This past weekend I visited my daughter again in Fredericksburg. While there, we drove out to visit the battlefield at Brandy Station and the town of Culpeper. After stopping at the Culpeper Visitors Center to get a map we took a walking tour of the town. We found the site of the home where John Pelham died in 1863 and the boyhood home of Gen A.P. Hill. Recently Gretchen found out that her and her sister are descendents of Gen Hill on their mothers side. After lunch and a visit to the local museum we drove out to Brandy Station.

Recently the APG made a donation to the CWPT to help conserve some land on the site of the battlefield. I wanted to see where our money was going. The Brandy Station 1863 cavalry battle was was the biggest cavalry engagement on this continent. Some of the land has been built on but much remains the same as it was in 1863 due to a large farm occupying parts of the field but also because of the CWPT. They have been successful in keeping out a racetrack and a huge shopping center. We drove much of the field but couldn't access some parts by car because the old roads have been closed. There are a couple of hiking trails but we weren't prepared to do a lot of walking. Brandy Station is a great place to visit but I would get my hands on the CWPT battle map as well as a county map. The CWPT map is excellent in depicting the battle and a county map will keep you off the dead end roads. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures but plan to return and will document the next trip with photos.

If in the area of Central VA I recommend a trip to both of these places. The drive in the country is great and of course the history is superb.