Both Napoleon and Frederick the Great have been credited with the saying “An army marches on its stomach.” Provisioning an army, especially one that numbered over 125,000 – the size of the Army of the Potomac at the beginning of General U.S. Grant’s Overland Campaign in May 1864 – would prove to be a monumental logistical challenge.
Fresh beef – 1¼ pounds daily according to the US War Department Army Regulations – was an important component of the Federal Civil War soldier’s ration. The most practical way to furnish beef to campaigning soldiers was to have herds of cattle march with the army.
So how much beef was needed?
An estimate given by Lt. Colonel C. W. Tolles in 1864 stated “A
bullock will furnish about 450 rations, so that an army of 100,000 men needs
over two hundred beef cattle for its supply.” Based on 450 rations
per head of beef, an army of 125,000 men consumed 278 head of beef daily.
At least 6,000 head crossed the Rapidan
River with the Army of the Potomac in early May of 1864. These
6,000 documented head produced approximately 2.7 million rations, enough to
supply an army of 125,000 for 21½ days.
The
6,000 head were gathered from holding pens in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington,
D.C. How did 6,000 head of cattle get to the Army of the Potomac for the
Overland Campaign?
An
excerpt from Feeding a Great Army ”
in the United States Service Magazine
in February 1880 by Brevet Brigadier General Thomas Wilson tells how:
“…to carry out my orders of supply, it
would be necessary to have sent up to the front from Alexandria, some 50 miles
distant, about 6,000 head of beef cattle, with the forage, corn in the ear, and
hay necessary to subsist them until the march began, and this feat had to be
accomplished between one Friday morning and the next Tuesday night; or, in
other words… an average of 1,200 head of beef cattle had to be sent daily by me
for five days, with the necessary forage for their maintenance.
The existing capacity of the Orange and
Alexandria Railroad in cattle cars was, at this time, for only 300 head daily…
The sudden call and the subsequent
remarkable feat of shipping 6,000 cattle over this road of a single track, in
the time required and with its limited resources was accomplished by the
authorities seizing all the flat cars within reach and placing fences around
them… In this manner, 1,800 head were
sent up in one day of twenty-four hours.
At one time during the shipment an endless train of cattle cars was in
transit, most of the railroad sidings being filled with them… We received all the cattle asked for before
the time needed.
Three hundred men were kept constantly
employed in unloading the cattle cars on their arrival at the front, so that
the emptied cars might be sent back without delay.”
The herds and animals that we see today
in the rural parts of Spotsylvania and Orange Counties are insignificant when
compared to those that travelled with General Grant. The Army of the Potomac had more than 50,000
horses and mules and at least 6,000 head of beef. Big armies meant big numbers.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
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May 6, 1864 was a day of changing fortunes as the Union fought the Confederates along Orange Plank Rd. It began with a 5 AM attack by the Union II Corps, reinforced by divisions from V and VI Corps, under command of General Hancock. The attack drove General A.P. Hill’s III Corps from its positions. They fled west towards Parker’s Store. The 7 AM arrival of General Longstreet’s I Corps stemmed the rout. Longstreet’s counter attack at Tapp Field drove the Federals back toward their starting positions to the east. By 10 AM the two armies were at a standstill facing each other astride Orange Plank in the vicinity of the monument to Union General James Wadsworth.
Exhibit 15: Unfinished Railroad Cut
General Lee sent his Chief Engineer, General Smith, to see if there was a way to break the stalemate. Smith and his party walked east along the unfinished railroad, which lay south of the Union’s flank. Both armies were aware of the unfinished railroad about ¼ mile south of and parallel to Orange Plank. In the chaos of battle, neither army had thought about using it as an attack route, or about defending it against such an attack, until Smith’s reconnaissance. Smith found the railroad grade undefended. He returned and reported his findings to Longstreet.
Longstreet sent four brigades to attack
the Union flank under the command of his aide Lt. Col. Sorrel. Sorrel arranged the men along the railroad
grade and, when all men were in position, began the attack shortly after 11
AM. It burst upon the Union flank in
total surprise. In addition, as soon as
the fighting started on the flank, Longstreet’s remaining troops attacked the
Union’s front.
McAlister’s brigade on the Union flank
was first to feel the Confederate onslaught.
