Manassas National Battlefield Park is the site where the first major land battle of the Civil War, known as the First Battle of Manassas or the First Battle of Bull Run, was fought on July 21, 1861. It was here that Americans first fully realized the brutality and scale of the coming conflict. It is worth knowing that before the battle, Washington residents came to picnic on the surrounding hills, treating the coming clash as a sports spectacle. Reality quickly verified their naive notions. Today, the park offers a perfectly preserved battlefield, a visitor center with interactive exhibits, and an audio-guided car tour that takes you through key points of the battle. Particularly moving is Henry Hill, where there is a statue of General Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson, who earned his famous nickname here for his steadfast stand in the face of advancing Union troops.

St. Petersburg National Battlefield commemorates the longest campaign of the Civil War - the 9.5-month siege of the city by Union forces under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant. It was here, between June 1864 and April 1865, that the drama that ultimately led to the fall of the Confederacy took place. Visitors can see preserved trenches, fortifications and the sites of key clashes, including the famous crater created after a mine explosion planted by Union soldiers. A little-known fact - among the soldiers fighting at Petersburg were Pennsylvania miners who dug a 156-foot tunnel under the Confederate positions and detonated four tons of gunpowder in it, creating a giant crater. Despite the initial success, the chaotic attack by Union forces ended in defeat and the deaths of thousands of soldiers. Today you can see a reconstruction of this tunnel and the original crater, a silent witness to this tragic battle.

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is a complex that includes four major battlefields: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House. The December 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg was one of the most one-sided Union defeats, when General Ambrose Burnside's troops launched a series of suicidal assaults on the fortified hills defended by the Confederates. Local legend has it that after the battle, General Robert E. Lee, observing the massacre of Union soldiers, famously said: 'It's a good thing that war is so terrible, otherwise we might love it too much. The park offers a perfectly preserved battlefield, including the famous Marye's Heights and the stone wall behind which hidden Confederates decimated attacking Union soldiers. A particularly moving site is Sunken Road, where the bloodiest battles took place.

Wilderness Battlefield commemorates the battle, which took place May 5-7, 1864, in a dense, hard-to-reach forest. It was here that General Ulysses S. Grant first confronted Robert E. Lee. The battle ended in a tactical victory for the Confederates, but strategically it was a breakthrough - for the first time in the history of the war, a Union general did not retreat north after losing, but continued his march south. A little-known tragic aspect of the battle - due to the dense vegetation, many fires caused by artillery fire quickly got out of control. Hundreds of wounded soldiers, unable to escape, burned alive in the flames consuming the forest. Today, you can take walking trails through this once impenetrable forest, which became the arena of one of the most chaotic and bloody battles of the war.

Chancellorsville Battlefield is the site of one of General Robert E. Lee's greatest victories, defeating the Army of the Potomac commanded by General Joseph Hooker in May 1863, despite outnumbering the enemy. It was here that Lee and General 'Stonewall' Jackson carried out one of the most risky maneuvers of the war, dividing their forces in the face of a more numerous enemy. Ironically, it was at the moment of their greatest triumph that the Confederates suffered a devastating loss - General Jackson was mortally wounded by his own soldiers, who took him for the enemy in the darkness. The spot where Jackson was shot is marked today with a commemorative stone. Visitors can also see the ruins of the Chancellor House, which served as Union headquarters during the battle and was destroyed by artillery fire.

American Civil War Museum - Historic Tredegar in Richmond is one of the most important museums dedicated to the Civil War in the United States. It is located in the historic Tredegar Iron Works complex, which was the main Confederate foundry during the war, producing most of the cannons and ammunition for the Southern army. The museum is distinguished from other facilities by its unique approach to presenting history - instead of focusing solely on military aspects, it presents the war from the perspective of all parties involved: Union and Confederate soldiers, free and enslaved African-Americans, and civilians. Particularly moving is the 'Voices from the Storm' exhibition, which presents personal diaries, letters and everyday objects of ordinary people whose lives were turned upside down by the war. Among the most valuable exhibits is the original uniform of General Robert E. Lee and the flag that flew over Appomattox during the surrender ceremony. A little-known fact - in the basement of the museum you can see the original foundry walls with clear bullet marks, left over from the battles for Richmond in 1865.

