Walk with a noted historian as your personal audio guide on fields where decisive, dramatic battles took place. The battlefield podcasts are narrated by National Park Service historians and recorded on the battlefields. They feature introductions by John Fieseler and Marc Ramsey and the period music of Southern Horizon, Al Neale, Vaughn and Starbuck, and Chris Jackson. The podcasts are complemented with detailed maps, so that you can follow the action easily.
African Americans in Civil War Petersburg (Virginia)
This two-part podcast tour visits places associated with African Americans in the Petersburg, Virginia, area during the Civil War. The tour features stories about the lives and exploits of slaves, free blacks and the United States Colored Troops.
The first 11-stop tour focuses on points of interest within the Petersburg National Battlefield. The tour visits sites in City Point, the vast Union supply base and headquarters, the Eastern Front battlefields including “The Crater” and, finally, Poplar Grove National Cemetery.
The second 4-stop tour covers African-American stories in the city of Petersburg itself.
Part 1 – The Battlefield
11-stop walking/driving tour
Narration: Emmanuel Dabney, NPS
Introduction: Richard Lewis
Music: Battle Hymn of the Republic
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com
Playing time: 38:25 minutes
File size: 9.2MB
Part 2 – The City
Four-stop driving tour
Narration: Emmanuel Dabney, NPS
Introduction: Richard Lewis
Music: Battle Hymn of the Republic
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com
Playing time: 13.27 minutes
File size: 3.2MB
- Listen to Part 1 (pop-up window, long download)
- Listen to Part 2 (pop-up window, long download)
- Tour map Part 1 pdf 911KB
- Tour map Part 2 pdf 765KB
Battle of South Mountain (Maryland)
SheridanThis battle, fought Sept. 14, 1862, is often overlooked in favor of the much larger fight at nearby Antietam Creek three days later. But if Union troops had broken through a thin Confederate defense on South Mountain, the future of Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia would have been in jeopardy.
Historian Dennis Frye vividly narrates this nine-stop driving tour covering the fighting a Crampton’s, Fox’s and Turner’s Gaps in South Mountain. It begins at the Brownsville Church of the Brethren, 1911 Rohersville Road in Brownsville (MD).
Please note: The tour map below is an interactive Google map. Be sure to either print it or load it onto your mobile device. Written driving directions also are provided.
9-stop driving tour
Narration:Dennis Frye, NPS
Introduction: Tom Riford
Music: Music: Wayne Erbsen (Native Ground Music)
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com
Playing time: 31:54 minutes
File size: 7.7MB
- Listen to the Battle of South Mountain (pop-up window, long download)
- Tour map
- Driving Directions: Webpage with Map or MSWord or PDF
Battle of Cedar Creek (Virginia)
SheridanIn the fall of 1864 Gen. Philip Sheridan’s Union army appeared to have Southern forces in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley at bay. But Gen. Jubal Early’s Confederates weren’t dead yet. On Oct. 19, Early attacked Sheridan’s unsuspecting army as it camped around Cedar Creek, just north of Strasburg. Initially routed, Sheridan’s troops faced disaster until their commander’s dramatic appearance on the battlefield, resulting in one of the great reversals of fortunes on any battlefield during the war.
This driving tour begins at the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation visitor center, 8437 Valley Pike, Middletown VA 22645.
Notes: It’s very important to download and print out both the tour map and the driving directions (see below) because no signs mark the route and no driving directions are given in the audio.
Many of the roads used in this tour are rural. Please be cautious and respect private property.
10-stop driving tour
Narration: Eric Campbell, NPS
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Music: Wayne Erbsen (Native Ground Music)
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
Playing time: 41:38 minutes
File size: 10.8MB
Henry Hill: First Manassas (Bull Run)
JacksonThis July 21, 1861, battle was the first big fight of the war, giving the country a taste of what was to come.
This walking tour covers the intense fighting on Henry Hill where the tide of the battle turned from Union success to a decisive Confederate victory. The fighting on the hill was marked by charges and counter charges, often ending in hand-to-hand fighting.
One of the Confederate leaders on Henry Hill was Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, who would become “Stonewall” that day. This tour begins just outside the Manassas National Battlefield Park visitor center. Park fees apply.
9-stop walking tour, approximately one hour
Narration: Greg Wolf, NPS
Introduction: Marc Ramsey [Owens and Ramsey Books]
Music: Chris Jackson [Chris Jackson Music]
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and the Manassas National Battlefield Park
Playing time: 40:34 minutes
File size: 10.6MB
- Listen to First Manassas: Henry Hill (pop-up window)
- Tour map (pdf 560K)
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute, founded in 1839, made significant contributions to the Confederate war effort from the beginning. VMI cadets helped train the thousands of raw recruits pouring into Virginia in the spring of 1861. A few months later some of them fought under one of their old instructors at the Battle of Manassas. That teacher, Thomas Jonathan Jackson, won his famous nickname “Stonewall” during that battle. The cadets themselves played a key role in the Confederate victory at New Market in May 1864. Ten cadets lost their lives in that battle. This tour covers many of the sites familiar to the cadets in the Civil War era.
