Fredericksburg
Our romantic weekend began with a trip to follow the one and only Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's last stand during the Civil War. Seeing as Stonewall Jackson and Jenna share the same birthday, she feels they are kindred spirits.
We began our tour in Chancellorsville where the Confederates faced the Union's General Hooker. After the battle was over, Stonewall Jackson was accidentally shot three times by his own men. At that time he was transported to a nearby plantation called Ellwood where his arm was amputated and buried. His arm now has its own gravesite and marker as seen in our photos. People honor him by leaving lemons because he didn't smoke or drink but sucked on lemons during battle.
Stonewall Jackson was supposed to be taken back to Richmond, Virginia but the Union Army had cut off the railroad ties so he couldn't leave the area. He was taken to another local plantation where he stayed in Thomas C. Chandler's plantation office in Guinea Station. This is now called the Stonewall Jackson Shrine. We went inside to see the bed where Stonewall Jackson was treated and eventually died. His wife did not make it to his side.
General Robert E. Lee sent a message to him before his death: "He has lost his left arm, but I my right." Stonewall's death was a huge loss for the Confederates.
His last words were: "Let us cross over the river and rest in the shade of the trees."
We finished our tour of beautiful Fredericksburg with a hike of The Stonewall Road where the Battle of Fredericksburg occurred in the downtown area.
We also toured Chatam, a gorgeous Civil War plantation house.
Lastly, we saw an auction block on the corner of two busy streets where slaves were sold.
"We are not makers of history. We are made by history." Martin Luther King, Jr.
