Site Search

The first Federal occupation of Stafford began in April of 1862 when Union troops of Brigadier General Dan Sickles crossed over from Maryland. Three years before, Sickles made a name for himself when he killed his wife’s lover in front of the White House.  His trial was covered by the media and the nation clamored…

It is true that most large-scale mining ceased in Stafford after gold was discovered in California in 1849. Although Virginia gold was of a high quality, Western gold was cheaper and easier to mine as the constant problem with water seepage in the Stafford mines made obtaining the precious mineral far more difficult and expensive.…

Near Stafford’s southwest border is the little replicated gold mining village of Goldvein. You can see how gold was mined in the area. You can even pan for gold. Visit a miner’s bunk house and the office of a gold mining company.

“Smithfield Mine” adjoined and was within sight of Eagle. Both were taking ore from the same vein. Smithfield operated from c. 1836 until sometime after 1885 and for some years was run by the Virginia Gold Belt Company of Philadelphia. “Horsepen/Rattlesnake Mine” operated c.1833-c.1894. During its early years, Horsepen was owned and run by Mourning…

This letter, written in Stafford and printed in a Warsaw, New York newspaper, The Wyoming Mirror confirms that gold mining activity took place in Stafford during the Civil War. WYOMING MIRROR, WARSAW, SEPTEMBER 2, 1863. OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE 5TH N. Y. CAVALRY. CAMP AT GOLD MINE, NEAR UNITED STATES FORD, Stafford Co., Va.,…

Brig. General Theophilus Holmes was Confederate commander of the Potomac Defense Line after Brig. General Ruggles. (June 6, 1861 – April 20, 1862)

General Robert E. Lee, then commanding the Provisional Army and Navy of Virginia, reported to Governor John Letcher on June 15, 1861: “Arrangements were first made for the establishment of batteries to prevent the ascent of our rivers by hostile vessels. As soon as an examination was made for the selection of sites, their construction…

Clifton Chapel was built in the 1850s and provided a convenient place to worship for Widewater residents when poor weather conditions made travel to Aquia Church impossible.  The chapel occupied a hill overlooking the Potomac River.  With few trees in the area, the chapel offered an excellent observation post.  It served as the site of…

Stafford’s prewar (1860) population was 8,633, including 3,394 enslaved (39 percent). Nearly 1,000 Staffordians – about half the white males — entered Confederate service. In the year between April 1861 and April 1862, over 9,000 Confederate forces occupied Stafford’s sector of the Potomac Defense Line from Mount Vernon to the Rappahannock. They harassed ships with…

After the skirmish at Aquia Church and Sickle’s antics at Stafford’s Courthouse, Sickles men withdrew from Stafford.  A larger Union force moved from the west towards Falmouth from Germantown, Catlett Station in Fauquier County.  These troops clashed with the Confederate rear guard near Berea Church on the afternoon of April 17th.  According to John Hennessey,…

This letter is written by a German-American soldier who was serving in Stafford overlooking Fredericksburg.  His letter, written phonetically, shows what the common soldier went through during this First Federal Occupation. May 15th, 1862, Virginia Staford Co., Camp Near Falmouth Dear Cousan, As i have a fue lasur [leisure] moments to write to let you…

The following is a letter that was written by Charles Morton to his mother.  He tells her about the skirmish at Falmouth and the burial that took place at Union Church. FALMOUTH, (opposite Fredericksburgh) Tuesday, April 22nd, 1862. Dear Mother: I wrote a long letter a day or two ago to Father, giving him an…