Near Fredericksburg in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Union Line Contained Along Mineral Springs Road

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, September 10, 2017

1. Union Line Contained Along Mineral Springs Road Marker

Inscription. The old colonial Mineral Springs Road crossed here running about one mile northeast to Tubal (Spotswood's Furnace) and Scott's Dam Ford on the Rappahannock. The road straddled the ridge between La Roque's Run and Mineral Springs Creek. On May 3 thru 6, 1863, the road formed the forward edge for Sickle’s III Corps, Couch's II Corps, Howard’s XI Corps, and Slocum's XII Corps of about 62,041 men. This line was contained to the southeast by many small unit infantry engagements and artillery duels with Anderson's and McLaw's Divisions of the Confederate I Corps of about 17,035 men under the direct command of General Robert E. Lee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 3, 1863.

Location. 38° 19.332′ N, 77° 38.254′ W. Marker is near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. It is on Laroque Run Drive 0.2 miles west of Formation Drive, on the right when traveling south. Marker located within a home division named Chancellorsville Estates, an area of the Chancellorsville Battlefield excluded from preservation. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8613 Laroque Run Dr, Fredericksburg VA 22407, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The 124th New York Regiment’s First Battle (approx. 0.2 miles away); Chancellorsville Campaign

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. ¼ mile away); Apex of Hooker’s Last Line (approx. 0.3 miles away); Union Lifeline (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hooker's Final Bastion (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Chancellorsville Campaign (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lives Transformed (approx. 0.4 miles away); Stone's Reconnaissance (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, September 10, 2017

2. Union Line Contained Along Mineral Springs Road Marker

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, March 14, 2026

3. Union Line Contained Along Mineral Springs Road Marker

View south from the marker. There is no visible trace of the old colonial road described here, but LiDAR imagery shows the faint remnant of an old road running east by northeast about 1300' south of this point; once that road trace curves northeast it joins the modern "Old Mineral Springs Road" (a clue in itself) until it dead-ends at the power line right of way just beyond Tubal Court. The ruins of Spotswood Furnace are about 2500' due northeast from that point, a strong indication of the road being the one described in the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2017, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 509 times since then and 12 times this year. Last updated on November 21, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 14, 2017, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 3. submitted on April 2, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.