Fredericksburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Sunken Road Walking Trail

The Battle of Fredericksburg

— Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park —

Sunken Road Walking Trail Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, May 25, 2008

1. Sunken Road Walking Trail Marker

Inscription. On December 13, 1862, Union troops poured out of Fredericksburg to attack Confederate forces behind the town. The heaviest blows fell here at Marye's Heights. For eight hours Union troops repeatedly charged the heights only to be slaughtered by the volleys of Confederate riflemen occupying a sunken road at the base of the hill.

This half-mile trail takes you down the Sunken Road, then climbs the hill and comes back along Marye's Heights, concluding at the National Cemetery. Those not wishing to climb the hill may return to the parking lot by way of the Sunken Road.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is December 13, 1862.

Location. 38° 17.682′ N, 77° 28.077′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Marker is at the intersection of Sunken Road and Lafayette Boulevard (Virginia Highway 1), on the right when traveling south on Sunken Road. Located in the parking lot for the Fredericksburg National Battlefield visitor center. The marker is the trail head for the tour. The Sunken Road is closed to vehicle traffic. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fredericksburg VA 22401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Field of Battle (within shouting distance of this

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marker); The Union Attacks Begin (within shouting distance of this marker); Confederate Artillery (within shouting distance of this marker); Fredericksburg Battlefield (within shouting distance of this marker); Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park (within shouting distance of this marker); The Confederate Line (within shouting distance of this marker); Battered Buildings on Willis Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas R. R. Cobb (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

More about this marker. To the left is a map of the trail indicting monuments and the location of wartime structures. On the lower right is a photo of the Kirkland Monument.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Sunken Road and Marye's Heights Virtual Tour by Markers

Also see . . . Sunken Road Walking Trail Virtual Tour. National Park Service page. (Submitted on July 5, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Sunken Road Walking Trail Start Point image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, May 25, 2008

2. Sunken Road Walking Trail Start Point

The Stone Wall image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, May 25, 2008

3. The Stone Wall

The reconstructed stone wall runs along the historic trace of the Sunken Road. Up until recently, the road was open to vehicles.

Marker Damaged image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 6, 2008

4. Marker Damaged

The marker was recently damaged by an early summer storm. The tree behind the marker (see photo 2) fell on the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,789 times since then and 17 times this year. Last updated on March 12, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 5, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on July 12, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.