(Spelling and punctuation reproduce the originals)
Old Stage Road from Fredericksburg to Richmond known as the Bowling Green or Baseline Road. This is the best wagon road leading from F[redericksburg] to R[ichmond].
| Fredericksburg | [distance from Fredericksburg] |
| Hazel Run 60 ft wide Good ford | ½ |
| Deep Run 40 ft wide Good ford steep ascent and descent | 2 |
| Massaponax Great Bridge. Can be forded | 6 |
| Intersection of road from Bowling Green | 7 |
| Hicks Hill | 9 |
| Sycamore’s | 11 |
| Villeboro | 14 |
| Bowling Green | 22 |
| Burkes Brides Crossing Mattapomy River | |
| Ready Swamp | |
| Pamunkey River | 43 |
| Hanover CH | 45 |
| Chickahominy Swamp | |
| Richmond | 65 |
| The Port Royal Road diverges from the above road 7 miles from Fredericksburg. From hence to Port Royal the distance is | 15 |
| From Fredericksburg to Port Royal | 22 |
| From Port Royal to Bowling Green | 15 |
| Fredericksburg | 0 |
| Hazel Run 60 ft wide Good ford | 1 |
| Diverges from Spottsylvania CH road | 5 |
| This road is probably the shortest route leading to Richmond. It is a common earth road, good in dry weather but liable to become very bad in wet weather. | |
| Massaponax Creek two small bridges | 6 |
| Massaponax Church | 9 |
| Smith Millon Niy River. Bridge 20 ft long and 15 ft high—banks steep | 11 |
| It is 7 miles from this point to Spottysvlania CH. The Telegraph road turns to the left while the most direct road leads to the CH. | |
| Blacksmith Shop | 12 |
| Stannards Mill on Po River. Bridge is perhaps 60 ft long & 10 high. Can be Forded in law water. Bank bad | 13 |
| Mud Tavern | 14 |
| Gerrells Mill on Ta River known as Thornburg. Good fords. No bridges. | |
| Negro foot road here diverges to the right. | 15 |
| The Ny River is not deep but it would be very difficult to ascend this hill on the South side from the bed of the stream. | |
| Crossing of road leading to Bowling Green | 17 |
| N fork of Mat River—(fordable) | 20 |
| S fork of Mat River—(fordable) | 21 |
| Theses streams [two above] are easily crossed, the hills on each side are not steep | |
| North Anna River | 32 |
| Dry bridge crossing of RR | 35 |
| Hanover CH | 43 |
| Richmond | 60 |
| Fredericksburg | 0 |
| Tabernackle Church Road diverges toward old Court House | 7 |
| Old Barharpin Road leads to the left | 8 |
| Chancellorsville | 10 |
| Dorndalls Tavern | 12 |
| Intersection of Plank Road from Culpeper CH | 13½ |
| Parkers Store | 17 |
| Verdierville | 20 |
| Orange CH | 36 |
| Intermediate Distances | Distances from Fredericksburg | |
| Fredericksburg | 0 | 0 |
| Falmouth | 2 | 2 |
| Bora Church | 4 | 6 |
| Heartwood (take March road to left) | 4 | 10 |
| Road to Richards Ferry to left distances 5 miles | ||
| Embury’s Mill on Deep Run | 5 | 15 |
| Grove Church (Road to left 4 miles to Ellis Mill) | 2 | 17 |
| Embury’s (Road to left as below) | 1 | 18 |
| Wycoff’s Quartz Mill | 1 | 19 |
| Morrisville (Kellysville on right hand road 5½ miles) | 2 | 21 |
| Road crossing from Elk Run to Kellysville 5 m. to R | 1 | 22 |
| Wheatleys | 22 | 24½ |
| Morgansburg | 1½ | 26 |
| Bealton Station on Orange & Alex Raid-Road | 1 | 37 |
| 4 miles north of Rappahannock Station | ||
