• Home

The Complete Pilgrim - Religious Travel Sites

Howard Kramer's, The Complete Pilgrim, Religious Travel Site

  • AMERICAN RELIGIOUS SITES
  • CHRISTIAN SITES
  • JEWISH SITES
  • CATHOLIC SITES
  • ISLAMIC SITES
  • INDIAN/HINDU SITES
  • HOLIDAY SITES
  • CASTLES
  • BATTLEFIELDS
  • MOUNTAINS
  • NATURE
  • WILDLIFE SITES
  • PHOTO GALLERIES
  • ARCHIVES
  • ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

BATTLEFIELDS OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

June 20, 2021 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

The American Civil War was the largest war ever fought in the United States; and the largest ever in history that did not involve European or Asian military powers.  Of the two dozen military sites in the National Park system, half commemorate battlefields of the Civil War.  Some of these, notably those of Gettysburg and Kennesaw Mountain, are among the most popular destinations in the National Park system.  From Pennsylvania to Georgia, millions of visitors come each year to pay tribute to those who fought for freedom at the sites of some of the wars greatest battles.

Manassas National Battlefield Park

Manassas, VA (1861 & 1862)

Web: www.nps.gov/mana (official website)

Manassas Battlefield (wikipedia.org)

Manassas Battlefield (wikipedia.org)

Manassas National Battlefield was the site of two major engagements of the American Civil War.  The first, which took place on July 21, 1861, was known as the First Battle of Bull Run and was the first major engagement of the conflict.  The battle was an unexpected victory for the South thanks to the heroics of Andrew “Stonewall” Jackson, and almost led the immediate capture of Washington.  A Second Battle of Bull Run was fought on the same field August 28-30, 1962.  It also resulted in a Confederate victory, but not a decisive one.

Manassas National Battlefield Park incorporates a large area along Interstate 66 north of the town of Manassas where the majority of both battles took place.  Some of the highlights include Matthew’s Hill, where the first shots were fired at the first battle; Brawner’s Farm, where the second battle began; Henry Hill, where Jackson and his brigade made their famous stand in the first battle; and the Stone Bridge which the Federal armies used during their retreat from both battles.  There are museums with exhibits on the battles at the visitor’s center and at Brawner’s Farm, an old farm building on the site.

Antietam National Battlefield

Sharpsburg, MD (1862)

Web: www.nps.gov/ancm (official website)

Antietam Battlefield

Antietam Battlefield (wikipedia.org)

The Battle of Antietam was arguably the greatest yet indecisive battles of the American Civil War.  Fought on September 17, 1862, it was the culmination of Robert E. Lee’s first major attempt to invade the north.  Although the Confederate army was significantly outnumbered, they managed to fight the Federal army to a draw.  The resultant casualties were catastrophic on both sides.  The nearly 23,000 casualties were roughly split between the two armies, the highest single-day toll of casualties in American history.  The battle was considered a Union victory as Lee was forced to withdraw in its aftermath.

Antietam National Battlefield is spread out over a large area just west of Frederick.  It includes the entirety of the area where the battle took place, including a sprawling cemetery where many of the Union dead are buried, and the Pry House, which was the headquarters of General McClellan.  It is now home to a Field Hospital Museum.  There is also a visitor’s center with exhibits on the battle and Abraham Lincoln’s rare battlefield visit.

Gettysburg National Military Park

Gettysburg, PA (1863)

Web: www.nps.gov/gett (official website)

Gettysburg Battlefield (daughter Emily center, daughter Natalie bottom left)

Gettysburg Battlefield (daughter Emily center, daughter Natalie bottom left)

The Battle of Gettysburg was the largest battle ever fought on American soil, and one of the largest to take place anywhere during the 19th century.  Fought July 1-3, 1863, Gettysburg was the farthest that Confederate armies ever advanced into northern territory, and was for all intents and purposes the turning point of the war.  Lee’s strategic objective was to capture several important cities in southeastern Pennsylvania.  However, the Union army arrived on the field first, occupied the high ground, and held off the Confederate onslaught.  Each side took well over 20,000 casualties before Lee’s army was decisively defeated at Pickett’s Charge.  After the battle, president Lincoln traveled to the field and delivered his Gettysburg Address, one of the most famous speeches in American history.

