Civil War in Virginia

Confederates built winter quarters and stayed at Manassas/Centreville until March, 1862
Confederates built winter quarters and stayed at Manassas/Centreville until March, 1862
Source: Frank Leslie's Illustrated History of the Civil War (p.452)

Ambrose Bierce may not have uttered the sardonic comment, "War is God's way of teaching Americans geography," but the quote is still relevant to the study of Civil War places in Virginia.1

Many people get introduced to Virginia geography when examining how their ancestors moved through the state in a Civil War unit. Sometimes, what appears to be obvious is not correct. The names of some places highlighted in The War Of The Rebellion: A Compilation Of The Official Records Of The Union And Confederate Armies have changed. For example, Stonewall Jackson's march in August 1862 through "Salem" refers to modern-day "Marshall" in Fauquier County, not to the city of Salem next to Roanoke. Genealogists studying family members who served in 1861-65 must match historical maps with historical events, before getting in the car to visit sites of interest.

More recent satire in the New York Times highlights how time and places can be juxtaposed by suburban sprawl, by using a mock battle report from Union General Irvin McDowell to illustrate the impact of modern suburban development on the historical setting at Manassas:2

Hdqrs. Department of Northeastern Virginia
Business Center, Radisson Hotel
Reagan National Airport
Arlington, Va., Aug. 4, 2011

Colonel: I have the honor to submit the following report of the battle of the 21st of July, near Manassas, Va.

...The First Division (Tyler's) was stationed on the north side of the Warrenton turnpike and on the eastern slope of the Centreville ridge just north of Centreville Crest Shopping Center, where an advance guard raided a Five Guys, then requisitioned disinfected bedrolls from Body & Brain Yoga/Tai-Chi/Meditation, where they encountered little resistance....

the 1861 farmland between Centreville and Bull Run has been transformed into suburban housing developments, plus rock quarries
the 1861 farmland between Centreville and Bull Run has been transformed into suburban housing developments, plus rock quarries
Source: ESRI, ArcGIS

The physical geography of Virginia affected where the armies marched, where they camped, and where they fought. Efforts of slaves to achieve freedom, and of local residents to just survive, are recognized by numerous plaques on the roadsides and by including in the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.

The war made many locations in Virginia special, even "hallowed." Efforts to preserve those special places have shaped the geography of tourism, as well as the conservation of historic sites in Virginia.

Manassas Battlefield was one of the first sites in Virginia where a monument was erected to commemorate the Civil War; Union troops dedicated stone memorials decorated with cannon balls and artillery shells on Henry Hill and Deep Cut to honor the battles in 1861-62. In the next 50 years, almost every courthouse in Virginia placed a statue of a Confederate soldier near the front door. Richmond extended Monument Avenue westward, and Memorial Bridge was completed over the Potomac River in 1932 to link the Lincoln Memorial with Arlington Cemetery and the pre-war home of General Robert E. Lee.

different designs were considered after Memorial Bridge was proposed in 1886, before final construction during the Great Depression
different designs were considered after Memorial Bridge was proposed in 1886, before final construction during the Great Depression
Source: Library of Congress, Architectural drawing for a bridge over the Potomac River ("Memorial Bridge") (1887)

even after Union forces occupied Richmond on April 3, 1865, the Army of Northern Virginia kept fighting
even after Union forces occupied Richmond on April 3, 1865, the Army of Northern Virginia kept fighting
Source: Wikipedia, Category:American Civil War destruction in Richmond, Virginia

Virginia Railroads at the Start of the Civil War

On to Richmond in 1861: First Manassas

Northern Virginia After First Manassas

On to Richmond in 1862: The Peninsula Campaign

Defending the James River in the Civil War

Between Gettysburg and the Overland Campaign

On to Richmond in 1864: The Overland Campaign

From Petersburg to Appomattox

Returning Home After Appomattox

After the War: Military Occupation

After the War: The Lost Cause

Civil War Prisons

Confederate Monuments in Virginia

Monuments Honoring "Yankees" in Virginia

Renaming US Army Bases Originally Named After Confederate Generals

Union troops marching through Mount Jackson in 1862
Union troops marching through Mount Jackson in 1862
Source: Frank Leslie's Illustrated History of the Civil War (p.220)

Stone Church in Centreville in March, 1862
Stone Church in Centreville in March, 1862
Source: Alexander Gardner, Gardner's Photographic Sketch Book of the War

after Lincoln announced plans to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, Loudoun County slaveowners took their property further south
after Lincoln announced plans to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, Loudoun County slaveowners took their "property" further south
Source: Slavery Images: A Visual Record of the African Slave Trade and Slave Life in the Early African Diaspora, Negroes Driven South by the Rebel Officers

Union forces expanded their control in western/northern Virginia between 1861-1864, but not in Tidewater
Union forces expanded their control in western/northern Virginia between 1861-1864, but not in Tidewater
Source: Library of Congress, Historical sketch of the rebellion (United States Coast Survey, 1864)

soldiers deforested areas to create open fields of fire, and for firewood and construction materials
soldiers deforested areas to create open fields of fire, and for firewood and construction materials
Source: Gardner's Photographic Sketch Book of the War, Fortifications on Heights of Centreville Virginia, March, 1862 (No.5)


Source: Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Searching for Black Confederates: The Civil War's Most Persistent Myth

