American Battlefield Trust

10/19/2026

In the fall of 1864, Confederate Maj. Gen. Jubal Early sought to slow Union Maj. Gen. Phil Sheridan’s advance in the Shenandoah Valley by striking his men on the east bank of Cedar Creek. Early in the morning October 19, 1864, Early attacked and drove three Union corps from the field. As Early paused to reorganize, Sheridan arrived after a dramatic ride from Wi******er, in time to rally his troops and launch a crushing counterattack that Early’s forces could not withstand. This Union victory extinguished Early’s hopes of future Confederate offensives in the Valley.

Maps, animated maps, history articles, photos, recommended books, web links, and more on this 1864 Civil War battle.

10/19/2026

After six years of war, both the British and Continental armies were exhausted. The British, in hostile territory, held only a few coastal areas in America. On the other side of the Atlantic, Britain was also waging a global war with France and Spain. The American conflict was unpopular and divisive, and there was no end in sight. For the colonies, the long struggle for independence was leading to enormous debt, food shortages, and a lack of morale among the soldiers. Both sides were desperately seeking a definitive victory.

Outnumbered and outfought during a three-week siege in which they sustained great losses, British troops surrendered to the Continental Army and their French allies at Yorktown, Virginia, October 19, 1781. This last major land battle of the American Revolution led to negotiations for peace with the British and the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

10/18/2026

Did you know that visitors to Mount Vernon have claimed to see ghosts walking around Washington’s estate? One particular tale, which surfaced during the late 19th century’s spike in interest in spiritualism, comes from Josiah Quincy III’s 1806 visit to the renowned residence, which had fallen into the hands of George Washington’s nephew, Bushrod Washington. Narrating the incident, Quincy’s son stated that while staying the night in the Washington bedchamber, his father did indeed see Washington. He postulates that the founding father’s time in the afterlife may have been disturbed by what his father later saw when allowed to enter Washington’s tomb: the “velvet cover of the coffin was hanging in tatters, it having been brought to this condition by the assaults of relic-hunters.” It turns out the revered founder was given little peace after his passing, with the nation’s ongoing craving for remaining fragments of the legendary leader’s life. Perhaps his spirit now rests easier thanks to the preservation work still ongoing at his former home – although some modern staff also report seeing the ghost of Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association founder Ann Pamela Cunningham on the museum grounds.

While study of the American Revolution quite often emphasizes the lasting legacies of unalienable rights and our visionary founders, many believe that the...

10/18/2026

In August and September 1776, the Continental Army had been defeated in Brooklyn and in Manhattan. With these British victories secured, Gen. William Howe planned to pin down General George Washington’s men at Harlem Heights, New York.

October 18, 1776, Howe’s 4,000 men landed at Pell’s Point and began advancing on the road inland. Stationed in the area was Colonel John Glover and his brigade consisting of four Massachusetts Continental regiments. Glover dispatched 40 men to engage the British vanguard as he prepared an ambush on the road towards New Rochelle. Using stone walls to his advantage, Glover staggered his regiments behind numerous walls along the road. As the British approached, they attacked. As British reinforcements arrived, Glover and his men fell back to other covered positions and attacked again. Eventually, fearing his position may be flanked, Glover ordered his brigade to fall back across the Hutchinson River to rejoin Washington’s main army. Although the British maintained control of the field, the Patriots' tactics at the Battle of Pell’s Point delayed the British invasion, inflicted heavy losses, and bought Washington time to regroup.

The Battle of Pell’s Point stands as one in a series of engagements in the New York campaign between August and October of 1776. British forces defeated...

10/17/2026

When it rains nowadays, the only thing most people have to worry about is remembering an umbrella. But during the American Revolution, rain could change the outcomes of entire battles! On October 8, 1777, the British army under Lieutenant General John Burgoyne tried to escape north after fighting at Bemis Heights, but cold, hard rain forced them to stop and encamp near Saratoga, New York. Hungry, weary, and out of options, the British dug in and prepared to defend themselves, but within two days the Americans had them surrounded. October 17, 1777, after negotiations, Burgoyne's army surrendered. This American victory impressed the French, and France signed a formal Treaty of Alliance with the United States, changing the course of the American Revolution.

