Cedar Mountain Battlefield Living History

Culpeper County's bloodiest battle, the Battle of Cedar Mountain, will be commemorated the weekend of 9-11 August on the anniversary of the 1862 clash between Confederate forces under legendary Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson and Federal forces under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks.
The anniversary weekend is organized and hosted by the Cedar Mountain Battlefield Foundation and will include a lecture by noted Jackson scholar Frank O'Reilly, a day-long Civil War kids' camp, artillery demonstrations, a real-time battlefield tour by former National Park Service historian Greg Mertz, a memorial service for those who fought, a craft demonstration, and other activities.
Part of the new Culpeper Battlefields State Park, Cedar Mountain Battlefield is just off US 15 about seven miles south of Culpeper. Its newly renovated and expanded visitors center is at 9465 General Winder Road, Rapidan, VA 22733.
The weekend kicks off Friday evening August 9th with a presentation on Stonewall Jackson by former National Park Service historian and noted Jackson authority, Frank O'Reilly. The event starts at 7:00 PM on the edge of the battlefield at the historic Cedar Run Baptist at 21210 Old Orange Road, Culpeper, and costs $20.00.
Saturday, August 10th features a children's camp designed to give kids aged 7-13 an educational glimpse into the life of a Civil War soldier coached by living history specialists. The camp runs from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM and costs $40.00 per child including parking. Saturday also includes artillery demonstrations beginning at 12:30, other children's activities and a craft demonstration at the visitor's center, and brick oven pizza available from Try Fabulous Foods. The day is capped off by a unique real-time battlefield tour by former National Park Service historian Greg Mertz from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM, conducted at the same time of day as the battle. The cost of the tour is $10.00 per person and includes parking.
Sunday begins with a 9:00 AM memorial service to those who fought in the battle and continues with infantry and artillery demonstrations until 2:00 PM when the anniversary weekend concludes with a battlefield tour by one of the Cedar Mountain Battlefield Foundation's experienced guides.
Parking on Saturday and Sunday is $10.00 per carload. Additional details and links for registering for the O'Reilly lecture, the Kid's Camp, and the Mertz tour are at friendsofcedarmountain.org/annual-living-history-event. All money received goes toward battlefield preservation, maintenance, interpretation, and education. For any questions, please email info@friendsofcedarmountain.org or call 540-729-5255 or 540-718-1664.

Category: Community | History