In Podcast #15 the Virginia Trekkers (minus Brad) take you to a Civil War battle reenactment at Endview Plantation in Newport News.  It was a reenactment of the Battle of Williamsburg in 1862. Learn about how horses were used in the Civil War and watch a real calvary charge; find out how southern women used clothing to mourn for their dead loved ones; meet Stinky, the Confederate camp cook and other Confederate officers; finally watch Civil War soldiers perform drills and then fight with real guns and cannons!  Come on, let’s go trekkin’! (Trouble viewing the YouTube video? Try Vimeo or direct link)

Both the Union and Confederate sides claimed to win the Battle of Williamsburg.  Neither side advanced, but they both viewed that as a victory because neither of them had goals to advance.  The Union army wanted to keep their ground near Williamsburg (which they did), and the Confederates wanted to delay the Union advance to allow reinforcements to get to Richmond (which they did as well).  So you see?  Sometimes both sides CAN win!  Endview Plantation hosts several different Civil War battle reenactments, not just the Battle of Williamsburg.  This is a painting of the Battle of Williamsburg which occurred on May 5, 1862. (Image credit)


Here is a Google map of Endview Plantation where the battle reenactment took place.

Click the +/- button in the bottom right corner to zoom in or out.



This is a 360 view of Endview Plantation where the battle reenactment took place.

Click the arrows to explore. You can even go inside the house!



This is an old Flash activity where you can dress a soldier. We got it to work using Ruffle!

(The print function doesn't work, but you could take a screenshot and print it or save it).


Social Studies

K.3 (2015) The student will sequence events in the past and present and begin to recognize that things change over time.


K.4 (2023) The student will apply history and social science skills to recognize Virginia’s earliest communities by

a. identifying examples of historical events, stories, and legends;

c. recognizing that places change over time; and


VS.2 (2015) The student will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between physical geography and the lives of the native peoples, past and present, of Virginia by

b) locating and describing Virginia’s Coastal Plain (Tidewater), Piedmont, Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley and Ridge, and Appalachian Plateau;


VS.7 (2015) The student will demonstrate an understanding of the issues that divided our nation and led to the Civil War by

b) describing Virginia’s role in the war, including identifying major battles that took place in Virginia; and


VS.1 (2023) The student will apply history and social science skills to explain the relationship between physical geography and the lives of Virginia’s peoples, past and present by

b. locating and describing the relative location and physical characteristics of Virginia's five geographic regions on a map;


VS.7 (2023) The students will apply history and social science skills to understand the key people, events and issues of the Civil War and Virginia’s role by

e. identifying major battles that took place in Virginia;