It was quickly routed. Soon all eight
Union brigades south of Orange plank had collapsed like dominos. Union General Wadsworth, in command of Union
forces north of Orange Plank, heroically attempted to organize a defense on the
north side of the road. It was to no
avail leaving him mortally wounded. By
12:30 PM, all Union positions had been overrun with the defenders withdrawing
east to Brock Road or north to the Lacy House (Ellwood Manor).
The Confederate’s success quickly
turned to failure. While riding to the
front to direct a continued advance, General Longstreet was accidentally shot
by soldiers of the 12th Virginia of Mahone’s Brigade. While he
survived, it wasn’t until four hours later that the Confederates were able to
reorganize and resume the attack. By
then the Union had strengthened its defenses along Brock Road. The renewed attack failed. In addition to the short term loss, it would
be months before Longstreet recovered sufficiently to resume command.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
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The term “unfinished railroad” refers to the roadbed without track that existed during the Civil War. This article will give a brief description of its history. Another article will discuss its use specifically during the Civil War period.
The “unfinished railroad” had a role in the Civil War, but
later it was two different working railroads run on the same roadbed. Although
incorporated in 1853 no track had been laid as the Civil War began. Running
between Orange and Fredericksburg, it existed under several names and
configurations existing operationally from 1877 until 1984. The first line was
narrow gauge, best known as the Potomac, Fredericksburg and Piedmont Railroad
(PF&P). It provided passenger and freight service for almost fifty years.
The second venture was standard gauge. It also hauled freight and passengers
under the name of the Virginia Central Railway between 1927 to1937 and freight
within Fredericksburg until 1984.
Incorporated in 1853, the
Fredericksburg and Gordonsville Railroad Company’s (FGRRC’s) “purpose was to
build a railroad between Fredericksburg and Gordonsville or Orange Court House
in order to connect with the rail lines already running to Gordonsville.” The
company failed by November 1857. Road
grading from Fredericksburg on 18 miles of the project had taken place by the
time of the Civil War but no track had been laid, thus the “unfinished
railroad” term. The project was resurrected in 1871. Some progress was made by
the new company, however, after many delays, the State took possession of the
railroad in December of 1873. It restored the property to the original owner,
the FGRRC. In March 1876 the railroad was again reorganized and the name
changed to the Potomac, Fredericksburg and Piedmont (PF&P), best known to
locals as the “Poor Folks, and Preachers” due to its clientele. The first train
to Orange arrived on February 26th, 1877.
PF&P showed a profit for many years. 1910 proved a banner year with 18,000 passengers and $56,000 in freight revenue. The high point for number of employees was 63 in 1920 but the decline was coming. The automobile and the truck “offered portal to portal service and substantial reductions in labor costs.” Furthermore the line could not interchange freight with mainline connections. In 1925 the line was sold and reorganized as the Orange and Fredericksburg Railroad but that was quickly sold to Langhorne Williams, a Richmond banker. The new name was the Virginia Central and the first upgrade was to install standard gauge track in 1926.
The line generally operated at a loss until it petitioned the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1937 to abandon the 37 miles between Orange and West Fredericksburg. It would continue to operate one mile of track in Fredericksburg as a switching operation for 15 industrial customers. The Williams family continued to operate that line until 1967 when it was transferred to the city. The line was quickly recognized as a white elephant and although several schemes promised a profit, in March of 1984 the ICC approved final abandonment
Three excellent sources of reading are
“Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad Historical Society, Inc.”
Volume 5, Issue 4, Fall 2009, “The Virginia Central Railway,” Ames Williams,
pages 18-28, Remembering: A History of Orange County, Frank S. Walker
Jr., pages 252-256 and “Tracks Through Time; A Railfan Tour of Orange County,
Virginia”, Frank S. Walker Jr., page 20, a pamphlet available at the Orange
County Visitor Center.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
Next month marks the 154th
anniversary of one of the largest and most significant battles in America’s
Civil War, the Battle of the Wilderness.
Conducted around, and sometimes on, our community’s grounds during the
first week of May 1864, the battle is often considered the beginning of the end
of the Confederacy. This year, during
the weekend of May 5 and 6, the National Park Service (NPS), in conjunction
with local living history re-enactor organizations and the Friends of the
Wilderness Battlefield, will offer to the public, free of charge, a full range
of events and demonstrations commemorating this momentous battle.
