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| Traveling Clara Barton Stamp from Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park. |
Hello, Junior Rangers! Today I got Stamp #2 on my Traveling Clara Barton. This one is from
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National MilitaryPark. Whoa. That’s a mouthful, lol.
It looks just like the first one from the Missing Soldiers Office, but it is personalized with the name of the site (see left).
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| That's it. Nothing exciting here... My Traveling Clara Barton with the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park Stamp. :) |
Though getting this one back was not as exciting as when I got the stamp from Clara Barton’s Missing
Soldiers Office, where I actually got a letter from the Superintendent. This
was just my Traveling Clara Barton returned in an envelope (see right). But at least they
used my sticker? =/
One step closer to getting the Clara Barton Civil War 150th Anniversary Junior Ranger Badge. Two down, Four to go! :)
About Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park
Hailed
by the NPS as “America’s Battleground, where the Civil War roared to its bloody
climax,” this NPS site, the second-largest military park in the world,
commemorates four major Civil War battles: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville,
Wilderness and Spotsylvania. This place vividly reflects the tragic cost of the
Civil War: more than 100,000 casualties occurred as a result of the 18-month fray
across the 17-mile radius that encompasses these sites.
Fredericksburg
Battlefield: Site of the Fredericksburg Campaign
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| Arial View of Marye's Heights Photo Courtesy of nps.gov |
The Union army, led by Ambrose E Burnside, crossed the Rappahannock River into Fredericksburg on December 11, 1862. Robert E Lee soldiers were already there, in the high-ground west of the city. Two days later, Burnside ordered two attacks. The assault, led by George G Mead, achieved temporary success against Stonewall Jackson’s Corps at Prospect Hill; however, the Confederate reserves drove them back to their starting point. A second attack was launched against Lee’s defenses at Marye’s Heights (located west of Fredericksburg). The Confederates overwhelmed the Union troops with their artillery and infantry defenses. When the day was over, Lee had won what was to be called his “most one-sided victory of the war.”
Chancellorsville
Battlefield: Site of the Chancellorsville Campaign
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| Site of Jackson's Flank Attack Photo Courtesy nps.gov |
Following the disaster at Fredericksburg, President Lincoln replaced Burnside with Joseph Hooker. On April 27, 1863, Hooker marched the army upstream to
Chancellorsville. Lee discovered what Hooker was doing, and rushed west; this action led Hooker to abandon his original initiative and instead establish a defensive line. Unfortunately, this defensive line was vulnerable on the right flank. On May 2, Confederate troops, led by Stonewall Jackson, exploited this weakness by leading his troops around the Union army and destroying Hooker’s right flank in a surprise attack. However, the day ended tragically for the Confederate army, as Jackson was accidentally shot and mortally wounded by his own shoots. Lee took advantage of the advances made by Jackson, and drove the Union army back across the river during the three days that followed.
The
Wilderness Battlefield: Site of the Wilderness Campaign
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| Saunders Field on the Wilderness Battlefield Photo Courtesy nps.gov |
The first of many encounters between Robert E Lee and Ulysses S Grant, this battle took place in the difficult environment of the Wilderness. This Campaign occurred on May 5-6, 1864. The Confederate and Union armies fought for two days in the area known as the Orange Turnpike. On May 5, to the south, on the area known as Orange Plank Road, the Union soldiers almost crushed Hill’s troops; however they were pushed back in a Confederate counterattack the next day (May 6). The battle resulted in a draw; but Grant ended the stalemate first by leading his army south towards Spotsylvania Courthouse.
The
Spotsylvania Court House: Site of the Spotsylvania Campaign
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| Site of "Bloody Angle" Battle during the Spotsylvania Campaign. Photo Courtesy nps.gov |
On the night of May 7, 1864, both the Confederate and Union armies raced to reach the area in front of Spotsylvania Courthouse which would allow them to control the shortest route to Richmond, Virginia. Lee and the Confederates arrived first, and successfully defended themselves against a series of Union attacks. On a foggy May 12 morning, the Union army charged a vulnerable section of the Confederate troops. The initial Union advance overwhelmed the “Mule Shoe Salient” section; however, a counterattack by reinforcements lasted 20 hours, which resulted in the most intense hand-to-hand combat of the war. It would later be known as the “Bloody Angle.” During this time, Lee was able to build new earthworks, which he successfully held until Grant abandoned the field on May 21.
Other Sites at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park
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| Photo Courtesy nps.gov Chatham Manor, Fredericksburg |
Chatham Manor: Built by
William Fitzhugh in 1768, this house was a major Union headquarters during the
Fredericksburg Campaign and also served as a hospital during the Civil War. It
was here that medical personnel assisted by volunteers like Clara Barton
treated Union Soldiers. It also famously hosted three Presidents: George
Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. This colonial mansion
features beautiful gardens and views of old town Fredericksburg and the
Rappahannock River.
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| Salem Church. Photo Courtesy nps.gov |
Salem Church: Built in
1844, this Baptist church served as a refugee center for the people of
Fredericksburg who fled during the battle that was fought in their town in 1862.
During the Chancellorsville Campaign, the fighting took place around the
church. After the battle, the church was used by the Confederates as a
hospital, which tended to the wounded of both armies.
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| Arial View of Stonewall Jackson Shrine. Photo Courtesy nps.gov |
Stonewall Jackson Shrine: This site is dedicated to the Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall”
Jackson. It is here that he died on May 10, 1863 after being wounded at
Chancellorsville and later developing pneumonia.
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| Ellwood Manor. Photo Courtesy nps.gov |
Ellwood Manor: This site was used as a hospital during the Chancellorsville Campaign by
the Confederates and later used by the Union during the Wilderness Campaign as
a hospital and their headquarters. “Stonewall” Jackson’s arm, which was
amputated in a field hospital near Wilderness Tavern, is buried in the family
cemetery.
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| Fredericksburg National Cemetery Photo Courtesy nps.gov |
Fredericksburg National Cemetery: A 12-acre cemetery at Marye’s Heights which serves as the
final resting place for the more than 15,000 Union soldiers that were killed in
and around Fredericksburg. 85% of the soldiers buried here are unknowns. The
Confederate soldiers are buried in the neighboring Fredericksburg and
Spotsylvania Confederate cemeteries.
The Clara Barton Connection
Clara Barton is associated with three of the battles that took
place in this area: the Battle of Fredericksburg (12/13/1862), Battle of Wilderness
(May 5-7, 1864), and Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (May 8-21 1864). During
this time, she tended to the wounded and helped to keep them alive during the
frigid nights on the battlefield.
Source: nps.gov
Explore
on, Junior Rangers! :)
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