Union Troops Once Came Within 7 Miles of Capturing the Confederate Capital at This Historic Virginia Park

Richmond National Battlefield Park

Richmond was the prize everyone wanted during the Civil War, and it was the heart of the Confederacy from 1861-1865.

Union forces spent four years trying to crack this Confederate capital, leading to some of the war’s most intense fighting. Today, the Richmond National Battlefield Park protects 13 battlefield sites spread across several counties.

The whole setup spans 80 miles of former fighting grounds, prison camps, and old-school fortifications where Union and Confederate troops went at it for four straight years.

Here are some of our favorite parts of visiting Richmond’s Civil War battlefields.

This Hospital Treated Over 76,000 Confederates

Chimborazo was a medical village that helped over 76,000 Confederate soldiers, housed more than 100 wards and a bakery, and even made beer for patients.

Doctors here created surgical methods that changed medicine for years to come. After Richmond fell, freed slaves found shelter in these buildings.

Today, the Chimborazo Medical Museum displays medical tools that might make you cringe. Walking around, you can picture thousands of wounded soldiers being treated by women nurses who changed military medicine forever.

The Iron Forge That Supplied the Confederacy

Tredegar Iron Works was so important that it helped Richmond become the Confederate capital. This factory made about half of all Confederate Army cannons.

Over 3,000 workers kept the furnaces going day and night. These workers included slaves, free blacks, and immigrants. They even made iron plates for the CSS Virginia, the South’s first ironclad warship.

While other factories closed owing to the lack of supplies, Tredegar kept running. After the war, it was one of the few Southern factories still standing.

The River That Stopped An Entire Army

Chickahominy River stopped General McClellan’s army during the Peninsula Campaign. Local Confederate soldiers used their knowledge of the land to gain a huge advantage.

This mile-wide water barrier split his forces and helped keep Richmond safe. The nearby swamps were deadlier than bullets and disease killed more soldiers than combat. Army engineers built more than 30 bridges here, but flash floods kept washing them away.

The Hill Where 14 Attacks All Failed

Union forces won at Malvern Hill during the Seven Days Battle in 1862 because they had higher ground (or the upper advantage).

Confederate General D.H. Hill called it “not war but murder” after seeing so many men die. His troops had to charge uphill into direct fire of the enemy canons. They tried fourteen separate attacks, and all failed with heavy losses.

The Guns On A Cliff That Saved Richmond

Drewry’s Bluff had a sharp river bend and a high cliff where Confederate guns could shoot down at Union ships. They created underwater obstacles by sinking ships and driving wooden stakes into the riverbed. The fort’s guns sat nearly 90 feet above the water, making them almost impossible for ships to hit.

This forced the Union Navy to give up and turn around. The earthworks where Confederate soldiers once mounted their cannons are still visible today. The displays here cover naval warfare, which often gets overshadowed by famous land battles. You can hike trails that follow the same roads that soldiers used.

The Trenches From The Bloodiest Battle

At Cold Harbor, 7,000 Union soldiers were killed or wounded in just half an hour during a tough 1864 battle.

Armies led by Lee and Grant were locked in complex battle moves for two weeks before Grant decided to move south toward Petersburg.

Soldiers dug trenches less than 200 yards apart, close enough to see each other’s faces. Many Union soldiers pinned name notes to their uniforms before the battle.

Today, researchers have found tunnel systems connecting trenches. Even the visitor center has an electric map that lights up to show how the battle happened.

The Past Comes Alive With Reenactors

Throughout the year, living history events bring the Civil War era to life with reenactments, demonstrations, period costumes, and activities you can join.

Try your hand at 1800s skills and crafts that people used every day back then. The cannon demonstrations or the reproduction artillery sound just like the real thing.

Battle anniversaries usually have special programs with more activities. Military camps show what daily life was like for Civil War soldiers. The people in costume really know their stuff and love answering questions.

Visit The Site Of Lee’s Biggest Attack

At Gaines’ Mill, Lee launched his biggest attack of the war with 57,000 men, which forced McClellan to retreat and save Richmond. You can walk along the same creek where Confederate troops made their decisive attack.

The historic Watt House served as both a Union headquarters and a field hospital. Signs along the path explain how the troops moved during this complex battle. This battlefield is where famous Confederate General A.P. Hill first made his reputation.

The park recently added new land for parts of the battlefield that were previously closed.

Start Your Visit at the Civil War Visitor Center

That’s at the Tredegar Iron Works. Inside are hands-on displays that show how workers turned raw iron into weapons. You can see real cannons that were made right here as well. There’s a 22-minute film you can watch for an overview of everything you’re about to explore.

The gift shop has tons of Civil War books and unique souvenirs. Park rangers can help plan a battlefield route based on what you’re interested in and how much time you have.

Visiting Richmond Battlefields

Richmond National Battlefield Park is in central Virginia about 100 miles south of Washington DC. The sites are spread across Richmond City and three surrounding counties.

The battlefields are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Just remember they close on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

When it comes to costs:

• No entrance fee for the park itself
• Parking at Tredegar Iron Works costs $3 per hour or $18 for the whole day
• National Park passes can cover the parking fee

For those bringing pets:

• Dogs are welcome on trails if kept on a leash
• No pets inside visitor centers (except service animals)

There’s free Wi-Fi at most visitor centers, but your phone signal may be spotty at battlefield sites.