Gettysburg National Military Park is one of the most popular visited battlefields in the United States.  It is especially revered among history buffs and military enthusiasts.  The battlefield, just south of the city, is very well marked, and scores of monuments commemorate the soldiers and units of both sides.  The wide open field where Pickett’s Charge took place has been well preserved, with fences and other landmarks fully restored for the throngs of visitors who come to see the battlefield.  Other popular sites include Big Round Top and Little Round Top; the Devil’s Den; Cemetery Ridge and Seminary Ridge.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Chickamauga, GA (1863)

Web: www.nps.gov/chch (official website)

Chickamauga Battlefield (wikipedia.org)

Chickamauga Battlefield (wikipedia.org)

The Battle of Chickamauga was in some ways a mirror to the Battle of Gettysburg which had taken place a few months before.  After driving across Tennessee for most of the summer, Union armies were stopped at Chickamauga in September 19-20, 1863.  It was the largest battle of the war south of Virginia and one of the greatest victories for the Confederacy.  However, the victory was short lived.  The Union Army soon received reinforcements, and by November, after a long series of battles, the Confederates were defeated, Chattanooga secured by the North and the way opened for an attack on Atlanta.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is the oldest battlefield park in the national park system.  Designated in 1890 along with three other battlefields, it was the first to be opened.  It consists primarily of the Chickamauga Battlefield along with a few other points of interest of the Chattanooga campaign, including Moccasin Bend and Missionary Ridge.  Lookout Mountain is home to several other tourist attractions and is the most visited part of the park.

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

Fredericksburg, VA (1862-1864)

Web: www.nps.gov/frsp (official website)

Fredericksburg Battlefield (wikipedia.org)

Fredericksburg Battlefield (wikipedia.org)

The area around Fredericksburg, VA was one of the most hotly contested theaters during the American Civil War.  Located almost exactly half-way between the opposing capitals of Washington and Richmond, four major battles occurred within a few miles of each other just west of the town.  The first two, the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862 and the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863, were important victories for the South that paved the way for two invasions of northern territory.  The second two, the Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse in 1864, were both part of the North’s inexorable and ultimately successful drive to capture Richmond.

Although all four battlefields are somewhat separated from each other, they are maintained collectively by the park service as the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.  Fredericksburg is just south of the city; Spotsylvania two miles further to the southwest; Chancellorsville is three miles to the west; and Wilderness is just west of that.  There are several visitor centers for the park, the main one being located in downtown Fredericksburg.  Among the sites of particular interest is the house where Stonewall Jackson died at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Other Sites

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (Harpers Ferry, WV; 1859) – Site of several engagements during the Civil War, Harper’s Ferry is most famous for John Brown’s Raid in 1859, which helped to precipitate the secession of the southern states.

Fort Sumter National Monument (Charleston, SC; 1861) – This island-fortress in the middle of Charleston Harbor was the site of the first engagement of the Civil War; a Confederate victory, there was only one recorded casualty of the battle.

Shiloh National Military Park (Shiloh, TN; 1862) – Site of the Battle of Shiloh, was part of an early Union campaign to capture the Corinth rail hub and secure western Tennessee; it was one of the major victories of Ulysees S. Grant’s early war career.

Vicksburg National Military Park (Vicksburg, MS; 1863) – This battle saw the capture of Vicksburg, the last major stronghold of the Confederacy along the Mississippi; its fall effectively ended the Civil War in the west.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (Kennesaw, GA; 1864) – Kennesaw Mountain was the final attempt of the Confederacy to prevent the Union Army from laying siege to Atlanta; thanks to its accessible location it is the most visited national battlefield in the United States.

Petersburg National Battlefield (Petersburg, VA; 1865) – Site of the last major effort to stop the Union army in Virginia, the nine-month siege of Petersburg witnessed some of the most brutal trench fighting of the war, including the Battle of the Crater.

