"Best American Civil War battlefields to visit?" Topic

Which are the best American Civil War battlefields to visit? Please describe why they are so special, if you would like.

Shiloh is pretty amazing because so much of it remains like it was in 1862. Chickamauga is also pretty impressive. For me the most important part is how much of the battlefield is still accessible. For instance, hardly anything remains from the Battle of Nashville or Franklin. On the other hand, much of Shiloh and Gettysburg remain. However, for me, Shiloh is not cluttered as much as Gettysburg.

I agree that Shiloh was indeed one of my favorites. Antietam is also pretty nice and not too large. Stones River was also pretty impressive.

If you go to only one, go to Gettysburg.

The Bull Run battlefield – not the best perhaps but it is near all those Museums in DC.

Some of my favorite battlefields include Pickets Mill, Chickamauga, Antietam, 3rd Winchester, Perryville and the Slaughter Pen section of Fredericksburg. I like each of these locations because they offer lots of good walking choices, are relatively pristine and well protected, not very crowded and offer great settings out of the way from most modern influences. I also tend to love small sites such as Cross Keys, Monocacy, Alatoona, Resaca, Cedar Mountain and some of the sites in/around Petersburg.

Antietam is my favorite. It is not as built up and touristy as Gettysburg. I haven't been to the western battlefields, though.

Antietam is absolutely on the "must see" list. Same for Gettysburg, bearing in mind that much of it is built up.

Vicksburg should be on the list (hey, it's got an ironclad, too!)

Chickamauga and Stones River while you are at it.

Wilderness/Chancellorsville/Spotsylvania make a nice day trip.

Parts of Petersburg (though all the battlefields down that way are pretty fragmented)

Pea Ridge is on my to do list; maybe next year.

I enjoyed both the Chickamagua-Chattanooga area, and also Keensaw, especially.

Agree with Antietam – I have been to many and this is by far the best preserved battlefield. Try to visit in the fall – absolutely beautiful.

My three favorites are Bull Run, Balls Bluff and Gettysburg. Balls Bluff is interesting because you gain an appreciation for what the Union troops had to deal with in regards to terrain in order to get onto the Virginia side. Bull Run (first) is my favorite battle of the war and Gettyburg just exudes feelings of the battle on its grounds.

I can't decide between Shiloh and Gettysburg. Both excellent, well marked and preserved. Get an army war college guide to get your bearings with respect to things that were happening.

Chickamauga is up there also, for the same reasons, but not as good as either of the above.

If I was only going to visit one it would be Gettysburg. It is iconic, relatively well maintained and relatively well marked. The visitors center and the battlefield itself can handle both those with a casual interest in the Civil War as well as those with a more serious interest.

That said it isn't my favorite, even though there is a family connection. There were several smaller, less developed battlefields that I enjoyed more.

I tend to agree that, if you can only do one, it should be Gettysburg. However, my favourites are Antietam and Shiloh, as they seem to be the best preserved and certainly have the best atmosphere. When you are somewhere quiet at Shiloh, it ain't hard to imagine a ragged line of Rebs approaching through the trees. The walks at Antietam are outstanding, although I did them in ice and snow.

Honourable mention too for Chickamauga for the same reasons.

I will be back in March to attend Cold Wars and visit more battlefields.

St. Albans.

From there, it's just a quick hop over the border to get some poutine :3

Lots of comments on Antietam and one on Vicksburg. My understanding is that both these battlefields are so overgrown with second generation trees and foliage that they really do not give one the sense of the original battlefields.

Gettysburg is very nice especially if you hire ranger Bob to accompany you. Good bookshop too! You might also walk Picket's charge. The reconditioning of the scenery is making the battlefield more "correct" too.
The evergreen cemetery gates are there too. Good views from the confederate road tower and from the Pennsylvania monument. I expect the union put a lot of snipers up in those monuments as they give a good field of fire?

martin

I've heard they've been clearing Vicksburg, but Antietam doesn't have ENOUGH trees. The North and East Woods are mostly non-existent. The East Woods is being replanted, including the new tract just purchased by the Civil War Trust. It will really re-define the terrain for future modern visitors.

