Culpeper Battlefield Tours, LLC.

06/23/2024

Nice recap article in the Culpeper Star-Exponent news about CBT's 161st Commemoration weekend. For non-subscribers, the article will be posted in the comments. Thanks to all of our visitors and partners, especially the Virginia Horse Industry Board who supported this program with a grant. Also our guides Tracy Baer, Michael Mishael Lentz and RuthnGarrett Shipley and photos by Roy Shrout.
Other Partners/Supporters:
American Battlefield Trust
Visit Culpeper VA
Friends of Culpeper Battlefields
Civil War Trails, Inc.
Virginia Horse Council

Culpeper Battlefields State Park still under development but now open, with marked trails in Brandy Station.

06/09/2024

A gorgeous morning for our real-time tour today to commemorate the 161st anniversary of the Battle of Brandy Station with Tracy Baer and Mike Lentz.

06/08/2024

A great turnout for our 161st anniversary trail ride today supported by Virginia Horse Industry Board and our great volunteers coordinated by Virginia Horse Council. We had over 100+ people register and a few hikers joined too. Even Gov. Youngkin stopped by after the dedication at Fleetwood Hill. Photos and video from Roy Shrout. Also thanks to our re-enactors/guides RuthnGarrett Shipley and our partners:
Visit Culpeper VA
Friends of Culpeper Battlefields
Civil War Trails, Inc.
American Battlefield Trust

06/08/2024

CBT is commemorating the 161st anniversary of the Battle of Brandy Station this weekend, and we are also applauding the dedication of the Culpeper Battlefields State Park.

Virginia is poised to open a new state park next month that will span over 1,000 acres of historically significant land, encompassing key Civil War battlefields in Culpeper County — Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain.

06/07/2024

REMINDER: This Sunday, June 9, CBT will be giving FREE real-time tours to commemorate the 161st anniversary of the Battle of Brandy Station. Tours start at 5:30 AM, the approximate start of the Battle in 1863 (considering daylight savings time). Just show up at the locations and times listed below.
5:30 AM - 11380 Beverly Ford Rd, Brandy Station, VA - Intro of battle/Opening clash. Note: This is a dead-end, park on the right-hand side of the road.
6:30 AM - 12465 Beverly Ford Rd - The field of battle develops. Note: Park in circle lot.
7:30 AM - Intersection of Beverly Ford Rd and St. James Church Rd - The line is drawn. Note: Park in circle lot.
9:30 AM - 12465 Beverly Ford Rd (same as 6:30 AM location) - Buford's Knoll actions.
12 Noon - 20362 Fleetwood Heights Rd, Brandy Station - The clash of the cavalry.
1:30 PM Lenn Park, 18063 Stevensburg, Rd., Culpeper - Duffie attacks. Note: meet at the cannon south of the pavilion.
Friends of Culpeper Battlefields
Friends of Culpeper History
American Battlefield Trust
Visit Culpeper VA
Civil War Trails, Inc.
Virginia Horse Industry Board

06/01/2024

Riders from the Keswick Hunt enjoyed a beautiful day at the Brandy Station Battlefield. Photo below of Clark Hall describing the valiant federal charge on the guns at St. James Church.

05/06/2024

As part of our 161st commemoration weekend, CBT is offering FREE real-time tours on SUNDAY, JUNE 9, the actual anniversary of the Battle of Brandy Station.

Sunday, June 9: Tours start at 5:30 AM, the approximate start of the Battle in 1863 (considering daylight savings time). Just show up at the locations and times listed below. No pre-registration required.

- 5:30 AM - 11380 Beverly Ford Rd, Brandy Station, VA - Intro of battle/Opening clash. Note: This is a dead-end, park on the right-hand side of the road.
- 6:30 AM - 12465 Beverly Ford Rd - The field of battle develops. Note: Park in circle lot.
- 7:30 AM - Intersection of Beverly Ford Rd and St. James Church Rd - The line is drawn. Note: Park in circle lot.
- 9:30 AM - 12465 Beverly Ford Rd (same as 6:30 AM location) - Buford's Knoll actions.
- 12 Noon - 20362 Fleetwood Heights Rd, Brandy Station - The clash of the cavalry. (no re-enactors)
- 1:30 PM Lenn Park, 18063 Stevensburg, Rd., Culpeper - Duffie attacks. Note: meet at the cannon south of the pavilion.