The Virginia Museum of the Civil War in New Market is a facility dedicated primarily to commemorating the remarkable Battle of New Market of May 15, 1864. It was here that cadets from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), some as young as 15 years old, were called upon to fight against Union forces and played a key role in the Confederate victory. The museum is housed in the impressive Hall of Valor building and features multimedia exhibits, dioramas and an extensive collection of artifacts. Particularly moving is an exhibit dedicated to the 'Cadet Battalion,' featuring personal items of young soldiers, including letters to their families written just before the battle. Local legend has it that during a charge through a muddy field, many cadets lost their shoes, which got stuck in the mud - hence the field earned the nickname 'Field of Lost Shoes'. Every year in May, a battle reenactment is held here, in which contemporary VMI cadets participate, paying tribute to their predecessors.

Richmond National Battlefield Park is a complex that includes 13 separate battlefields around Richmond, which was the Confederate capital for most of the war. The visitor center is housed in the historic Tredegar Iron Works building and offers an excellent introduction to the city's defense history. Of particular interest is Drewry's Bluff / Fort Darling Battlefield, where in May 1862 Confederate artillery batteries successfully stopped a Union fleet attempting to reach Richmond via the James River. The fortifications are perfectly preserved, and from the high shore you can see the same view that Confederate gunners had as they fired on Union ships. A little-known fact - among the fort's defenders were sailors from the previously sunken ship CSS Virginia (the former USS Merrimack), who manned the guns with experience gained at sea. Their accurate fire forced the Union fleet to retreat, probably saving Richmond from early demise.

New Market Battlefield State Historical Park offers not only a museum, but also a perfectly preserved battlefield from May 15, 1864. The park encompasses 300 acres of the original battlefield, including the famous 'Field of Lost Shoes.' Visitors can walk the route taken by VMI cadets during their historic charge. The park also includes the historic Bushong Farm, which stood in the center of the battlefield and served as a field hospital. The farm's buildings have been restored to their 1864 condition, and you can see what daily life was like during the war. Interestingly, the Bushong family hid in the basement of their house during the battle, and when they came out after the battle, they found their house and land strewn with the bodies of the fallen. Despite this, they remained on the farm and continued to cultivate the land for generations to come.

Richmond National Battlefield Park - Drewry's Bluff / Fort Darling Battlefield is the site of a key sea-land clash in May 1862. Fort Darling, built on a high, 90-foot cliff above the James River, was a strategic point of defense for Richmond against attack from the water. When powerful Union ships tried to force their way across the river, they were stopped by accurate Confederate artillery fire. Visitors today can see the preserved earthen fortifications, artillery positions and underground ammunition stores. The observation platform offers a panoramic view of the James River - the same perspective that Confederate artillerymen had when looking out for Union ships. Local legend has it that during the battle a Confederate sharpshooter managed to hit the captain of one of the Union ships from a distance of more than 800 meters, a remarkable feat for a weapon of the time. The battle demonstrated that even makeshift fortifications manned by determined defenders could successfully hold off a modern fleet.

Chancellorsville Battlefield, although part of the larger Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park complex, deserves special attention because of the dramatic events that unfolded there. The May 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville is often referred to as the 'masterpiece' of General Robert E. Lee, who managed to defeat the Army of the Potomac despite having twice as many soldiers. The key to victory was the daring maneuver of General 'Stonewall' Jackson, who, with 28,000 troops, went around the Union right wing and launched a surprise attack from the flanks. When visiting the battlefield, it is worth walking the route of this historic maneuver, marked with information boards. The tragic epilogue of the battle was the fatal wound of Jackson, who was mistakenly shot by his own soldiers during a night reconnaissance. The place where he was wounded is marked with a commemorative stone, and there is also a monument nearby commemorating the amputation of his arm. A little-known fact - Jackson's arm was buried separately, with full military honors, at nearby Ellwood Plantation. The arm's grave can still be visited today, making it one of the most peculiar Civil War memorials.

