December 2022
(CVBT President) CVBT 2022 Annual Conference
For three days, September 30 through October 1, the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust presented its 25th annul conference. The theme was “War Comes to Fredericksburg.”
A contingent of hardy CVBT members and guests, slogged through the sold-out event in the face of hurricane Ian’s remnants. “At least the rain was vertical and not horizontal” stated CVBT president Tom Van Winkle.
The three-day event started Friday evening at the CVBT office in Fredericksburg with a complimentary President’s reception. Over fifty attendees gathered to reacquaint each other and catch up. CVBT Volunteer Events Coordinator, Lisa Van Winkle, catered the entire evening and guests were treated to an assortment of delicious appetizers, wines, and beer.
Saturday morning began with a rare showing of the film “Fire on the Rappahannock” at the Fredericksburg branch of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library on historic Caroline St. This was the official film capturing the 2012 150th
anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Fredericksburg. Fifteen years in the making, the reenactment, with thousands of troops, river crossings, and bombardment of the town, was played out on the very streets where the fighting took place in 1862. This was all captured by imbedded cinematographers to give the point of view of soldiers.
Directly after the film, acclaimed historian, author, and Battle of Fredericksburg expert, Frank O’Reilly, began his tour at the Union upper pontoon crossing. With his usual thoughtprovoking delivery Frank truly asked the questions and painted the picture of a battle neither side really wanted to happen for a myriad of reasons, not normally thought about in our understanding of the conflict. We then walked into town where Frank engaged the group with how the Federals were at the mercy of Confederates firing from house windows and behind obstructions. A true deviation from normal warfare. Frank stated “The Federals felt the Confederates were cheating.”
The two bus loads of attendees were then treated to lunch at two fine area establishments. We had an overflow so a second bus and restaurant were added to the event. After lunch, the groups headed to the middle Union pontoon crossing, now City Dock in Fredericksburg. Historian, author, and former CVBT Chief Administrative Officer, Sarah Kay Bierle, presented a riveting talk on the middle pontoon crossing. Sarah captivated the group and painted the picture of the action.
Hovering above the crossing, perched atop a hill, stands the Sentry Box. Built in 1786 by General George Weedon, a tavern owner and Revolutionary War general, in 1862 the house became involved in the Fredericksburg battle. Soldiers of the Union Army, crossing on the middle pontoons, made use of the Sentry Box’s icehouse for cover. The 17th Mississippi defended the house during the fighting. The home sustained damage. Current owner, Charles McDaniel, a descendant of General George Weedon’s family and CVBT Board of Director, invited our guests in, not only for a tour of the historic house, but a rare look at a Civil War relic collection Charlie has worked on for years. To say the least, it is outstanding.
CVBT’s Tim Talbott, and Board of Director Robert Lee Hodge, also lent a hand in discussing events on the property for the guests.
The group then again boarded the buses and headed to Fredericksburg’s Prospect Hill. Frank O’Reilly took the reins again and discussed the Federal breakthrough and the near Union victory here. If not for Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson’s counterattack driving Meade out of the forest, across the railroad, and through the fields to the Richmond Stage Road, the outcome may have been quite different.
After a somewhat soggy day in the field, it was time to bus back to the CVBT office and prepare for the dry evening dinner and programs at the historic Belmont estate in Fredericksburg. The 18th-century Belmont estate was the country home and studio of prominent portraitist, muralist, and American Impressionist painter Gari Melchers. From 1920 to 1928 Melchers served as the president of the New Society of Artists. He was a member of the Virginia Fine Arts Commission and a trustee of the Corcoran Gallery of Art. He served as chairperson of the Art Committee of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. He spent his final years at Belmont estate and died on November 30, 1932.
During the Civil War, especially
in 1862 and 1863, the Army of the Potomac occupied much of Falmouth. Then Belmont owner Joseph Ficklen, a Union sympathizer, and his family, occupied the property, benefiting from the protection of U.S. Army General John Gibbon, whom they befriended while the brigade commander was stationed in Falmouth.
During the evening CVBT awarded its prestigious Dr. Michael P. Stevens Preservation Award. We award this to an individual, or group, that continually contributes to Civil War preservation and or education in Virginia. This year’s recipient was the Civil War Round Table of Fredericksburg. Organized and activated in January 1957, the purpose of the organization is to study and further stimulate interest in the military history of the Civil War. Since 1957, the group has enjoyed more than 550 guest speakers. Along with continuing Civil War education, this organization contributes two award projects of their own. The Heritage Award recognizes the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations for their work in preserving local Civil War era buildings, objects, battlefields, and history. The Honorary Albert Z. Conner Intern, represents a NMPS partnership with the NPS by sponsoring an intern each year. Accepting the Dr. Michael P. Stevens Preservation Award was current round table President Major Bruce H. “Doc” Norton, USMC (Ret).
The evening’s keynote speaker was recently retired National
Parks Service historian, and author, John Hennessy. With his usual insight, John spoke of the early Union occupation of the town of Fredericksburg, a time that takes a “back seat’ to the occupation in November/ December of 1862’s battle. John spoke of the hardships imposed on the civilians and disdain the inhabitants had for the Union soldiers. Referenced were several civilian diaries and their thoughts regarding Union troops residing in town, writings that were quite different between the white population and the enslaved points of view. Again, observations were brought forth that were quite thought provoking.
Before the evening ended, President Van Winkle announced CVBT’s newest, and I mean new as the ink was barely dry, acquisition. Continuing CVBT’s work in “stitching” together the
famed 1863 Jackson flank attack at Chancellorsville, another two acres has been preserved. Adjoining the previous property on the south side of Route 3, and increasing the footprint of the attack path, we are closing in on another unbroken stretch. With the recent ABT, and assist from CVBT, acquisition of Dowdell’s Tavern, there are only a few properties in between the two needing to be preserved to join them all.
Sunday began with a delicious breakfast at historic Stevenson Ridge on the Spotsylvania battlefield. CVBT President Tom Van Winkle then introduced the esteemed panel of historians and authors taking part in the panel discussion on the battle of Fredericksburg. Participants were, Gregg Mertz, Sarah Kay Bierle, Robert Lee Hodge, and Scott Waler. President Van Winkle joined the panel to answer preservation queries from the audience as well. Guests asked many interesting, and at times, tough questions.
Also announced were the dates for the CVBT 2023 Conference (October 6-8, 2023) “Chancellorsville, Lee’s Greatest Victory and Supreme Loss”
This year’s conference ended and an enormous success it was.
