As we continue to remember and celebrate 250 years of independence this year, I think it's valuable to not only remember those things that helped this country form, but those things which almost tore this country apart. What's left of the Battle of Fredericksburg isn't simply a representation of how war functioned during that period. It's a symbol of how close the country was to splitting entirely. The Confederates won the Battle of Fredericksburg, and further west, General Grant and Union troops were also struggling. History is not just a reminder of how far we've come, but of what has brought us to our lowest points. #fredericksburg #civilwarbattlefield #vahistory #historicalphotography #uscivilwar