Fredericksburg Tour Registration - Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10, 2026

“It is well that war is so terrible—we should grow too fond of it.” (R.E. Lee)

Join battlefield guides Jim Hessler and Chris Army on May 9 -10, 2026 for our annual educational and social tour of the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg.

This winter battle between the Army of the Potomac under hapless Major General Ambrose Burnside and the Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee included urban combat, river crossings under fire, George Meade vs. Stonewall Jackson, and numerous futile attempts by the Union army against James Longstreet’s entrenched lines. While it is remembered as one of the most one-sided battles of the war, did Burnside and his generals bungle opportunities to win the battle? What impact did the engaged personalities and outcome have on later battles, including Gettysburg?

Tour Includes:

• All-day Saturday (May 9) and half-day Sunday (May 10) educational tours associated with the NPS Fredericksburg battlefield.
• There will be some walking on NPS-maintained trails.
• Maps.
• Water.
• Carpool: as in past tours we will carpool from point to point. (No bus.)
• Lunch: bring your own or we will concentrate in a central area around lunchtime on Saturday to buy your own.

When:

• May 8: Optional Friday night arrival. Hotel information below.
• May 9: Saturday tour from approximately 9:30 am – 5:00 pm. Lunch break in between. Saturday will be our full day including Chatham, Lee Drive, Pelham’s Flying Battery, and the Slaughter Pen fight.
• May 10: Sunday 1/2-day tour in morning. Sunday will focus on the assaults against Marye’s Heights. Try to conclude by lunchtime.

Cost:

• $95 per person for 1.5-days tour, handouts, and water.
• If you can only attend on Saturday, then register at $70

Hotel:

Once again, we have an optional room block at the Hampton Inn Fredericksburg for those who wish to stay over and not travel. (This is the same hotel we have used in the past.) The optional hotel is not included in tour costs. However, the hotel only had king-size beds available this year. (Sorry!) No queens.

Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Fredericksburg

1080 Hospitality Lane

Fredericksburg, Virginia, 22401, USA

(540) 786 -5530

Rate: $169 / night (Kings only this year!)

Hotel Booking Link: https://group.hamptoninn.com/fdc5tz

Hotel: Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Fredericksburg - at Celebrate Virginia

Group Name: Hessler Spaugy Travel

Arrival Date: 5/8/2026

Departure Date: 5/10/2026

Cut-off Date: 4/8/2026