This event will be held on the grounds of Ellwood Manor,
a restored plantation home located on Route 20, approximately a half mile from
intersection of Route 20 and Route 3.
Participating in the weekend’s activities will be Confederate and Union
infantry and cavalry re-enactors as well as individuals depicting key battle
commanders such as Generals Ulysses Grant, George Meade, and Gouverneur
Warren. Each participating organization
will set up a campsite near Ellwood that will allow you to view several
demonstrations of camp life, including stepping into the life of a soldier or
learning about the medical realities of war in the mid-19th century.
Anyone who wants to learn more about this hallowed land
where we live should not miss this event.
The activities will be held on the grounds of Ellwood each day on May 5
and 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; some will be ongoing and others scheduled at
specific times, usually on the hour.
There will be multiple infantry and cavalry battle
demonstrations between the Confederate and Union re-enactors each day. At 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. both days, the NPS will
conduct live fire artillery demonstrations.
At 4 p.m. on Saturday, all of the infantry, cavalry, and artillery units
will conduct a combined battle demonstration.
You don’t want to miss these!
Just prior to the midday firing demonstrations each day, you will be
able to witness a major confrontation among Generals Grant, Meade, and Warren
just as it may have occurred on May 5, 1863.
There will be opportunities to talk to each of the participants and
plenty of photo ops in front of the manor house as well as with all re-enactors
and horses.
Regardless of what you know about the Wilderness Battle
or the Civil War writ large, you will leave Ellwood with a better understanding
of and new perspectives about the events that occurred on this hallowed ground
and how they affected the final outcome of the war less than a year later.
For more information about this Living History event, you
can visit the local NPS website (www.nps.gov.frsp) or the Friends of the Wilderness
Battlefield website (www.fowb.org).
They will provide you with additional details about the events and
participants, as well as the timeline for specific activities and
demonstrations. Mark your calendars –
this weekend is a must see!
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
In April, 1875, the New York Sun reported that Anthony
Smith, commonly known as Anthony Jones, died in New York at the age of 70.
Smith was a former slave who had run-away from the Wilderness of Virginia.
During his life in New York Smith had accumulated a considerable estate but had
neglected to write a will. Lacking a legal heir, the New York Court System took
control of his affairs.
On his death-bed interview, Smith
told the story of his life. Once the property of William Jones, owner of the
Ellwood Manor estate in the Wilderness of Spotsylvania, His master William
Jones had become a widower in the 1820s and several years later William
remarried Lucinda Gordon who brought with her to Ellwood Mansion a personal
slave, Patsey.
Anthony eventually wooed Patsey
and with the consent of their owners they took up housekeeping on the Ellwood
Manor grounds. Four children were born to the couple, but only one, the fourth,
survived. About the time of William’s death in 1845, Anthony ran-away from his
then pregnant wife and the Ellwood estate. He was captured, returned to
Fredericksburg and sold to a new owner. After a trip to the South with his new
master, Anthony again escaped and made his way to New York City, where he lived
out his remaining years. Following the Emancipation, Anthony attempted to
restore contact with his family back in the Wilderness, but with limited
success. Patsey did retain one of his letters and later cited it as proof of
their marital relationship.
The story as related above was
published in the New York papers sometime after Anthony’s death. It was soon
picked up and published by Richmond, Virginia papers. As a result, two sets of
claimants to Anthony’s fortune came forth to the New York Court. One, the
remaining sister and brother of Anthony declared extreme poverty. They were
represented by J. Horace Lacy, their former owner through his marriage to Betty
Churchill Jones, William Jones’ second daughter and heir to Ellwood.
The second claimants were Patsey,
his first wife, along with the sole living child who was born after Anthony’s
first escape. They were represented by lawyers Alexander & Green of
Fredericksburg. When interviewed by the New York court, Patsey explained that
she had waited a number of years following Anthony’s departure before taking in
a new partner. Though partnered, she claimed to have been the wife of Anthony
(citing the letter she retained) and therefore a legal heir to his estate.
The New York Court wrestled with
the judgment for nearly a year. They recognized that New York and Virginia laws
on marriage differed considerably in the pre-war era. Numerous testaments and
affidavits were heard or submitted. Many of the claimants appeared before the
referee at least one time. In the end, based on Patsey’s proof of their pre-war
marital relationship, the court sided with Patsey. She received the estate,
then valued at $20,000, cash and property.
