Slaughter Pen Farm is located south of Fredericksburg and played a major role in the Battle of Fredericksburg during the Civil war. Its know as the Slaughter Pen Farm because the soldiers advanced with little or no cover against strongly positioned Confederates on high ground (Prospect Hill) and sustained heavy casualties. This was supposed to be the main Union attack that day, followed by the (now) more famous assault at Maryes Heights. Today Slaughter Pen Farm contains a 1.75-mile walking trail with interpretive signs covers the site of an 8,000-man Union attack Dec. 13, 1862, battle there. Frank O’Reilly, author of the definitive study The Fredericksburg Campaign: Winter War on the Rappahannock, has stated that this ground is absolutely critical to understanding the battle. He writes: “The Slaughter Pen is the very heart and soul of the Fredericksburg Battlefield. Without it, nothing makes sense. This is the point where the battle was won and lost on December 13, 1862.” Five medal of honors were awarded to Union soldiers from this battle. There is a homestead and many farm buildings located on the farm all in despair. The farmland is still farmed. Its a treasure drove for infrared photography.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 23:18:30 +0000