Take a comprehensive battlefield tour of the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House and the Battle of North Anna.
If you’re interested in earthworks and fortifications, this tour is for you! We’ll see some of the best-preserved Civil War earthworks in Central Virginia. Both consecutive battles took place during Commanding General Ulysses S. Grant Overland Campaign, where the culture of both armies was to build earthworks whenever they stopped in order to preserve lives.
We’ll travel to the Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield, the most remote and pristine of the Fredericksburg Battlefields. While there, we’ll see where the opening shots were fired at Laurel Hill on May 8, 1864.
We’ll also walk the Confederate’s formidable Mule Shoe defenses, where impressive earthworks can still be seen today.
The tour will follow the Union assault on the Mule Shoe on May 10, 1864, with Upton’s assault and the largest Federal attack on May 12, 1864, which saw 22 hours of sustained hand-to-hand combat. See where the most desperate fighting occurred at the infamous Bloody Angle and Robert E. Lee’s final line of earthwork defenses.
Take a closer look at the historic village of Spotsylvania Court House. Follow the armies as Commanding General Grant moves south, where he and General George G. Meade will stop at Massaponax Church, the site of a famous photograph Timothy O’Sullivan took.
Travel 30 minutes to the North Anna Battlefield area with commentary and take a 30-minute lunch break, where your battlefield guide can give you some great recommendations.
Your North Anna tour will begin at Grant’s headquarters, where you will learn how he plans to defeat Lee, who is behind the North Anna River. See unique and rare sites at one of the fastest-growing battlefields in Virginia, thanks to major battlefield preservation work over the last decade.
Learn about Robert E. Lee’s plan to set a trap for Grant where he plans to strike them a blow. See some of the best-preserved earthworks in Virginia as we explore Lee’s inverted-v defenses of impressive earthworks.
Note: A challenging 2-mile hike over inclining and declining ground is required to see these earthworks.
The tour will travel 30 minutes back to Fredericksburg with commentary and end at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center.
If you enjoy exploring new and exciting Civil War sites not often seen by others, then this tour is for you! A local battlefield guide will show you some rare gems on the battlefield. We’re the only local battlefield guides who comprehensively tour the North Anna.
This private battlefield tour pairs nicely with the Battles of Cold Harbor & The Seven Days Battles, which are part of the Richmond Area Battlefields.
Let us show you the way as you relax and skip the self-guided tour hassle. Your battlefield guide will meet you at the Spotsylvania Battlefield Exhibit Shelter – National Park Service.
After an introduction, your battlefield guide will join your vehicle as you depart to your first stop. It is recommended that the battlefield guide drive your vehicle so you can relax and enjoy the tour, but it’s up to you who drives.
Joining your vehicle decreases costs, so you can see more battlefields with us.
Step-on battlefield guides are available for larger passenger vehicles (van or bus). For more information and prices, please contact us.
Note: The battles of Spotsylvania Court House and North Anna can be tailored into one of our Custom Battlefield Tours.
