This is the fifth part in a series on the recent Central Virginia Battlefield Trust spring seminar: The Road to Fredericksburg The Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest day in United States military history, almost always overshadows the other clashes between the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac during the first invasion...
This is the fourth part in a series on the recent Central Virginia Battlefield Trust spring seminar: The Road to Fredericksburg The First Defenders Civil War Round Table had the opportunity in March 2024 to hear Greg Mertz present on the Battle of Cedar Mountain, but while this similarly titled program still touted “Jackson is...
This is the third part in a series on the recent Central Virginia Battlefield Trust spring seminar: The Road to Fredericksburg. There was a time when Civil War literature focused largely on military actions without appreciable consideration of related “social issues.” In 1993 when National Park Service historian John Hennessy published “Return to Bull Run:...
This is the second part in a series on the recent Central Virginia Battlefield Trust spring seminar: The Road to Fredericksburg. The “Maryland Campaign” has gone down in Civil War history as a series of events during the late summer of 1862 that culminated in the sanguinary Battle of Antietam…the bloodiest day in American history…on...
On Saturday, March 15th, the Central Virginia Battlefield Trust held its annual spring seminar. Featuring five outstanding historians and scholars, this lecture series traced key events in 1862 that would lead to the Battle of Fredericksburg and its impact on the political and military fortunes of both North and South. Nearly 150 students and followers...
The following email was received on February 25th from the Central Virginia Battlefield Trust about a looming threat to the Wilderness Battlefield… February 25, 2025 Legal Developments Regarding Mega-Development Near Wilderness Battlefield In a fervent display of dedication to historic preservation, plaintiffs and nonprofit preservation advocates are continuing their bold stand against a proposed...
Last month the Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center announced the appointment of Doctor Judy Morley as its new executive director. She succeeds Peter Miele who left over the summer for new opportunities. Doctor Morley embarks on her new role with a robust background in nonprofit leadership, entrepreneurship and organizational development. She holds a Ph.D....
The First Defenders, past and present, have always had a strong commitment to battlefield preservation. Primarily through our book raffles, the money raised has gone to organizations focusing on the preservation of hallowed ground. Mark Quattrock has kept a keen eye on opportunities where our donations can be leveraged to the greatest benefit. Mark has...
A new volume in Civil War literature from Barry Robbins presents key events of the American Civil War through first-person narratives, covering pivotal moments from the Missouri Compromise to Lincoln’s funeral cortege. Voices of the Civil War includes some related events including: – The Dred Scott decision – Key figures like Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis,...
On April 14, 1861, the Stars and Stripes were lowered over Fort Sumter. The next day, President Abraham Lincoln, with an iron will to “preserve the Union”, issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion. Thousands of Northern men left cities, farms, and towns to answer the call. The first to arrive in...
