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Civil War's impact unearthed in ruins

19th-century homestead site will be bulldozed to make way for Fredericksburg's Idlewild Boulevard

By RICHARD AMRHINE

Date published: 4/7/2005

By RICHARD AMRHINE

A little-known 19th-century house site on the Idlewild tract in Fredericksburg will be bulldozed for a new road.

However, the Landram homestead's place in history has been established by an archaeological dig paid for by a developer.

In an agreement reached with city officials, Ryland Homes, the developer and one of the builders of Idlewild Village, called on Thunderbird Archeological Associates of Woodstock to study the site and report its findings.

The homestead site was once owned by Walker Landram, and the ruins that remain include the foundation and lower chimney of a main house. There are also various ruins of several outbuildings, including possible slave quarters. It is located at the crest of a hill in an area between the city's Altoona subdivision and U.S. 1, a half-mile north of Twin Lakes/Townsend intersection.

A Ryland spokesman had no information about the dig other than that it resulted from proffer negotiations with the city.

The dig turned up shards of ceramic plates, glass bottles, square-headed nails and bone fragments of unknown origin.

In recent days the immediate area remained in its natural state, aside from the disturbance caused by the archaeological dig. But work to clear a path for Idlewild Boulevard, which will connect U.S. 1 with Gateway Boulevard near the Home Depot, is encroaching.

Much of the historical research conducted by Thunderbird was gleaned from a book called "Chancellorsville Battle Sites," by Noel G. Harrison. The research identifies the earliest known owners of the property as John and Susan Thornton, whose names appear on an 1821 deed.

In 1832, it became the property of Walker and Eliza Landram. Their descendants are believed to have lived there until the site was abandoned about 1900. The couple is buried in the Salem Baptist Church cemetery.

In November 1862, a month prior to the Battle of Fredericksburg, Confederate troops obtained wood from the Landram home site for use by the 15th Virginia Calvary. They also took advantage of the nearby waters of Hazel Run.

According to the research, fierce gun and artillery fire enveloped the property on May 4, 1863 as the Battle of Chancellorsville unfolded to the west. Union artillery positioned near the Plank Road fired on the Confederate infantry brigade of Gen. Robert Hoke as the soldiers charged through and around the Landram homestead.

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Date published: 4/7/2005