Additional details are on the Events page of our website.

Friends of Culpeper History
American Battlefield Trust
Visit Culpeper VA
Friends of Culpeper Battlefields
Civil War Trails, Inc.

Premier Tour Provider of Historic Tours in Culpeper, VA

05/02/2024

As part of our commemoration weekend for the 161st anniversary of the Battle of Brandy Station, Culpeper Battlefield Tours, LLC and its partners have organized a FREE Self-Guided Trail Ride from 9 AM - 3 PM on Sat, June 8. Equestrians can bring their own horses to enjoy miles of trails with optional stops at historic sites where CBT guides will offer highlights of the largest cavalry battle of the Civil War. Riders must sign up in advance . Waiver and negative Coggins required with entry. For additional weekend details, check out the events page of our website.
Friends of Culpeper Battlefields
Virginia Horse Council
Virginia Horse Industry Board
Visit Culpeper VA
American Battlefield Trust
Civil War Trails, Inc.
Friends of Culpeper History

On Saturday, June 8, 2024, Culpeper Battlefield Tours, LLC, the Virginia Horse Industry Board, the Virginia Horse Council, and other partners will commemorate the 161st Anniversary of the Battle of Brandy Station with a FREE Self-Guided Trail Ride from 9 AM - 3 PM. Equestrians can bring their own ho...

04/01/2024

The 28th annual Park Day is coming to Culpeper on Saturday, July 6, 2024. Brandy Station Graffiti House, 10:00am Contact: Peter Mocarski at [email protected]   Volunteers will help relocate the Brandy Station sign on U.S. 29 and perform light landscaping afterward. Particip

03/20/2024

Check out this great new destination video by Visit Culpeper VA. Our very own guide RuthnGarrett Shipley and their horses are featured at 39 seconds. Brandy Station Battlefield is a wonderful place for a visit!

Copyright Credits: Town of Culpeper, VA Tourism Office

Tucked away in the heart of Virginia’s Piedmont, you can find a quintessential southern town filled with award-winning wine and craft beer, upscale boutiques...

03/05/2024

Featured in today's Culpeper Star-Exponent news, some of the photos from our weekend training with Clark Hall, who made it possible for CBT to bring tours to Brandy Station Battlefield.

Civil War historian Clark B. Hall conducted an intense two-day history training at the end of February, visiting sites connected to 1863 cavalry clash.

03/02/2024

02/25/2024

A very special weekend for CBT guides with Clark Hall A short clip from Hansbrough’s Ridge.

01/20/2024

**** SAVE THE DATE - JUNE 8 - 9, 2024 *****
CBT will commemorate the 161st anniversary of the Battle of Brandy Station on June 8-9, 2024. FREE events will include a self-guided trail ride and real-time tours. Details on the real-time tours can be found at the Events page of our website. A sign up link for the trail ride is coming soon.

11/14/2023

These two tall trees stand upon Fleetwood Hill — the most contested, camped upon and trekked about hallowed ground in the nation. Now, at more than 150 years old, these wooden witnesses on the hill’s northern terminus saw the strategic location covered with soldiers in blue and gray as early as the spring of 1862, when Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston’s men passed over and camped on its slopes. Several other soldiers followed suit — the grounds experienced a near constant flow of hard-fought actions and dense troop occupation as armies vied for control of the “Rappahannock River Line.” Situated three miles southwest of the river and touching the Orange and Alexandria Railroad on its southern base, Fleetwood Hill was a magnet for wartime activity.

