Fredericksburg region possesses historic riches

Atrip to Fredericksburg is like opening a history book and transporting yourself into its pages.

Fredericksburg and surrounding Spotsylvania and Stafford counties were the sites of four major Civil War battles where some of the heaviest fighting took place from 1862 to 1865.

The area's rich history attracts hundreds of thousands of people every year to battlefields, museums, cemeteries and historic churches.

Following are a few places that top the list.

The first of the four battles was the Battle at Fredericksburg, where a worn-down road next to a stone wall became a natural barricade against Union forces.

In December 1862, Gen. Robert E. Lee's army was camped near the Rappahannock River and guarding Telegraph Road, then one of the main roads leading to Richmond.

Stone retaining walls on either side of the road made for a natural trench for Confederate soldiers, and positioned them in a such a way that Union soldiers would have to cross the river, then travel wide-open hills to reach Confederate lines.

It's known as one of Lee's greatest victories.

Telegraph Road used to be open to vehicular traffic until the Fredericksburg City Council agreed to shut it down several years ago. The National Park Service then restored it to look like it did during the 1800s.

Now visitors can spend time walking the site, where more than 5,000 Confederate and more than 12,000 Union soldiers lost their lives.

Not having the traffic rushing by "makes the experience that much more rich," said Karen Hedelt, tourism-development manager with the Fredericksburg Visitor Center.

Some other interesting sites around the area include: