This Friday, July 18, 2014, from 10 am to Noon, join Virginia Morton, author of Marching Through Culpeper
Walk in the footsteps of Lee, Grant, Custer, Pelham, Clara Barton and other notables. See below for more details.
The walking is not strenuous and several opportunities are offered to sit down including inside St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.
The tour costs $15 per person. Sign up for the tour by using the below registration form.
The tour begins at 10:00 am at the Museum of Culpeper History at the train depot, 113 S. Commerce St., Culpeper, Virginia.
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Tour Details
This popular two-hour tour will be narrated by Virginia Morton, author of the Civil War novel Marching Through Culpeper. Come learn about the fighting that took place in the town and hear the stories of Culpeper’s citizens. Culpeper County witnessed the movement of more troops than any locale in the nation.
Stop 1: The Depot
You will learn why Culpeper’s strategic location made it a favorite camping ground for both armies, and hear stories of the famous people who passed through the railroad station. A detailed description will be given of the Battle of Culpeper Court House which raged around the depot on September 13, 1863, and the role played by General George Armstrong Custer, U.S.A.
Stop 2: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
The oldest church in town was used as a hospital by both sides, and was frequented by General J.E.B. Stuart and General Robert E. Lee. Hear what happened to the minister during the occupation of the town by the Union army under General John Pope, and learn how some clever young ladies saved the bell.
“Members of my Civil War Round Table were awed by the depth and scope of Virginia Morton’s knowledge. Her descriptions were incredible and standing where so many icons had stood gave me goose bumps.”
—Mary Kuczek, president of the Phil Kearney Civil War Round Table of Northern NJ
Stop 3: The Virginia House Hotel and site of the Shackelford House
The Virginia House Hotel was frequented by J.E.B. Stuart and the gallant Major John Pelham, commander of the Stuart Horse Artillery. They were frequent visitors at Henry Shackelford’s house across the street, and it is believed that John Pelham had a romantic relationship with Shackelford’s daughter Bessie.
Stop 4. Site of the home of “Extra Billy” Smith
“Extra Billy” Smith was two time governor of Virginia and one of the oldest generals in the Confederate army. His former home served as Grant’s headquarters during the Winter Encampment of 1863-64.
Stop 5: The Courthouse
The tour will proceed to the current courthouse with the site of the original courthouse and the boyhood home of A. P. Hill pointed out en route. Visitors will have an opportunity to sit and listen to the events that occurred at the courthouse during the Civil War, as well as hear about the life of General A. P. Hill, C.S.A.
Stop 6: The National Cemetery and Hill Mansion
This house was the home of Edward Baptist Hill, older brother of A. P. Hill. It was frequented by A. P. Hill and his wife, Dolly, throughout the war, and Robert E. Lee visited his middle son, Rooney, here when he was recovering from wounds received at the Battle of Brandy Station. The womens’ side of the war will be discussed here, as well as the Winter Encampment of the Union Army 1863-64. The National Cemetery was established in 1866 and remains an active cemetery today. Union soldiers were re-interred in this cemetery, primarily from the Cedar Mountain Battlefield.
Stop 7: The Depot
The tour concludes with a story about the “Gray Ghost,” John Singleton Mosby, that took place at the depot.
Virginia Morton’s Book:
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