CVBT's newest preservation campaign is for a two-acre tract, which we call "Jackson’s Flank Attack—First Wave," a vital parcel along modern Rt 3. Please consider helping us reach our $125,000 goal to purchase this property. To give, visit: bit.ly/4hjoscg

Last Saturday CVBT hosted its annual Youth Community Service Day at our Nine Mile Run tract on the Chancellorsville battlefield. We had over 20 students, parents, and adult sponsors from area high schools, along with CVBT volunteers, staff, and board members all pitch in.

Wash. “Evening Star,” May 17, 1864: “Our Wounded:A Surgeon returning from Fredericksburg, reports the greatest difficulty in properly caring for the wounded. [If] not for the Sanitary and Christian Commission, it would be impossible for the wounded to be properly attended to."

Corp. David E. Johnston, 7th VA Inf. Fredericksburg: “By this time the fog had so lifted that we could see in front far to our right the gleam of a long line of bayonets . . . we witnessed the combat between the Federal and Confederate skirmishers of Jackson's command...."

Corp. John Stutzman, 90th PA May 1, 1863: “the rebels commence shelling and throwed about five or six shells and directly one come right at our regiment. Sure enough, it did come. It was a 20 lb. shell, and it tears things when it bursts. You ought to seen us get out of that.”

Lt. Charles H. Brewster, 10th MA, Second Fredericksburg: "the kind of shell they fired were called Spherical Case and is a hollow iron ball filled with Musket bullets and when it bursts it throws a perfect shower of fragments of iron. . . ."

Jane H. Beale, Dec. 11, 1862: "the horses dashed off at a speed that at another time would have alarmed me, but now seemed all to slow for our feverish impatience to be beyond the reach of those terrible shots which were still tearing through the streets of the town...."

Only 11 tickets are left! Join CVBT and historian Chris Mackowski for an afternoon exploration into the critical decisions involved in the Battle of Fredericksburg. A copy "Decisions at Fredericksburg" is free with your $45 registration. To register: bit.ly/4g7zhOc

Pvt. John Pardington, 24th MI, Fredericksburg: “We lost very heavy in this last fight. The Papers say 13000 But I think 15000. A Battle feild is an awful sight. I never want to see another but I suppose we will have to before long.”

Asst Surg Clark Baum of the 50th NY Eng. Fredericksburg: “when the ‘Ball Opened’ and the music of wham – whiz – bang – flash – buz – zip – pud – boom – came about me I breathed more free altho. When the Artillery fairly opened the roar was terrific – dreadful – I know no words"

Col. John C. Lee, 55th OH, May 2, 1863, Chancellorsville: “the men and officers on our right flank began to give way, and to retreat in our rear in a disorganized form. The battery...began to deliver grape and canister right along the road....": bit.ly/4hjoscg

Walt Whitman seeing the wounded at Chatham: "No cots; seldom even a mattress. It is pretty cold. The ground is frozen hard, and there is occasional snow. I go around from one case to another. I do not see that I do much good, but I cannot leave them.”

Robert T. Knox, 30th VA, Fredericksburg: “Our house like all the other houses has suffered much from the balls & shell thrown into it. Two balls went through the roof of the house tearing off the slate; another struck Mollies chimney & tore off half of that."

CVBT released its October 2026 "History Wire" e-newsletter yesterday. This month’s post focuses on soldiers' accounts of wounds at the Battle of Fredericksburg and during the Chancellorsville Campaign. If you missed it, it is on the CVBT website at: bit.ly/3TYO3zC

Pvt. George N. Galloway, 95th PA, Salem Church: “Almost 200 of the Ninety-fifth were left weltering in their gore upon the bloody plain. Among the first to fall was our brave Col. (Town), shot through the head, killed almost instantly." Town's two brothers fell wounded.

Pvt. John Bone, 30th NC, Spotsylvania: “I was...wounded by a ball striking me in the right breast passing through my lungs and coming out beside my backbone, and lodging in some clothes that I had on my back.” Amazingly, Bone recovered, retuned to service, and lived to age 93.

Save the Date: Sat., Oct 24, 2026, is CVBT’s Youth Community Service Day from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at 1008 Rensselaer Ct., Fredericksburg, VA 22407. To register visit – tinyurl.com/CVBTCleanup For additional information or questions contact Eric Powell at majorpowellaag@gmail.com

CVBT released its September 2026 e-newsletter yesterday. If you missed it, it is available at: bit.ly/46HZRsR If you don’t want to miss future CVBT email newsletters, you can sign up for them at: bit.ly/3IElLAr #cvbt

Often battlefield preservation allows generations-old traditional agricultural land uses to continue. Such efforts often keep the land profitable while also maintaining it as a historic and educational greenspace. Let’s save our battlefield land together! bit.ly/3IHicta

SC Courier R. K. Charles, Fredericksburg: “Just at the [Hazel] run was a large old mill house, as we passed [it] a shell went through it, scattering boards.... [Then] we overtook an ammunition wagon. . . . A shell took off the two lead mules, sweeping them off the embankment."

Capt. Andrew Goodman, 119th PA Fredericksburg: “Col. Ellmaker has been tried, & has been as brave & cool under fire as any man can be. Every confidence is placed in him & the men are truly enthusiastic about him. This is capital & rest assured the 119th Rgt will be heard from.”