5-stop walking tour, approximately 45 minutes
Narration: Col. Keith Gibson
Introduction: Marc Ramsey
Music: VMI Regimental Band and Pipes and Drums
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and the VMI Museum
Playing time: 22:23 minutes
File size: 6.1 MB
- Listen to VMI (pop-up window)
- Tour map (pdf 153K)
Monocacy
FortThe Battle of Monocacy, fought July 9, 1864, near Frederick MD is called by many “The Battle That Saved Washington.” A small Union force managed to hold off Jubal Early’s much larger Confederate army for a day here, allowing time for reinforcements to arrive in the national capital. Stop for orientation at the Monocacy National Battlefield visitor center a few miles south of downtown Frederick on Route 355. This audio tour begins a short distance away and across the road at the Best Farm.
5-stop driving tour, approximately one hour
Narration: Brett Spaulding, Monocacy National Battlefield
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Al Neale
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and the Monocacy National Battlefield
Playing time: 24:24
File size: 6.5MB
- Listen to Monocacy (pop-up window)
- Tour map (pdf 128K)
Fort Fisher, North Carolina Historic Site, Kure Beach NC
FortThis massive Confederate fort between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cape Fear River 20 miles south of Wilmington protected that critical port until the final months of the war.
Fort Fisher’s guns also shielded blockade runners as they traveled in and out of the Cape Fear River carrying important supplies in and cash crops out. This walking tour describes the fort and the battle that finally conquered it.
5-stop walking tour, approximately 45 minutes
Narration: Amy Thornton, Fort Fisher interpreter
Introduction: Marc Ramsey [Owens and Ramsey Books]
Music: The Huckleberry Brothers
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Fort Fisher
Playing time: 18:59
File size: 4.9MB
- Listen to Fort Fisher (pop-up window)
- Tour map (pdf 174K)
Poplar Grove National Cemetery, Petersburg VA
LuminariaEstablished in 1866, this cemetery holds the remains of nearly 6,000 soldiers, most of them Union soldiers who died during the actions around Petersburg, 1864–1865.
13-stop walking tour, approximately one hour
Narration: Betsy Dinger, Petersburg National Battlefield
Introduction: Marc Ramsey [Owens and Ramsey Books]
Music: Chris Jackson [Chris Jackson Music]
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and the Petersburg National Battlefield
Playing time: 34:09 minutes
File size: 7.8MB
- Listen to Poplar Grove National Cemetery (pop-up window)
- Tour map (pdf 227K)
- Google map to cemetery
- PeachOrchard
The Peach Orchard at Gettysburg
Confederate attackers had a real chance to cut the Union line in half in and around the Peach Orchard July 2, 1863. Gettysburg park historian Eric Campbell tells the story of that attack and a heroic stand by Union artillery that day.
6-stop walking tour, approximately 90 minutes
Narration: Eric Campbell, Gettysburg National Military Park
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Wayne Erbsen (Native Ground Music)
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Gettysburg National Military Park
Playing time: 50:42 minutes
File size: 12.6 MB
- Listen to Gettysburg – Peach Orchard (pop-up window)
- Tour map (pdf 496K)
Harpers Ferry: John Brown’s Raid
FirehouseLate in the evening on Oct. 16, 1859, John Brown and a small band of insurgents entered Harpers Ferry (then Virginia), planning to ignite and arm a slave insurrection. This tour covers raid-related sites in the national park at Harpers Ferry (now West Virginia).
7-stop walking tour, approximately 45 minutes
Narration: Dennis Frye, chief historian, Harpers Ferry NHP
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Al Neale
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Playing time: 28:02 minutes
File size: 6.9 MB
- Listen to Harpers Ferry (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 185K)
The Final Assault: Beyond Burnside Bridge, Antietam
AntietamFollowing the capture of Burnside Bridge over the Antietam Creek Sept. 17, 1862, the Union 9th Corps still had its work cut out. This tour covers the final Federal attack that day and the dramatic Confederate counterattack that saved the day for Lee’s army.
