LOCALLY:
Battlefield tours, today, 10 a.m.-noon, Graffiti House, 19484 Brandy Road, Brandy Station. Tour Kelly's Ford and Stevensburg in a personal-vehicle caravan. Some walking necessary. $10 per person. No reservations required. 540/547-4106.
Monument unveiling, today, 2 p.m., unmarked Barton Street Cemetery, intersection of Barton and George Streets, downtown Fredericksburg, in front of Maury Commons. This monument for the 51 Confederate soldiers buried in 1861-62 is sponsored by Matthew Fontaine Maury Camp 1722, Sons of Confederate Veterans. 540/207-5037; RLPerry11@verizon.net.
"Long Arms: The History of the Rifle Musket," Wednesday, April 22, University of Mary Washington Jepson Alumni Center, 1119 Hanover St., Fredericksburg. Regular monthly dinner meeting of the Fredericksburg Civil War Round Table. Sam Higgenbotham of Orange County will be the speaker. Guests are welcome but reservations required; call 540/361-2105 by noon, Monday, April 20.
Central Virginia Battlefields Trust annual meeting, Saturday, April 25, 7 p.m., Chancellorsville Battlefield. William J. Howell, speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, will be the recipient of the organization's Ralph Happel Award. The late Anne W. Rowe, charter member and founding director, also will be honored. Tours of the battlefield will be provided Saturday and Sunday. For details, call 540/374-0900 or visit cvbt.org.
Civil War Sunday, Sunday, April 26, 1-4 p.m., Hartwood Presbyterian Church, 50 Hartwood Church Road, Stafford. Cavalry and living-history demonstrations, tours of the church and cemetery, music, military activities and unveiling of the Civil War Trails exhibit. 540/752-4671.
"The Emergence of Grant," Sunday, April 26, 2-3:15 p.m., Graffiti House, Graffiti House, 19484 Brandy Road, Brandy Station. Richard Deardoff will be the speaker. A tax-deductible donation of $5 is requested. No reservations needed. Light refreshments served. 540/727-7718.
Talk and book signing, Friday, May 8, 7 p.m., Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center auditorium. Author Gordon C. Rhea will speak on the heroism of South Carolina Pvt. Charles Whilden during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. Whilden was the subject of Rhea's 2004 book, "Carrying the Flag." Rhea also will answer questions about the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House on the occasion of the two battles' 145th anniversaries and will sign copies of his books. 540/786-0759.
Book signing, Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., Eastern National book store, Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center. Jeff Toalson, editor of a new book, "Send Me a Pair of Old Boots & Kiss My Little Girls," will be available to sign copies. The book contains the detailed and heartfelt letters of Confederate Capt. Richard Watkins of the 3rd Virginia Cavalry and his wife, Mary. Toalson also will be available to sign copies of his 2006 book, "No Soap, No Pay, Diarrhea, Dysentery & Desertion," a composite diary of the last 16 months of the Confederacy during 1864 and 1865. 540/786-0759.
ELSEWHERE:
"History Meets the Arts," today,
Book signing, today, 1 p.m., Manassas Museum, 9101 Prince William St. Author Jessica James will sign copies of her award-winning historical fiction book "Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia." The book is set entirely in Northern Virginia. 703/368-1873; jessica jamesbooks.com.
Civil War Sampler bus tour, today, 1-5 p.m., Valentine Richmond History Center, 1015 East Clay St. $23/adults, $20/ages 6-18. Includes admission to the History Center. Reservations required. Information: 804/649-0711; rich
Virtual Geocaching Program, begins April 20 at Petersburg National Battlefield. For information on this program visit nps.gov/pete and follow the geocaching links.
Guided hike, Saturday, April 25, noon, Manassas National Battlefield Park Visitor Center, 6511 Sudley Road. Park historian Jim Burgess will conduct a six-mile hike focusing on the significant events of Aug. 30, 1862, during the Second Battle of Manassas. Rain or shine. Fee is $3 ages 16 and above. 703/361-1339.
"To Secede or Not To Secede? That Is the Question," Saturday-Sunday, April 25-26, Old Town Petersburg. Meet a reporter from a Richmond newspaper as he detrains at Southside Railroad at 10:30 a.m., 1 or 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and 12:30 and 2 p.m. on Sunday and accompany him as he meets living-history interpreters portraying the real people of Petersburg. Free. No registration required.
Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission Conference, Wednesday, April 29, University of Richmond. The conference is titled "America on the Eve of the Civil War." Free. Registration: 804/786-3591;
--Compiled by Carol Lee
Send calendar items to Gwen Woolf at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401; fax to 540/373-8455; or e-mail
Email: gwoolf@freelancestar.com.