Earlier this year I had a rare opportunity to visit the site of Franklin’s Crossing (also known at the Lower Crossing) at Fredericksburg. The site sits on land owned by Spotsylvania County and isn’t currently accessible to the public. These are looking east from the Fredericksburg side:
Franklin’s Crossing July 2020
Franklin’s Crossing July 2020 upriver
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About Terry Rensel
Terry is currently the Executive Director of the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust (CVBT), located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He has Bachelor of Arts degrees in History/Political Science and Broadcast Communications from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in Bradford, PA. and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau, AK. Prior to joining CVBT he spent 12 years living and working in Alaska.
great pics! hope the public will have access someday!
Since Fredericksburg was an ocean port in the 1860s, was this crossing by raft or ferry rather than on foot?
Mike, it was three pontoon bridges
Thanks for sharing.
–Chris Barry
Glad to.
The last 6-acres of undeveloped land at Franklin’s Crossing is currently for sale if the CVBT is interested. Though it doesn’t have water access…it’s the location of three campaigns; Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville (Second Fredericksburg), & the battle of Franklin’s Crossing (the opening curtain to the Gettysburg Campaign).
John, can you email me whatever information you have on that to executivedirector@cvbt.org? Thanks!