Having said that, Antietam is my single favorite battlefield. Lots of drama and intense combat in a relatively small area. Easy to visit and it appears much like it did in 1862, and becoming moreso every day with new purchases of private land to add the battlefield. There's just nothing like being at the southern edge of The Cornfield at dawn on Sept. 17th.

And, of course, props to Chickamauga, Pickett's Mill, and Allatoona Pass.

I had a great day visiting Pea Ridge and the nearby (in American terms) Wilsons Creek. They are both well preserved and easily accessible. Even my wife found the war record of General Sigel, union commander at both of the above, interesting and as we drove east we made a point of visiting the site of the Battle of New Market to get the end of his story as well

A number of places on the Vicksburg NMP have been cleared to replicate the almost total denuding done by the Confederate garrison prior to the siege. Vicksburg also rates high because of the outdoor display of the salvaged ironclad Cairo which is one of the Pook Turtles. Also I am prejudiced as I live only 45 miles from it and my great-grandfather fought there with the 36th Mississippi.

Jim

A couple of things that I look at are how well the battlefield is preserved, and I like a good museum…

With that said, Gettysburg, Antietam, Chickamauga, Stones River, and Pea Ridge are all great.

Visited Antietam for the first time last month in 20 degree weather with my youngest son!! I had read about the Cornfield for so long and to be standing there looking at it was awesome. The same for the Bloody Lane, Burnside's Bridge and the Dunker Church!! Rangers were super!! One noticed my son's Ole Miss cap and immediately gave us directions to the 11th Mississippi monument, which included the University Greys from the University of MS(Ole Miss). Also, they asked him to help lower the flag at sundown, pretty cool stuff for a 12 year old. The Irish Brigade monument is really nice!! Now saying all that, we love Shiloh(our favorite), and think Gettysburg is too commercial!! But, they are all great!!

Antietam and Gettysburg

Shiloh is still out in the country, so relatively unspoiled, Pea Ridge is very picturesque. Br1ce's Crossroads is worth a stop, if in the Shiloh area, about 50 miles southwest of Shiloh.

Chickamauga. For the last few years the park service has been eliminating a lot of the undergrowth from the woods so that it looks more like it did in 1863. Also, you can drive a few minute North to Lookout Mountain (The Battle Above the Clouds) and Missionary Ridge. Or head South and visit countless Atlanta Campaign sites.

In order, I'd say Sharpsburg, Shiloh, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain/Chattanooga, Gettysburg and Fredericksburg/Chancellorsville/the Wilderness.

Gettysburg just because- it is commercial but enough to see to warrant multiple trips.

Bull Run and Chickamauga are both good with less over the top monuments and still special.

Perryville and Shiloh look to be among the least spoiled by development.

Antietam and Chickamauga/Chattanooga Battlefield Parks are my personal favorites.

I'd go for the Tennessee battlefields because of the number of them and that they are well set up. That said Gettysburg is pretty much a must, if only to stand at either end of Pickets charge and wonder what made them think they could succeed. 1st Manassas is a favourite because it was my 1st and my son was with me. Fort Sumter is also pretty amazing.

I have been to Gettsyburg many times. But I always find that each time I visit, I come across something new that I had not discovered before. It has many "layers".

Antietam in the east – Easily the best and most evocative . Getting up at 4 am to be at the Union lines by dawn and watching the mist lift – awesome . earlier post was correct needs more trees in the woods ,but the terrain is mostly correct .

Perryville in the west – almost exactly as it was .farms still owned by the same families . A great one to walk and see . You can easily transport yourself back . Benefit of being so far off the beaten track

I recommend Gettysburg and Antietam.

I've also been to Chickamauga once, but I'm embarrassed to admit that because I was young, I don't remember that visit very well.

If you're in southwest Missouri, be sure to visit Wilson's Creek Battlefield. It's worth the visit.

