Civil War

General Robert E. Lee entered Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, and moved into the Widow Thompson’s house using it as his headquarters for the duration of the battle. Later development all but obliterated the historic four-acre parcel, that is, until  the Civil War Trust raised  $6,000,000 in 2015 to tear down the motel and restaurant … Continue reading »

Another single dwelling at a major Civil War battle,  also in 1863 and also having gone through extensive renovation, is Shirley House in Vicksburg, MS. It witnessed the fiercest of the fighting during the 47-day siege. The first photo is dated 1863, and the third is from 1902 before restoration (click to enlarge).     … Continue reading »

The Stone House was built in 1848 and is located in Manassas, Va.,  where two major battles (both known as Manassas in the North and Bull Run in the South) were fought. Both sides occupied the house, but it was primarily a hospital under Confederate control. It was sold to the Federal Government and renovated … Continue reading »

The McLean House was also built in 1848 and is located in Appomattox, Va. It served as the surrender site for the Confederate Army when Lee and Grant met there on April 9, 1865. It had been purchased by Wilmer McLean in 1863 who, ironically, moved there to avoid the war, which had started on … Continue reading »

Established in 1905, Point Park is located in the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. It resides on top of Lookout Mountain, which is on the northwest corner of Georgia, the northeast corner of Alabama, and on the Tennessee state line.For many years two prominant vistas–Lookout Mountain and Umbrella Rock– have been extremely popular. The … Continue reading »

The former Custis-Lee Mansion became Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial in 1972. It was built in 1802 on a bluff just across the Potomac River from Washington D.C. It was occupied by Lee’s family for 30 years until Lee left in 1861. The Federals took over in 1864 and started Arlington Cemetery. The … Continue reading »

The house at Bushong Farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley was built in 1825. On May 15, 1864, it was the center of the Battle of New Market when  6,000 Union and 4,100 Confederate forces engaged in a fierce battle. Part of the Confederate army consisted of 257 cadets from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) ages 14 through 24. … Continue reading »

The 7,000 sq. ft. Farley House was built in 1790 in Culpepper County Virginia. During the Civil War it was occupied by both sides, first by Jeb Stuart and then by the Union Headquarters 6th Corps. One hundred and twenty thousand Union soldiers wintered nearby in late 1863 following the Battle of Brandy Station – … Continue reading »

John Brown’s Fort was built as a firehouse in Harper’s Ferry West Virginia in 1848. It is the site where, in 1859,  John Brown and his followers barracaded themselves after attempting to take over the adjacent armory. Ironically, the insurrection was put down by none other than Robert E. Lee and Jeb Stuart. In 1891 … Continue reading »