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

A Fateful Ride

— Spotsylvania Courthouse Historic District —

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 29, 2024

1. A Fateful Ride Marker

Inscription. On the night of May 2, 1863, Confederate Lt. Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (top right) was severely wounded by accidental friendly fire near Chancellorsville. After Jackson's left arm was amputated at an Army hospital near Wilderness Church, the general was transported south on Brock Road to Guinea Station, via ambulance. Crowds gathered along the procession's path to lament the general's injury.

Jackson was not the sole patient in the ambulance. Also onboard was Lt. Col. Stapleton Crutchfield Jr. (bottom right), a Spotsylvania County man and Virginia Military Institute graduate who served as Jackson's chief of artillery. Crutchfield had also suffered an amputated limb - his right leg. Jackson pleaded to slow the wagon's pace to ease Crutchfield's pain until the officer departed the wagon near Spotsylvania Courthouse. Crutchfield later returned to duty, but was killed during the Battle of Sailor's Creek near Farmville, Va., in 1865.

The ambulance to Jackson to Thomas Chandler's farm at Guinea Station, where he died May 10, 1863.

"At Spotsylvania Courthouse, and along the whole route, men and women rushed to the ambulance ... and with tearful eyes they blessed him and prayed for his recovery."
- Dr. Hunter McGuire

(Image Caption)
ABOVE: A chromolithograph depicts the

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Battle of Chancellorsville in Spotsylvania County and the wounding of Confederate Gen. Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson.

Erected by Spotsylvania County Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 2, 1863.

Location. 38° 12.06′ N, 77° 35.356′ W. Marker is in Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. It is at the intersection of Courthouse Road (Virginia Route 208) and Brock Road (County Route 613), on the left when traveling south on Courthouse Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9101 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania VA 22553, 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: A Jailor is Jailed (here, next to this marker); Legend, Lore and Fact (a few steps from this marker); Lee’s Headquarters (a few steps from this marker); Modification, Decay & Preservation (within shouting distance of this marker); A Case of Negligence (within shouting distance of this marker); A Courthouse at the Tavern (within shouting distance of this marker); Doctor's Orders (within shouting distance of this marker); Sanford's Tavern & Inn (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spotsylvania Courthouse.

Other markers no longer nearby. An Old Jail…A New Home (was here, next to this marker but has

View from Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 29, 2024

2. View from Marker

Brock Road becomes modern Courthouse Road at the corner of the Courthouse Lawn; it was this road that Jackson's ambulance wagon traveled, passing (in this image's orientation) from right to left.

been permanently removed); A Final Journey (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Spotsylvania Courthouse and Jail (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Spotsylvania County Jail (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); An Ordinary on the Road to Snell (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Samuel Alsop Jr. (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); A Tavern at the New Courthouse (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. It was the predecessor to this marker.

Jackson's Destination image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, August 2, 2025

3. Jackson's Destination

The plantation office at Thomas Chandler's 'Fairfield' - now preserved as the Jackson Death Site under the management of the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park - was Jackson's destination when he transited Spotsylvania Courthouse by the marker's location.

Thomas Chandler of Fairfield image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, November 29, 2024

4. Thomas Chandler of Fairfield

Fairfield, where Jackson died on 10 May 1863, was owned by Thomas Coleman Chandler - who is buried just across the road from the marker, behind Berea Christian Church.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 20, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 52 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 20, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.