Latest Posts

Music, Merriment and Memories on May 26

Join us in the Taproom at Old House Vineyards on Thursday, May 26, at 5:00 pm for “Music, Merriment & Memories” with John Tole! We’re delighted to host this event with our friends at the Museum of Culpeper History and the Brandy Station Foundation.

Enjoy old-time and 19th century musical selections drawn from early popular American music performed by musician John Tole. There will be a 50/50 raffle and food and beverages will be available for purchase from Old House Vineyards.

Old House Vineyards is located at 18351 Corkys Lane in Culpeper. The event will be held in the Taproom. Old House is known for its award winning wines and is a favored destination for all types of events and gatherings. What better location for music, merriment and memories?

Musician John Tole

Children’s Civil War Camp

Don’t miss this unique educational experience for children interested in history! Campers will enlist in a military unit alongside living historians to learn about camp life and military maneuvers. This 3-hour camp will feature  soldiers’ drills, equipment handling, and experiences of life during the Civil War, and wrap up with a mock battle! Continue reading “Children’s Civil War Camp”

Capt. E. A. Bowen, Part 3; With the 151st NY at Payne’s Farm

I want to thank Mary Robinson, descendant of Captain Erwin Ambrose Bowen, for the biographical materials on her Great-Great Grandfather which is presented in this series of posts.

Captain Erwin A. Bowen was paroled from Libby Prison at Aiken’s Landing in Richmond, on September 13, 1862. At Washington, D.C. on the 17th, he secured fifteen days leave of absence and started for home on the 5 p.m. train. That leave would extend to October 2nd. On October 1st Captain Bowen mustered out of the 28th New York Volunteers. On October 31st, Lieutenant-Colonel Bowen mustered into the newly minted 151st New York Volunteers, a 3 year regiment.

Continue reading “Capt. E. A. Bowen, Part 3; With the 151st NY at Payne’s Farm”

The Carnage was Fearful: New book about the battle

Just published, a new look at the Battle of Cedar Mountain by historian Michael Block, former vice president of Friends of Cedar Mountain.

Now available from publisher Savas Beatie and other outlets, The Carnage was Fearful, a look at the Battle of Cedar Mountain by author Michael Block. Mike is the former vice president of Friends of Cedar Mountain and has spent countless hours developing interpretation of the battlefield and escorting visitors to the battlefield on in-depth tours. Continue reading “The Carnage was Fearful: New book about the battle”

Volunteers invited to 4/9 Park Day

Join us on April 9 and be part of an annual event, sponsored by the American Battlefield Trust (ABT), that supports historic preservation through community involvement in restoration and maintenance projects.

Join us for Park Day on Saturday, April 9, from 9:00 am – noon! Check in begins at 8:30 am. Volunteers are welcome to join a guided tour at 1 pm.

This spring cleaning of the battlefield will take place RAIN OR SHINE!

You’ll be a part of an annual event, sponsored by the American Battlefield Trust (ABT), that supports historic preservation through community involvement in restoration and maintenance projects.

Park Day projects at Cedar Mountain Battlefield include trail maintenance, cleaning up the cannons and battlefield signage, clearing the trails and cemeteries of winter debris, litter removal along the battlefield frontage on General Winder Road, weeding and raking around the meeting house, and more.

All projects will be outdoors.

For everyone’s safety, we ask that participants please have masks available and be considerate of social distancing.

We recommend that volunteers bring their own gloves and garden tools. Hedge and weed trimmers are greatly appreciated. Electricity is available for landscaping/trimming efforts near the Meeting House but not on the battlefield.

In appreciation of volunteers’ efforts, there will be a hotdog bbq at noon and ABT water bottles for participants to take home.

Please let us know you’re coming by sending an rsvp to [email protected] – this will help us develop a “plan of attack” for the day! 

Arriving at 8:30 am for check in will allow projects to get started promptly.

Join the tour: At 1 pm, a Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield (FCMB) historian will host a two-hour guided walking tour of the battlefield where on August 9, 1862 Confederate troops led by General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson prevailed over Federal troops led by General Nathaniel Banks at a cost of 3800 men killed or wounded. A donation is appreciated to help support battlefield education and stewardship efforts.

Looking forward to seeing you on April 9th! We greatly appreciate the help volunteers offer on Park Day!

 

Capt. Erwin A. Bowen, Part 2; Libby Prison

Captain Bowen’s great-great-granddaughter shared this manuscript of her ancestor’s service so that it could be posted here.  These soldiers’ personal stories, from both sides of the battle, are what makes our battlefield history so compelling.

In 1858 Erwin Bowen married Anna Beach. He was then a lieutenant in the New York State Militia. On September 25, 1860, a daughter Effie, was born. She would be the first of 4 children. In the following letter, Captain Bowen, writes to his wife about his experiences at the Battle of Cedar Mountain and as a captured prisoner of war following the engagement. Towards the end of the letter, he records the passing of his young daughter’s 2nd birthday, while he was still held captive as a prisoner of war in Richmond. Here is the captain’s story in his own words.

Continue reading “Capt. Erwin A. Bowen, Part 2; Libby Prison”