Chatham Plantation: Witness to the Civil War (Teaching with Historic Places)

Chatham house near Fredericksburg, VA. Photo by Katherine Crawford-Lackey.

High on a bluff in Stafford County, Virginia, overlooking the Rappahannock River and the town of Fredericksburg beyond, stands the 18th-century plantation house called Chatham. For years this house stood as the centerpiece of a prosperous estate supported by the labor of nearly 100 enslaved individuals. Between 1862 and 1864 it became, in turn, an army headquarters, a communications center, a hospital, a campsite, and a refuge from the cold for Union soldiers.

The setting of Chatham has changed little over the years, so it is easy to imagine what it was like during the Civil War. Use this lesson plan to learn about Chatham and its legacy.

Essential Question

What is the emotional and physical impact of war?

Objective

1. To explain why Chatham became a center of activity during the many battles that were fought near the house;
2. To identify the major personalities associated with Chatham;
3. To describe the impact of the war on Chatham and its owners;
4. To determine, based on the history of Chatham, to what period the house should be restored;5. To examine how a war or a similar disaster affected people from their own community.

Grade Level

Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade

Subjects

Literacy and Language Arts,Social Studies

Lesson Duration

90 Minutes

Full Lesson Plan