Middle Tennessee – More Civil War Sites

Johnsonville Johnsonville State Historic Park New Johnsonville TN 37134 931-535-2789 Confederate Gen. N.B. Forrest attacked a large Union supply base here on the east bank of the Tennessee River Nov. 4–5, 1864, hoping to disrupt Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s activities in Georgia. Forrest set up artillery on the west bank of the river and … Read more

Northern Virginia – Manassas and Area

A visitor center is located in an old railroad station in the heart of Manassas and on the site of a critical Civil War rail junction. Two major battles were fought just a few miles north, along a creek known as Bull Run. The visitor center is a good place to get oriented to the … Read more

Civil War in Central Arkansas – Little Rock and Area

615 E Capitol Ave, Little Rock AR 72202 888-844-4781 Open Monday–Saturday 9 am–5 pm; Sunday 1–5 pm. Little Rock Campaign Tour Following the fall of Vicksburg in July 1863, Union military attention turned elsewhere. Marching west from Helena, 12,000 Union troops under Gen. Frederick Steele headed for the Confederate-held state capital at Little Rock. A … Read more

West Virginia Civil War – The First Campaign, 1861 in the Mountains

Virginia’s western counties had little in common at the outset of the war with the populous and politically powerful section of the state east of the mountains. Opposed to secession, political leaders from the west distanced themselves from Virginia’s decision to leave the Union. The rift was so great that the western counties themselves seceded … Read more

Mississippi – Vicksburg Campaign: Final Phase

After suffering through months of fits-and-starts trying to get at Vicksburg from the north and east, Grant decided move most of his army west of the Mississippi River, march south, cross back over the river below Vicksburg, and then attack the main Confederate supply line to the city. Grant needed transportation with gunboat support to … Read more

Central Virginia Civil War – Charlottesville and Area

Best known as home to Presidents Jefferson and Monroe, Charlottesville has an interesting Civil War history as well. The Downtown Visitor Center is a good starting point for history tours of the city and Albemarle County. Downtown Visitor Center – 610 E Main St, Charlottesville VA 22902. Open 9 am–5 pm daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas … Read more

Virginia Valley & Mountains – The Route 250 Corridor

Another option for touring sites associated with the various Valley campaigns is to use U.S. Route 250 east and west. The road west of Staunton roughly parallels the old Staunton-to-Parkersburg Turnpike. This route will take you, sometimes on the original road, from rolling landscapes in the Valley into beautiful and nearly unspoiled areas in the … Read more

Northwest Georgia (Civil War) – Atlanta Campaign

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

Tidewater Virginia – The 1862 Peninsula Campaign

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

South Carolina – Beaufort Area

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