| By taking left h and road at Embury’s 18 miles from Fredericksburg 18 | ||
| Liberty Quartz Mill | 1 | 19 |
| Crittendens Mill & Tan yard | 1 | 20 |
| Intersection of Road to Ellis Mill | ½ | 20½ |
| Road which diverges to left at Boro Church comes in again | ½ | 21 |
| Road from Morrisville comes in from N.E. | 2 | 24 |
| Mt Holly Church (By keeping to left 1½ miles to Kellysville) | 1 | 26½ |
| Rappahannock Station | 2½ | 29 |
| Rappahannock Station | 0 | 0 |
| To crossing of Rappahannock River at low ford | ½ | ½ |
| Stringfellows | 3½ | 4 |
| Brandy Station | 2 | 6 |
| Forks of road (left hand leads to Stevensburg 4 miles) | 1 | 7 |
| Culpeper C.H. | 5 | 12 |
| By taking the left hand Road toward Richard Ferry at Heartwood | ||
| Heartwood | 10 | 15 |
| Richards Ferry | 5½ | 15½ |
| Richardsville, left hand road to Ellys Ford 5 miles | 4 | 19 |
| Shepherds Grove P.O. | 4 | 23 |
| Rod from S.E. ermanna Mills and | ||
| Bridge 3 miles | ||
| Road from Kellysville? | 2 | 25 |
| Stevensburg | 5 | 30 |
| Georgetown | 5 | 35 |
| Culpeper | 2 | 37 |
| Tabernacle Church Road toward Spottsylvania CH | 7 | 7 |
| Old Catparthin Road | 1½ | 8½ |
| Chancellorsville | 1½ | 10 |
| Elley’s Ford on Rapidan River | 5 | 15 |
| Richardsville (Road comes on from Richards Ferry 4 miles easterly) | 5 | 20 |
| Shepards Grove | 4 | 24 |
| Culpeper CH | 14 | 38 |
| At Chancellorsville (see above) | ||
| Chancellorsville | 10 | 10 |
| Dordalls Tavern | 2 | 12 |
| Take Stevensburg Plank Road leaving Gordonsville – Plank Road | 1½ | 13½ |
| Wilderness Tavern | 2 | 15½ |
| Flat Fun | 3 | 18½ |
| Germanna Bridge | 1½ | 20 |
| Shepards Grove | 3 | 23 |
| Culpeper CH | 14 | 37 |
| Distances from Fredericksburg | |
| Fredericksburg | 0 |
| Hazel Run | ½ |
| Massaponax Creek | 6 |
| Summit | 8 |
| Guinea’s Sta | 12 |
| Milford Sta | 21 |
| Massapony River | 22½ |
| Pole Cat River & Sta | 25 |
| Reedy Swamp | 26 |
| Chesterfield | 30 |
| North Anna River | 36 |
| Junction | 38 |
| Taylorsville | 40 |
| Little River | 41 |
| South Anna River | 43 |
| Ashland | 45 |
| Hungary Station | 53 |
| Chicahominy Swamp | 55 |
| Richmond | 61½ |
Hazel Run (½ mile) Wooden Deck bridge 54 ft long and about 40 ft high
Deep Run (1 ½ m) Stringers 12 ft +
Massaponax Creek (6 m) about 120 ft long and 40 ft high. Timber bents & 3 pans
Massapony or Buck Hole Bride (2 ½ m) Two bridges 1t 40 ft long, 2d 110 ft long—each 30 ft high
Pole Cat Creek (25 m) Long bridge on piles nearly 1000 ft long. 3 short Spans crossing channels. Height 8 feet.
North Anna River (36 m) about 400 ft long and 25 feet high. Trestlework
Little River (41 m) about 200 feet long. Trestlework with timber bents.
South Anna River (43 m) 600 ft long 73 ft high. Stone piers and abutments. Same character as the bridge across the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg, though 3 ft or 5 ft shorter.
Chickahominy Swamp () Stone culverts or Small bridges.
The Central Rail Road from Richmond to Gordonsville crosses the RF&P RR at the junction between North Anna and Little River which is 24 miles from R[ichmond] by the RF&P RR and 28 miles by the Central Road. Both roads are of the same grade and gauge at the junction.
