Civil War Trails

Civil War Trails is an innovative national network that traces the paths of Union and Confederate forces across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, D. C., West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.  Organized around different campaigns of the Civil War these trails, and sites along the trail, allow travelers to experience the Civil War in a way that uniquely connects them to the land where events unfolded. Seven Charles City sites are a part of the Virginia Civil War Trails. Interpretive exhibits are located at four of these sites and may be viewed by clicking on the links to the left. The three remaining sites tell their Civil War stories in their own signage and tours.

Located along and near the James River, 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. Shirley Plantationhosted 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) hosts an annual reenactment and is open for special events and pre-planned tours. Smaller plantations, Edgewood, and North Bend, feature their own Civil War-oriented stories. Gen. U. S. Grant’s remarkable James River crossing in 1864 is told at North Bend and at Lawrence Lewis, Jr. Park, known in the Civil War as Willcox’s landing.


Virginia Civil War TrailsClick for maps and other information about the trails.

Civil War Trails PDFs:

These Civil War Trails exhibits are used by express permission of the copyright holder. They may be downloaded for personal use and for no other purpose.

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