Beautiful weather made for a pleasant weekend at the Spotsylvania property of Dan and Debbie Spear, the proprietors of a unique bed and breakfast facility, offering rich historic charms as well as a soldier trodden landscape. Known now as “Stevenson Ridge”, a tribute to Union General Thomas Stevenson who was killed nearby on May 10, 1864, the 87-acres includes an extensive system of military entrenchments built by soldiers of the Union IX Corps, and later occupied by V Corps troops. National Park Service historians regard the trenches as some of the best preserved in private hands.
Dotting the landscape is a collection of 18th and 19th century structures that have been painstakingly moved from threatened sites and reassembled with expert craftsmanship. They are available for overnight accommodations and special events. Please visit their informative website by clicking here.
Two of the historic buildings brought here, the Riddick House at left and
the "Spy" House, are seen from a bridge spanning a stream fed pond
on the inviting pastoral landscape.
Members of the 13th Virginia Infantry, Company A, demonstrate Infantry
Drill for some of the Saturday visitors. Many Fredericksburg area residents
and numerous out-of-town travelers came by for the experience.
Colonel Troy Fallin, commander of the 3rd Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia,
is seen here with some of his staff members, providing background details to
enthusiastic visitors. Many parents brought their young children who displayed a
burgeoning interest in the history of the American Civil War. This young man was
seeking information on how to become a drummer boy with a reenactment unit.
The well trained members of the 13th Virginia, Company A,
provided an impressive window into the past.
The grounds of Stevenson Ridge provides an ideal setting for quality
"living history" events. The site served as a foothold of the Union IX
Corps during the opening days of the Spotsylvania Campaign. 
All weekend long, visitors learned what soldier life was like in the 1860s.
Terry Thomann, of the National Civil War Life Museum and Foundation,
http://www.civilwarlife.org/, came out to demonstrate the wet plate photo process that
was used at the time of the Civil War. The majority of battlefield images recorded
during the war were made as stereoviews, and were sold to a fascinated public.
Mr. Thomann speaks with visitors near the 1830s log home, moved
to Stevenson Ridge from Stanardsville, Virginia.
Colonel Fallin and his Adjutant, Captain T.J. Bartel.
Learn more about their organization by visiting
the 3rd Regiment, ANV, by clicking here.
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