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

Massaponax Baptist Church

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 15, 2007

1. Massaponax Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. Massaponax Baptist Church, built in 1859, served a congregation founded in 1788. On 21 May 1864 Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his commanders conferred on pews in the churchyard as the Union army marched from the Spotsylvania Court House battlefield to the North Anna River. Photographer Timothy O'Sullivan hauled his heavy stereo camera to the balcony of the church and recorded this conference in a unique series of candid images showing a war council in progress.

Erected 1991 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E-78.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 21, 1864.

Location. 38° 11.584′ N, 77° 30.613′ W. Marker is near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. It is on Massaponax Church Road (County Route 608) 0 miles west of U.S. 1, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5101 Massaponax Church Rd, 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Massaponax Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Federal Raid

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(approx. 0.6 miles away); Road to Guinea Station (approx. 0.6 miles away); James Farmer, Civil Rights Leader (approx. 0.6 miles away); Plantations on Guinea Station Road (approx. one mile away); Stanard’s Mill (approx. 3.1 miles away); Grant’s Supply Line (approx. 3.7 miles away); Engagement at Harris Farm (Bloomsbury) (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Marker and church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 15, 2007

2. Marker and church

Massaponax Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 15, 2007

3. Massaponax Baptist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,969 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 15, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.