The Civil War in the Rappahannock Region
The Rappahannock Region is located halfway between the capital of the United States, Washington D.C., and the former capital of the Confederacy, Richmond, Virginia.
Its navigable river, rail lines, and roadways made it a significant military target during the Civil War, resulting in thousands of lives lost in battles fought in the streets of Fredericksburg and in Spotsylvania's Wilderness. Both local residents and visitors were caught up in the chaos of war, and the remnants of these battles can still be seen in our landscapes and buildings today.
The library's collection includes numerous books and articles on the Civil War, featuring official records and personal memoirs. If you need assistance with your research, please reach out to us.
Visit The Virginiana Room
The Virginiana Room at our Fredericksburg, opens a new window location is the ideal place to explore your ancestry, especially if your ancestors lived in this part of Virginia. People from across the country visit our library to trace their roots. We invite you to stop by and discover how we can assist you in your search.
Area Civil War Battlefields
Fredericksburg
Stafford & Spotsylvania
December 11 - 15, 1862
Chancellorsville
Spotsylvania
April 30 - May 6, 1863
Marye's Heights
Fredericksburg
May 3, 1863
The Wilderness
Spotsylvania & Orange
May 5 - 7, 1864
Spotsylvania Courthouse
Spotsylvania
May 8 - 21, 1864
Winter, 1862
With nearly 200,000 combatants—the greatest number of any Civil War engagement—The Battle of Fredericksburg was one of the largest and deadliest battles of the Civil War. It featured the first opposed river crossing in American military history as well as the Civil War’s first instance of urban combat.
From the American Battlefield Trust
Spring, 1863
Despite the heavy casualties sustained there, the Battle of Chancellorsville is considered Gen. Robert E. Lee’s greatest military victory. It was the last battle for Confederate Lt. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, who was mortally wounded by friendly fire.
From the American Battlefield Trust
Spring, 1864
During the Battle of Second Fredericksburg on May 3, 1863, Union Gen. John Sedgwick orchestrated a strategic move to unite his forces with Confederate Gen. John Gibbon's division, crossing the river at dawn. Initially planning to attack the ends of Marye's Heights, Sedgwick faced obstacles due to a canal and a stream. However, the Union did advance, and, was marked by the daring action of regiments like the 5th Wisconsin and the 6th Maine Infantry.
From the American Battlefield Trust
The inconclusive Battle of Spotsylvania Court House was the second major engagement in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign, a major Union offensive to chase down Robert E. Lee, destroy his forces, and defeat the Confederacy. The battle took place over 12 days and cost 18,000 Union and 12,000 Confederate casualties.
From the American Battlefield Trust
The bloody Battle of the Wilderness, in which no side could claim victory, marked the first stage of a major Union offensive toward the Confederate capital of Richmond, ordered by the newly named Union general-in-chief Ulysses S. Grant in the spring of 1864. After two days of combat, the two armies were essentially where they had been at the start of the battle.
From the American Battlefield Trust
New African American Nonfiction
A Civil War Christmas
Rolling Down the Line: Trains in Virginia History
My Librarian: Civil War Fiction
New African American Nonfiction
A Civil War Christmas
Rolling Down the Line: Trains in Virginia History
My Librarian: Civil War Fiction
Local & State Resources
American Battlefield Trust
Dedicated to saving America's remaining Civil War battlefields. Civil War Trust members have saved more than 29,000 acres of hallowed ground in 20 states.
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust
A non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of endangered, historic battlefields in Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House areas of Virginia.
Civil Discourse: A Blog of the Long Civil War Era
Frequently updated, this site is a place where local historians share their interests in many aspects of the War. Includes biographical notes, a series on "secrets" of Fredericksburg's National Cemetery, and much more.
Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System
A computerized database containing very basic facts about servicemen who served on both sides during the Civil War. The initial focus of the CWSS is the Names Index Project, a project to enter names and other basic information from 6.3 million soldier records in the National Archives.
Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield
FWB hosts public events year-round and links to news articles concerning the Wilderness Battlefield and efforts towards its preservation.
Mercy Street
A blog that includes many entries on Civil War medicine in Virginia, as practiced by the Union at Mansion House in Alexandria. Affiliated with PBS' series "Mercy Street" and the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.
NPS' John Hennessy: Fredericksburg Remembered
"The challenges and adventures of interpreting the history of Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Spotsylvania to a sometimes ambivalent public." Many posts concern African American and Civil War history.
Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table
Founded as an organization open to all people interested in learning about the Civil War and in preserving the hallowed ground where the soldiers fought. This very active organization has an online newsletter and monthly dinner meetings (reservations required) featuring speakers on Civil War history.
