NPS Join Park Staff and Volunteers August 28th-31st for a series of special programs and events!From August 28th through 30th, join park rangers for real time battle programs that follow the story of Second Manassas from the Brawner Farm on August 28th to the Unfinished Railroad and Twilight Clash on the 29th, and the fighting at the Deep Cut and Chinn Ridge on the 30th.On the 31st, programming will focus on the battle as a whole and park staff will be joined by living historians for dedications and firing demonstrations. That day, much of the activity will focus around Groveton, the tiny hamlet in the eye of Second Manassas and there will be a chance to visit the Dogan house and the Andrew Redman blacksmith shop. Wednesday, August 28th The focus on the 28th is the Brawner Farm, site of the opening engagement of Second Manssas.
The Northern Virginia Campaign in the summer of 1862 was a continual dance of two armies as they maneuvered north in a move Robert E. Lee hoped would get the Federal Army out of Virginia before harvest time and help him find foreign support by gaining a toehold in the north.
Join a park ranger at the Henry Hill Visitor Center for a special version of Battlefield in a Box that will construct a map of the campaign and follow its intricacies until combattants under Stonewall Jackson raided Manassas Junction on the 27th. This program lasts about 45 minutes and will meet outside the Henry Hill Visitor Center. Join a park ranger for a tour of the fields of the Brawner Farm, site of the opening fight of Second Manassas in 1862. Learn why the chances of being shot were 1 in 3 when the Stonewall Brigade, which had been tested time and again since First Manassas 13 months earlier, clashed with the Black Hat Brigade (soon to be known as the Iron Brigade) under John Gibbon in what was their first fight together as a brigade. The program meets behind the house and will last approximately 45 minutes. Park at tour stop 1 and walk over to the house. Join a park ranger for a tour of the fields of the Brawner Farm, site of the opening fight of Second Manassas in 1862. Learn why the chances of being shot were 1 in 3 when the Stonewall Brigade, which had been tested time and again since First Manassas 13 months earlier, clashed with the Black Hat Brigade (soon to be known as the Iron Brigade) under John Gibbon in what was their first fight together as a brigade.
The program meets behind the house and will last approximately 90 minutes. This tour will cover rough and uneven ground that is largely exposed to the sun. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes, bring water, check for ticks, and use sunscreen. Park at tour stop 1 and walk the couple hundred yards to the house. Join park volunteers and staff inside the Brawner farmhouse. Inside, view exhibits, chat about Second Manassas with staff, and learn more about how to best do the driving tour.
Stop by the Henry Hill Visitor Center to view exhibits related to First Manassas, get maps and information, visitor the America's National Park Store, and take advantage of restrooms.
Thursday, August 29th The theme for the 29th is the fighting which took place along the Unifinished Railroad between Federal and Confederate forces during a 12 hour period. Also, programming will include the twilight clash between the men of the newly arrived Gen. James Longstreet and Federal forces as they felt each other out.
Join a ranger for a 60 minute program focused on the fighting along the Unfinished Railroad on the morning and early afternoon of August 29th as it turned from probing attacks designed to gain information into a distraction that tested Confederate forces under Maxcy Gregg.
Park at tour stop 5, Sudley or at Sudley Church and meet the ranger by the trailhead at stop 5. This program will be over rough terrain. Be prepared by wearing sturdy shoes, bringing water, wearing sunscreen, and checking for ticks when done. Join a ranger for a program looking at the full breadth of Federal operations on August 29th along the Unfinished Railroad. From probing attacks in the morning designed to provide General Pope valuable intelligence to demonstrations in the afternoon and evening meant to draw Stonewall Jackson's attention away from a planned attack at the Brawner Farm, both sides fought for 12 hours leaving Jackson's left flank vulnerable at the end of the day. However, the result was a stalemate. Learn more about why this was the result.
Park at tour stop 6, Unfinished Railroad and join a ranger at the trailhead. The parking at stop 6 is limited, so there may be a need to park at the Deep Cut, tour stop 7 and walk down Featherbed Lane. Please be careful when walking along public roads. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes, carry water, and check for ticks when done. This program involves walking over uneven and rough surfaces and up and down steep stairs. Join a park ranger for a 45 minute program that will explore the clash between the Federals and the newly arrived men in Gen. James Longstreet's wing of the Army of Northern Virginia at Groveton.
This program will meet at tour stop 8, the Groveton Confederate Cemetery. Join park volunteers and staff inside the Brawner farmhouse. Inside, view exhibits, chat about Second Manassas with staff, and learn more about how to best do the driving tour.
Stop by the Henry Hill Visitor Center to view exhibits related to First Manassas, get maps and information, visitor the America's National Park Store, and take advantage of restrooms.
Friday, August 30th Programming will be focused on the final day of Second Manassas as the Federal Army faced disaster following their largest attack of the battle at the Deep Cut.
Join a park ranger for a 60 minute tour at the Deep Cut, site of the largest Federal attack of the battle on the afternoon of August 30th, 1862.
Park at tour stop 7 and meet the ranger at the trailhead. This program will cover rough terrain and sharp elevation in the sun. Be prepared with sturdy shoes. Also, make sure to carry water and check for ticks when done. Join park staff for a 45 minute walk along Chinn Ridge, site of fighting on the afternoon of August 30th. On Chinn Ridge, several Federal brigades made a desperate and determined stand in an effort to slow Longstreet's overwhelming Confederate tide in a bid to preserve the Federal Army's escape route back to Washington. The result of this fight was costly for Longstreet.
