Ravaged Town

The City of Fredericksburg, Virginia

Photographed by Craig Swain, December 13, 2008

1. Ravaged Town Marker

Inscription.
Fredericksburg had enjoyed more than a century of comfortable prosperity by 1860. Although its economic heydey was past, the town’s elegant houses, numerous churches, and shady, tree-lined streets bespoke lingering wealth and refinement.

The Civil War shattered the town’s stately tranquility. On December 11, 1862, some 150 Union cannon fired on Fredericksburg, toppling walls and setting fire to buildings. Confederate artillery added to the destruction, targeting Union soldiers who occupied, then looted, the doomed town.

Terrified citizens fled Fredericksburg, taking whatever they could carry. When they returned, their lives—like the town itself—were in shambles. It would take decades to recover.

(Sidebar Quote):
The once beautiful city of Fredericksburg is almost in ruins. There [is] hardly a house that is not torn to pieces by shell & shot from cannon & a great many burnt to ashes."
William R. Montgomery,
Phillips' Legion Infantry

Erected by City of Fredericksburg.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1864.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 38° 17.941′

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N, 77° 27.901′ W. Marker was in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was at the intersection of Kenmore Avenue and Hanover Street, on the left when traveling south on Kenmore Avenue. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Fredericksburg VA 22401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It was also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 10 other markers are within walking distance of this location: A different marker also named Ravaged Town (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Marye's Heights (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Canal Ditch (a few steps from this marker); 1849 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Rowe House (about 400 feet away); Barton Street Confederate Monument (about 500 feet away); The Barton Street Potter's Field (about 700 feet away); Liberty Town (about 700 feet away); Eyewitness To Battle (about 700 feet away); A Memorial Landscape (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Other markers no longer nearby. Marye’s Heights (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Canal Ditch (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Fredericksburg Campaign (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. The background is a wartime photo of Fredericksburg.

The Original Ravaged Town Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, June 2, 2007

2. The Original Ravaged Town Marker

The marker was replaced by a newer version in 2008. The text was not modified, as was the case with the two nearby markers.

This 1864 view of Fredericksburg shows damaged buildings on George Street, one block to your left. In the upper left is a painting captioned, A Fredericksburg family returns to its battered home after the battle.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced by the linked marker.

Also see . . . The Fredericksburg Bombardment. This scanned copy of the December 27, 1862 copy of Harper’s Weekly has an article on the Fredericksburg bombardment as well as articles and illustrations about the Battle of Fredericksburg. It is from the northern point of view. (Submitted on June 2, 2007.)

A Fredericksburg family returns to its battered home after the battle. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., September 15, 2007

3. A Fredericksburg family returns to its battered home after the battle.

”The once beautiful city of Fredericksburg is almost in ruins. There [is] hardly a house that is not torn to pieces by shell & shot from cannon & a great many burnt to ashes.” —William R. Montgomery, Phillips’ Legion Infantry

Ravaged Town Marker and Others image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., September 15, 2007

4. Ravaged Town Marker and Others

New Markers for "Ravaged Town" and "Marye's Heights" image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, December 13, 2008

5. New Markers for "Ravaged Town" and "Marye's Heights"

<i>Street in Fredericksburg, Va., showing houses destroyed by bombardment in December, 1862</i> image. Click for full size.

circa 1862

6. Street in Fredericksburg, Va., showing houses destroyed by bombardment in December, 1862

This is the same photograph as on the marker, courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,459 times since then and 17 times this year. Last updated on September 19, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on December 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on June 2, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on September 19, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 4. submitted on September 15, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 5. submitted on December 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6. submitted on October 14, 2015. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.