 The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District Modern visitors are able to view the Shenandoah Valley's landscape much as it was seen by soldiers and civilians during the region's important Civil War campaigns, mostly thanks to the agricultural economy that has thrived in the Valley since before the Civil War. But this historic landscape is increasingly threatened. In 1996 the United States Congress created the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District to protect this national resource and to ensure that future generations would be able to explore the Valley's Civil War story and more fully understand its impact on the American experience. As approved by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation serves as the non-profit manager of the National Historic District and is responsible for implementing the District's legislated mission to work with partners to preserve the Shenandoah Valley's Civil War battlefields, coordinate the interpretation of the region's Civil War story, and promote the Valley as a visitor destination. The Battlefields Foundation and its partners have collectively protected thousands of battlefield acres and are collaborating to share this history with visitors from across the country and around the world. The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation is a nonprofit organization. To make a tax-deductible donation to our preservation efforts, please contact us at the address below or visit www.ShenandoahAtWar.org. |
Interested in learning about the places you can go to experience the Valley's compelling Civil War story? The Shenandoah At War website includes information about Civil War-related sites throughout the Valley, as well as links to the tourism and visitor offices that can not only help you find those places - they can also tell you about the wealth of other attractions that the Valley has to offer. |
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields FoundationPost Office Box 897 New Market, Virginia 22844 540-740-4545 |
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| "Avenue of Invasion": Lee, Gettysburg, and the Shenandoah Valley in 1863 (Sold Out) |
 Presented by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester (March 9, 2013) There was no "peace in the valley" in 1863. During the Gettysburg Campaign, the Valley served as an "avenue of invasion" as Robert E. Lee moved north - and after his defeat at Gettysburg, as a route of retreat and a haven for wounded. The Valley also witnessed the formation of West Virginia, the effects of emancipation, and over 50 smaller military actions. To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of that year, the SVBF is presenting "Avenue of Invasion": Lee, Gettysburg, and the Shenandoah Valley in 1863, a conference featuring renowned Civil War historians and authors Brandon H. Beck, Eric Campbell, Steve French, Jonathan A. Noyalas, Joseph Whitehorne, and George Wunderlich. Please note: this program is sold out. For more info, email or call 540-740-4545. |
Eric Buckland: Mosby's Rangers |
 Shenandoah Valley Civil War Roundtable Meeting, Harrisonburg(Monday, March 11, 2013, 7:30 pm)
Historian Eric W. Buckland will speak about John Mosby, one of the most fascinating figures of the Civil War. Operating principally in Loudoun and Fauquier counties, Mosby and his famed Rangers conducted highly effective irregular campaigns against Federal forces that diverted Union resources; his area of operations became known as "Mosby's Confederacy." Eric Buckland is a retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army. His books include Mosby's Keydet Rangers, Mosby's Men, Mosby's Men II, and Mosby's Men III. The meeting is free and open to the public. Rockingham County Admin. Building, 20 Gay St. For more info, call Ben Fordney at 540-433-2275 or email. More information. |
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 Liberty University, Lynchburg
(Thursday, March 21, 2013, 7 pm)
The 97th Regimental String Band will give an exclusive concert of Civil War music. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for students. The concert will consist of Union and Confederate songs of the Civil War, along with Negro spirituals of the period. The 97th Regimental String Band is one of the foremost Civil War era musical groups in the nation. The 97th has performed throughout the United States at many of the major theme parks, festivals, civil war reenactments and special concerts. More information. |
| Wear the Colors - New SVBF Logo Products Available on Our Online Store! |
 A variety of new SVBF-logo products is now available on our online store, including caps, polo shirts, wind shirts, sweatshirts, campfire mugs, and tote bags. You'll also find our celebrated "Breadbasket" items - battlefield coffee, "black powder" BBQ sauce, maple syrup, and more - as well as battlefield crafts, interpretive booklets, and much more. Click here to find a host of great products - and to support battlefield preservation! |
Park Day at Star Fort: Volunteers Needed |
 Star Fort, Winchester(Saturday, April 6, 2013, 9 am)
