Ninth Annual
Preserving Virginia’s Civil War Heritage Workshop
November 10 – 11, 2001

Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields (FoFAB) is pleased to have the opportunity to host the ninth annual Preserving Virginia's Civil War Heritage Workshop in conjunction with the Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table (RVCWRT) on Veterans' Day weekend.  These workshops have proven to be very successful in providing information on local battlefield preservation efforts while helping to raise funds to save some of the most threatened battlefield sites in our region.

The format of this year's workshop will be similar to the format used last year.  The Saturday agenda will consist of lectures followed by a banquet with a guest speaker. The morning sessions will concentrate on the "how-to's" of battlefield acquisition.  The afternoon sessions will discuss the nuts-and-bolts of battlefield interpretation.  With this dual emphasis, battlefield groups at all levels can benefit from this workshop. On Sunday, workshop participants will have the opportunity to take a bus tour of Spotsylvania Court House and North Anna battlefields. 

All proceeds from the Preserving Virginia's Civil War Heritage Workshop will be used for battlefield acquisition and/or interpretation.  Look for more details about the conference and a conference registration form in this newsletter or contact Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields (FoFAB), P.O. Box 3112, Fredericksburg, VA 22402, call (540) 972-9954, email robwilliams@erols.com, or fax (540) 972-3521.

Junior Ranger Program Part II

Due to the overwhelming success of the two Junior Ranger booklets issued at the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park last summer, Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields (FoFAB) decided to prepare a similar program for younger visitors. In July 2000, the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park began offering two Junior Ranger booklets designed for young people ages 9 through 12. Lee Ann Williams, FoFAB Education Coordinator, supervised the creation of the two booklets. One booklet covers Fredericksburg Battlefield and Chatham. The other booklet covers Chancellorsville Battlefield and Jackson Shrine. Janice Frye and Elsa Lohman, both of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, also assisted with development. The purpose of the Junior Ranger booklets is to help the next generation understand the importance of the events that took place in the Fredericksburg area during the Civil War. Junior Ranger booklets are available at Eastern National bookstores in the park at a cost of $3 each. Participants can earn a Junior Ranger badge for completing the activities in the booklets.

Now, one year later in July 2001, the Junior Ranger program for children ages 5 - 8 is available at the park. A FoFAB volunteer prepared four separate Junior Ranger worksheets covering the same four sites as the booklets for older children: Fredericksburg Battlefield, Chancellorsville Battlefield, Chatham, and Jackson Shrine. The worksheets contain a series of questions and activities designed specifically to help the younger generation understand the significance of these sites.

Participants can earn a Junior Ranger sticker by completing the activities on the worksheets. Activities include visiting the battlefields and museums, attending guided walking tours, and completing questions and games on the worksheets. 

The Junior Ranger worksheets and stickers for children ages 5 - 8 were written, produced, and funded by FoFAB as part of its Civil War education and interpretation outreach to children. Therefore, the worksheets are provided to children free of charge. We trust this will allow maximum participation in this program.

Battlefield Interpretive Brochures

One of the interpretive goals established by the FoFAB board of directors for 2001 was to begin to develop a series of battlefield brochures for sites that currently have no interpretive brochure.  The first brochure in this series has been completed and will be available at the site once it is printed.  The board chose Harris Farm as the first site for a brochure because of our long-standing efforts at that site.  The Battle of Harris Farm, fought on May  19, 1864 , was the last battle during the Spotsylvania Court House campaign. 

The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) currently owns 1.5 acres of the battlefield and holds a preservation easement on another 1.5 acres at the site.  The CWPT property includes a monument to the Massachusetts First Heavy Artillery and two interpretive signs describing the battle.  FoFAB has been maintaining the Harris Farm battlefield site for the past couple of years.  Special thanks go to Mr. Bryant and Dr. Terrill, two neighbors of the battlefield, who have been faithfully helping us with mowing the site.

Matt Diley, a FoFAB board member, wrote the Harris Farm brochure.    We are currently preparing an updated brochure for the CWPT property at Cedar Mountain Battlefield in Culpeper.  Brochures covering additional local Civil War sites will follow.

Second Manassas Bus Tour
Saturday, September 15, 2001

Led by noted Civil War historian and author, John J. Hennessy, Assistant Superintendent of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and author of Return to Bull Run:  The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas.

The bus will depart from the Rt. 17 commuter lot in Stafford, Virginia at 8 a.m. and return about 5:00 p.m.  To get to the Rt. 17 commuter lot, take Exit 133 off I-95 and follow Rt. 17 heading north for about 1 mile.  The parking lot will be on the left side of Rt. 17.

Because it is uncertain that we will be able to stop along the way to purchase food or snacks, participants should bring a lunch and beverages.  The tour will occur rain or shine.