9-stop walking tour, about 90 minutes
Narration: Keith Snyder, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: Marc Ramsey (Owens and Ramsey Books)
Music: Wayne Erbsen (Native Ground Music)
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Antietam National Battlefield
Playing time: 47:09 minutes
File Size: 11.5 MB
- Listen to Antietam – The Final Assault (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 935K)
New Market Battlefield
New MarketIn May 1864, new overall Union commander U.S. Grant ordered a Federal army under Gen. Franz Sigel to march south in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley to destroy transportation hubs and deprive the Confederacy of an important source of food. On May 15, 1864, Confederate Gen. John C. Breckinridge’s small force — including 257 cadets from the Virginia Military Institute — met Sigel’s advance in the small crossroads town of New Market. The battle here halted the Union advance and gave the Confederacy much-needed breathing space in the Valley.
This walking tour through the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park covers the Confederate advance and the charge by the VMI cadets.
9-stop walking tour, approximately 90 minutes
Narration: Scott Harris, park director
Introduction: Marc Ramsey (Owens and Ramsey Books)
Music: Al Neale
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and New Market Battlefield State Historical Site
Playing time: 26:08 minutes
File Size: 6.0 MB
- Listen to New Market (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 256K)
Appomattox Court House
McLean HsThe dignified surrender of Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia to Union Gen. U.S. Grant at Appomattox is one of the most dramatic and familiar moments in American history. Yet little is known about the event beyond the April 9, 1865, meeting between the generals in the McLean house parlor.
This walking tour sheds light on other moving moments in the days following that meeting and describes the town that found itself in the national spotlight.
5-stop walking tour, approximately 45 minutes
Narration: Patrick Schroeder, Appomattox Court House NHP historian
Introduction: Marc Ramsey (Owens and Ramsey Books)
Music: Al Neale
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
Playing time: 23:55 minutes
File size: 5.5 MB
- Listen to Appomattox CH (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 264K)
Bentonville NC Battlefield
BentonvilleConfederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston saw an opportunity to at least slow down Gen. William T. Sherman’s 60,000-man Union army as it marched through North Carolina in March 1865. The Confederates set a trap for Sherman near the tiny hamlet of Bentonville, but the resulting battle, March 19-21, 1965, turned out to be a decisive Union victory. This driving tour covers the turning points of the battle, the largest fought in North Carolina.
5-stop driving tour, approximately one hour
Narration: Fred Burgess, Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site
Introduction: Marc Ramsey (Owens and Ramsey Books)
Music: Wayne Erbsen (Native Ground Music)
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site
Playing time: 21:25 minutes
File Size: 4.9 MB
- Listen to Bentonville CH (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 103K)
The Wheatfield at Gettysburg
BridgeThe fighting in the Wheatfield at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, was some of the most intense and confusing of the war. Gettysburg park historian Eric Campbell leads us through the bloody back-and-forth action.
7-stop walking tour, approximately 90 minutes
Narration: Eric Campbell, Gettysburg National Military Park
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Chris Jackson [Chris Jackson Music]
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Gettysburg National Military Park
Playing time: 41 minutes
File size: 10.1 MB
- Listen to Gettysburg – Wheatfield (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 393K)
The Battle for Burnside Bridge, the Union Advance Antietam National Battlefield
BridgeThis tour follows the opening attack on the Confederate right flank during the Battle of Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. The focal point of the attack and the tour is the Burnside Bridge, one of the most famous Civil War landmarks. The Confederate defenders managed to hold out here for more than four hours against repeated Union assaults.
7-stop walking tour, approximately 60 minutes
Narration, Keith Snyder, Antietam National Battlefield
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Al Neale
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Antietam National Battlefield
Playing time: 29:13 minutes
File size: 6.9MB
- Listen to Antietam – Burnside Bridge (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 648K)
The Breakthrough at Petersburg, April 2, 1865 Pamplin Historical Park
BreakthroughAfter more than nine months of trench warfare around Petersburg, Virginia, Union commander U.S. Grant ordered an all-out attack against Robert E. Lee’s lines at dawn April 2, 1865. This walking tour of Pamplin Historical Park’s Breakthrough Trail covers a critical area of that assault and offers a good look at part of the well-preserved Confederate defensive line.
6-stop walking tour, approximately 60 minutes
Narration, Will Greene, president of Pamplin Historical Park
Introduction: Marc Ramsey, Owens and Ramsey Books
Music: Al Neale
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Pamplin Historical Park
Playing time: 29:20 minutes
File size: 6.9MB
- Listen to Petersburg – Breakthrough (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 60.5K)
Devil’s Den, Gettysburg
The Union soldiers defending this pile of giant boulders just west of Little Round Top found themselves on the far left flank of the Federal line July 2, 1863. They were the first to take on Confederate Gen. James Longstreet’s assault that day. This tour covers the fight for Devil’s Den and the true story behind one of the Civil War’s most famous photographs.
