We spent the morning visiting the Battlefields in Fredericksburg, the museum and The Rising Sun Tavern.
We started out by watching a short film at the visitor center. This was very interesting and informative. Bill and I were the only two in the small theater and the girl who told us to go in and she would start the film, somehow forgot about us and after a few minutes in the pitch dark, with just a few shadows, I started to feel a sense of panic. I kept thinking of my sister MaryAnn, a big 'ghost hunter' enthusiast, and was glad she wasn't sitting next to me as she would have me freaked out in seconds!
After the visitor center we walked along the Sunken Road and stone wall. The stone wall protected Southern soldiers fortunate to stand behind it. Behind the wall, only around 300 Confederate soldiers were shot. In front of the wall, approximately 8,000 Union soldiers were hit. Then we walked thru the cemetery. About 85% of the dead in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery are unknown. Many graves hold more than one body. It was an eerie feeling after watching these areas on film then actually being there.
We then took a driving tour thru one of the battlefields and stopped along the way to read inscriptions, check out the cannons and the trenches along the way. The trenches run for miles.
A stop at the Rising Sun Tavern gave us a break from the death and destruction of the Civil War. No, this tavern no longer serves drinks or food but is a museum. This building was built by George Washington's younger brother Charles in 1760 as his home then turned into a tavern in 1792. The tour gives you a colorful insight to eighteenth century tavern life given by costumed interpreters. We learned where many old phrases came from such as bottoms up, here's looking at you, don't bite off more than you can chew, and even gutter ball. You'll have to ask us about these interesting facts when you see us.
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