Fredericksburg, VA

As a child, Washington spent his summers in the home where he was born, in a home just outside of Fredericksburg, and at Mt. Vernon, then occupied by his step-brother. We did not know any of these facts about Washington, or how significant a place Fredericksburg was, until we visited it. We had a very enjoyable time and would like to return to explore this colonial city a bit more (it has Mary Washington's home, a tavern from the time, and many other historic buildings with actors portraying the contemporary life.

As we drove around Fredericksburg, discovering that George Washington's mother spent her last days here and admiring the historicity of this city, we noticed a sign that said that George Washington's birthplace was only 30 miles away. Anyone who studies the life of Washington will quickly discover his love of Mt. Vernon and the Potomac River. Not surprising, then, was the fact that we discovered: Washington was born on the banks of the Potomac as well. It was a beautiful plantation, and the Government has kept it up well, as a living farm. It was well worth seeing.

The Union soldiers had captured Fredericksburg. The Confederates had stationed themselves on Marye's Heights, which is a large hill to the right of this stone wall. As the Union army moved upon the Confederates from the left of the stone wall, the Confederates easily mowed them down, having the advantage of higher ground and the stone wall. It was this wall that Kirkland had to cross to bring water to the wounded. It is amazing that such a tranquil and beautiful place could be the receptacle of such violence. Now, the President of Mary Washington University lives on Marye's Heights (again, to the right of the stone wall).

We first stopped at the Visitor's Center and watched a short film on this area. The Union forces took a heavy beating from Lee's Confederates. In fact, there were four battles fought here, making it the bloodiest of the battles of the Civil War. In the face of such carnage, however, a Confederate soldier, memorialized below, stepped forward to bring water to the wounded Union infantrymen, risking his own life to do it. His name was Richard Kirkland, although he came to be known as "The Angel of Marye's Heights." President Monson spoke of him in a session of General Conference in 1995. See http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=53c73ff73058b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD.

We began our trip to Fredericksburg with a patient little girl, reading her book as we made the drive with her adventurous parents.