Site of Civil War Hospital in Mount Jackson, between Winchester and Staunton
Site of Civil War Hospital in Mount Jackson, between Winchester and Staunton
(most Civil War hospitals were in areas remote from fighting but near railroads,
which brought the wounded and supplies... but Mount Jackson was in the middle of the Shenandoah Valley battles in 1864)

Links

by 1864, defenders built extensive forts and trenches whose remnants still dot the Virginia landscape
by 1864, defenders built extensive forts and trenches whose remnants still dot the Virginia landscape
Source: Library of Congress, Bermuda Hundred, Va. Federal earthworks on left of the line, near Point of Rocks

aerial reconnaissance was used in the Civil War by both sides, but the Union had more resources to build balloons
aerial reconnaissance was used in the Civil War by both sides, but the Union had more resources to build balloons
Source: Library of Congress, Professor Lowe in his balloon (Fair Oaks, 1862)

Union officials used balloons at various sites, from Northern Virginia to Hampton Roads
Union officials used balloons at various sites, from Northern Virginia to Hampton Roads
Source: Library of Congress, Fair Oaks, Virginia. Prof. Thaddeus S. Lowe replenishing balloon INTREPID from balloon CONSTITUTION

a traveling exhibit during the 150th sesquicentennial of the Civil War helped to renew public interest and stimulate tourism
a traveling exhibit during the 150th sesquicentennial of the Civil War helped to renew public interest and stimulate tourism

after First Manassas, Confederate forces controlled Fairfax Courthouse until withdrawing to counter McClellan's Peninsula Campaign
after First Manassas, Confederate forces controlled Fairfax Courthouse until withdrawing to counter McClellan's Peninsula Campaign
Source: Illustrated London News, The Civil War in America: Fairfax Courthouse; the Head-Quarters of General Beauregard (November 16, 1861)

to maintain military discipline, deserters could be executed
to maintain military discipline, deserters could be executed
Source: Illustrated London News, The Civil War in America: Execution of a Deserter in the Federal Camp; Alexandria (January 4, 1862)

in 1861, the city of Richmond purchased Lewis Crenshaw's mansion and leased it to Jefferson Davis, who occupied the White House of the Confederacy until April, 1865
in 1861, the city of Richmond purchased Lewis Crenshaw's mansion and leased it to Jefferson Davis, who occupied the White House of the Confederacy until April, 1865
Source: Illustrated London News, Richmond, Virginia, after Its Conquest. The Late Residence of President Davis (May 20, 1865)

in 1909, Virginia donated a statue of Robert E. Lee and it is displayed in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the US Capitol
in 1909, Virginia donated a statue of Robert E. Lee and it is displayed in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the US Capitol
Source: Architect of the Capitol, Robert E. Lee

Union forces used boats to cross the Rappahannock River before pontoon bridges could be completed in December, 1862
Union forces used boats to cross the Rappahannock River before pontoon bridges could be completed in December, 1862
Source: Frank Leslie's Illustrated History of the Civil War, The Forlorn Hope - Volunteer Storming Party, Consisting Of Portions Of The Seventh Michigan And Nineteenth Massachusetts, Crossing The Rappahannock In Advance Of The Grand Army, To Drive Off The Confederate Riflemen Who Were Firing Upon The Federal Pontoniers, Wednesday, December 10th, 1862 (p.281)

in 1864, Union soldiers died in futile attacks against entrenched Confederates at Spotsylvania Court House, the North Anna, Cold Harbor, and then the siege of Petersburg
in 1864, Union soldiers died in futile attacks against entrenched Confederates at Spotsylvania Court House, the North Anna, Cold Harbor, and then the siege of Petersburg
Source: Library of Congress, Cold Harbor, Va. African Americans collecting bones of soldiers killed in the battle (1865)

when cannon barrels exploded, artillery crews were killed and wounded
when cannon barrels exploded, artillery crews were killed and wounded
Source: Archive.org, Frank Leslie's illustrated history of the Civil War (p.152)

References

1. "He Never Said It," The Ambrose Bierce Site, http://donswaim.com (last checked January 18, 2014)
2. "The First Battle of Manassas, 2011," New York Times, July 24, 2011, http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/the-first-battle-of-manassas-2011/ (last checked January 18, 2014)

Confederate Cemetery - Manassas National Battlefield Park Confederate Cemetery - Manassas National Battlefield Park Confederate Cemetery - Manassas National Battlefield Park Confederate Cemetery - Manassas National Battlefield Park
Confederate Cemetery - Manassas National Battlefield Park
(click on images for larger versions)

the National Park Service now has its offices at the site of the Confederate headquarters during Second Manassas (August, 1862)
the National Park Service now has its offices at the site of the Confederate headquarters during Second Manassas (August, 1862)
Source: National Archives, Map of the Battlegrounds in the Vicinity of Groveton near Manassas

the Union Army paid formerly enslaved men to work as wagon drives and as laborers, before recruiting black men as soldiers
the Union Army paid formerly enslaved men to work as wagon drives and as laborers, before recruiting black men as soldiers
Source: Slavery Images: A Visual Record of the African Slave Trade and Slave Life in the Early African Diaspora, Union Supply Train, 1862-65

many contrabands fled to Union lines on foot, but some arrived driving a wagon from the farm
many contrabands fled to Union lines on foot, but some arrived driving a wagon from the farm
Source: Slavery Images: A Visual Record of the African Slave Trade and Slave Life in the Early African Diaspora, Fugitive Slaves Escaping to Union Lines, 1864

The Military in Virginia
Virginia Places