Revolutionary War

An Early Spring Drive Through Fort Valley, Virginia by Todd Henson

Dogwoods along Fort Valley Road

Fort Valley is a fascinating place. It is a valley formed when a continental plate crumpled, pushing mountain ranges upward and this valley downward. The eastern side is Massanutten Mountain, which runs the entire length of the valley. The western side is composed of three mountains almost forming a solid wall but with a couple gaps. To the north is a small gap where Passage Creek leaves the valley somewhere between Strasburg and Front Royal, and where Fort Valley Road enters the valley. From the south requires driving up and down a windy mountain road to get over the mountain. On the western front the two gaps between the mountains have roads heading over to Woodstock and Edinburg. It appears at least one of these roads may also travel up and down over a mountain before completely leaving the valley, though we’ve yet to drive them. For this trip we entered from the north and existed over the mountain to the south.

A first spring view of Passage Creek in Fort Valley

Redbud, dogwood and Fort Valley Road

The valley is almost a sealed system and because of that and how difficult it was to access at the time, George Washington had reportedly thought to use the valley as a natural fort to retreat to had the Continental Army been defeated by the British during the Revolutionary War. Seeing as that didn’t happen the valley was never used in that way, though it did become home to a couple blast furnaces used to create pig iron which were shipped to foundries and forged into other products. During the Civil War the Confederacy made use of the furnaces until Union troops destroyed them. One of the furnaces was rebuilt after the war but it closed shortly after as it was no longer competitive enough to stay in business.

Rustic views along Fort Valley Road

Redbud and the road

These days the valley is lightly populated with private homes and farms and is home to several recreational areas. We saw a number of folks fishing along the length of Passage Creek, and saw a number of areas for camping. And it’s also great for an early spring drive.

Bends in Fort Valley Road

Rolling valley hills


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Todd’s Tavern Market by Todd Henson

Todd’s Tavern Market, a convenience store in Spotsylvania County, Virginia

Sometimes a name alone will draw me to a location. Care to take a guess what it was about Todd’s Tavern Market that drew my attention? 😊

Todd’s Tavern Market is a local convenience store in Todd’s Tavern, Virginia, within Spotsylvania County. It was once the location of Todd’s Tavern, a country inn and tavern that existed at the time of the US Civil War. You can read more about the Civil War history and some of the back and forth movement of troops as they moved towards Spotsylvania Court House in 1864 at a National Park Service webpage about the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park.

Another view of Todd’s Tavern Market

One of the informational signs at the location quotes John D. Billings of the 10th Massachusetts Light Artillery, describing Todd’s Tavern as “an unpretentious structure one story and a half in height, with no merits, architectural or otherwise, to warrant its becoming a conspicuous landmark in the history of this campaign.” And yet here I am talking about it in that context. 😊

Fans of Joss Whedon’s Firefly and Serenity might enjoy the references to Confederate General Jubal Early, who threatened to attack Union General Winfield Hancock at the tavern but changed his mind when he saw the earthworks previously built up by the Union, and decided to head to Spotsylvania by another route.

George L. Frankenstein, a native of Germany who served in the Union army created a painting of Todd’s Tavern after the war, as seen on one of the signs.

A painting by George L. Frankenstein of Todd’s Tavern shortly after the Civil War

Below are the three Civil War Signs from the location if you want to learn more. Click on any image for a larger view.

Todd’s Tavern - Clash of Cavalry

Todd’s Tavern - Union Army Headquarters

Todd’s Tavern - March to Spotsylvania

And interestingly, the general area also has ties to the US Revolutionary War in 1781. Below is the sign describing this. 

Lafayette at Corbin’s Bridge, June 2-3, 1781


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