6-stop walking tour, approximately 60 minutes
Narration: Eric Campbell, NPS staff historian
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Vaughn and Starbuck
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Gettysburg National Military Park
Playing time: 25:47 minutes
File size: 6MB
- Listen to Gettysburg – Devils Den (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 95K)
Lincoln Visits Richmond
LincolnOn April 4, 1865, just one day after Richmond was evacuated, President Abraham Lincoln toured the still-smoldering former Confederate capital. This tour follows in his footsteps.
7-stop walking tour, approximately 90 minutes
Narration: Mike Gorman, NPS staff historian
Introduction: Marc Ramsey of Owens & Ramsey Historical Booksellers
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Richmond National Battlefield Park
Playing time: 35:09 minutes
File size: 8.3MB
- Listen to Lincoln Visits Richmond (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 146K)
The Cornfield, Antietam
The bloodiest one-day battle of the Civil War began when thousands of Union soldiers plunged into D.R. Miller’s cornfield. Tour the opening moments of the Battle of Antietam.
8-stop walking tour,
60–90 minutes
Narration: Keith Snyder, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Antietam National Battlefield
Playing time: 26:28 minutes
File size: 6.2MB
- Listen to Antietam – The Cornfield (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 419K)
The Crater, Petersburg Crater
Explore one of the most dramatic events of the Civil War — the explosion of tons of gunpowder under part of the Confederate line at Petersburg, July 30, 1864.
7-stop walking tour
Narration: Tracy Chernault, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: Marc Ramsey of Owens & Ramsey Historical Booksellers
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Petersburg National Battlefield
Playing time: 43:16 minutes
File size: 10.2MB
- Petersburg – The Crater (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 84K)
Pickett’s Charge, Gettysburg
ChargeThe doomed Confederate charge July 3, 1863, at Gettysburg has become one of the most famous events in American military history. Follow in the footsteps of Pickett’s men that day.
5-stop, approximately 3/4-mile walking tour
Narration: John Heiser, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Gettysburg National Military Park
Playing time: 30:29 minutes
File size: 7.2MB
• Gettysburg – Picketts Charge (pop-up window)
• Get map (pdf 134K)
Cold Harbor (June 1, 1864)
Hanover County, Virginia
Cold HarborThe Union attack here June 1, 1864, nearly resulted in a critical breakthrough.
7-stop, 1-mile walking tour
Narration: Ed Sanders, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Richmond National Battlefield Park
Playing time: 24:15 minutes
File size: 5.7MB
- Richmond – Cold Harbor (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 87K)
- Five Forks Battlefield
Petersburg National Battlefield, Virginia
Five ForksThe Five Forks intersection was critical to the Confederate defense of Petersburg and ultimately Richmond in the spring of 1865. Learn about the decisive battle here on April 1.
5-stop driving tour
Narration: Tracy Chernault, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: Marc Ramsey of Owens & Ramsey Historical Booksellers
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Petersburg National Battlefield
Playing time: 22:15 minutes
File size: 5.3MB
- Petersburg – Five Forks (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 76K)
Little Round Top, Gettysburg
Little Rd TopLittle Round Top on the Gettysburg battlefield was the scene of some of the most dramatic moments in American history, July 2, 1863.
4-stop walking tour
Narration: Eric Campbell, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Gettysburg National Military Park
Playing time: 53:02 minutes
File size: 12.5 MB
- Gettysburg – Little Round Top (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 111K)
Gaines’ Mill, Hanover County, Virginia
Watt HsFighting here June 27, 1862, resulted in Robert E. Lee’s first victory as commander of the Army of Northern Virginia and was a turning point in the Seven Days battles.
8-stop, 1.5-mile walking tour.
Narration: Robert Krick, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Richmond National Battlefield Park
Playing time: 31:05 minutes
File size: 7.3 MB
- Richmond – Gaines Mill (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 362K)
Malvern Hill, Henrico County, Virginia
CannonA great walk of the Confederate attack route to the Union guns posted above them July 1, 1862.
10-stop, 1.5-mile walking tour
Narration: Mike Andrus, NPS historian/ranger
Introduction: John Fieseler
Music: Southern Horizon
Production: CivilWarTraveler.com and Richmond National Battlefield Park
Playing time: 32:35 minutes
File size: 7.7 MB
- Richmond – Malvern Hill (pop-up window)
- Get map (pdf 171K)
Museum of the Confederacy
JEB Stuart Items“The Confederate Years,” the signature exhibit at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Va., covers the entire Civil War and some of the war’s most famous artifacts including Robert E. Lee’s camp gear and JEB Stuart’s plumed hat.
Introduction: Waite Rawls
Podcast adaptation: CivilWarTraveler.com
Playing time: 29:05 minutes
File size: 6.8 MB
- Richmond – Museum of the Confederacy (pop-up window)
Fredericksburg
Six audio podcast episodes are produced and offered by the National Park Service at Fredericksburg VA and Fredericksburg Tourism Partners.