Road built in the 1800s is discovered at Civil War battleground in Fredericksburg, Virginia where researchers are searching for unmarked graves of dead soldiers
- Archaeologists discovered a 19th century road near the Battle of Fredericksburg
- They also found a brick-lined culvert while looking for unmarked graves
- It’s believed to have led to the spot where the monument for the Civil War cemetery was proposed
- The monument was never put up and the road was eventually ‘buried’
- To date, no graves of unmarked soldiers have been found
Archaeologists have discovered a 19th century road while looking for unmarked graves from the Fredericksburg National Cemetery near the Battle of Fredericksburg, one of the bloodiest during the Civil War, in Virginia.
The discovery, made by the Northeast Archeological Resources Program, is in addition to a brick-lined culvert, that was also unearthed at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields National Military Park in northern Virginia.
The road is believed to have led to the spot where a monument for the Civil War cemetery was ‘proposed during the early design of the cemetery,’ officials said, according to the Charlotte Observer.
However, the monument was never put up and the road was eventually ‘buried.’
Archaeologists have discovered a 19th century road while looking for unmarked graves from a cemetery near the Battle of Fredericksburg in Virginia
The road is believed to have led to the spot where the monument for the Civil War cemetery (pictured) was ‘proposed during the early design of the cemetery.’ However, the monument was never put up and the road was eventually ‘buried’
The discovery was made using radar and magnetometer surveys while the researchers were looking for unmarked graves, though none were found, the agency said in a Facebook post announcing the find.
The culvert was found when the research equipment indicated ‘an unknown feature’ buried nearby.
The excavation at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields National Military Park in northern Virginia started in late June.
To date, no graves of unmarked soldiers have been found, the officials added.
This map created by the US Geological Survey in 1934 shows Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park
This map of the Battle of Fredericksburg shows the majority of the Union Army situated across the Rappahannock river, as they awaited the construction of a pontoon bridge. After they crossed, they were met with heavy opposition from Confederate soldiers who were in the hills to the west and south of the area
In October of 1862, General Robert E. Lee reorganized his Army of Virginia into two corps. After being promoted to lieutenant general, Jackson took command of the second corps, leading them to a decisive victory at the Battle of Fredericksburg.
At the battle, Union Army crossed over the Rappahannock River on a pontoon bridge. After they crossed, they were met with heavy opposition from Confederate soldiers who were in the hills to the west and south of the area.
The Fredericksburg National Cemetery was created in July 1865 by Congress in an effort ‘to honor the Federal soldiers who died on the battlefields or from disease in camp,’ according to the National Park Service.
More than 15,000 US soldiers are laid to rest there, most of which died in the Civil War, though there are about 100 20th century soldiers and a couple spouses.
Although Fredericksburg National Cemetery has not taken in a burial since the 1940s, officials are looking for one more burial spot.
According to the NPS, the new grave will house the remains of Union soldiers that were found in 2015 ‘near the Rowe–Goolrick House, which served as a hospital during the Battle of Fredericksburg,’ the park said in a June 30 Facebook post.