On the Trail of History
Virginia's Civil War Trails

You can't go very far in Virginia without coming across a reminder of the Civil War. The land saw more battles and troop movements and the civilian population endured more of the war's effects than any other state on either side of the Mason Dixon Line. It seems as though every hamlet has a museum or monument or roadside marker to document its role in the conflict.

While touring the Civil War sites evokes a lot of respect for the soldiers and their devotion to their causes, the battlefields and towns often end up jumbled together, with only dedicated Civil War buffs able to understand where they fit into the overall picture of the War.

Realizing that, the state developed "Virginia Civil War Trails," a set of four self-drive tours that break down the War into regions and explains what happened where, why, and how it effected the final outcome. Over 200 places are marked on the maps, from the famous battlefields and headquarters buildings to obscure churches, farms and stores that have their own stories to tell.

The main Civil War Trails brochure has a map of the entire state with all of the major sites and many of the minor ones on the trails clearly shown. It's a handy overall highway map of Virginia, actually, with state routes and interstates clearly marked. The brochure itself is an exam-crammer's dream, explaining Virginia's role in the Civil War in a few concise pages. If you're only casually interested in the War, this will probably be enough.

But if you have a deeper interest, the other four brochure/maps are invaluable. "Northern Virginia: Crossroads of Conflict" covers all of the action in the region between 1861 and 1865.

The brochure explains the campaigns for the military-minded, but there are also interesting stories about the use of hot air balloons for aerial reconnaissance and the fate of civilians in Northern Virginia during the War. Perhaps the greatest irony in the stories of the non-combatants is that of Wilmer McLean. His farm was overrun during the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861. Hoping to avoid any more of the conflict, he took his family and fled to the interior of the state. Four years later, the War quite literally ended on his doorstep. His Appomattox home was the scene of Lee's surrender.

"1862, the Peninsula Campaign: Civil War in Tidewater" covers one of the lesser-known periods of the War. Taking advantage of their naval superiority, the Union troops attempted to move on Richmond from the Chesapeake Bay along the York and James Rivers and the peninsula that lies between them. Stubborn Confederate opposition and awful weather doomed the Union assault, and they eventually retreated.

This is the campaign that saw the Battle of the Ironclads. The USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (the Merrimack to any Yankees out there) fought to a stalemate in the waters between Hampton and Norfolk. Badly damaged, the CSS Virginia was scuttled after the battle, while the Monitor sank during a storm a few months later. But their fight spelled the end of wooden-hulls warships, changing the course of naval warfare forever.

"Shenandoah Valley: Avenue of Invasion" documents the tragic story of the Confederacy's breadbasket during the war. For the rebels, it was a lifeline of supplies and access to the North. To the Union, it was a strategic and logistical hazard that had to be destroyed. By the end of the War, the once-fertile, well-populated land between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains and Harpers Ferry and Roanoke was decimated, burnt-out and nearly deserted.

The final months of the War are covered by the last Trail, "Lee vs. Grant." For nearly a year, each Union move was countered by the Confederates in some of the bloodiest fighting of the War. This is where names like the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor entered the Civil War landscape. The fighting ended with the fall of Richmond and the retreat to the west by the Army of Northern Virginia. A week later, Lee arrived in Appomattox.

Each of the brochures is well illustrated with period photos and paintings. There's an exhaustive list of site descriptions and a thorough listing of all the relevant visitor centers, museums, historical societies, and points of interest.
The brochures are free and available by calling 888-CIVIL WAR. You can also check out the website at www.civilwar-va.com.
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