Appomattox Courthouse National Historical Park (Appomattox, VA; 1865) – The city of Appomattox witnessed the last major battle of the Civil War and the final stand of the Army of Northern Virginia; Lee signed the surrender to Grant here, effectively ending the war.

Filed Under: Articles

Where would you like to go?

Africa (North) Africa (Sub-Sahara) Arabia Armenia/Azerbaijan/Georgia Australia/Pacific Austria/Switzerland Balkans Belgium/Netherlands British Isles Canada Caribbean Central Asia China Czech Republic Egypt France Germany Greece Hungary/Romania/Bulgaria India (NE)/Nepal India (NW) India (South)/Sri Lanka Iran/Iraq Israel Italy/Malta Japan/Korea Latin America Mexico Palestine Poland/Lithuania Russia Scandinavia Southeast Asia Spain/Portugal Syria/Jordan/Lebanon Turkey/Cyprus Ukraine US-California US-Mid Atlantic US-Midwest US-New England US-New York US-Pacific Northwest US-South US-Southwest

About Howard Kramer

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is a culmination of years of his work and passion.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

THE COMPLETE AMERICAN PILGRIM – NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

THE COMPLETE PILGRIM

Welcome to The Complete Pilgrim(TM)! This site, created by Howard Kramer, is a combination travel blog and online guide to the world's greatest sites of religious interest (with some historic and recreational places thrown in for good measure). All written content has been originally researched and produced and is provided free for public research and enjoyment. Thank you for visiting!

Site of the Week

WITTENBERG CASTLE CHURCH

WITTENBERG CASTLE CHURCH

Wittenberg, Germany The … [Read More...]

Friends of TCP Spotlight

5 PLACES TO VISIT IN HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA – MUSLIM TRAVEL ROCKS

5 PLACES TO VISIT IN HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA – MUSLIM TRAVEL ROCKS

by Glory Ali The City of Brotherly Love offers tons to see and do and get this, it’s FREE. That’s right you heard it right it’s FREE. Click here for complete article  

MOVING THE U.S. EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM – FAITH IN FAITHS

MOVING THE U.S. EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM – FAITH IN FAITHS

by Mary Neuhauser President Trump recently announced his intentions to move the United States Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, thereby recognizing Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel. The purpose of this article is to give you a brief overview of what this decision means and why it matters. Click here for […]

Photo of the Week

BASILICA OF ST. DENIS

Last month, I visited one of the most fascinating churches I have ever been to, the almost completely ignored Basilica of St. Denis in the northern suburbs of Paris.  Almost every French monarch is buried here, and almost nobody goes here.  Here are some pics I took:

Basilica of St. Denis

Tomb of Clovis

Tomb of Clovis

Tombs of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Tombs of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Tomb of Louis XIV The Sun King

Tomb of Louis XIV The Sun King

Royal Tombs

Royal Tombs

The Crypt

The Crypt

 

 

 

 

Follow us!

Where would you like to go?

Africa (North) Africa (Sub-Sahara) Arabia Armenia/Azerbaijan/Georgia Australia/Pacific Austria/Switzerland Balkans Belgium/Netherlands British Isles Canada Caribbean Central Asia China Czech Republic Egypt France Germany Greece Hungary/Romania/Bulgaria India (NE)/Nepal India (NW) India (South)/Sri Lanka Iran/Iraq Israel Italy/Malta Japan/Korea Latin America Mexico Palestine Poland/Lithuania Russia Scandinavia Southeast Asia Spain/Portugal Syria/Jordan/Lebanon Turkey/Cyprus Ukraine US-California US-Mid Atlantic US-Midwest US-New England US-New York US-Pacific Northwest US-South US-Southwest

Contact Us

Have a comment, a great photo or a religious site you'd like to nominate for the weekly spotlight? We would love to hear from you. Email us at hkramer@thecompletepilgrim.com.

About the Author

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is the culmination of years of his work and passion.

Return to top of page
Copyright © 2023 The Complete Pilgrim, LLC || Marietta, GA 30068 || Legal Disclaimers

Website by: Kristina McInerny, Notes From Kris, Inc.