Day 1 (22 August)

Meet at Washington, Dulles Airport

Overnight Culpeper
                                                           

Day 2 (23 August)

Today we visit the Battle of Brandy Station, the first action in what will become the Gettysburg Campaign.  This morning we will visit the battlefield to see where the opposing Cavalry forces under Generals JEB Stuart & Alfred Pleasonton will fight the first major cavalry battle of the war. After lunch on our way to Winchester we will stop at Aldie and Middleburg where skirmishes took place later that month. Overnight Winchester

Day 3 (24 August)

Winchester an important town in the Northern part of the Shenandoah    Valley was reputed to have changed hands over 70 times during the war.  Today we will concentrate on the 2nd Battle of Winchester that took place over the period 13 –15 June as Lee’s Army advanced northwards.  Needing to push the strong Union defensive force away so that his rear would not be threatened an overwhelming victory was achieved. 2nd night Winchester.     
                                   

Day 4 (25 August)          

Leaving Winchester this morning we follow General Robert E. Lee’s and part of his Army as it crosses the Potomac River into Maryland   and northwards into Pennsylvania, all the time being shielded by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east.  At Chambersburg we head east and cross the South Mountain at Black Gap, descending we stop at Cashtown where Lee will meet AP Hill to be advised that Heth’s Division is heavily engaged in action at a small town called Gettysburg.

Overnight Gettysburg

Day 5 (26 August)

On 1 July 1863 a strong force of Confederates marched towards    Gettysburg from the west; an initial reconnaissance had indicated that only a local militia unit held the town.  This ‘militia’ was in fact John Buford’s cavalry brigade.  From this small skirmish a full-blown battle quickly formed as both sides rushed up troops.  Outnumbered and outfought the Union soldiers were pushed back through the town to Cemetery Ridge.  As night ended the Confederates major opportunity to win this battle and perhaps the end of the war had not been fulfilled.

2nd night in Gettysburg

Day 6 (27 August)

July 2 dawned hot and bright, both commanding Generals had nearly all their available troops in position, today joint attacks on both ends of the Federal lines ‘the fishhook’ could end in a Confederate victory.  We will spend the day walking these fields and seeing why this did not happen.  On the federal left the way looked clear, little or no defence on the Big or Little Round Tops.  The Union General Dan Sickles had moved his line forward into the Peach Orchard & Wheat Fields, in hope that this would give time for other troops to be moved up on the left.  Bloody fighting took place all day on both Federal flanks, but by nightfall the Union Army still held their positions.

3rd night in Gettysburg                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
Day 7 (28 August)

During the night Lee’s last Division joined the Army, General George Pickett’s Virginians.  After attacks against the Federal flanks, Lee’s opinion was that the federal weakness would be now be in the centre.  After a fierce artillery bombardment 12,000 infantry stepped forward, in some cases a mile away from the Federal lines which immediately commenced accurate defensive artillery fire.  Heroically these men continued forward, many reached the Union lines only to be cut down or captured.  With no reserves to follow up these limited successes, they fell back.  The battle was over.  Neither side had the desire to continue the action the next day and Lee issued orders for his battered Army to return to Virginia.

4th night in Gettysburg                                                                                                                                                     

Day 8 (29 August)

Before leaving Gettysburg this morning, we will visit the major cavalry battle that took place of on the 3 July.  With victory in mind Lee had sent Stuart's cavalry north with the intention of disrupting the Union withdrawal.  After sharpening their newfound skills at Brandy Station, the Union Cavalry with George Custer leading his brigade, were more than a match for Stuart’s troopers.
We follow the route of the Confederate Army as they fall back towards the Potomac; we look at the defensive actions at Hagerstown, Williamsport and at Falling Waters, where Confederate General Pedigrew was mortally wounded.  The last action of the Gettysburg campaign will take place at Wapping Heights (Manassas Gap) on the 23 July.

Overnight Northern Virginia      
                                                                                         

Day 9 (30 August)

This morning there will be an opportunity to see the sights of the capital. Before departing for the short drive to the airport we will stop at Arlington Cemetery, the site of the boyhood home of Robert E. Lee.         
Drive To Dulles airport for afternoon flights.

Day 10 (31 August)

Example of Hotels