Please join us for Park Day at Star Fort! The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation and the Civil War Trust are teaming up to clean up areas of the Second and Third Winchester battlefields during this year's Park Day, an annual event to spruce up parks throughout the nation. This will be a fun and family friendly activity which will help to further restore Star Fort in preparation for its impending public opening. Volunteers will help lay down a mulched trail bed around and inside Star Fort and assist in general trash clean-up, wood cutting, and brush removal. Drinks and snacks will be provided. For more information, contact Chase Milner at 540-740-4545 ext. 103 or chase@svbf.net. More information. |
Monticello's Slave Descendants in the Civil War |
 Augusta County Historical Society's Spring Banquet, Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center, Staunton(Monday, April 8, 2013, 6-9 pm)
The ACHS's spring banquet will be highlighted by a feature program by retired Monticello historian Lucia (Cinder) Stanton that will delve into the very personal history of the Civil War by looking at the role of the Monticello slave descendants who helped bring freedom to our nation. Reception and cash bar. Silent Auction. Annual awards. Individual Seats - $50. Limited Seating Available. For reservations, contact Betty Lewandowski at (540) 248-4151 or augustachs@ntelos.net, or make on-line reservations at www.augustacountyhs.org. Reservation deadline is April 2. Tickets also available at the Gallery Shop at the Smith Center. 24 S. Market St. For more information. |
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 Augusta Expo, Fishersville(Saturday-Sunday, April 13-14, 2013)
Military living history and educational programs covering the 14th Century through the Vietnam War, including the War Between the States. Cavalry, infantry, artillery, military vehicles, period cooking, games, music, and much more. More information. |
Become a Member - or Renew Your Membership! |
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"To retreat...would be certain death": The Battle of Front Royal - Seminar and Tour |
 Samuels Library and Battlefield Sites, Front Royal(Saturday, April 13, 2013, 10:30am - 4pm)
Lord Fairfax Community College's Center for Civil War History will host a seminar and tour examining the May 23, 1862, Battle of Front Royal. The day will begin with a morning lecture (10:30-11:30 am) by Prof. Jonathan A. Noyalas at the Samuels Library (330 East Criser Rd) entitled "The Returning Day of Triumphs": Stonewall Jackson Gives Hope to the Confederacy. Following a break for lunch, the day will continue with a carpool tour of sites associated with the battle. $20. To register, contact LFCC's Office of Workforce Solutions/Continuing Education at 540-868-7021 or log on to www.lfccworkforce.com. For general questions contact Prof. Noyalas at jnoyalas@lfcc.edu. More information. |
"The Gettysburg Campaign": Bridgewater College Civil War Institute |
 McKinney Hall, Bridgewater College(Saturday, April 20, 2013, 9am-4pm)
Bridgewater College presents a one-day Civil War Institute commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Speakers include Wayne Motts (Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg), Dr. Stephen Longenecker (Gettysburg: Community and Battle), George Wunderlich (Union Medical Challenges at Gettysburg: Military expediency vs.medical necessity), and David Smith ("The Capture of African Americans During the Gettysburg Campaign: Race, Retaliation, and the Pressures of the Confederate Home Front."). Free. Pre-registration is not required. For more information, contact Nick Picerno at 540-828-5761 or npicerno@bridgewater.edu. |
"The American Civil War at Home": Sesquicentennial Conference - Registration Full |
 College of William and Mary, Williamsburg(Saturday, April 20, 2013, 9:30am-4pm) The fifth in an annual series of Signature Conferences sponsored by the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission. This event will bring together prominent historians to talk about the home front and the meaning of emancipation to Americans enslaved and free. Keynote Address by Eric Foner: "Lincoln, Slavery, and Emancipation," by Eric Foner. Panel discussions will include "Emancipation and Its Limits" and "Internal Dissent in the Confederacy and the Union." Panelists will include Edward L. Ayers, Thavolia Glymph, Stephen Kantrowitz, Stephanie McCurry, Stephen Ash, and Matthew Gallman. Please note that conference registration is full, but a waiting list is available; for more information, click here. |
A Sesquicentennial Tour in the Shenandoah Valley |
 June 5-9, 2013 Enjoy a five day program celebrating the legacy of Virginia's historic Shenandoah Valley in a joint production co-sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation and the Civil War Trust. This itinerary features: - Welcome cocktail reception with invited speakers from the City of Winchester and the Civil War Trust in the Grand Ballroom at The George Washington, a Wyndham Grand Hotel
- Curator-led tours of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Kemper House Museum and Abram's Delight
- Walking tours of old town Winchester and Harpers Ferry with a local historian
- Catered luncheons at Glen Burnie Mansion, the historic Burwell -Morgan grist mill and Bogota Estate overlooking Port Republic Battlefield
- Guided visits to 3rd Winchester, New Market and Cross Keys battlefields.
- Excursion to the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers
- Farewell Gala evening at Belle Grove Plantation including live musical accompaniment by a baroque ensemble.
