Buzzard's Roost

Buzzard's Roost. . A few short miles from where you are now standing, these inscribed rocks and boulders were once part of an isolated hill of bedrock standing nearly 200 ft. above sea level, with a commanding view of the area surrounding it. Located near the west bank of a tributary to Potomac Creek known as Reedy Branch, the outcropping was locally known as Buzzard's Roost., During the Civil War, in the winter of 1862-63, following the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Army of the Potomac were camped along Potomac Creek, near Stoneman's Switch. The Union infantry picket line for this encampment passed within approximately one-half mile of Buzzard's Roost. Union soldiers on picket duty carved their names and companies in the soft sandstone of the exposed bedrock., Identified inscriptions include the following: , Private James Colledge, 146th New York Infantry, Co. C , Private Patrick Tracy, 9th Massachusetts Infantry, Co. A , Private Richard O. Meredith, 11th U.S. Infantry, Co. C , Private Edward S. Nourse, 22nd Massachusetts Infantry, Co. K , Private Job L. and/or Orange Meredith, 17th U.S. Infantry , Private William T. Hyde, 17th U.S. Infantry, Co. G , Private Daniel J. Kenny, 9th Massachusetts Infantry, Co. A , Private Frederick Agne, 146th New York Infantry, Co. F , Private Sturley J. Lemmon, 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Co.K , Private Abram Leyda, 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Co. H , Private John Erickson, 11th New Jersey Infantry, Co. I , Private James Finnons, 11th New Jersey Infantry, Co. I , Private Henry B. O'Neal, 9th Massachusetts Infantry, Co. B , Private Leonard H. Livermore, 3rd Maine Infantry, Co. I , Private Alexander or Andrew J. Lewis, 3rd Maine Infantry, Co. I , Private Charles Risden, 13th New York Infantry, Co. D, Inscription research provided by Al Conner, and the National Park Service., (captions) , Buzzard's Roost Pre-Removal , A current map showing distance from Buzzard's Roost to the camp at Stoneman's Switch. , Pickets, similar to those who carved the inscriptions at Buzzard's Roost, cooking their rations near Fredericksburg, December 9, 1862. Source: Taylor and Huntington - Publisher