Take a comprehensive battlefield tour of the battle of Fredericksburg and the battle of Chancellorsville.
These two epic battles were part of the rising tide of the Confederacy. Two Confederate victories which inspired Robert E. Lee to invade the North a second time, leading to the Gettysburg Campaign. Without these two battles, there would be no Gettysburg.
There is much more to the battlefield and the story than the stone wall at Marye’s Heights. We’ll go beyond the Fredericksburg National Park property in order to better understand this epic story.
We’ll take a look at the first day’s battle on December 11, 1862, with a bombardment, river-crossing, and rare street fighting. Along the way, we’ll travel through the historic city of Fredericksburg which still maintains its charm and character from the times.
Later we’ll take you to the lower portion of the battlefield where the most decisive military action of the battle occurred at Slaughter Pen Farm and at Prospect Hill where the battle hung in the balance on December 13, 1862.
The climax of this portion of the tour is following a Union brigade as they assault the Confederate-held stone wall at Marye’s Heights on December 13, 1862. Finally, you’ll walk the famous Sunken Road and have a better understanding of one of the largest lopsided defeats of the Civil War.
We’ll take a 30-minute lunch break where your battlefield guide will give you a recommendation for a quick counter service location or restaurant if requested.
After lunch, we’ll travel 20-minutes west to Chancellorsville, following Robert E. Lee’s exact route into battle, while you will hear commentary along the way. The battle of Chancellorsville is often considered to be one of Lee’s greatest victories.
Visit the opening actions of the battle on May 1, 1863, at the Day One site. Afterward, visit General Joseph Hooker’s Union headquarters at the Chancellorsville Crossroads and listen to his plans.
Next, we’ll make our way to Robert E. Lee’s headquarters as he crafts a plan with General Stonewall Jackson to attack the Federal flank. Jackson’s Flank Attack is still studied around the world today.
Your tour will follow a small portion of Jackson’s Flank Attack March to the site of the famous attack on May 2, 1863.
The tour will go to the site where Stonewall Jackson conducted his fateful night reconnaissance and received his wounding. Learn Jackson’s fate as the battle hung in the balance.
The climax of the tour is the last day May 3, 1863. Known as the bloodiest morning of the Civil War, approximately one casualty per second fell for five hours!
Learn how the battle of Chancellorsville will end and encourage Lee to invade the North a second time which will become the Gettysburg Campaign.
The tour will travel 20-minutes back to the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center with commentary. Along the way, you will hear about the rear action at Salem Church.
This private battlefield tour pairs nicely with the battles of the Wilderness & Spotsylvania Court House: The Overland Campaign Part 1 combo tour, which is also part of the Fredericksburg area battlefields. Taking place in May of 1864, it will pick up where you left off after Chancellorsville and the Gettysburg Campaign.
Let us show you the way as you relax and skip the self-guided tour hassle. Your own battlefield guide will meet you at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center.
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 keeps the cost down 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 Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville can be tailored into one of our Custom Battlefield Tours.
