Civil War sites
I love history. As I have started to investigate my family history, I found out that my third great-grandfather was a bugler in the civil war on the Union side and was killed in action. I believe that he was buried in the Nashville National cemetery.
Here are the civil war sites that I have been to. I hope to add many more to this small list over my lifetime. Most of the eight locations that I have been to are in Virginia.
Andersonville Prison. Located in Georgia, this was a prison camp for captured Union soldiers. Actually quite a sad place to visit. I convinced Arlene that we should visit this on our honeymoon! Since then we have visited many historic sites and cemeteries together!
Appomattox. This is the location in Virginia where General Lee surrendered to General Grant on Palm Sunday in 1865.
Ball’s Bluff Battlefield. A little location off of route 15 in Virginia. This was the location of the death of US Senator Edward Baker, friend of President Abraham Lincoln.
Fredericksburg. Located in Virginia, the battle of Fredericksburg took place on December 13, 1862. I visited here in June of 2001 when I was headed to Beavertown to complete my internship. There are actually quite a few battlefield to visit in this area, but I only visited Fredericksburg.
Gettysburg PA. Since I only live 45 minuts from here, I try to visit once a year.
Kennesaw Mountain. Located in Georgia, this battle was part of the Atlanta campaign. Kennesaw is also the location of the train engine famously used in the Great Locomotive Chase; otherwise called Andrews Raid.
Petersburg VA. The siege of Petersburg lasted 292 days. Petersburg is also the location of the crater. The crater has been called Burnside’s blunder.
Stonewall Jackson Shrine. Located in Virginia, this is where General Stonewall Jackson died.
UPDATE:
Olustee battlefield. Located in north Florida, I visited this battlefield years ago with my uncle.
What about you? What interesting civil war sites have you been to?
I love Civil War history! Before being called into the ministry my dream was to go to college and focus on Civil War history and eventually teach history. Visiting Andersonville on your honeymoon has to be on of the most romantic places to visit ever! Not!
I think my wife would have went ahead and divorced me… 
Btw that’s just up the road from where we live.
Jon, I didn’t say anything about Andersonville until we were married several days
. People always give me a hard time about that, but she enjoyed it! At least she tells me she enjoyed it!
I would love to teach history someday too. Maybe God will give us both the opportunities someday!
One place you have to go to and I love Civil War battlefields….Antietam! You have to walk across Burnside Bridge, the sunken road….the Bloodiest day in the Civil War!
I have always wanted to visit Antietam. Someday soon I hope.
Robert,
I visited a site in Wise, Va. My wife’s 3rd great grandfather was finally found to be buried in what was a small battlefield turned graveyard. He, I’m told was shot, and then defected from the battle site only to die a few hundred yards from the battle. A makeshift grave was erected for him and about 20 other men.
The main battle site area has been preserved and the grave site remains safe however the surrounding land has been sold to a mining company to begin mining. A bit strange to me.
We went to have a honorary funeral service for her fallen grandfather. Even had a 21 shot salute. One gun, 21 shots! A little different than 21 guns…but you get the picture.
They had one lady who was there that was there as a Lady of the Blue and the Gray. She read a poem and a eulogy. It was a very neat and honorable process. The funeral was shorter than is customary today…but still very sanctimonious.
I love history too. I really enjoy WWII, the Roman Empire, and Medieval times. My goal is to study the Civil War more…it’s one of my favorite eras too. What are some of your favorite?
Love this post by the way!
Billy
Thanks for the interesting story.
I love investigating the Revolutionary War and Ancient Rome. I have never gotten into the World Wars, not sure why. Two of my grandfathers served in WWII.
Above everything else, I love church history, especially revivalism.
I echo the comments on Antietam. It’s probably the best preserved major battlefield in the East. There are lots of wonderful sites in the Shenandoah Valley. New Market battlefield and the VMI museum are both great to visit.
I need to go there. I just checked Google Maps and it is only two hours away from me. Thanks for the recommendation.
If you ever get the hankering to visit Appomattox again, let us know – its just up the road to the East. Just to the West of us is Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson’s second house. Charlottesville/Monticello is about an hour to the North.
Thanks, Andrew. Will definitely keep that in mind.
I visited Appomattox the same time I visited Liberty. When I was taking a few online classes, I wanted to see the University in person. I was very impressed. Beautiful campus.