Of the activities that unfurled across the land, mounted combat was frequent. In fact, Fleetwood’s southern end saw more of it than anywhere else in the country. During the June 1863 Battle of Brandy Station, more than 7,000 troopers fought for control of this portion of land in the largest cavalry engagement fought on American soil and beginning of the Gettysburg Campaign. The history of Fleetwood Hill and beyond will be a primary focus as the American Battlefield Trust works alongside the Commonwealth of Virginia to establish Culpeper Battlefields State Park, set to open in June 2024.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/40DJOIH

Photo Credit: Jennifer Michael

11/13/2023

In today's Culpeper Star Exponent, another article about our recent trail ride at Brandy Station Battlefield with Virginia Horse Council. Riders enjoyed learning about the largest US cavalry battle and enjoyed the miles of trails at the Battlefield, soon to become a state park.

Friends of Culpeper Battlefields
American Battlefield Trust

Brandy Station history ride draws 60+ riders.

11/03/2023

Check out this great article in Rapp News about our history trail ride with Virginia Horse Council last weekend:

Some 65 riders saddled up on Culpeper County's hallowed ground to learn about the bloody conflict from guides professionally vetted and trained by Culpeper Battlefield Tours, which provides tours of

11/02/2023

Amazing drone footage from Roy Shrout of our trail ride with the Virginia Horse Council. The Brandy Station Battlefield was just beautiful and these images give you an idea of the size of this battlefield. We hosted over 70+ riders who went out in small groups with re-enactors and guides to learn about the largest cavalry battle in the US, as well as enjoy the beauty of this preserved land.

Thanks to American Battlefield Trust and Friends of Culpeper Battlefields, as well as our guides, re-enactors and volunteers.

10/30/2023

A compilation of some photos and video by Roy Shrout from Saturday's trail ride and tour with the Virginia Horse Council. We had 70+ riders enjoying the trails at Brandy Station Battlefield, who were led in small groups by trail guides and re-enactors, and who visited CBT guides at key points along the route to learn about the largest cavalry battle in the US, a little over 160 years ago.

10/28/2023

It was a gorgeous fall day for a trail ride at the Brandy Station Battlefield with the Virginia Horse Council. A few photos from the day.

Special thanks to our guides, re-enactors from Black Horse Cavalry and the 70+ riders who enjoyed the 6.5 miles of trails at Brandy Station. Also, thanks to the American Battlefield Trust for preserving the battlefield and our partner Friends of Culpeper Battlefields. More photos and video to come from Roy Shrout.

Chris Army, Tracy Baer, Jasan Hileman, Donald Vandergriff, Bill Scott, and especially RuthnGarrett Shipley for their logistical support and advance work. Go team!

Contact us for a tour of the Battlefield. Fall is a great time to visit.

10/27/2023

We look forward to hosting the Virginia Horse Council's historic trail ride tomorrow, Sat, Oct 28. The first group of riders will be led by re-enactors around 9:30 AM from the Cunningham Farm Circle at Beverly Ford Rd. CBT guides will be positioned to give an interpretation of battle at key points on the trail. You must sign up in advance if you want to join the ride. Or come to the Brandy Station Battlefield to witness horses returning to the site of the largest cavalry battle in the US!

Thanks to American Battlefield Trust and Friends of Culpeper Battlefields for your support!

We’re looking forward to a great History Ride at Brandy Station Battlefield tomorrow, Saturday, October 28th!

10/26/2023

It is not too late to sign up for the Saturday, Oct 28 trail ride at Brandy Station Battlefield sponsored by the Virginia Horse Council. The weather is going to be beautiful and this is such a great time of year to ride on the Battlefield with the leaves changing. CBT guides and re-enactors will be onsite to give the history of the largest cavalry battle of the US Civil War. Come join us! Details at the link below.

The History Ride to Brandy Station Battlefield is set to take place on Saturday, October 28. There is a rain date set for Saturday, November 18.
Due to an unexpected low number of pre-registration entries as of today, we request people register by Thursday, October 19 to ensure we have enough riders to prevent cancellation of the event.
Click on the link to view the entire event flyer with more details. You can also register on the Virginia Horse Council website. https://www.virginiahorsecouncil.org/.

