The "Stonewall" Jackson Shrine, part of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, is the plantation office building where General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson spent the final six days of his life. The building is the only remaining of several which stood at "Fairfield," Thomas C. Chandler's 740-acre plantation. The building underwent restorations in both the 1920s and 1960s and retains about 45% of its original fabric.

When I visited, I enjoyed the drive to the building as well as the site itself. The drive east from Thornburg, my normal rest stop when I travel to North Carolina from my home in New Jersey, is rural and dotted with beautiful, green farmland. The site itself is located off of Route 606, right beside the tracks of the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad. Just outside the building are convenient and detailed storyboards with audio.

I was extremely impressed with my tour guide, Jamie Bonser. Very emotionally, she depicted the sad events of May 2, 1863, when Jackson was fired upon by his own men, forced to have his arm amputated, and endure a 27-mile ambulance ride to the site. The most touching of her 20 minute presentation, however, was the melancholy tale of the General holding his tiny, five month old daughter Julia for the last time. He had learned from the attending physician, Dr. Hunter McGuire, that death was near and, seeking to be a true father to the daughter he would never see grow, had her placed on his chest as he lightly patted her back with his right arm.

Tears began to fill Jamie Bonser's eyes as she spoke. They began to fill mine as well.

Visit this tiny but very worthwhile site.

Steve Sears
SGSWrite.com
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Steve is a guest writer for SimplyFredericksburg.com