COL RICH YODER, USMC(RET) WILL TAKE YOU FROM BULL RUN TO GETTYSBURG! DON’T MISS THESE EPIC CIVIL WAR BATTLES.

MHT starts in Manassas where the two Armies first faced off and the prospect of a quick war were swept away along Bull Run! Visit Harper’s Ferry where President Lincoln sent two US Army Officers, Col Robert E. Lee & Lt J.E.B. Stuart to put down John Brown’s insurrection. We walk the killing grounds of Sharpsburg during Lee’s invasion of Maryland at Antietam. Finally the most decisive battle of the Civil War during three days around Gettysburg, PA.

Tour Leader: COL Rich Yoder, USMC(Ret)

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    Military Historical Tours is excited to offer a guided tour of four major battles; First and Second Manassas, fought in Northern Virginia; Antietam, fought in Maryland; and Gettysburg, fought in Pennsylvania.  First Manassas was a Confederate victory, although both armies were left disorganized.  The battle left no doubt that the war would be long, difficult, and bloody.  It was at this battle that General Thomas J. Jackson earned the nickname “Stonewall” and became a hero of the Southern cause.  Second Manassas pitted General John Pope against General Robert E. Lee.  Surprised at Manassas Junction by Stonewall Jackson, Pope attacked the Confederate lines at the old railroad cut.  Just as the Confederate line waivered, General Longstreet arrived.  His Corps rolled up the left flank of the Army of the Potomac, giving Lee and the South a great victory.  Second Manassas also gave Lee the confidence to invade Maryland.  Maryland was a slave-holding border State.  Lee believed if he invaded, the population would rise up and join the Confederacy.  Lee was wrong.  Compounding the situation, General McClellan was handed a copy of Lee’s campaign orders.  He was aware that the Army of Northern Virginia was divided.  This gave McClellan the confidence to engage Lee at Antietam Creek.  Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Army of Northern Virginia fought the Army of the Potomac to a draw.  McClellan would lose his command for failing to pursue Lee back into Virginia.  Following his decisive victory at Chancellorsville, Lee decided to once again invade the North.  This time his goal was to take the burden of feeding his army off of Virginia and to get the Northern peace parties to pressure the government to end the war.  Trailing Lee’s move north, General Joe Hooker offered his resignation on 28 June 1863 because President Lincoln would not give him the garrison at Harper’s Ferry.  Lincoln accepted the resignation and appointed General George Gordon Meade as the new commander of the Army of the Potomac.  Racing north, Meade ran into two Confederate Corps at Gettysburg.  With J.E.B. Stuart absent, Lee was forced to consolidate his army.  Lee was successful on day one of the battle, the second day was basically a draw, and the third day was a decisive win for the Army of the Potomac.  Lee was forced to retreat back to Virginia and would not win any offensive action for the remainder of the war. Gettysburg is considered the high tide of the Confederacy and many consider it the turning point of the war. 

Tour Prices:
 
Tour Price:                                 $ 1,845
 BoDO - Based on double Occupancy
 
Single Room Supplement:         $  695

Tour Price Includes:

* 4 Star Hotel Accommodations 
* Air-conditioned coach 
* Breakfasts included & Welcome Aboard Dinner
* Tips for Historian & Driver included
* Historical Trip information packet, containing maps & other tour information
* Admission fees to all sites, museums and special attractions listed
* Services of experienced Tour Leaders

Airfare Not Included: Get your own or Book Optional MHT Airfare: Round-trip economy or business class airfare from your home price quoted upon registration!

Daily Itinerary

Day 1:  Saturday, October 5
Participants fly/arrive at Dulles Airport.  MHT gets them to hotel in Dulles area. MHT hosted Icebreaker and presentation on Manassas, Antietam, and Gettysburg. (Dinner (D)) Hotel: TBD

Day 2:  Sunday, October 6
After breakfast at the hotel, we depart by Bus to Manassas National Battlefield Park. Tour the first major battle of the Civil War as Generals P.G.T. Beauregard and Joe Johnston faced off against the Army of the Potomac under General McDowell.  Stand where Jackson earned the iconic nickname of “Stonewall.”  We transition into the Second Battle, where Stonewall Jackson surprised General Pope.  The timely arrival of Longstreet’s Corps made the battle a rout. We head by bus to Harper’s Ferry where Col R.E. Lee, USA was sent by President Lincoln to restore order during the John Brown raid. We finish the day in Shepherdstown, MD. (Breakfast (B)) Hotel (TBD)