Every time I've visited an ACW battlefield, either with family, a friend or by myself, I've never felt that I had enough time to see everything I wanted. Some day . . .

Gettysburg. just because, Gettysburg . Need more than a day or 2 .Antietam. And because it was the best smaller battlefield go to Newmarket . Easily done in a day. Excellent museum . Better than the museum of the confederacy. If you are in and around richmond/ st Petersburg go to Pamplin Park .Privately owned , immaculate. Excellent re enactors and a recreation of the siege lines .

On the issue of trees, if you haven't been to Gettysburg in the last ten years, you need to go back! They've been cutting down the trees that weren't there at the time of the battle and the transformation is just amazing. Many aspects of the battle become much easier to understand.

Gettysburg is one place that you do need to see and to return to regularly. My favorite battlefield(s) are the Richmond battlefields. But you have to have an idea of what your looking at, when you visit them.

Gettysburg, of course, but I have greatly enjoyed Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville. I have not been to them for a few years and I hear that the Middleburg area has developed more.

These were the three cavalry battles in the Loudon Valley after Brandy Station and prior to Gettysburg. You have to pretty much bring some reference material with you to follow the fights. Much of the country is Virginia horse farms, so it still gives overall a good impression.

Tom

My list is topped by Antietam as it is relatively close to my house and not overrun with other things

I suspect Chickamauga would be at top if i lived closer to it… I also like how both sides get their due at chickamauga/chattanooga.

Whenever i am in the area i go to Cold Harbor….i feel i need to be reminded it was a war. not a game or a glorious adventure. Going to andersonville was also sobering

Gettysburg is fantastic, Antietam is brilliant, sights around Petersburg are also very good but there is a wee gem down the Shenandoah Valley heading north to New Market which has a superb museum and worth a visit.
All in I would just love to visit them again but as a poor, retired old Scotsman I doubt if I will make it back to 'Old Virginia', mores the pity.

Perryville, KY is my favorite; well preserved with few of the monuments that clutter the likes of Gettysburg. Pretty much as it was the Civil War.

Champion Hill and Raymond, MS are interesting for the same reason.

Here's my pick. I have been to all of these battlefields.
Gettysburg
Fredericksburg
Antietam
Shiloh
Manassas

Gettysburg, Antietam, and also found Brandy Station interesting. John Miller

Prairie Grove
Pea Ridge

Never been to any but the following just sound good:
Second Manassas
Sharpsburg
Mechanicsville
Murfreesboro
Burkittsville
Boonsboro

Shiloh, Chickamauga and Stones River

Gettysburg-Whole town is full of history and the visitor center is easily the largest of any battlefield in the entire country.
Antietam-More pristine and so beautiful
Bull Run-Large and well kept and also very pretty
Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville
Shiloh-For same reasons as Antietam

Antietam. Very beautiful and much like it was. Its also being constantly preserved and will only get better.
Chickamauga. Very confusing battle, but the battlefield is well preserved. The rangers are top notch.
Pickett's Mill. Probably the best preserved small battlefield in the US (haven't been to Perryville yet though). Pristine and just like it was in 1864.
Shiloh. Large. Well preserved and documented. Relatively easy to understand.
Gettysburg is great actually, but it is just so popular, overdone, and studied that it loses its appeal to me. But I'll still go any chance I get.
The only remaining large park I haven't been to is Vicksburg. On my to do list in the next 2-3 years.

Cleburne 1863, Vicksburg is memorable for me because of the USS Cairo. The problem with the siege lines, is there seems to be a fight within the park service between those who want to remove the trees and undergrowth and those who want to retain them. Also suffers from lots of memorials. Do make the effort though. Likewise with Perryville.

When I visited 1st Manassas I thought I had gone back in time.

An Antietam trudge was even better although the woods were a shadow of their former glory. However the work done since 2002 is tremendous.

Gettysburg was great but so overrun with monuments and commercialism.

The museum of the Civil War at Pamprovo includes the Original siege lines brilliant.

It's Antietam for me!

Chris