The cost is only $50 per person.  Proceeds from this tour will be used to support the Civil War education and battlefield interpretation efforts of Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields (FoFAB).

To participate in this bus tour, please complete the form below and mail it along with your check for $50 per person to Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields (FoFAB),

PO Box 3112, Fredericksburg, VA 22402. Checks should be written to FoFAB.  If you have questions, please feel free to contact us at this address or call (540) 972-9954, Fax (540) 972-3521, or e-mail: robwilliams@erols.com.  We will send a confirmation letter once we receive your registration and check.  We are limited to only one bus so get your registration form in early to ensure you do not miss out on this opportunity!

Second Manassas Bus Tour on Saturday, September 15, 2001

Name  ______________________________________________________

Address  ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Phone  ______________________________________________________

I would also be interested in a bus tour on the following subject/battlefield

____________________________________________________________

Membership Dues

FoFAB membership dues for the year 2001 are now due.  Please continue to support our efforts by renewing your membership with a contribution of at least $10 per person or family. A membership application is provided online.  FoFAB is an IRS approved tax-exempt non-profit organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Thank you for your support.

Preserving Virginia's Civil War Heritage Workshop
November 10 - 11, 2001 (Veterans' Day Weekend)
Holiday Inn North, 564 Warrenton Road, Stafford, Virginia

Online Reservation Form

Sponsored by Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields (FoFAB) in conjunction with the Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table (RVCWRT)
Conference Chairman:  Tom Quigley

Saturday, November 10, 2001

08:30 - 09:00     Registration and Continental Breakfast
09:00 - 09:15     Welcome
09:15 - 10:30     Session I - Land Acquisition Strategy
                        Civil War Preservation Trust
10:30 - 10:45     Morning Break
10:45 - 12:00     Session II - Land Acquisition Funding
                        National Park Trust
12:00 - 01:00     Lunch
01:00 - 01:30     Session III - Battlefield Interpretation Planning
                        Steve Stanley, President, Colonial Type & Graphics
01:30 - 02:00     Session IV - Promoting Your Battlefield Site
                        Alan Guyton, President, American History Company
02:00 - 02:15     Afternoon Break
02:15 - 03:45     Session V - Interpretation at Fredericksburg &                         Spotsylvania NMP         
                        John Hennessy, Assistant Superintendent,
                        Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP
03:45 - 04:00     Closing Remarks/Workshop Evaluation
06:00 - 08:00     Banquet with Civil War Historian and Author, Dr. Jim
                        Bryant discussing the role of African-Americans  in
                        the Civil War             

Sunday, November 11, 2001

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Bus Tour, Battles of Spotsylvania Court House and North Anna, led by Civil War historian and author Mac Wyckoff (includes lunch).

____ Saturday Seminars Only - $50
____ Saturday Evening Banquet - $30
____ Sunday Bus Tour - $60
____ Total Conference Package - $125

Space is limited so please get your reservations in early to ensure you do not miss this opportunity.

Proceeds from the Preserving Virginia's Civil War Heritage Workshop will be used to assist with battlefield acquisition and/or interpretation efforts in the Fredericksburg area.

For more information, please contact FoFAB at PO Box 3112, Fredericksburg, VA 22402  Phone (540) 972-9954  Fax (540) 972-3521 Email:  robwilliams@erols.com

Online Reservation Form

Goals for 2001

The Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields (FoFAB) board set several goals for the year 2001. As always, we will remain focused on Civil War education and battlefield interpretation. To that end, we established the following goals for 2001. To check on our progress, see the articles in this newsletter.

• Continue to offer numerous Civil War lectures, walking tours, and bus tours for local residents and battlefield visitors.

• Continue to serve as the fiscal agent for the Fredericksburg National Cemetery Memorial Day Weekend Luminaria to honor veterans of all American wars.

• Complete the battlefield interpretation plan for the Cedar Mountain battlefield.

• Develop a Junior Ranger program for children ages 5 to 8.

• Complete the Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield Teachers' Education Packet.

• Begin to develop a series of battlefield brochures for sites which currently have no interpretive brochure.

• Host the annual Preserving Virginia's Civil War Heritage Workshop during Veterans' Day weekend. The goal of the workshop is to provide training on battlefield acquisition and interpretation strategies.

• Continue to support the efforts of those who are seeking to purchase local battlefield property.

• Continue to be strong advocates for battlefield preservation.

The FoFAB board is always eager to hear your ideas.  If you have a suggestion of a program or project FoFAB can initiate to further our goals of Civil War education and battlefield interpretation, please feel free to contact us.  We would love to hear from you.  If you would like to help in these efforts, we would welcome your participation.

"In the end, our society will be defined not only by what we create but by what we refuse to destroy."
 - John Sawhill