10/13/2023

From CBT guide Donald Vandergriff:

Today, I had the honor to give a two-hour driving tour to Scott and Elizabeth (Beth) Hottle who had a relative Jared Henry Hottle in the 12th Virginia Cavalry, part of Grumble Jones Cavalry Brigade in JEB Stuart's Division at Brandy Station.

A little background of the Hottles. They are American History lovers, especially the Civil War and Revolutionary War. Beth can claim direct descendants to Miles Standish. They live in Iowa and try to get out east when they can. This year's trip focused on Jared Hottle and locations where he lived, fought and died.

The Hottles have descendants on both sides of the American Civil War. Scott's ancestors arrived in Philadelphia in 1750, and traveled to the Shenandoah Valley to live. The Hottle's all lived in Tom's Brook, Woodstock and the Staunton areas. They have identified literally hundreds of descendants who fought on BOTH sides of the Civil War. The main contingent fought with the
Stonewall Brigade in the 33rd Virginia Infantry, but Scott has ancestors who rode with Mosby's Rangers, 7th Virginia Cavalry, and the 12th Virginia Cavalry, as well as 2nd cousins to the Virginia Cavalrymen who rode with Company A of the 6th Ohio Cavalry.

Beth is related to Colonel Strong Vincent, and is a direct cousin to Lt. Crocket East, who was killed in action on July 1, 1863 at McPherson's Ridge at Gettysburg. He served with the 19th Indiana, Iron Brigade. His name is engraved on their monument there.

An descendant was Jared Henry Hottle, company K, 12th Virginia Cavalry. He was of particular interest because the Hottles also own horses. Jared Hottel was born July 24, 1843 in Woodstock. He joined the 7th Virgina Cavalry when the war started, and then transferred to Co. K, 12th Virginia Cavalry. In addition to other siblings, he had a younger brother born in August of 1862
named Turner Ashby Hottle. Little Turner only lived a year, and is buried in the family plot.

The 12th Virginia Cavalry had a big role at Brandy Station, and they got to see where Jared fought. They also plan to visit the house he lived in from birth to his death (839 Hottle Road, Woodstock, VA) and the fair amount of research we have done lead us to the place of his death, near Payte's Corner, Catharpin Road, Spotsylvania, VA on May 5, 1864 during the Battle of the
Wilderness.

The 12th Virginia was in the middle of the thickest fighting, delaying the US northern wing under John Buford with several charges, then holding the line at St. James Church, until redeploying late morning just in time to meet the first US attacks on Fleetwood Hill and fighting the southern wing of Gregg's
Division to a stalemate on Fleetwood Hill.

Thanks for the insights of Mr. Clark "Bud" Hall, and my own research, as well as The Maps of the Cavalry In the Gettysburg Campaign by Bradley M. Gottfried.

Finally, it is tours like this that make my day. Everyone I have had to date since I started a year ago, has been incredible people to meet, but the Hottle's make even more special.

Don

07/08/2023

This cavalry video from the 160th Commemoration was compiled from GoPro footage from two mounted re-enactors: Garrett Shipley (13th VA Cavalry) and Steven Thornton (5th IL Cavalry). Thanks to all the re-enactors who participated, as well as our event sponsors:
Virginia Horse Industry Board
American Battlefield Trust
Friends of Culpeper Battlefields

Still more video footage to come courtesy of Roy Shrout.
RuthnGarrett Shipley

06/23/2023

To cap off our 160th Commemoration, CBT hosted Director Ron Maxwell for a fascinating film talk and screening of "Gettysburg," since the Battle of Brandy Station was the opening battle of the Gettysburg campaign. Check out this short clip of the conversation between Ron and CBT guide Jasan Hileman as Ron discusses the work of re-enactors and their horses on the set. Some of the re-enactors who participated in our 160th Commemoration were also in the film.

06/17/2023