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Norfolk

Norfolk Civil War Tour – Driving tour covers sites around the city including Fort Norfolk, historic districts, the site of Abraham Lincoln's 1862 "landing," and others. Brochures available at the city visitor center or call 800-368-3097. See also the city's interpreted "Cannonball Trail."

Fort Norfolk, on the waterfront at 810 Front St. near downtown – Originally built in 1794, this interesting fort was occupied by both Confederate and Union forces during the war. Entry to the grounds is possible during business hours Monday-Friday. Tell the guards you want to see the fort, show ID, and they will let you in.

Black Soldiers Monument in Elmwood Cemetery, Princess Anne Road – Rare monument to African-American soldiers who fought in the Civil War memorializes black soldiers buried in the West Point section of the Elmwood Cemetery. 757-441-2576.

Hampton

See also the museum/visitor center listings for the Hampton Museum and the Casemate Museum.

Emancipation Oak, Trails sign on the Hampton University campus – African-American students, many freed by Union Gen. Benjamin Butler's "contraband" declaration early in the war, listened here as the Emancipation Proclamation was read in 1863. Many schools were established for the newly freed people in the area during the war.

Camp Hamilton, Trails sign in Phoebus, Route 143 just before the bridge to Fort Monore – The first U.S. Army camp on post-secession Virginia soil was established here in May 1861, under the protection of the Fort Monroe guns.

St. John's Church, Trails sign on Queen's Way at the Hampton History Center and Museum – This historic church, built in 1728, was burned during the Confederate evacuation of the city Aug. 7, 1861. Much of the city burned that day on orders of Confederate Gen. John B. Magruder. The walls of the church remained, however, and services were held in the rebuilt church in 1869.

Suffolk

Siege of Suffolk – Confederates under Gen. James Longstreet threatened Union forces here in April 1863 but were unable to dislodge the Federals. Civil War Trails interpretation in the Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Chesapeake

The following Chesapeake sites have Civil War Trails interpretation unless otherwise noted.

Village of Great Bridge, off route 168 north of Route 165 – Located at the strategic crossing of the Albemarle and Chesapeake canals. During the war's early stages the Confederacy benefited from the link. Following the fall of Norfolk, Great Bridge fell into Federal hands.

Pleasant Grove Baptist Cemetery, just off Route 165 – A monument to the "Jackson Grays" honors the regiment formed in the churchyard.

Glencoe, Trails sign on the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail (old Route 17) at Ballahack Road – Home of William Wallace, first lieutenant of the "Jackson Grays." Within view of this homesite is the large antebellum house "Beechwood," home of the Stewart family.

Dismal Swamp Canal, Trails sign on the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail (old Route 17) – This canal is the oldest operating artificial waterway in America. It provided the Confederacy with an important link between the Chesapeake Bay and the North Carolina Sounds until May 1862, when it was captured by Union troops.

Village of Deep Creek, Trails sign located at Deep Creek Lock Park, just east of US 17 on Luray Street – A 50-building village, an important link on the Great Dismal Swamp Canal.

"Cuffeytown 13" Trails sign at the Gabriel Chapel, 2216 Long Ridge Road (off Business Route 168) – A concentration of men who fought with the United States Colored Troops are buried with honor in this small cemetery. Some of those interred here fought at "The Crater" near Petersburg and at New Market Heights near Richmond.

"Seven Patriot Heroes." Take Route 168 south from I-64, then right at Old Battlefield Blvd. then right on Ballahack Road, then three miles to site – The homes and final resting places of veterans of the United States Colored Troops are located nearby.

Portsmouth

Stop at the Portsmouth Visitor Center, 6 Crawford Parkway, for more information. Boat tours on board the Carrie B. are available April–October. Cost is $10 adults. See also the Gosport Navy Yard on the Peninsula Campaign page.

Portsmouth Naval Hospital – Used by Confederate and Union armies during the war. More than 300 Union sailors killed during the sinking of the USS Cumberland and USS Congress are buried on the grounds. Trails interpretation on the waterfront.

Olde Towne Historic District – A square mile of Revolutionary and Civil War-era structures. Includes the Peters House, headquarters for Union Gen. Benjamin "Beast" Butler; the Pass House (Crawford and London) where citizens had to obtain passes and swear allegiance to the United States; and the Confederate War Memorial (Court and High streets). Trails sign.

Smithfield / Isle of Wight County

See also the Peninsula Campaign tour description of Fort Boykin and St. Luke's Church.

Battle of Smithfield – Engagements Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 1864, resulted in the destruction of the Union gunboat USS Smith-Briggs. Civil War Trails interpretation.

James River Plantations

Located along and near the James River and State Route 5 between Williamsburg and Richmond, each of the James River plantations, large and small, figured in Civil War history. Berkeley and nearby Westover were the final stop in Union Gen. George McClellan's campaign to take Richmond in the 1862 Peninsula Campaign. Thousands of soldiers camped on the banks of the river after the battle of Malvern Hill. Shots were fired at them from Evelynton's "backyard." The venerable Shirley Plantation hosted a hospital for a time. Sherwood Forest, home of President John Tyler, was damaged by occupying troops. A restored riverside fort at Wilson's Wharf (Fort Pocahontas) on the Sherwood Forest grounds hosts an annual reenactment and is open for special events and pre-planned tours.

Smaller plantations, North Bend and Piney Grove, feature Civil War-oriented stories, now enhanced by Trails signs. The story of Union Gen. U.S. Grant's remarkable James River crossing in 1864 is told at North Bend and at a county park at Wilcox's Landing.

Colonial National Historical Park

Although the main mission here is to interpret the Colonial history of Jamestown and Yorktown, there is much to interest Civil War visitors. Information about the 1862 siege of Yorktown is available at the visitor center there and a Civil War fort, partially built on the archeological remains of the original John Smith 1607 fort, is a prominent feature at Jamestown. Admission fee. Call 757-898-3400.

Northern Neck

The area between the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers is generally referred to as the Northern Neck. Route 3 is the major road.

Stratford Hall, north of Route 3 on Route 214 – This fine Virginia home on the Potomac River is the birthplace of Robert E. Lee. His cradle remains in place in one of the rooms. Site offers some Civil War interpretation. Call or visit website for hours. $9 adults. 804-493-8038.

Courtland

Mahone's Tavern, Civil War Trails sign downtown – A social center for more than 200 years, this tavern was once the home of Confederate Gen. William Mahone, hero of the Battle of the Crater and able railroad executive. Confederate troops camped here during the war and the building was used as a hospital.

Franklin area

Battle of Franklin and Franklin During the War, a series of Trails signs is located at the Blackwater River in downtown Franklin; follow the Trails way-finding signs when in town – This regional transportation hub and commercial center became a central Confederate supply center early in the war. In 1862, Confederates constructed a series of earthworks that ran from the river here to Zuni Station, 50 miles north. Union gunboats came up the Blackwater several times in 1862 including a serious combined army-navy attempt to capture the town on Oct. 3. Confederates were able to repel that adventure, and the town continued its important supply role throughout the war.

Thomaston, located west of town, take Route 671 (Gen. Thomas Blvd) from Route 58, turn onto Cypress Bridge Road then 0.5 miles to left turn onto Thomaston Road then 1 mile to house – This is the birthplace and boyhood home of prominent Union Gen. George Thomas who would earn the nickname of the "Rock of Chickamauga" during that Georgia battle. His choice to remain with the Union army caused family discord and he never returned home.