconstruction, Colonial Revivalism and today, the continued struggle to come to terms with the country’s past. The Chatham gate is open 9 am to 5 pm every day.

Ellwood

• Ellwood
• Ellwood is located on the Wilderness Battlefield. Ellwood was a slave plantation, a Civil War headquarters and hospital, and its small family cemetery contains Confederate general Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's arm. The gate is open during the hours the house is open, but the grounds of Ellwood are open sunrise to sunset. When the gate is closed visitors may park next to, but not blocking, the gate and walk the grounds.

Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center

• Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center
• Inside the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center are three rooms with exhibits about the Battle of Fredericksburg and its impact on the nation, a 22-minute park film, and an information desk where our staff can provide guidance on getting around as well as insight into the history of the battle.

Jackson Death Site

• Jackson Death Site
• Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson died in the farm office building of the Fairfield Plantation. Today, that office building is all that remains of the former slave plantation situated near the critical transportation hub of Guinea Station. The Jackson Death Site grounds are open every day, sunrise to sunset but the building is open seasonally.

• History at Sunset
• History at Sunset is an annual series that focuses on areas rarely visited, stories rarely told, or familiar sites seen through a different lens. Park rangers lead each History at Sunset event, which may be an evening tour or special program in the park or the surrounding area.

• Programs at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP
• Join one of our regularly scheduled programs to explore deeper into the history of the park and tackle the tough questions surrounding the history of the Civil War and how we remember the war today. Programs usually run from spring through fall, with the highest concentration of offerings in the summer.

• Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminaria
• The Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminaria is an annual event featuring over 15,000 lanterns in the cemetery – one for each soldier buried in the cemetery grounds. This event takes place on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. The luminaria honors soldiers who have died in the service of this country.

• Chancellorsville Anniversary
• View special programming for the upcoming anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville.

• Wilderness & Spotsylvania Anniversaries
• View special programming for this year's anniversary of the Battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House.

• Fredericksburg Anniversary
• View special programming for the upcoming anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg.

• Earn Your Junior Ranger Patches
• Become a Junior Ranger at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP! Our park has four booklets of activities available for kids of all ages. Complete all four booklets to complete your set of patches and learn about the battlefields.

• Hike the Battlefields
• Explore trails at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and experience the battlefields up close.

Chancellorsville: Driving Tour

From April 30-May 6, 1863, the Battle of Chancellorsville raged in the area called the Wilderness. For Confederates, this victory provided a distraction from a crumbling home front and hope that Northern support for the war would falter. What were the consequences of the Battle of Chancellorsville? This tour follows the route indicted by the numbered stops on the circular battlefield tour signs on the park map and out in the landscape, including shared public roads that move at high speeds. Drive carefully.

Chatham Walking Tour

Welcome to the Chatham Walking Tour! This tour explores the history of Chatham from its initial development as a slave plantation through its preservation by the National Park Service. The distance covered by this tour will be less than half a mile over the Chatham grounds.

Ellwood Walking Tour

Welcome to Ellwood! Explore the history of these grounds from the land's inhabitation by the Manahoac people to its transformation into a slave plantation. Discover how Ellwood went from being a place over which Civil War soldiers fought and died to a site that preserves the memory of past conflicts. What does this landscape teach us today? What stories are hidden from view?

Fredericksburg: Driving Tour

In December of 1862, the US Army of the Potomac crossed the Rappahannock and faced the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. With a defensive line encircling Fredericksburg, the Confederates pushed the Federals back across the river in a devastating defeat for the US Army. This tour follows the route indicted by the numbered stops on the circular battlefield tour signs on the park map and out in the landscape. The battlefield includes shared public roads that may move at high speeds. Drive carefully.

Fredericksburg: Sunken Road Walking Tour

Why did this place matter in 1862?...and why does it matter today? Explore the Sunken Road through this guided walking tour that follows along the Sunken Road, where US soldiers made futile assaults against Confederate soldiers behind a stone wall, up Marye's Heights, where Confederate artillery ensured the Army of Northern Virginia's success, and through the Fredericksburg National Cemetery, the final resting place for over 15,000 US soldiers. *Pets are not allowed in the National Cemetery*

Jackson Death Site Walking Tour

On May 10, 1863 Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson died in the office building of the Fairfield Plantation. Today, this location is most associated with the death of Jackson, but the history here spans a much wider period before and after the Civil War. Follow along and discover the history of this complex place. If following this tour onsite, the distance covered will be less than a quarter of a mile and the tour will take about 30 minutes to complete.

Spotsylvania: Driving Tour

Just a day after the Battle of the Wilderness, the US and Confederate armies clashed again in the small community of Spotsylvania Court House. Drive the battlefield to the places where these armies experienced relentless fighting and where the nature of the Civil War was shifting in the summer of 1864. This tour follows the route indicted by the numbered stops on the circular battlefield tour signs on the park map and out in the landscape.

Wilderness: Driving Tour

In the spring of 1864 the US Army of the Potomac and Confederate Army of Northern Virginia found themselves in the same position they had been a year earlier, with one major difference. Lincoln had appointed General Ulysses S. Grant commander of all US armies. Drive the Wilderness Battlefield, the first clash between Lee and Grant in the Overland Campaign. This tour follows the route indicted by the numbered stops on the circular battlefield tour signs on the park map and out in the landscape.