On August 9, 1863, Abraham Lincoln visited with Alexander Gardner and sat for a series of portraits. Nine days later the president sent Gardner a thank note. Click Read more to see what he said... Read more.
In 1863, famed Civil War photographer Alexander Gardner's studio was on the upper floors of a building formerly situated here. The bottom floor was occupied by Shephard and Riley's Bookstore.
"The Marshall House, at the commencement of the (Civil) war, was a dingy old hotel...It was in this building that Col. Ellsworth of the NY Fire Zouaves was killed, in May, 1861."
Carte de visite of Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth (April 11, 1837 – May 24, 1861) of the New York Fire Zouaves, who was shot dead by Marshall House proprietor Jim Jackson.
The hotel stands on the spot once occupied by the Marshall House. It was here that Col. Elmer Ellsworth was shot dead by its proprietor on May 24, 1861, becoming the first casualty of the Civil War. Read more.
@ the onset of the Civil War "The records kept here were of great historical interest, dating from the early settlement of Virginia, and including many documents in the writing of General Washington."
"This shattered dwelling stands on the first Bull Run battle ground...Subjected to a severe artillery fire in that engagement, its inmates were driven out, and the walls badly damaged."
"The ford above the bridge is also guarded...with artillery or not, is not positively known, but every indication favors the belief that he proposes to defend the passage of the stream." 7/21/1861
By March of 1862, "Manassas Junction was but a level plain...with neither natural or artificial works of any strength, the fortifications at that time consisting only of rude mud banks."
"The Lacy House, on the banks of the Rappahannock opposite Fredericksburg, in the spring of 1862, was surrounded with beautiful lawns, rare flowers, and all the adornments of an elegant country seat."
"Just below the Falls of the Rappahannock, and midway between Washington and Richmond, is the city of Fredericksburg, the scene of some of the most thrilling events of the war." Read more.
"In October, 1781, the commissioners appointed to arrange the terms of capitulation, between General Washington and Lord Cornwallis, met at this (Moore) house." at stop E on the Battlefield Tour.
"When the Army of the Potomac invested Yorktown, the Moore House was in excellent preservation. It was far from a safe habitation the rebel shells striking it several times...did considerable damage."
"Much frequented was it by the sharpshooters, the orchard offering fair opportunities...Stealing amongst the trees, purple w/ the bloom of the peach, the riflemen would proceed...to take a position."
