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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