The bridges across Little River and the South Anna on the Central Road are shorter, lower and less substantial than those on the road being supported by timber bents.
| From Richmond | |
| Atlees | 9 |
| Hanover CH | 18 |
| Hanover Junction | 28 |
| North Tavern | 33 |
| Beaver Dam | 40 |
| Bumpas Turn out | 50 |
| Frederick Hall | 56 |
| Louisa C.H. | 62 |
| Travellian Sta | 64 |
| Milton Sta | 73 |
| Gordonsville | 76 |
| Blind Ford | |
| Elly’s Ford | Tolerably good (much used) |
| Ford near Vancluse mine | Crossed by cavalry |
| Germanna Bridge Ford | |
| Mitchell’s Ford | |
| Tobaccostick Ford | |
| Stringfellows | River is fordable in many places above here |
| Norton’s Ford | |
| Racoon Ford | |
| Somerville Ford | |
| Downs Ford | |
| Willis Ford at Holladays near Rapidan Sta | |
| Burnetts Ford | |
| Walkers Ford |
| Opposite Falmouth crossing a mill race and winding up diagonally across | Rocky & Crooked |
| Scotts Ford near Scotts Mill | Just above the mill not very good for |
| Cavalry & is not crossed by teams | |
| Banks Old Ford | Is crossed at low stages of water and is |
| Tolerably good | |
| Barrow’s Old Ford | Obstructions by a dam—disused |
| U.S. Ford | Obstructed by a canal on S. side of R. |
| The ford is good one. | |
| Richard’s Ferry | Formerly a ferry. Now forded at low water navigation having changed the character |
| Embury’s Old Ford | |
| Skinker’s Ford | Rocky can be crossed by cavalry |
| Ellis Ferry or Barnett’s Ford & Ferry | |
| Kemper’s Ford | Good but steep approaches |
| Field’s Ford | |
| Kelly’s Ford | |
| Wheatley’s Ford | |
| Cowford just below the O&A RR. | Good, used in Aug. by Genl Pope |
| Beverely Ford above RR crossing 2 miles | Is good crossed by roads from Liberty and Rappahannock Sta in Berryville |
| Freeman’s Ford | Best on the river |
| Col. Fants Mill Ford | Good |
| Foxville Ford | Good |
| Sulpher Springs Ford |
Bank’s Ford proper is accessible in either side by a road passable for Artillery and Conveyances; but no teams can cross the river, as the water is too deep at the point where the road reaches it, being from three to four feet deep. Rifle pits, protected by abattis, have been constructed so as to guard the passage of the ford.
Opposite these works the depth of the water is from two to four feet. If the water were sufficiently low, infantry might cross at the ford with a front of about two hundred men. The banks at the crossing on this side, are steep and difficult to descend, and have been made more so by an abattis of trees felled from the outer bank of the canal; on the enemy’s side, the bank is low and easy to ascend.
At the United States ford, the river is fordable as to depth and bottom nearly everywhere, the water being no where over three feet deep, except just abreast a perpendicular ledge a short distance above the ford.
The banks along the front are mostly very steep and high. There are two approaches on the rebel side—only one on this. This practicable for Cavalry and Artillery—could be easily obstructed by felling trees. Forces cold cross here with any front, but could not land wider than four men abreast. On our side the only roads practicable for Artillery or Cavalry are now effectually blocked. The banks are high and precipitous, and leave a margin of a few rods wide at the water’s edge, upon which rifle pits have been constructed, about 20 yards from the river.
Rifle pits have also been made on the crest of the bluff above, some three hundred yards from the river.
Scott’s Dam is 1 ½ miles distant from US Ford. Here are no fordable places, except ½ of a mile above the dam, and perhaps immediately below the dam.
Infantry and Cavalry would cross in single file above, Artillery not at all. The banks very steep every where. All approaches can be easily obstructed; quite a number of rebel works near the dam.
Hersepen Run 1 ½ miles from Scotts Dam, not fordable; water deep and bottom soft; banks steep and precipitous.
