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.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
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.
On the evening of May 1, 1863,
during the Battle of Chancellorsville, General “Stonewall” Jackson and
Confederate commander General Robert E. Lee held an historic meeting sitting on
a “cracker box” near the intersection of Plank and Furnace Roads.
They agreed upon a plan for Jackson to maneuver around the Union army and initiate a flank attack. The next morning Jackson and approximately 28,000 troops, nearly half of Lee’s Army, started their march. Charles Wellford, owner of Catherine Furnace, and his son guided them along back roads for 12 miles ending up on the right flank of the Union Army’s XI Corp. Around 5:15 p.m., rebel soldiers attacked, routing the Union troops and pushing them back until nightfall. Jackson considered pressing the attack but decided to conduct his own personal reconnaissance before committing to an unusual nighttime attack.
Exhibit 7: Arm of Jackson
Jackson set out around 9 p.m. with his entourage. His guide, 19 year old Private David Kyle, took them down a narrow road passing through Confederate lines and riding to within a few hundred yards of the enemy when Jackson’s staff cautioned that it would be too dangerous to go further. They turned around, retracing their path when they were fired upon by their own soldiers, mistaking them for Union skirmishers. Jackson was hit three times – once in his right hand and twice in the left arm. His staff rushed to his side, summoned his surgeon, Dr. Hunter McGuire, placed Jackson in an ambulance, and transported him to a field hospital – a large tent at Wilderness Tavern – near today’s Routes 3 and 20 Intersection; there, Dr. McGuire amputated Jackson’s left arm. Jackson’s chaplain, Beverly Tucker Lacy, carried Jackson’s amputated arm to Ellwood plantation, a mile away and owned by Lacy’s brother, where he buried it in the family cemetery; it remains there today. When Gen Lee heard of Jackson’s wounding, he exclaimed that “Jackson may have lost his left arm, but I have lost my right arm!” After his amputation, Stonewall Jackson was transported 27 miles to Guinea Station, near exit 118 on Interstate 95, where he died of pneumonia on May 10.
Visit the Chancellorsville
Battlefield Visitor Center, off Route 3, to learn more about Jackson’s flank
attack and even follow along the Jackson Trail.
Ellwood Manor on Route 20 offers an opportunity to view the burial site
of Jackson’s arm and hike to nearby Wilderness Tavern. Finally, Guinea Station is a shrine to
Jackson and readily accessible off Interstate 95.
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.
Only a few more days left to register!!!! Register before June 12th for your child at: lakeyouth.org
The Lake Youth Foundation’s 22nd Annual Children’s Fishing Tournament will be held on Saturday, June 15th from 9AM – 11AM. Children ages 4 to 14 years old may participate so long as they are registered to do so! There will be no registrations taken the day of tournament – so register ASAP.
Check in on June 15th will begin at 8AM. The tournament will begin at 9am and end at 11am. Lunch will be served immediately following the tournament for children and families that participated in the event. The awards ceremony will begin at 12pm!
If your child will need a rod & reel to participate or if you have any questions, be sure to contact Terry Hileman ASAP at 540-972-8634 or email at: info@lakeyouth.org
Enjoy a day with your children while watching them participate in a sport that can love forever!
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.
Early May 1864 witnessed the first time that
Confederate General Robert E. Lee and Union General Ulysses S. Grant – the two
giants of the Civil War – met in battle in an area known then and forever more
as the Wilderness. The area had been
known as the Wilderness for more than one hundred years before the Civil War
but it was this bloody battle that would put the Wilderness on the map and in
the history books forever. What made
these seventy square miles different from the rest of early Virginia? How did the Wilderness become the
Wilderness? To answer these questions,
we must go back to the early 1700’s when Virginia was still a British colony
and Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood envisioned starting an iron
smelting industry in this area.
Spotswood arrived in Hampton Roads in June, 1710,
after being appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Virginia Colony. Iron ore was known to exist in the area that
would become the Wilderness even before Spotswood arrived in Virginia. The British Government at that time restricted
manufacturing to the home islands and looked to the colonies to produce and
export raw materials back to England while importing finished goods
manufactured from those raw materials.
Despite the lack of permission from the British Government to smelt iron
in the colonies, Spotswood initiated the iron smelting operation in Virginia
anyway. His initiative was in fact the first attempt at moving away from an
agricultural to an industrial based economy in Virginia and actually in any of
the colonies.
