Near Spotsylvania Courthouse in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
A Very Hot Place
The Battle of Chancellorsville
— Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park —
Photographed By Craig Swain, November 10, 2007
1. A Very Hot Place Marker
At Hazel Grove, Lee's artillerists enjoyed perhaps their greatest success of the war. No sooner had the Union army evacuated the ridge than Southern cannon appeared - first four pieces, then eight, twelve, sixteen. Within an hour more than thirty guns crowned this ridge. Eager hands rammed home charges and sent shot and shell screeching toward the center of the Union line at Fairview, 1200 yards away.
The concussion of the cannon blasts deafened some of the artillerists and caused the noses of others to bleed. Burning powder filled the air with black, acrid smoke that filled the lungs and stung the eyes. Even worse was the counter-battery fire from Fairview. Union shells exploded among the Confederate guns, disemboweling men and horses alike. It was, admitted one officer, "a very hot place."
In the end, however, the Confederates were victorious. After five hours of fighting the Union army abandoned Fairview and retreated toward the Rappahannock River. For the men of Lee's artillery, it had been a glorious day.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1200.
Location. 38° 18.197′ N, 77° 39.094′
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lee Renews the Attack (here, next to this marker); Hazel Grove (within shouting distance of this marker); Hazel Grove—Fairview Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Bloody Morning (approx. ¼ mile away); Night-time Horror (approx. 0.3 miles away); The 27th Indiana Infantry (approx. 0.3 miles away); Chancellorsville Campaign (approx. 0.3 miles away); Elisha Franklin Paxton (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spotsylvania Courthouse.
More about this marker. The background of the marker is a painting depicting the action at Hazel Grove from the Confederate lines.
Regarding A Very Hot Place. This is one of several markers for the Battle of Chancellorsville at Hazel Grove and Fairview, the central part of the battle. See the Hazel Grove - Fairview Virtual Tour by Markers in the links section for a listing of related markers on the tour.
Also see . . .
1. Battle of Chancellorsville. National
Photographed By Brandon Fletcher, July 18, 2008
2. A Very Hot Place Marker
Marker is the one on the right
2. Hazel Grove - Fairview Virtual Tour by Markers. The Hazel Grove and Fairview portions of the battlefield (stops nine and ten on the driving tour of the battlefield). Markers along this tour include those on Stuart and Slocum Drives. (Submitted on November 18, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, April 18, 2023
3. A Very Hot Place Marker
Photographed By Craig Swain, November 10, 2007
4. A Battery of Artillery at Hazel Grove
The battery includes two 12-pdr Model 1857 Field Guns (Napoleons), one 6-pdr Model 1841 Field Gun modified to look like a Napoleon, and one 12-pdr Model 1841 Field Howitzer. The markers stand just behind the closest cannon.
Photographed By Craig Swain, November 10, 2007
5. Artillerists View of Fairview
Looking down the barrel of a bronze "Napoleon" gun toward Fairview.
Photographed By Mike Stroud, circa 1990
6. "A Very Hot Place"
This rendition originally stood in an encased frame just in front of the artillery piece. At present it has been removed, presumably for maintenance.
Photographed By David Graff, June 18, 1997
7. Hazel Grove Signage in 1997
View from Hazel Grove in 1997 including the original "Very Hot Place" framed painting. None of the markers shown here still stand.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,471 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 17, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on July 25, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. 3. submitted on April 24, 2023, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4, 5. submitted on November 17, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6. submitted on March 30, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 7. submitted on September 12, 2013, by David Graff of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
