By mid-spring 1864, war clouds were building over Northwest Georgia. Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman was building a huge army group and supply base at Chattanooga, preparing to launch a major offensive against Atlanta. Just a few miles south in his stronghold in Dalton, Confederate commander Gen. Joseph Johnston was preparing for the onslaught, making … Read more
Maps: Download official Virginia Civil War Trails [PDF 924K]. If needed, please download and install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.] Request a free printed full-color to be sent to you by mail, along with additional materials about visiting Civil War sites in Virginia. Read more: “Showdown at Hampton Roads,” by John V. Quarstein, director, Virginia … Read more
Located between strongly defended Confederate ports at Charleston and Savannah, the Port Royal Sound area was a natural for Federal occupation early in the war. The Union navy required a base to maintain its blockading fleet and the deep-water Port Royal Sound fit the bill perfectly. On Nov. 7, 1861, a large Union flotilla blasted … Read more
The Atlantic coast of North Carolina is protected for much of its length by a series of barrier islands. Control of these islands and the bodies of water west of them known as “sounds” was crucial for both sides. Early in the war Union forces moved to occupy the islands in order to choke off … Read more
Stones River National Battlefield 3501 Old Nashville Highway, Murfreesboro TN 37129 615-893-9501 The battle here Dec. 31, 1862–Jan. 2, 1863, resulted in more than 23,000 total casualties out of about 81,000 soldiers engaged, making this one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Union forces under Gen. William Rosecrans marched toward Murfreesboro Dec. 26, 1862, … Read more
Tidewater museums and visitor centers are listed separately here. All of the following are marked with Civil War Trails signs unless noted. Newport News Two USCT Heroes Trails sign at First Baptist Church, 3628 Campbell Road, Newport News VA 23602 Two members of the 36th U.S. Colored troops are buried here. Both Edward Diggs and … Read more
Florence A small railroad town at the outbreak of the war, Florence remained out of the way until the fall of 1864 when thousands of Union prisoners were moved to town following the evacuation of the infamous Andersonville prison camp in Georgia. In the few months of its existence (September 1864–February 1865) more than 2,800 … Read more
After months of fighting in the late spring of 1864, Union forces backed Robert E. Lee’s Confederate army into defensive lines around Petersburg. For more than nine months the city endured a siege. The Petersburg National Battlefield maintains several park units to help tell the story. Information about touring Petersburg’s Civil War sites is available … Read more
Northern and Southern armies passed through this interesting and still evocative city on their way to Antietam in 1862; and parts of the Union army went north through here on the way to Gettysburg in 1863. Confederate Gen. Jubal Early demanded (and got) a $200,000 ransom here before fighting near the Monocacy River just south. … Read more
Fort Gibson 907 N. Garrison, Fort Gibson OK 74434-0457 918-478-4088 Established in 1824, Fort Gibson became a rather endangered Union outpost in Indian Territory. From here in 1863, Federal troops launched an offensive that resulted in the Battle of Honey Springs. Admission fee. Fort Towson HC 63, Box 1580, Fort Towson OK 74735-9273 580-873-2634 Established … Read more