Guided battlefield tours

Join Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield (FCMB) historians for guided walking tours of the battlefield on the second Saturday of the month. Learn about the August 9, 1862 encounter in which 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. Continue reading “Guided battlefield tours”

2022 160th Anniversary Event; 1st day pictures.

Many people turned out for Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield’s first day of activities commemorating the 160th Anniversary of the battle.  The weekend event lasts two days.  Here are some pictures from day 1.

Culpeper Sheriff's Dept assists with traffic
Cars fill the parking area early in the morning while Sheriff’s Dept conducts traffic.
A variety of Civil War period Sutler’s were on hand to sell their wares to the general public.
The Culpeper History Museum was represented at the Information tent, along with authors, programs and souvenirs for sale.

Spectators gather to watch the battle re-enactment.
The Confederates prepare for action.
The Battle begins.
Noted historian Greg Mertz narrates the action as it develops.
Union forces opposing the Confederates top the hill.
The boys in blue advance.
A captive audience watches.
The action moves out of the woods into open ground.
The field was full of spectators.
A poised observer.
The event was well attended.
The Confederates hold the field in the end.
A parting shot.

History seminar July 28-30: 160th anniversary of battle

Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield will host a history seminar in Culpeper, Virginia, July 28-30, 2022 to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the August 9, 1862 battle.

A series of speakers will give battle-related presentations on Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm. Friday evening will feature a keynote presentation. Morning presentations on Friday and Saturday will be followed by afternoon guided tours.  On Friday, July 29, the afternoon walking tour will explore historic downtown Culpeper. On Saturday, July 30, the afternoon tour will be at Cedar Mountain Battlefield. Continue reading “History seminar July 28-30: 160th anniversary of battle”

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”

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!

 

Event: Soldiers of Virginia 1607-1945 – canceled due to weather

Due to the forecast for inclement weather Friday night into Saturday, Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield has decided to cancel our outdoor event Soldiers of Virginia, 1607-1945, scheduled for Saturday, October 30th. We hope visitors will join us for Soldiers of Virginia next year on October 29, 2022.


Continue reading “Event: Soldiers of Virginia 1607-1945 – canceled due to weather”

Children’s event on October 23

Children ages 2-11 welcome to attend Hands on History program at Cedar Mountain Battlefield.

We’re delighted that on October 23 the battlefield will be the setting for an outdoor children’s event held by the Museum of Culpeper History. Please note that if interested, you should contact the museum to reserve your child’s spot (see details below).

At this Hands on History gathering, activities and crafts for groups ages 2-5 and 6-11 will be offered, including: making and flying kites, learning about and making Potomac Creek pottery created by Virginia Native Americans, and making a Cedar Mountain battle plan! Activities will last around 30 minutes. Attendees should bring water, wear comfortable footwear and dress appropriately for weather conditions. The fee for each participating child is $5.00, to be paid upon arrival. In order to allow for social distancing, it is suggested that each child is signed up for a time slot. To reserve a spot or for more information, visit www.culpepermuseum.com or contact the museum at [email protected].

Park Day efforts keep historic Cedar Mountain pristine

About two-dozen volunteers donated time and muscle Saturday to tidy up Cedar Mountain battlefield just south of Culpeper, where nearly 3,700 Civil War soldiers lost their lives on August 9, 1862.

The nonprofit Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield participates in the annual event, started in 1996 by the American Battlefield Trust, which owns the historic land.

Each year thousands of history enthusiasts, families, Boy and Girl Scouts and many others join together to lend a hand in an effort to help maintain parkland across the nation preserved by ABT.

“Park Day is a time for anyone to visit America’s incredible parks for a hands-on opportunity to help preserve the unique beauty and history that each has to offer,” said Friends of Cedar Mountain President Diane Logan on Wednesday.

 

In Culpeper, Logan said, Park Day brings together returning Friends and first-time volunteers, an occasion she and other leaders enjoy as they connect names with faces.

 
 

“It’s exciting to witness the enthusiasm each visitor brings to the day with their varied interests,” Logan said. “Many come to preserve the history of the site while others have embraced the beauty as a place to bring family and friends for hikes, walk with their dogs, go on picnics and take photographs.”

At Saturday’s event, a group of seven employees of Culpeper’s Ardent Mills participated in the clean-up event, something Logan said the milling company encourages.

“They did a variety of things—trimming shrubbery, clearing sites for upcoming living history events, raking and cleaning around monuments,” Logan said.

Ardent Mills employee Brandi Warfield and her husband, Justin Warfield said they try to help out during Park Day every year.

 

“I think the last time we helped out at Brandy Station battlefield,” Brandi Warfield said. “It’s a nice way to spend a Saturday.”

Mike Williams and his grandson, DJ, worked on Saturday weed-whacking and raking around signage and the Cedar Mountain’s iconic replica cannons. The Fredericksburg resident said he discovered the battlefield years ago on a drive from Culpeper to Orange, even before any land had been saved. He said he values history and the lessons it can teach.

 
 

“Mike said DJ first visited Cedar Mountain as an infant,” Logan said. “Now he’s 10 years old and Mike told him, ‘This battlefield looks exactly the same as it did when you came here as a baby, and it will look the same when you are grown. That is the beauty of preserving historic land.’”

Coming all the way from Silver Spring, Md., James Owens said he enjoys participating in living history events at Cedar Mountain regularly and is a member of the Friends group.

“It’s very satisfying to come out and do my part toward returning the park to its wartime appearance,” Owens said. He used a chainsaw to cut back undergrowth that was starting to intrude on one of the park’s walking paths.

 

Jennifer Michaels, a nurse at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, worked with her husband and daughter Saturday to clear away leaves and foliage from a small family cemetery on the battlefield.

 

A new member of the Friends of Cedar Mountain, Michaels “is especially interested in cemeteries and in becoming a civilian living historian,” Logan said.

At Cedar Mountain Culpeper’s native son, Maj. Gen. A. P. Hill, sealed the Confederate victory when his division re-formed Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s crumbled line, leading the charge that turned the tide of the battle.

 

“For Hill and other Culpeper men engaged, this was a personal battle to liberate their homes, friends and family from Union occupation,” The Friends of Cedar Mountain website states.

To learn more about Park Day and the Cedar Mountain battlefield, located at 9465 General Winder Rd., Rapidan, visit friendsofcedarmountain.org or email [email protected].