I shared with the group about the Averasboro Battlefield, located just south of Dunn, North Carolina. This battle occurred on March 15–16, 1865. It served as a vital Confederate tactical delay during the Civil War. It stalled Union General Sherman's advance was long enough for Southern forces to consolidate for the major Battle of Bentonville three days later.
The Bentonville Battlefield is the largest Civil War battle fought in North Carolina and the last major Confederate tactical offensive of the war. Fought from March 19–21, 1865, the Battle of Bentonville involved over 80,000 soldiers. It was a desperate, unsuccessful attempt by Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston to halt Union General William T. Sherman’s relentless march through the Carolinas.
As we caravanned further north, we passed by Halifax, North Carolina. It was the site of the Halifax Resolves. The resolution was adopted on April 12, 1776, by North Carolina's Fourth Provincial Congress meeting in the town of Halifax. The resolution was pushed forward closely following the Patriot victory at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in February 1776. This victory severely weakened Loyalist influence in North Carolina and catalyzed revolutionary fervor across the colony.
Closer to Richmond you can find the Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier. Highly acclaimed as the "crown jewel of Civil War sites in America", the park preserves a critical piece of the National Historic Landmark Petersburg Breakthrough Battlefield, where Union forces broke through Confederate lines on April 2, 1865. This pivotal action forced the evacuation of Richmond and led directly to Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox one week later.
There are miles of interpreted walking paths winding past some of the best-preserved Confederate earthworks, rifle pits, and military fortifications in the nation.
Petersburg National Battlefield preserves the sprawling historical landscapes of the Civil War’s longest continuous military campaign, a grueling 292-day siege stretching from June 1864 to April 1865. This 9,300-acre park marks where Union General Ulysses S. Grant systematically choked off vital Confederate supply lines to Richmond, ultimately forcing General Robert E. Lee's retreat and expediting the end of the war.
The Second Capitol was rebuilt on the same foundations. This structure hosted the monumental debates of the American Revolution. It ceased operating as the statehouse when the capital relocated to Richmond in 1780 and eventually burned down in 1832.(1753–1780)
The modern reconstruction was funded by philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin. Architects chose to recreate the first 1705 design using precise 18th-century sketches found on the historical "Bodleian Plate".
Positioned upstairs above the Court is The Governor’s Council Chamber. It served as the meeting place for the wealthy, aristocratic advisors appointed directly by the British Crown.
On the ground floor of the West Wing is The House of Burgesses. This chamber hosted the elected representatives of local Virginians, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry.
On the back streets, we watched the carriage horses in training pass.
We watched the brickmakers. These master masons and apprentices demonstrate 18th-century brickmaking. We observed, no one from our group participated in, the physically demanding processes used to construct the historic town.
Throughout the summer, brickmakers mold and dry up to 20,000 sun-baked "green bricks" using local Chickahominy River clay. In the fall, they stack these bricks into a massive, temporary 10-foot clamp kiln.
The team maintains fires in the kiln tunnels 24 hours a day for four to five days until the bricks are properly hardened. It then takes an additional week and a half for the kiln to safely cool down.
This shop is deceiving, the sign looks like a furniture maker, but it is soooooo much more! It is the primary historic furniture and cabinetmaking shop within the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area. The official name is the Anthony Hay Cabinetmaker Shop.
Operating as a living history museum site, it features master woodworkers and apprentices recreating 18th-century furniture, desks, and chairs using period hand tools and techniques. They were working on a harpsichord while we were there!
Our last stop was the Bruton Parish Episcopal Church. It is the active, historic church located directly inside the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area. Established in 1674, its current building on Duke of Gloucester Street has been in continuous use for over 300 years and still hosts an active congregation with regular Sunday services. Only parishioners can drive to the church in the historic district.
Everyone was free to enjoy lunch on their own. We enjoyed a light meal at the Mellow Mushroom. After lunch, we boarded the buses back to our cars and headed to the Jamestown Settlement.
Jamestown Settlement is a world-class living history museum that chronicles America's 17th-century beginnings through immersive, life-size outdoor re-creations and indoor gallery exhibits. The museum sits adjacent to Historic Jamestowne, which is the actual archaeological site where the first permanent English colony in North America was founded on May 14, 1607.
At the waters edge you can board the re-created ships. These are life-size replicas of the three famous ships—the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. They transported 104 English men and boys across the Atlantic Ocean. On board you can see the incredibly cramped quarters the settlers endured during their 144-day journey.
James Fort is the wooden-palisade fortress housing re-created wattle-and-daub buildings, including a church, storehouse, and governor's house. Daily you can watch live blacksmithing and the firing of 17th-century matchlock muskets.
The indoor galleries are expansive exhibition spaces that house real 17th-century artifacts. There are many unique, interactive films, and dioramas depicting the complex origins of the colony.
Yes, even a gift shop!
Everyone returned to camp at their leisure and we enjoyed a meal of leftovers from our catered meal the night before!
On Thursday June 4th, we toured the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. It is a sister to the Jamestowne Settlement museum.
The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown is a premier, interactive history museum that chronicles the nation's founding from the colonial period through the dawn of the Constitution. The facility replaced the old Yorktown Victory Center in 2016 to deliver massive, immersive exhibition galleries and vibrant, hands-on outdoor living history areas.
Some caravanners took advantage of some of the interactive displays!
Some sat on the bench and pondered life!
Everyone had free time after that, some went to pubs, taverns and a few took a sunset sail!
Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!
