Hike with a historian March 21, 2020

With this post, we’re giving a little love to another Culpeper County ford with historic significance …

Notable county historian Clark B. Hall will offer a tour of Kelly’s Ford on the Rappahannnock River on March 21, 2020, with a focus on Colonial and Civil War era history. This program is sponsored by Culpeper Tourism. Full details about the tour and ticket purchases can be made on EventBrite.

158th anniversary of the Battle of Cedar Mountain

Scene from the 2019 anniversary event at Cedar Mountain Battlefield

An opportunity to learn about one of Culpeper County’s Civil War battles …

On August 8 & 9, 2020, Cedar Mountain Battlefield in southern Culpeper County will host a reenactment and living history experience commemorating the August 9, 1862 clash between Confederate Major General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s troops and Federal Major General Nathaniel Banks’ corps from the Army of Virginia. In addition to battle reenactments, activities for all ages will bring to life the stories of Civil War soldiers at the battle and civilians who experienced the challenges and deprivations of war on their very doorstep.

Location: Battlefield: 9465 General Winder Road, Rapidan, VA 22733. Event parking served by a free shuttle will be at the George Washington Carver Center, 9432 James Madison Highway, Rapidan VA 22733.

Admission: Visitors free with pre-registration on Eventbrite (link to be provided spring 2020).

Contact: Diane Logan, Friends of Cedar Mountain, 540-727-8849, email [email protected]

Full details on the event will be available in spring 2020 on www.friendsofcedarmountain.org

157th anniversary of the Battle of Cedar Mountain

Each year the Friends of Cedar Mountain commemorate the August 9, 1862 Civil War battle in Culpeper County with a living history event for all ages. The 2019 schedule is below.

Valley Guards, 10th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment at Cedar Mountain
Photo by Buddy Secor, Ninja Pix

Saturday, August 10

11:00 am  Opening shot

11:00 am  Combined arms demonstration I (Infantry and Artillery)

1:00 pm     School of the Soldier (Open to Public)

3:00 pm             Combined arms demonstration II (Infantry and Artillery)

5:00 pm             Camp life: camps open to public

7:00 pm     Ancestors ceremony honoring the fallen at Cedar Mountain

8:00 pm     Battlefield torchlight tours (students free; $5/adult supports battlefield preservation)

Sunday, August 11

10:00 am  Combined arms demonstration (Infantry and Artillery)

12:00 pm  School of the Soldier (Open to Public)

Daytime events are free. Donations are always welcome, and all proceeds benefit preservation efforts of Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield (friendsofcedarmountain.org).

Parking: Carver Center, 9433 James Madison Highway; shuttle bus to event every 15 minutes.

Visit the Civil War exhibit at the new Carver Center 4-County Museum. More than 200 African American men from the counties of Culpeper, Rappahannock, Madison and Orange left their homes to join on the side of the Union during the Civil War. Their Sacrifice: Our Freedom, an exhibit curated for the Carver 4-County Museum, highlights some of those men. View original Civil War artifacts and read of soldiers’ devastating experiences documented from pension files. Exhibit open: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Saturday & Sunday, August 10-11, 2019.