Military
6
The Rappahannock Canal fed lesser waterways that powered a variety of small industries. In this area, one of these secondary drainages branched off from the main canal and became an obstacle to Federal troops during the 1862 battle of Fredericksburg. On December 12, the 82nd New York Infantry Regiment cleared Confederate pickets from a paper mill between the main canal and the canal ditch and secured the gates to close off the water flow, but the ditch remained a deep and muddy obstacle when the Federal assault columns moved forward the next day. On December 13, the 71st Infantry deployed on the elevated ground nearby, where the unfinished Mary Washington monument lay on its side, and maintained a picket line there while their comrades attacked the Confederates at Marye’s Heights.
Hear stories like this as you drive
ExploreHere reads historical markers out loud as you pass them: over 325,000 stories across the US. No account needed.
4.7 · 800+ ratings · Free
FIND IT
Fredericksburg, Virginia · United States
