Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located 50 miles south of Washington, D.C., and 58 miles north of Richmond. It is a part of the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Located on the Rappahannock River near the head of navigation at the fall line, Fredericksburg developed as the frontier of colonial Virginia shifted west out of the coastal plain.

Named for Frederick, Prince of Wales, son of King George II, the colonial towns streets bore the names of members of the royal family.

The city has close associations with George Washington, whose family moved to Ferry Farm in Stafford County just off the Rappahannock opposite Fredericksburg in 1738.

Other significant early residents include the Revolutionary War generals Hugh Mercer and George Weedon, naval war hero John Paul Jones, and future U.S. president James Monroe.

During the American Civil War, Fredericksburg gained strategic importance due to its location midway between Washington and Richmond, the opposing capitals of the Union and the Confederacy.

During the battle of Fredericksburg, December 11 - 15, 1862, the town sustained significant damage due to bombardment and looting at the hands of Union forces.

A second battle was fought in and around the town on May 3, 1863, in connection with the Chancellorsville campaign (April 27, 1863 - May 6, 1863).

The battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House were fought nearby in May 1864.

Today Fredericksburg is the commercial hub of a rapidly growing region in north central Virginia.

The national military park preserves portions of the battlefields of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House. The Fredericksburg National Cemetery, also part of the park, is located on Maryes Heights on the Fredericksburg battlefield and contains more than 15,000 Union burials from the areas battlefields.

Battle of Fredericksburg
* The December 13, 1862 battle is known as General Robert E. Lees easiest victory

Battle of Chancellorsville
The May 1-5, 1863 battle is known as General Robert E. Lees greatest victory.

Battle of Wilderness
The May 5-6, 1864 battle began a six week campaign that began the bloodiest campaign in American history.

Battle of Spotsylvania
On May 8, 1864 the Union army seized initiative by moving from Wilderness to Spotsylvania Court House. That shift changed the course of the war as the armies began the road to Lees surrender at Appomattox Court House.

Chatham Manor is a historic building that served as a headquarters and hospital during the battle.

Driving Tour: There are two sections of the battlefield; Prospect Hill and Maryes Heights. A five-mile driving tour links the two sections beginning at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center at the base of Maryes Heights.

Meade Pyramid on the Fredericksburg Battlefield.

Points of interest

* Carls Ice Cream
* Central Park
* Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center
* Ferry Farm
* Fredericksburg (Amtrak station)
* Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
* Rising Sun Tavern
* Kenmore Plantation
* Mary Washington House
* James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library
* Old Mill Park
* Hugh Mercer Apothecary
* St. Georges Church
* Alum Spring Park
* Spotsylvania Towne Centre
* University of Mary Washington
* United States National Slavery Museum (opening soon)
* Kalahari Resorts (opening around December 2010)

The Bloodiest Landscape in North America
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania - more than 85,000 men wounded; 15,000 killed. No place more vividly reflects the Civil Wars tragic cost, in all its forms. These places reveal the trials of a community and nation at war.

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is the second largest military park in the world. Chickamauga and Chattanooga is the largest and oldest.

>City(s) = Fredericksburg; State(s) = VA; Country = USA.
>Title = Fredericksburg Battlefield, VA, US - Video.
>Keywords = Fredericksburg, Virginia, Washington DC, Richmond, Rappahannock River, colonial, King George, Ferry Farm, Stafford County, Hugh Mercer, George Weedon, John Paul Jones, US president, James Monroe, American Civil War, Union Confederacy, Chancellorsville campaign, The battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, National Cemetery battlefield, Chatham Manor, Meade Pyramid, Kenmore Plantation, Central Park, Carls Ice Cream, Rising Sun Tavern, Old Mill park, Kalahari Resorts, ourtripvideos, our, trip, videos, crlapindfrn, video (63)
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