In this summer's edition, we examine how weather and climate conditions changed the course of the American Civil War.

10/17/2026

October is Family History Month! To celebrate, the Trust is highlighting resources to help you explore your own family history and bring the past to life: https://www.battlefields.org/making-the-ancestry-connection

Share your connections to history in the comments!

10/17/2026

After extensive negotiations, British Lieutenant General John Burgoyne and his forces surrendered to American forces under Major General Horatio Gates October 17, 1777, in Saratoga, New York. Impressed by the Patriots’ resistance to Britain during the Battle of Saratoga, France signed the formal Treaty of Alliance and Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the Americans, formally acknowledging the United States as a sovereign nation and guaranteeing French military and commercial support. This support, along with later aid from the Spanish and the Dutch, tipped the balance of the conflict in the United States’ favor.

The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. The American defeat of the superior British army lifted patriot morale, furthered the...

10/16/2026

“I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty, land: will never be purged away; but with Blood.”

Brown penned these words before he was hanged for murder, treason, and inciting slave rebellion when he raided the Federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, now West Virginia, October 16, 1859. Born into a devout, fiercely abolitionist family, Brown had been helping to free enslaved people as a conductor on the Underground Railroad for over a decade before his raid on the arsenal. However, that wasn’t enough. Brown wanted to launch a war against slavery.

To launch this war, he needed weapons, and Harpers Ferry had 100,000 ri**es and muskets ready to be seized. With 21 men, including three of his sons, Brown set off for the ferry. Unfortunately for Brown, nothing went as planned. Slaves living in the area did not join the raid like Brown expected; local militia and the United States Marines, under Robert E. Lee, quickly subdued the raiders; and most of Brown’s men were either killed or captured.

The nation was divided over his actions. Many abolitionists called him a hero. Slaveholders called him a base villain. People on both sides of the fence denounced Brown’s use of violence. In the end, John Brown was hanged on December 2, 1859.

10/16/2026

For nearly 40 years, preservationists have fought to protect Brandy Station from development. Now, another remarkable opportunity is within reach: 414 nearly pristine battlefield acres valued at more than $8 million can be permanently protected if we raise the final $62,500 needed for acquisition.

🔵 The larger property at Brandy Station includes approximately 406 acres of remarkably intact battlefield land adjacent to Fleetwood Hill.

🔴 A second tract of approximately 8.45 acres is particularly vulnerable because of its zoning and proximity to Culpeper Regional Airport.

Together, these 414 acres represent one of the largest remaining unprotected pieces of the Brandy Station battlefield.

But saving the land is only part of the long game. An additional $59,563 will support restoration work to help return portions of Brandy Station closer to their historic appearance — making the total goal $122,063 to save and restore this hallowed ground. Learn more and donate today!

For nearly 40 years, preservationists have fought to protect Brandy Station from development. Now, another remarkable opportunity is within reach: 414...

10/15/2026

After the Civil War had raged for two long years, John Ortega mustered into the United States Navy and was assigned to the USS Saratoga, a sloop-of-war under the command of Commander George Musalas Colvocoresses. In January 1864, the sloop-of-war headed toward Charleston, South Carolina, where it joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron to prevent trade from reaching Southern ports. Ortega joined the ship’s landing party, which launched a series of raids in August and September, destroying supplies and capturing prisoners. For his actions, he was promoted to master’s mate and awarded the Medal of Honor. He deserted the Navy in June 1865 for unknown reasons.

Explore the Medal of Honor Valor Trail to learn more about Ortega and other Medal of Honor recipients: https://bit.ly/4s1lKgB