Day 22, Sunday

105,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing during the four major battles that took place between 1862-1863 in  Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House.  It's hard to comprehend such numbers, and it's hard to not get depressed when you consider that men could do this to each other...and then there is slavery!

At the top of this hill, Confederate cannons pounded the city of Fredericksburg which the Union army occupied.  Believing their superior numbers would prevail, General Beauregard ordered his soldiers to attack the hill.  The Confederate soldiers took cover behind this stone wall and easily destroyed the approaching Union army who had no protection or cover for 300-400 yards as they approached this hill.

The Sunken Road of Fredericksburg

15,000 graves at the National Cemetery in Fredericksburg.  80% were unknown soldiers.

A Confederate soldier provides water to a wounded Union soldier.  

Located on a high bluff overlooking the  Rappahonock River and the city of Fredericksburg is Chatham Manor.  Built in 1771 and originally encompassing over 1300 acres, this plantation required over 100 slaves to serve a single family.

 

Leaving Chatham Manor, our next stop was the Chancellorsville Visitors' Center where we watched a short film that explained what most consider was Robert E. Lee's greatest victory and greatest loss.  The victory of course was over the Union Army, but the loss was the death of Stonewall Jackson, who was accidentally shot by his own men.  Without Jackson to carry out his orders, Lee never defeated the Union Army again throughout the Civil War.  

Although a more formal memorial was eventually erected, this stone was placed at the location where Jackson was believed to be shot.  He died of complications from this wound 8 days later.  When a new highway was redirected through this area, the remains of an unknown Union soldier were discovered and are now placed next to the Jackson memorial.