At Richard’s ford, there are roads and paths to all points on the river; three practicable for Cavalry and Infantry – one for Artillery. The banks are steep and rocky with ravines up which there are paths.
Cavalry, Infantry, and Artillery can pass at some points, Infantry division front. Rifle pits protected by abattis have been constructed to guard the crossing, both at the bottom and the top of the banks. All the roads and paths can be obstructed by felling trees.
[no entry]
Lye Island, which is about 300 yards long is covered with rocks and a dense undergrowth. The main stream runs on the south side of the island and appears to be fordable both above and below it.
There are no roads for the access of any considerable body of troops. The banks of the river are high and covered with timber.
It is impracticable for Cavalry and Artillery, and difficult for infantry.
It may be easily obstructed.
The water is over three feet deep.
There are no roads at this dam, or access for any considerable force.
The banks on the south side are high and steep; they are high also on the north side, but not so steep. Both sides are thickly covered with timber and underbrush, near the river scattered pines—further back oak and other hard wood.
It is impracticable for Artillery and Cavalry and difficult for Infantry.
The ford and its approaches may be obstructed easily so as to be nearly useless.
The water is above three feet deep.
Approaches not good.
Banks on both sides high, steep, and wooded, and the bottom rocky.
Not practicable for Cavalry or Artillery and difficult for Infantry.
Ford can be made less practicable, but can hardly be destroyed.
Difficult to ascertain depth of water, as the river is divided into many little streams by large rocks and small islands covered with dense undergrowth. There is an old mill race running from above Skenker’s Dam to below the mill one this side say half mile. It is now a good deep ditch.
The ford is just below the Mill and could never have been much used; single men can doubtless pick their way across here and any where above for half a mile, but it would be very difficult. The river from this point runs in nearly a straight line through clay banks not high in the immediate vicinity of the stream, but rising further back.
The hills on this side commanding those opposite. The water here must be from five to eight feet deep.
There is a road to Grove Church practicable for Infantry and Cavalry, no indication of road on the opposite side.
Banks south side high and steep—not practicable for Artillery and Cavalry, north side not so high but steep—south side wooded.
Impracticable for Cavalry and Artillery, difficult for Infantry.
Little means of obstructing this crossing.
Water varies from two to three & one half feet in depth. The bottom is general covered with large rocks in many of which there are soil and undergrowth. The river appears to be of the same nature for about half a mile below.
The roads are good and access easy. North bank of river sloping—south bank steep with winding road from ford. Cavalry, Artillery and Infantry can pass the ford. The ford or the access to it cannot be obstructed so as to make it less practicable or wholly useless by an ordinary means, or means known to me. The water is two feet deep at this date as determined by personal observation and information from Mr. Ellis who lives at the ford.
There are no other places in the immediate vicinity of Ellis’ Ford, that can be forded except between Ellis’ Dam one mile up river and the ford, and which can only be forded by footmen with considerable difficulty.
There is but one road to the ford for nearly a mile, but many horse paths through the woods.
Banks generally rocky and abrupt, thickly wooded.
Artillery & Infantry cannot cross except at Ford.
May be obstructed to some extent.
Water supposed to be from 2 to 3 feet in depth; the bottom being rocky.
No other mode of crossing except by swimming horses.
Roads not very difficult on the opposite side.
Low and easy of access. On this side the banks low but rocky and rough
Cavalry and Infantry can cross.
Not easily obstructed. Water from three to five feet deep.
Good road and easy of access.
The banks are low on both sides.
Cavalry, Artillery and Infantry can cross.
The ford may be made less practicable by obstructions and an abattis, and defended by a line of rifle pits.
The water is about two feet deep known from personal observation.
Between Wheatley’s Ford on the right, and Mountain Ford on the left, there are two places may be crossed by Infantry only.
The roads are easy of access.
On this side the banks are rough and rocky, on the opposite side, low and easily approached.
Cavalry, Artillery and Infantry could cross by removing slight obstructions.
The road can be made less practicable by obstructions.
The water about three feet deep, judging from the appearance.