Highlights of this luxury program include lodging at the George Washington Hotel, a Wyndham Grand Hotel, private tours, transportation, and round trip airport transfers throughout. The cost is $2,950 per guest; the tour will be limited to 24 guests. To see online listing for the tour, including a detailed itinerary, click here. For more information, a tour brochure, or to register, contact Matt at MHTravel at (703) 927-8271 or info@matthannantravel.com.
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| Registrations Now Open - "Perfectly Wild": The Second Battle of Winchester |
 Presented by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation
MSV and Battlefield Sites, Winchester (June 15, 2013) Registrations are now open for "Perfectly Wild": The Second Battle of Winchester, a seminar and tour presented by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the battle that cleared the way for Robert E. Lee's drive north during this 1863 Gettysburg Campaign. The day will begin with a morning lecture at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, followed by an afternoon carpool/walking tour of battlefield sites. The morning lecture "To Play the Tyrant": Gen. R.H. Milroy's Occupation of Winchester will set the stage for the afternoon tour which will visit an array of sites associated with the 2nd Battle of Winchester including the Pritchard Farm, Milroy's HQ site, attack on West Fort, Star Fort, and Stephenson's Depot. Instructor: Jonathan A. Noyalas. Cost: $20. (Lunch can also be pre-ordered from the MSV café.) Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, 901 Amherst St., Winchester, Virginia. For information, theder@svbf.net, 540-740-4545, www.ShenandoahAtWar.org. To register online (and to pre-order lunch), click here. |
| "The Storm is Gathering": 1863-2013 Sesquicentennial Programs in the Valley |
 The dark clouds of war returned to the Shenandoah Valley in 1863. In 2013, sites throughout the Shenandoah Valley will commemorate the 150th anniversary of that year with a fascinating series of events, tours, and programs; make your plans now to be part of the commemoration. For a list of the programs that are already scheduled - with more to come - see the section on the Shenandoah At War website here. |
| 150 Years Ago...A Sesquicentennial Look Back |
 March 3, 1863Battle of Fort McAllister (Georgia). Union Rear Adm. Samuel F. Du Pont [US] orders three ironclads, Patapsco, Passaic, and Nahant, to test their guns and mechanical appliances and practice artillery firing by attacking Fort McAllister, then a small three-gun earthwork battery. On March 3, 1863, the three ironclads conduct an eight-hour bombardment. The bombardment does not destroy the battery but does some damage, while the three ironclads receive some scratches and dents. The tests are helpful for knowledge and experience gained, but the fort does not fall, showing that the ironclads' firepower can not destroy an earthen fort. March 3, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln signs the Federal draft act, imposing liability on all male citizens between 20 and 45. March 5, 1863 Battle of Thompson's Station (Tennessee). A reinforced Union infantry brigade, under Col. John Coburn, leaves Franklin to reconnoiter south toward Columbia. Four miles from Spring Hill, Coburn's right wing attacks a Confederate force composed of two regiments. The Federal attack is repelled, and Confederate commander Gen. Earl Van Dorn seizes the initiative. Confederate Gen. W.H. "Red" Jackson's dismounted 2nd Division makes a frontal attack, while Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's division sweeps around Coburn's left flank and into his rear. After three attempts, characterized by hard  fighting, Jackson carries the Union hilltop position as Forrest captures Coburn's wagon train and blocks the road to Columbia in his rear. Out of ammunition and surrounded, Coburn surrenders. Union influence in Middle Tennessee subsides for a while. March 8, 1863 Confederate Capt. John S. Mosby (pictured at right) and 29 of his men carry out a daring raid behind Union lines, stealing into Fairfax County Court House, Virginia, and capturing Union Gen. Edwin H. Stoughton, two captains, thirty enlisted men, and 58 horses,. When told of the raid, Abraham Lincoln will remark, "Well, I'm sorry for that. I can make new brigadier generals, but I can't make horses." March 10, 1863 President Abraham Lincolns issues a proclamation of amnesty to soldiers without leave if they report before April 1; otherwise they will be arrested as deserters.  