Civil War at Ferry Farm

1862 – The Civil War comes to Fredericksburg and Ferry Farm

On two separate campaigns in 1862, Union forces occupied the north bank of the Rappahannock River, including Ferry Farm. The first occupation employed the Union Army’s strategy of ‘peaceful’ occupation while the second employed ‘hard war,’ resulting in a devastating impact on the built and natural environment of the farm.

In April 1862, the Army of the Rappahannock, under the command of Major General Irvin McDowell, arrived in Fredericksburg. His objective was to take control of the town. This move was intended to help protect Washington, D.C., while the main body of the Union Army pushed toward Richmond. McDowell’s forward cavalry encountered, and defeated, the Confederate forces defending Fredericksburg. In retreat, the Confederates burned the two foot-traffic bridges spanning the Rappahannock, as well as a vital railroad bridge. The Mayor of Fredericksburg surrendered the city to the Union Army.

The Federals established their encampments on the north side of the Rappahannock, including the land at Ferry Farm, and set about the task of re-erecting the destroyed bridges. Once the bridges were in place, enslaved men, women, and children from the region liberated themselves and headed toward freedom in the north.  Ferry Farm’s enslaved inhabitants joined the exodus.