Situated at the midpoint of the 100 miles separating Washington DC, the United States capital, and Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital, the city of Fredericksburg has thus far been spared any direct impact of the war. The situation changes dramatically today, Good Friday, when Union troops appear on the north bank of the Rappahannock River…
Abner Doubleday, destined to be known in modern mythology as the father of baseball, is one of the more prominent officers in the Union Army. From a Baptist family, Abner’s brother Thomas is also of Baptist stock, their father having been a New York politician, prominent Baptist layman, and Baptist author. Abner played a leading…
Today U.S. Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell leaves Washington with 35,000 troops, his departure marked by a cheering crowd. The size of McDowell’s army is the largest ever assembled in North America. Northern civilians are anxious that the Union army engage Confederate forces. Heading west, McDowell’s goal is to push Confederate forces from Manassas Junction and…