March 11, 1863Fort Pemberton, an earth and cotton bale fort constructed by Confederates near Greenwood, Mississippi, defeats Union gunboats attempting to navigate the waterways of the Yazoo Pass to approach the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg. Additional Federal attacks will be defeated on March 14 and 16, and the Yankees will withdraw. March 13, 1863 A friction primer accidentally ignites and causes an explosion at the Confederate Ordnance Laboratory in Richmond, killing or injuring 69 people, including 62 women. March 13-15, 1863 Battle of Fort Anderson (North Carolina). Confederate Gen. James Longstreet took charge of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina on February 25 and initiated his Tidewater Operations. He directs Gen. D.H. Hill, commander of the North Carolina District, to advance on the Union stronghold of New Berne with about 12,000 men. Confederate Gen. William H.T. Whiting, who commands the Wilmington garrison, refused to cooperate. After an initial success at Deep Gully on March 13, Hill marches against the well-entrenched Federals at Fort Anderson on March 14-15. Hill is forced to retire upon the arrival of Union gunboats. The city's garrison is heavily reinforced, and Hill withdraws to threaten Washington, North Carolina.  March 14, 1863Union Admiral David Farragut attempts to lead his Union squadron up the Mississippi past the Confederate batteries at Port Hudson, Louisiana. Only two of the ships succeed in getting through. Two others are damaged and have to drop back, while the USS Mississippi runs aground, is set afire and abandoned, and soon explodes. Three members of the Mississippi's crew will receive the Medal of Honor for their actions during the abandonment. March 17, 1863 Battle of Kelly's Ford (Virginia). Kelly's Ford was one of the early larger scale cavalry fights in Virginia that set the stage  for Brandy Station and cavalry actions of the Gettysburg campaign. Twenty-one hundred troopers of Union Gen. William W. Averell's cavalry division cross the Rappahannock River to attack the Confederate cavalry. Confederate Gen. Fitzhugh Lee counterattacks with a brigade of about 800 men. Confederate Major John Pelham ("The Gallant Pelham"), Gen. Jeb Stuart's artillery chief, is killed. After achieving a localized success, Union forces withdraw in mid-afternoon. March 20, 1863 Battle of Vaught's Hill (Tennessee). A brigade-sized Union reconnaissance force under Col. Albert S. Hall leaves Murfreesboro on March 18. Circling to the northeast, Hall encounters Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan's cavalry command, which causes him to fall back to a position east of Milton. Pursuing Hall, Morgan's men catch up with him on the morning of the 20th, at Vaught's Hill. Dismounted, Morgan strikes at both Union flanks, even to the point of encircling Hall's hilltop position. Hall conducts a perimeter defense and withstands all Confederate attacks, which last till after 2:00 pm. Morgan continues to bombard the Yankees until 4:30 pm, when he breaks off the engagement, after learning that Union reinforcements are en route from Murfreesboro.  March 25, 1863Battle of Brentwood (Tennessee). Union Col. Edward Bloodgood holds Brentwood, a station on the Nashville & Decatur Railroad, with 400 men on the morning of March 25, 1863, when Confederate Gen. Nathan B. Forrest, with a powerful column, approaches the town. The day before, Forrest had ordered Col. J.W. Starnes, commanding the 2nd Brigade, to go to Brentwood, cut the telegraph, tear up railroad track, attack the stockade, and cut off any retreat. Forrest and the other cavalry brigade join Starnes about 7:00 am on the 25th. A messenger from the stockade informs Bloodgood that Forrest's men are about to attack and have destroyed railroad track. Bloodgood seeks to notify his superiors and discovers that the telegraph lines are cut. Forrest sends in a demand for a surrender under a flag of truce but Bloodgood refuses. Within a half hour, though, Forrest has artillery in place to shell Bloodgood's position and has surrounded the Federals with a large force. Bloodgood decides to surrender. Forrest and his men cause much damage in the area during this expedition, and Brentwood, on the railroad, is a significant loss to the Federals. March 26, 1863 The voters of West Virginia approve the gradual emancipation of slaves. March 30 - April 20, 1863 Battle of Washington (North Carolina). During Confederate Gen. James Longstreet's Tidewater Operations - as Longstreet operates against Suffolk - Confederate Gen. D.H. Hill's column moves against the Federal garrison of Washington, North Carolina. By March 30, the town is ringed with fortifications, but the Confederates are unable to shut off supplies and reinforcements arriving by ship. After a week of confusion and mismanagement, Hill is maneuvered out of his siegeworks and withdraws on April 15. For more "150 Years Ago Today" stories, be sure to check the home page at www.ShenandoahAtWar.org, which features a new entry each day. [Sources: the Library of Congress (loc.gov); CWSAC Battle Summaries (American Battlefield Protection Program); The Civil War Day By Day (E. B. Long with Barbara Long), Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1971; History-Map.com; CivilWarTraveler.com]
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