About Us

The Friends of Wilderness Battlefield was formed from a group of ten residents of Spotsylvania and Orange Counties, Virginia in 1995. Since that first meeting of ten individuals on September 23rd 1995, the Friends group has grown to a membership of 218 across the United States. We are still growing! Our purpose is to work, in partnership, with the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park to preserve our historic resources in and around the Wilderness Battlefield. Our members and volunteers are the foundation that allows us to perform the services we offer.

The Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, which includes the Wilderness, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania Court House Battlefields, is the largest national military reserve in the world. Our area is rich with history. Four major Civil War battles took place on overlapping grounds in 1862, 1863, and 1864. However, our area is also rich with development that threatens these hallowed grounds. Our group seeks to protect and interpret the Wilderness Battlefield for the present as well as future generations.

• Conducted tours of the Wilderness Battlefield.
• Conducted a televised seminar on the Battle of The Wilderness.
• Sponsored bus tours: Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Yellow Tavern and North Anna with Gordon Rhea.
• Conducted Civil War living history programs in local libraries. (Wounding of "Stonewall" Jackson).
• Issue our own informative quarterly newsletter.
• Spoken about the Battle of the Wilderness and battlefield preservation at meetings and community groups.
• Researched Historical resources to aid our out of state members with ancestors who fought in the battle.
• Host our annual living history complete with military and civilian reenactors and camps to commemorate the Battle of the Wilderness. (Includes skirmishes, drills, camp life).
• Sponsored a lecture by Gordon Rhea, award winning author of The Battle of Wilderness May 5-6, 1864.
• Conducted a "Bringing History to Life in the Classroom" seminar for teachers and organized a panel discussion on "The Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania Military Park: Past, Present, and Future" in conjunction with the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation.
• Conducted a Civil War for Kid's program. Children interact with several Civil War reenactors both military and civilian.
• Sponsored Buffalo Soldiers Programs.

Learn more about the Battle of the Wilderness by visiting these two great links!

Battle of The Wilderness Virtual Tour Jim Schmidt Curtis Fears