Richmond National Battlefield Park also offers lesser-known but fascinating sites, such as Gaines' Mill Battlefield, where General Lee launched the largest coordinated Confederate attack of the entire war on June 27, 1862. More than 32,000 soldiers moved to storm Union positions, eventually breaking through their lines and forcing General George McClellan to retreat. Today, the battlefield is a quiet, peaceful place where you can take walking trails through the areas where the fierce fighting took place. Of particular interest is the surviving Watt House, which served as General Fitz John Porter's headquarters and field hospital. Local legend has it that during the battle the Watt family hid in the basement, and when they came out after the fighting was over, they found their house full of wounded and dying soldiers from both sides.

Malvern Hill Battlefield is the site of the last of the Seven Days Battles, a series of clashes around Richmond in the summer of 1862. On July 1, 1862, the Confederates launched a series of desperate, uncoordinated attacks on the heavily fortified Union positions on Malvern Hill. The result was a bloody slaughter - the Confederates lost more than 5,000 soldiers without gaining any ground. The battlefield is perfectly preserved today, with open fields through which the Confederates attacked, and a hill on which Union artillery was positioned. A walking tour takes you through the key points of the battle, and information boards include quotes from the letters and diaries of the participants. Particularly moving are the words of Confederate General D.H. Hill, who wrote after the battle: 'This was not war, it was murder. A little-known fact - among the Union soldiers defending the hill was the future president of the United States, then Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes.

Ball's Bluff Battlefield Regional Park commemorates a small but significant battle in October 1861 that had a disproportionate political impact. Union forces crossing the Potomac River were surprised by Confederates and pushed off the high bank (hence the name 'Ball's Bluff') back into the river. Among the fallen was Colonel Edward Baker, a close friend of President Lincoln and the only incumbent US Senator to die in battle during the Civil War. His death caused a political storm in Washington and led to the creation of the Commission on the Conduct of the War, which significantly influenced the subsequent course of the conflict. The park offers well-marked walking trails and preserved trenches. Particularly moving is the small national cemetery - one of the smallest in the United States - where Union soldiers killed in battle are buried.

Staunton River Battlefield State Park commemorates a remarkable battle in June 1864, during which local volunteers - mostly old men and young boys - backed by a small detachment of Confederates, defended a strategic railroad bridge against a much larger Union cavalry force. The battle is a fascinating example of civilian involvement in the war effort. The park offers a visitor center with exhibits on the battle and walking trails leading to the preserved fortifications. A little-known fact - among the defenders of the bridge were many slaves who fought side by side with their owners, an interesting contrast to the common image of the war as a conflict over the abolition of slavery.

Five Forks Battlefield is the site of the decisive battle of April 1, 1865, often referred to as the 'Waterloo of the Confederacy.' It was here that Union forces under General Philip Sheridan broke through the right wing of General Lee's army, forcing them to abandon Petersburg and Richmond, directly leading to the surrender at Appomattox a week later. The park offers a visitor's center with interactive exhibits and a vehicle route through key points of the battle. Of particular interest is the intersection of five roads (hence the name 'Five Forks'), which was a strategic point that controlled access to the last railroad supplying Lee's army. Local legend has it that General George Pickett, commanding the Confederate forces, was picnicking away from the front lines when the Union attack began, contributing to the chaotic defense and eventual defeat.

Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield is the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the war, which lasted nearly two weeks in May 1864. Particularly intense fighting took place around the so-called 'Bloody Angle,' where for 20 hours soldiers from both sides fought in trenches with bayonets, rifle butts and even bare fists. The intensity of the fire was so high that the trunk of an oak tree with a diameter of 55 cm was completely felled by bullets. This 'war-sacrifice oak' is on display today at the Smithsonian Institution. On the battlefield you can see reconstructed trenches and fortifications, including the famous 'Mule Shoe Salient', a horseshoe-shaped advanced position that became the focus of the battle. Walking routes take you through key points on the battlefield, and information boards include quotes from letters and diaries of participants. A little-known fact - during the battle, General Grant sent a telegram to Washington in which he wrote the famous words: 'I intend to fight on this line, even if it were to take all summer' - a declaration that symbolized the Union's new, relentless approach to warfare.