During Easter 1863, Abraham Lincoln made a five day visit to the Army of the Potomac. He was accompanied by his wife Mary and 10 year old son Tad. The Union army commander was "Fighting " Joe Hooker, who only three months before had taken over command from Gen. Ambrose Burnside The army was camped on the north side of the Rappahanock River between Fredricksbrug and Port Royal. On the south side of the river was camped the Confederate army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee.

FICTION

On the 6th of April 1863 Abe Lincoln and family were visiting Gen. Sedgewick's VI Corps, who were camped around Smallville. As they were about to leave on the train, disaster struck! A main feed valve to the locomotive boiler burst and the party was forced to remain the night in Smallville while a replacement was sent by wagon from Fredricksburg. On the morning of the 7th April 1863 while Lincoln waited for the train to be repaired, from his cabin in Smallville he could hear the sound of guns. "REBEL INFANTRY HAVE ARRIVED?" The demonstration starts at this point in time and you can follow the fortunes of the Lincoln family as they unfold.