Continue to Chapter 6: Relive the Battle of the Wilderness
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
Do you know your family’s history? How far back can you trace your lineage? If you are an African American descended from
slaves, that quest can be very difficult, often impossible. Most of what we know about the history of
slaves and their families comes from oral traditions carried from generation to
generation. Such is the case of Anthony
Jones, a slave on the Ellwood Plantation in the first half of the 19th
century, and his family.
Shortly before his death in New York City, Jones
shared a believable story of his family and their roles at the plantation. Anthony was the son of Ester and Anthony
Jones, Sr., likely the Black Minister for the plantation’s slaves. Anthony, Sr. and Ester had 8 children, some
of whom are documented on slave censuses from Spotsylvania and Orange Counties.
William Jones, the owner of Ellwood, was widowed in
1825. He remarried a few years later at
78 to Lucinda Gordon, a 16 year old grandniece of his first wife. She brought her personal slave, Patsy, with
her to Ellwood. Like most slaves during
this period, Patsy developed a specialty – her skill was weaving. The younger
Anthony took a shine to Patsy as she sat weaving and, after wooing her for an
extended time, asked her to marry him.
Patsy agreed and Anthony, as the law then required, had to ask for
permission from the plantation owner; after William Jones agreed, Anthony and
Patsy took up residency in the laundry house at Ellwood. They had four children over the next 13
years – the first three (Isaac, Aaron, and Lucy) died in infancy.
Over time, Anthony grew increasingly unhappy with his
Ellwood life, working the fields and gold mining on plantation property. In the early 1840s he opted to run away,
leaving his then pregnant wife Patsy, his parents and his 7 siblings
behind. He was captured and returned to
Fredericksburg where he was jailed and sold to a slave trader, John Ellis. After the sale, Anthony had to accompany his
master on a trip into the Deep South. On
their return by boat, Ellis became sick and died, leaving Anthony in charge of
the owner’s personal belongings. Instead
of returning to Fredericksburg, Anthony stayed on the ship headed to New
York. On arrival, he locked his owner’s
trunk, gave the key to the ship’s captain, and announced that he was going to
Church. He never returned to the ship.
Anthony obtained employment in New York and for the
next few years attempted to correspond with Patsy; she later claimed to have
received only one letter which had to be read to her by the local postmaster
(Almond). Unfortunately, she lost that
letter during the Civil War. She and her youngest child, Anthony III, later
laid claim to the wealth her husband accumulated during his New York working
days. The elder Jones’ siblings, Isaac
Smith and Elizabeth Keaton, also pursued the estate through the New York
probate court. Those proceedings (1873-1876) and their related testimonials
afforded considerable insight into the family, some of which are shared in this
article.
(The rest of the story, obtained from the court
proceedings, will appear in the next episode.)
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
Friends of Wilderness Battlefield hosting their 2nd Annual Canoe Trip!
Saturday, August 25th, National Park Service Historian: Greg Mertz will be leading a day-trip canoe tour of Civil War sites along the Rapidan River. He will be narrating and bringing to life Stonewall Jackson, George Custer and J.E.B Stewart, to name a few.
You will have the opportunity to visit these historic crossing sites – many that are not easily accessible by land.
Plan to be on the water ALL day – so bring lunch, a cooler, sunscreen, wipes, any medication you require along with any other necessities you would need for the day. The terrain is rugged and possibly damp, so be prepared and dress accordingly.
The trip will begin at Ely’s Ford at 8:30AM, SHARP and you will be transported to Germanna and float back to Ely’s Ford with an estimated arrival time of 3PM.
There is a limit of 15 canoes (29 participants, plus the host, Greg).
The cost is $50, with Friends of Wilderness Battlefield receiving about half of the $50. If you want to be paired with a friend or someone in particular, please let them know that upon signing up and registering.
You must register on the website!!! You have the option to pay by credit card, pay-pal or mailing a check. Please note**Payment MUST be received PRIOR to the day of the event. There will be NO payment excepted on the DAY of the trip!
You can register here.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods Va or Waterfront property in Virginia or homes for rent we are your professionals for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove and Central Virginia, we are your proven Real Estate professionals. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, that’s the #1 question asked by home sellers. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. The Question is how much is it worth? Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site!