This program will meet at tour stop 10 and will largely be over paved surfaces. The land is fully exposed to sun, so make sure to take precautions including bringing water and wearing sunscreen. Join a park ranger for a 45 minute walk on Henry Hill telling the story of the Federal Army's attempt to execute a fighting retreat after Longstreet's men prevailed on Chinn Ridge. Their orders had been to get to "the plateau at Henry Hill." Learn about this final phase of battle where the Federals fought to fight another day.
Meet at the Henry Hill Visitor Center. Join park volunteers and staff inside the Brawner farmhouse. Inside, view exhibits, chat about Second Manassas with staff, and learn more about how to best do the driving tour.
Stop by the Henry Hill Visitor Center to view exhibits related to First Manassas, get maps and information, visitor the America's National Park Store, and take advantage of restrooms.
Saturday, August 31st On the final day of commemoration, programming will recap the three days of battle and will also focus on the community at the heart of the battle, Groveton.
Join a park ranger for a fun and family friendly look at how the Second Battle of Manassas played out on the local landscape by building a map of the battlefield!
This program is approximately 45 minutes and will take place outside the Henry Hill Visitor Center. Join a ranger at the Brawner Farm, site of the opening fight of Second Manassas where the chance of being shot was 1 in 3. This program will tell the story of the opening of the battle of Second Manassas and the campaign that led to it.
This program is roughly 55 minutes and will cover a lot of exposed ground. Make sure to bring water, wear sunscreen, and check for ticks. Attend this 30 minute firing demonstration led by the battlefield's own volunteer crew, the Bull Run Legion as they fire the park's cannon. Enjoy the sites, sounds, and smells of the Civil War!
Park at tour stop 8, Groveton Confederate Cemetery. Join a park ranger for a program looking at the small community of Groveton on the eve of war and how the fighting in the battle, primarily during the twilight clash on August 29th impacted the lives of the civilians living there.
This program will last 45 minutes and begin at the Andrew Redman blacksmith shop site. Park in the designated lot heading south on Groveton a few hundred yards to the right. Join a park ranger for a 60 minute tour at the Deep Cut, site of the largest Federal attack of the battle on the afternoon of August 30th, 1862.
Park at tour stop 7 and meet the ranger at the trailhead. This program will cover rough terrain and sharp elevation in the sun. Be prepared with sturdy shoes. Also, make sure to carry water and check for ticks when done. Join a ranger for a program focused on the 5th NY Zouaves who were serving in a brigade under the command of G.K. Warren on August 30th when they were suddenly swept up in an overwhelming Confederate tide. This program will last 60 minutes and will include a wreath laying at the site of the 5th NY Monument dedicated by the men decades later as a reminder of their harrowing experience.
Meet at the parking at the end of NY Avenue, tour stop 9 on the driving tour. Attend this 30 minute firing demonstration led by the battlefield's own volunteer crew, the Bull Run Legion as they fire the park's cannon. Enjoy the sites, sounds, and smells of the Civil War!
Park at tour stop 8, Groveton Confederate Cemetery. Join park staff for a 45 minute walk along Chinn Ridge, site of fighting on the afternoon of August 30th. On Chinn Ridge, several Federal brigades made a desperate and determined stand in an effort to slow Longstreet's overwhelming Confederate tide in a bid to preserve the Federal Army's escape route back to Washington. The result of this fight was costly for Longstreet.
This program will meet at tour stop 10 and will largely be over paved surfaces. The land is fully exposed to sun, so make sure to take precautions including bringing water and wearing sunscreen. Join park volunteers and staff inside the Brawner farmhouse. Inside, view exhibits, chat about Second Manassas with staff, and learn more about how to best do the driving tour.
Stop by the Henry Hill Visitor Center to view exhibits related to First Manassas, get maps and information, visitor the America's National Park Store, and take advantage of restrooms.
Join park staff and volunteers at the Dogan House. Widowed a few years before the outbreak of war and having been displaced by a fire which destroyed her home, Peach Grove in 1860, she and her children would find themselves in the eye of the hurricane during Second Manassas. Having vacated her home during the fighting, she returned to find the dead and dying in her yard. Learn more about her story and that of the civilians affected by the battles with special exhibits and talks throughout the day.
Park at tour stop 8, Groveton Confederate Cemetery. Join Matt Walker as he interprets the work of Andrew Redman a blacksmith who worked and lived with his family on the site in the years after the Civil War. Redman had been enslaved by Mrs. Dogan's father and gained freedom when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863.
Throughout the day, Matt will demonstrate the art and the craft of blacksmithing. Follow the signs after turning left onto Groveton Road. Parking is available a couple of hundred yards south of the intersection on the right. Visit the historic Stone House, one of three structures left on the battlefield that witnessed the battles of Manassas. Talk to an intern or volunteer about the history of this home and its significance to the battles. In visiting, interactions are informal and staff are on hand to answer questions.
Parking is available at tour stop 3 on the park map. Join park staff for a selection of fun family activities and crafts including a scavenger hunt, archaeology activity, and chance to make ribbons to wear!
This station will be set up at stop 8 on the driving tour: The Groveton Confederate Cemetery. |
Last updated: August 29, 2024