Day 3: Monday, October 7
After breakfast at the hotel,  we proceed to Antietam National Battlefield Park.  Lee was confident that invading Maryland would cause that State to join the rebellion but it didn’t happen.  Although greatly outnumbered, and despite McClellan having a copy of Lee’s battle plans, Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia fought toe to toe against McClellan’s Army of the Potomac.  Stand at Dunker Church where the Iron Brigade battled the Stonewall Brigade.  Walk through the cornfield.  At the beginning of the battle the corn was eight feet high – at the end it was stubble.  Walk down Bloody Lane, where so many Confederate dead lay, it was said you could walk the entire length without touching the ground.  It was here that Colonel John B. Gordon received five wounds.  Stand on Burnside’s Bridge and visit the ridge where a small group of Confederate Georgian sharpshooters held up an entire Corps for most of the day.  See where the timely arrival of A.P. Hill’s light division saved Lee’s army from total disintegration. We next head to Gettysburg.  In the late afternoon, we will go to Buford’s position.  See the ground as he did and why he chose to fight there until the rest of the Union Army could arrive. We end the day with a tour McPherson’s Ridge before having some free time to shop. (B) Hotel (TBD).  

Day 4:  Tuesday, October 8
After breakfast at the hotel, we return to McPherson’s Ridge where the first assault on 1 July 1863 began.  See the copula that Buford, and later Lee, used as an observation post.  See where General Reynolds was killed shortly after arriving with I Corps.  Walk to the edge of the railroad cut.  See why its shelter became a trap.  Visit Oak Ridge, where Confederate artillery forced the I and XI Corps to retreat through Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill.  We stop at the impressive visitor’s center to see the short film on Gettysburg, visit the restored cyclorama and tour the impressive Gettysburg museum.  After lunch we will visit Cemetery Hill and Culp’s Hill to see how important the terrain was to Federal success.  Visit Spangler’s Spring, the only water source on the right flank of the Federal position.  Finally we will visit the cemetery where Meade met with his generals on his arrival at midnight.  It was here that Meade decided to fight it out at Gettysburg. (B) Hotel (TBD)

Day 5:  Wednesday, October 9
In the morning after breakfast, we will look at the actions of 2 July.  We will tour the Confederate positions on Seminary Ridge.  Visit the famous Devil’s Den, Slaughter Pen, Wheatfield, Peach Orchard, and Little Round Top.  All were significant and almost cost Meade the battle, when Sickles moved his III Corps out of line and deployed them between the Devil’s Den and the Peach Orchard.  Stand where the Hood’s Texans, of Longstreet’s Corps, lead by BGen Law after Hood was WIA, charged into the flank of the III Corps and drove it back.  See where the valiant charge of the 262 soldiers of the 1st Minnesota occurred.  Only 47 came back.  The 82 percent casualty rate was the highest of any regiment in the Civil War. Stand on top of Little Round Top and see how it influenced the battle.  Stand where the 20th Maine defended the left flank of Meade’s army and made its famous bayonet charge down the hill.  After lunch we will visit the areas that saw action on 3 July.  We will visit Longstreet’s statue and discuss his actions during the battle (why is his the only statue at Gettysburg, not on a pedestal?)  See the Virginia Memorial, on the site where Lee kicked off Pickett’s Charge.  Stand at the Copse of Trees, the rally point for Pickett’s division.  Visit Meade’s HQ.  Meade was forced to abandon it during the Confederate bombardment on 3 July.  We will also look at the major battle that occurred on Culp’s Hill on the morning of 3 July.  This action is often overlooked by Pickett’s Charge. (B) Hotel (TBD).  

Day 6:  Thursday, October 10
Today after breakfast, we will visit the Eisenhower Farm. Not Civil War related, but it was the home of President Eisenhower after his term in office.  Ike’s wife, Mame bought the farm. Ike was worried it would bankrupt them. Next we head to Frederick, MD to visit the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.  Then it’s back to Northern Virginia and an end to our Civil War Tour. (B) Hotel (TBD)

Day 7:  Monday, October 11
Breakfast at the hotel. Everyone returns home. (B)

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MHT'S Civil War "North to Gettysburg" (5 - 11 Oct 2024)

  • Product Code: 2410-USA-CIV
  • Availability: In Stock
  • $1,845.00


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