Ferry Farm - Fredericksburg, VA
Posted by: 
DougK
N 38° 17.756 W 077° 27.097
18S E 285607 N 4241493
Ferry Farm became a combat zone on Dec. 11, 1862, the first day of the battle of Fredericksburg.
Waymark Code: WMBDGB
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 05/09/2011
Views: 8
George Washington's Ferry Farm was in the middle of the Union lines during the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862.
In November, 1862, the Army of the Potomac, 130,000 men strong, arrived at the Stafford County side of the Rappahannock River.
While they waited for pontoons to make bridges, soldiers tore down what they believed was the Washington house to use in their temporary shelters and for camp fires. It was actually the house built by Winter Bray for his overseer.
On Dec. 11, 1862, Union engineers began building a pontoon bridge at the ferry landing, but work was halted by sniper fire. Cannons situated at Ferry Farms fired on the town. The 89th New York Volunteers rowed across the Rappahannock attempting to dislodge Confederate sharpshooters who were preventing the construction of pontoon bridges.
The bridge was completed and artillery was stationed to cover the crossing of the Union Army on its way to defeat in the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Pontoon bridges were also constructed here during the Chancellorsville Campaign in May, 1863, and in the Overland Campaign in May, 1864.