Kaine in Fredericksburg to Promote Battlefield Protection Act

Sen. Tim Kaine and Sen. Thad Cochran are cosponsoring a bill to protect historic battlefields from suburban sprawl.

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine and representatives of the Civil War Trust and the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust met in Fredericksburg Friday to promote a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the American Battlefield Protection Program. The group made their comments at Slaughter Pen Farm battlefield. The proposed legislation, which Kaine is co-sponsoring with Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), would extend the Civil War battleground protection program through 2018 and add Revolutionary War and War of 1812 site eligibility. "Suburban sprawl and haphazardly-planned development are encroaching on many significant battlefields," Kaine said. "The American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act would reauthorize the American Battlefield Protection Program…

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Fxbg Weekend Planner

Weekend Planner: Civil War Park Grand Opening, Poker Run, James Monroe's Birthday and More

Weekend Events in the Fredericksburg Area April 26 - 28, 2013

This weekend, delve into history with the Grand Opening of the Stafford Civil War Park, the Trail to Freedom Symposium, James Monroe's Birthday, and much more. Click on the links to learn more.  Student Research and Creativity Symposium This is How We Do It In Melchers Community Artist Series: Johnny Johnson  Fredericksburg Unearthed: The Ellis-Bell Archeological Site  Belmont through a Lens: The Gardens  Spring Opening of St. James’ House See Arts and Music Event Listings for April 26-28.  Lions Charity Bingo  Cool Cow Comedy: Big Al Goodwin Ride Virginia 2013 Poker Run Fredericksburg Fair Flea Market See Arts and Music Event Listings for April 26-28. Superhero Charity Walk Spring Rappahannock River Clean-up The Untold Stories - The Trail…

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Rare Sword Returns to Fredericksburg

Union Gen. A. E. Burnside's favorite sword "is the neatest artifact" of the sesquicentennial, says local historian.

A Pennsylvania man who purchased a Civil War sword at an auction in Rhode Island has loaned the artifact to the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park for the Battle of Fredericksburg 150th anniversary commemoration. It's the first time General Ambrose Burnside's sword is known to be on public display, according to Frank O'Reilly, National Park Service historian and author of "The Fredericksburg Campaign: Winter War on the Rappahannock." "What really makes this an exciting piece of history is the story connected with it," O'Reilly said.  The sword is likely the one Burnside had with him at the Battle of Fredericksburg. A Sword Discarded, Then Discovered When Alan Genetti of Pennsylvania found the sword at an auction, he was…

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Downtown Civil War Store Closes

Business owner Terry Thomann blames the economy for the loss of his business.

Terry Thomann has been a Civil War buff since his childhood in Joliet, Ill.  He came to Fredericksburg to capitalize on that interest. "What better place for a Civil War shop than in Fredericksburg, Va., with four battlefields in the area," he said. But Thomann's dream ends Nov. 30. The lease on his storefront ends today, and Thomann is closing his Civil War Life & Homefront Museum Store. "There are too many lookers and not enough buyers," Thomann said from his nearly empty shop.  In the past weeks he's been accepting "reasonable offers" for everything, even the display cases. "I've been in business 12 years," said Thomann. "My shop and mueum used to be adjacent to the Visitor Center [in Massaponax], but I moved to this location three …

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NYT: Construction Site Offers Fleeting Glimpse of the Civil War Past

Fredericksburg officials planning the new $35 million courthouse complex at the corner of Princess Anne and Charlotte Streets hired archaeologists as a matter of protocol in an historic district. The result is a national treasure.

Historians Lead Walking Tour of Historical Fredericksburg Raid

Union cavalrymen led by Captain Ulric Dahlgren stormed the streets of Fredericksburg the morning of November 9, 1862.

Historians Eric Mink and Donald Pfanz will lead a walking tour of the historical 1862 Dahlgren raid into Fredericksburg.  The walk will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10, 150 years and one day after the event, said Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park staff historian Don Pfanz. The free 90-minute tour will leave from the Fredericksburg City Dock at 207 Sophia Street at 8 a.m. Cavalry in the Streets:  Dahlgren’s Raid into Fredericksburg On November 9, 1862 the citizens of Fredericksburg awoke to find a force of 60 Union cavalrymen charging down their streets.  This force, led by Captain Ulric Dahlgren, had come to Fredericksburg to determine the size of the Confederate force that held the city and to evaluate the condition of …

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Letter to the Editor: The Death of Gen. John Sedgwick

Fredericksburg Patch publishes all letters to the editor. Just email them to fredericksburg@patch.com

Dear Editor, Last week I had the privilege to work near the Spotsylvania battlefield north of Richmond. A former student of mine lives a few miles from the spot where "the highest ranking officer that was killed in the Civil War" fell. General John Sedgwick encouraged his men to refrain from ducking when they heard a bullet from a Confederate sharpshooter come into their area.   Sedgwick said, "Those Confederates couldn't hit the side of an elephant from this dis..." He never finished his sentence as he was immediately hit with one of those Rebel bullets. One never knows how long one has before meeting his Maker. Would that all of us should live in such a way as to be ready for death and judgment to follow. What a blessing it is to lay one…

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Pawn Stars Miss Deal For Gun Used in Battle of Fredericksburg

The popular show on History Channel recently aired an episode in which a man brought in an 1854 gun used during the Civil War at the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Chancellorsville.

  A recent episode of Pawn Stars on the History Channel had a segment about a man who brought in a gun used by one of his relatives in the Civil War at the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Chancellorsville. The man, who was identified as Harry, brought the gun in to the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, which is where the reality show is filmed. He said the gun was issued to his fifth-generation grandfather Amos Hall of the 145th Pennsylvania Infantry, a regiment that fought in both the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Chancellorsville. Harry said Amos Hall was shot in the leg and his aunt still has the ball. The gun was still loaded when he brought it to the pawn shop. The expert came in and valued the 1854 gun …

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Fredericksburg Civil War 150th Anniversary Events

There are plenty of events this year to celebrate the Civil War's 150th Anniversary.

One of the chief events to celebrate the Civil War's 150th Anniversary this year will be a commemoration of the passage of 10,000 slaves to freedom across the Rappahannock River. The event on May 4-6 will include a procession from Shiloh Baptist Church Old Site to the City Dock where 10,000 candles will be lit and float across the Rappahannock River to symbolize the freedom of the slaves. A permanent public art project will also be part of the celebration that's put on by the National Park Service, Fredericksburg Area Museum and the George Washington Foundation. Another signature event will be on Dec. 8-9 when the Battle of Fredericksburg will be remembered with a series of reenactments. There will be field hospitals, music and living …

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Civil War Preservation Groups Need Donations

With the end of the year approaching, consider a donation to a Civil War preservation group.