Civil War

Fleetwood Church, Brandy Station, Virginia /  by Todd Henson

A front view of Fleetwood Church in Brandy Station, Virginia

Visible between a break in the trees along the side of James Madison Highway is Fleetwood Church in Brandy Station, Virginia, sitting between Brandy Road and the railroad tracks. It dates back to 1880 and was apparently actively used from 1881 through around 1974. It resides in the general area where many battles of the American Civil War occurred, including the Battle of Brandy Station, the largest cavalry engagement of the Civil War where in 1863 nearly 20,000 horsemen fought, resulting in nearly 1,300 men killed, captured, wounded or missing. A National Park Service website reports that Captain William W. Blackford, an aide of General J.E.B. Stuart remembered the carnage, later writing “Fleetwood Hill was covered so thickly after the battle with dead horses and men that there was not room to pitch the tents among them.”

Apparently, the church may have been built over what was once Brandy Graveyard, and given that and all the people who died in the area during the Civil War battles, it is reportedly known as a location of paranormal activity and has been featured in some TV programs and also hosts local events to help raise money to restore the church.

An angled view of Fleetwood Church. A black and white rendering felt appropriate for this old wooden church.

We had driven by on James Madison Highway many, many times over the years, always noticing and wondering about the church, but never took the time to figure out how to get there to photograph it. I wish I had as back in those days it hadn’t yet been under renovation with the scaffolding around portions of the building. But in Late September of 2024 my father and I were out driving and just happened to end up right there on Brandy Road where the church is located. So now I’ve finally created some photographs.

A wider view, and in color, of Fleetwood Church in Brandy Station, Virginia

Note, the church is privately owned and on private property, so respect the no trespassing signs. If you want to see inside the building then visit during one of the events sometimes held at the church.

Do you enjoy these posts?

Sign up to receive periodic emails with updates and thoughts. Don’t worry, I won’t spam you. And please consider purchasing artwork or products from my online store, and using my affiliate links in the sidebar to the right when shopping online.

I appreciate your support!

Todd’s Tavern Market /  by Todd Henson

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

Do you enjoy these posts?

Sign up to receive periodic emails with updates and thoughts. Don’t worry, I won’t spam you. And please consider purchasing artwork or products from my online store, and using my affiliate links in the sidebar to the right when shopping online.

I appreciate your support!

Lakota Ranch in Remington, Virginia /  by Todd Henson

The entrance to Lakota Ranch

Signs at the entrance to Lakota Ranch

On a Saturday morning in late August (2024) the weather forecast was a bit iffy so my father and I decided to go for a semi-random drive around the area and see what we could see. One location we visited was Lakota Ranch in Remington, Virginia, a working farm known for their herd of Devon cattle.

Established in 1990, Lakota Ranch takes up 726 acres of the rolling hills of Remington. It’s a beautiful location, just far enough away from any main roads or towns, and though I’m sure the folks who live and work there can be very busy and hard working, for those of us fortunate to visit it’s a wonderfully peaceful place.

After passing through the main entrance and over the cattle guard you drive along the gravel Big Horn Road where you get to see some very nice views of the hills and fields of the area. Eventually you’ll see a second stone wall entrance with another cattle guard. Drive into the woods and you’ll see signs directing you to the right for the kennels and to the left for the Farm Store, petting zoo and the rest of the ranch.

Some of the rolling hills and fields of Lakota Ranch

The second stone entrance to Lakota Ranch

The Farm Store is a small but interesting store. They had a range of different items, from shirts to various leather products and other locally made items. There was a cooler and freezer with drinks, fresh eggs and meat. This is the only time I’ve visited so I don’t know how the selection varies over the year, but their website indicates you can purchase seasonal fruits and vegetables, local honey, farm fresh eggs, and a variety of meats to include the ranch’s own Certified Devon Beef. I bought a shirt and my father bought some frozen beef. And by buying, I mean we wrote up a receipt on the pad on the counter, put our cash into one of the envelopes, and placed the envelope in their drop box. The store uses the Honor System when no one is actively working there.

The Lakota Ranch Farm Store

Just beside the Farm Store is their petting zoo. There weren’t a lot of animals around at the time we visited, but we did see several donkeys, a pig, a goat, and a number of ducks. Another family arrived while we were there and fed the animals some corn kernels.

The animal pens of the petting zoo at Lakota Ranch, just to the left of the Farm Store

The pig in the petting zoo

"Come on it," says the goat in the petting zoo

Donkeys in the petting zoo

Saddle Up and Ride the Bull!

The view from behind the Farm Store at Lakota Ranch

The rolling hills of Remington, Virginia, as seen from behind the Farm Store at Lakota Ranch

There are several private homes on the property, as well as the beautiful Lakota Chapel built in 2019 with a southwestern look to the architecture. The Chapel was built for the family but starting in 2021 they decided to offer it for small wedding ceremonies, baptisms, and other services.

Lakota Chapel at Lakota Ranch

Given this is a cattle ranch, they offer just about any cattle-related services you can think of, including replacement stock, semen, embryos, consulting services, and of course, selling the beef. They offer hunting on their Lakota Hunt Preserve, where you can sign up to hunt deer, turkey and bear. They offer Lakota Stock Dogs bred and trained for exactly the kind of work that’s done on a working ranch. And they have kennel services and training packages. To learn more visit their website at Lakota Ranch.

One of the Devon cattle relaxing on the grass under a tree

A horse grazing in the field at Lakota Ranch

Right at the main entrance is a small pull off with an informational sign that provides a general map of the property and gives a few lessons on the Civil War history of the area. One corner of the property was the site of the First Battle of Freeman’s Ford, August 22-23, 1862, which is where Brigadier General Henry Bohlen died while retreating from Confederate forces under the command of Brigadier General Isaac Trimble. On another part of the property is the burial site of Major David M. Whaley.

An informational display about Lakota Ranch

The Major and the Emperor: A Hackberry Emperor butterfly landed beside the photo and description of Major David M. Whaley

Keep your eyes open for this fantastic wood carving from a fallen tree along the road to Lakota Ranch

If you’re ever in the area consider stopping by Lakota Ranch in Remington, Virginia. It’s a beautiful location, one I hope to visit again soon.

Lakota Ranch
9272 Big Horn Road
Remington, Virginia

Do you enjoy these posts?

Sign up to receive periodic emails with updates and thoughts. Don’t worry, I won’t spam you. And please consider purchasing artwork or products from my online store, and using my affiliate links in the sidebar to the right when shopping online.

I appreciate your support!