There are three elements in that land that are
critical to the smelting of iron ore:
the ground must contain iron ore; there must be large forests for fuel,
and water for power must be available.
All of these features were abundant in what was to become the Wilderness
and Spotswood began acquiring land in this area shortly after his arrival in
Virginia. Within just a couple years he controlled over 80,000 acres in present
day Orange and Spotsylvania Counties.
But there was still one feature missing before
Spotswood could turn his dream into reality and that was the presence of
experienced manpower that could conduct the smelting operations. So he arranged for the emigration of German
iron workers to Virginia; the first emigrants began arriving here in April,
1713. They were the original settlers of
the Germanna community, located on the south bank of the Rapidan River near
today’s State Route 3 and Germanna Community College. By 1715 Spotswood had established the Tubal
Furnace below the confluence of the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers and was
smelting iron. By 1750 there would be at
least six blast furnaces smelting the area’s iron ore.
The smelting process required a fire hot enough to
reach the iron ore’s melting point, 2,190 to 2,810 degrees Fahrenheit, and it
had to be burning continuously for weeks at a time. The amount of fuel for smelting the iron was enormous
– nearly two acres of hardwood per ton of smelted iron – and some furnaces
could burn as much as seven hundred acres of timber per year. To obtain the fuel required clear cutting
vast segments of the virgin forest in the area.
The second growth forest that sprang up afterward consisted of smaller,
scrubbier trees which allowed the growth of ground covering vegetation. The vines, briars, honeysuckle, poison ivy
and other lower growing vegetation created an almost impenetrable wall of
vegetation and resulted in the area, by at least 1750, becoming known as “The
Wilderness.”
Exhibit 1 The Wilderness Virginia
It was this second growth forest that was in place
during the Civil War. Although the 1863
Battle of Chancellorsville was fought in and around the Wilderness, it was
really the first encounter of Lee and Grant in May 1864 – right in our backyard
– that the iconic name of “The Wilderness” became forever etched in Civil War
and American history.
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.
Welcome to 35361 Wilderness Shores Way! This beautifully maintained home boasts sought after vaulted ceilings, a split bedroom floor plan with 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths! Spacious master has an attached full bath and large walk in closet. Screened porch is great for enjoying a cup of coffee while watching the family enjoy the yard. Such a quaint community and close to all the necessities. You will be eager to call this place your home!
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.
What a spectacular property! This fabulous waterfront home at 100 Tyler Trail in amenity-rich Lake of the Woods, located in historic Orange County, is full of majestic character and fine features. You will love the the open concept floor plan with its soaring ceilings in the foyer and living room and windows galore in the sun-room! Outside you will find an extensive deck and patio area which leads you to the water’s edge where you can easily access all of your water toys! Need storage? You’ve got to see the amazing crawl space to believe it! Lake living at its finest!
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!
Your private, tranquil lake retreat boasting 245 ft of water frontage on approx 1 acre w/ spectacular sunsets & incredible lake views–a true wildlife paradise–awaits! The architecture at 111 Boxwood Trail is simply amazing in this 1 level, 1-of-a-kind custom home! Ponds, tea house, outdoor shower, & decking grace the exterior. You’ll love the lifestyle: lakes, pools, golf, horse trails, Clubhouse, & so much more!
A private, gated, secured community, Lake of the Woods offers anything and everything you could possibly want. Home to two lakes (the 550 acre main lake and a 35 acre “fishing lake”), a golf course, an equestrian center, a fire and rescue department, and a church and co-op preschool all within the gates, Lake of the Woods simply has it all. Whether your passion is boating, water skiing, kayaking, golfing, horseback riding, or simply taking in the breathtaking views from the clubhouse while enjoying a fabulous meal, from your own deck or yard, or from one of the beaches, you won’t be disappointed! Perhaps you’d like a game of bridge or volunteering your time and talents…Lake of the Woods offers more than 60 clubs and/or organizations from which you may choose to become involved. Located in Orange County, we are fortunate to enjoy low real estate taxes. Coupled with home prices ranging from $100,000 to over $1,000,000, Lake of the Woods is the perfect community for both full-time residents, as well as weekenders. But don’t take my word for it, please come see for yourself! I will gladly give you a tour of Lake of the Woods by boat and by car so that you may experience why I love Lake of the Woods!
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisers 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.
