Emerging Civil War

Stevenson Ridge will again host this coming symposium in Spotsylvania County. Stevenson Ridge offers elegant and historic lodging at one of their several historic cottages.

For more information contact Stevenson Ridge at 540-582-6263 or visit their website at: www.stevensonridge.net

This year’s theme is: Partnerships & Rivalries

Keynote Speakers

Harold Holzer: “Presidents in Print: The Dueling Images of Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis”

Craig Symonds: “Admirals in Blue and Gray: Farragut and Buchanan”

Kris White—“Heavens, How They Hate Him”: Braxton Bragg and the Army of Tennessee’s High Command
Dr. Angela Zombeck—Partners in Escape: POW Escape Attempts and Plots, Successful and Stymied
Pat Kelly-Fischer—Duel in the Desert: Canby and Sibley’s Fight for the West
Neil Chatelain—The Mississippi River vs. Everyone: How Grant, Foote, Pope, Farragut, Porter, Butler, Lovell, Johnston, Beauregard, and Hollins had to fight the “Father of Waters” before fighting each other
Ryan Quint—“With Friends Like These…”: Ambrose Burnside and Joseph Hooker, Late 1862
Tim Smith (of the East)—Friction in Command: Personal and Professional Conflicts Between the Union Commanders During the Gettysburg Campaign
Evan Portman—Frenemies: The Partnership and Rivalry of Joshua Chamberlain and Ellis Spear

“Stonewall Jackson’s Arresting Personality”—A walk along Prospect Hill on the Fredericksburg Battlefield with Chris Mackowski

Sunday, August 9

8:30 a.m. Meet at 3,000 Mine Road, Fredericksburg, VA
(This is a small industrial park. We have permission to park in their lot for the morning. Shuttle service will take tour attendees to the starting point of the tour.)

9:00 a.m Tour begins at Prospect Hill near the “Jackson on the Field” monument.

The tour will consist of a total of two miles of walking, mostly on a flat, paved surface.

11:30 a.m. Tour ends. (Shuttle service will return attendees to the parking area.)

NOTE: We are not allowed to park at Prospect Hill. If you have a mobility accommodation that requires disabled parking, please inform an ECW staff member prior to the tour.

Friday, August 7

2:00 p.m. Doors open

2:45 p.m. Welcome

3:00–4:00 p.m. Neil Chatelain

4:15–5:15 p.m. Evan Portman

5:15–6:00 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres

6:00–7:00 p.m. Angie Zombek

7:15–8:15 Historians Panel

Saturday, August 8

8:00 a.m. Doors open

8:25 a.m. Welcome

8:30–9:30 a.m. Ryan Quint

9:45–10:45 a.m. Pat Kelly-Fischer

11:00 a.m.–Noon KEYNOTE: Craig Symonds

Noon Lunch

1:00 p.m. Awards

1:20–2:20 p.m. KEYNOTE: Harold Holzer

2:35–3:35 p.m. Kris White

3:50–4:50 p.m. Tim Smith

4:50 p.m. Raffle

6:00 p.m. Informal social time at Strangeways Brewing (off-site @ 350 Lansdowne Rd., Fredericksburg, VA 22401)

Sunday, August 9

8:30 a.m. Meet for tour

9:00–11:30 a.m. Tour

Regular Registration Tickets: $325.00

Regular Registration is available from January 1, 2026 until the event is sold out.

Full refunds are available through June 1, 2026, minus a $20 service charge
June 1-June 30: 50% refund
After July 1: No refunds

Stevenson Ridge: Home of this year’s Symposium, Stevenson Ridge offers elegant and historic lodging at one of their several historic cottages. For more information contact Stevenson Ridge at 540-582-6263 or visit their website at: www.stevensonridge.net

Off-Site Hotels: There are many hotels in Fredericksburg, but reservations at a location in South Fredericksburg is recommended for easier travel to Stevenson Ridge.

The 12th Annual Emerging Civil War Symposium is being held in Northern Virginia. Traffic in this area of the I-95 corridor can be EXTREMELY heavy on Friday afternoons/evenings, especially if you are traveling in from the north. Please note this as you plan your trip.

We are excited to offer four levels of sponsorship for the 2026 Symposium. Check out the graphic below for more information, and follow the links below to each level’s payment page:

Platinum

Gold

Silver

For more information, email emergingcivilwar@gmail.com!