On December 13, 1862 the land at this site was the location of a massive Union assault as part of the Battle of Fredericksburg. Union troops mounted an assault across the open agricultural fields, succeeding in breaking through the Confederate lines before eventually falling back – but not before casualties mounted to some 9,000 on both sides and this site earned the grim moniker of the “slaughter pen.” Over 140 years later this battlefield was the site of a different kind of battle as the American Battlefield Trust waged a vigorous and at times heated campaign to save this tract of land from development. With the property valued at $12 million dollars, the campaign to save Slaughter Pen Farm was the most ambitious – and pricy – battlefield preservation effort to date. Though the sale was concluded in 2006, the Trust’s fundraising efforts to pay off the loans spanned nearly 20 years and it was not until 2022, following a campaign of individual donations and a final anonymous contribution of $800,000, that the last loan payment was made.
Slaughter Pen Farm Historic site thus represents an impressive feat in the realm of public land preservation. The battlefield itself is a treasure for history buffs, as it remains remarkably similar to how it was in the waning days of 1862. The agricultural fields and topography have been preserved, and the modern-day railroad along which the VRE ferries commuters to Washington follows the same route that the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad did on the eve of the battle. The removal of some postwar structures on the property have aided in the effort to restore to its Civil War-era state.
What stands as a major victory for battlefield preservationists is also a boon to birders, as the saving of Slaughter Pen Farm has created an easily accessible tract of prime agricultural habitat just a few miles south of Fredericksburg. The fields here are in extensive and in excellent condition, and the walking trail that traverses the property provides an ease of access seldom encountered at agricultural properties. This is a four-season spot for birding, although the summer stands as a time of lower visitation by birders. Field birds are obviously the specialty here, but the back edge of the property abuts a tract of woodland and the edge where woods meet field can be quite productive. The birding here can be heavily dependent upon the state of the fields, and depending on what is planted the birding may be unremarkable. It is tough to know how the fields have been planted without on-the-ground recon, so visiting birders may be rolling the dice unless they spend the time to check recent eBird reports. Precipitation can also be important here. These fields are prone to flooding, so heavy rainfall will create large pools of standing water that are attractive to migrating shorebirds, loafing gulls, or sometimes geese and other waterfowl. Snow can be especially helpful for pushing field birds to the edges, and the gravel walking pathways the cut through the fields create an ideal edge where field birds congregate after a snow – check the flocks of Horned Larks and American Pipits for rarities such as Lapland Longspur (seen here in January 2024) or Snow Bunting (unrecorded as of yet).
During the winter months, the fields at Slaughter Pen are one of the main sites where migratory geese will congregate. The geese in this part of Spotsylvania tend to move around, spending time at the Publix Sportsplex fields, Ruffins Pond, the Fredericksburg Elks Lodge, and occasionally across the river in Stafford or Caroline. Depending on where the geese are on any given day, the fields at Slaughter Pen can have massive flocks or none at all. If rare geese are around they tend to move through the area with the Canadas, so any geese reported from other nearby sites could be spotted here. Winter is also a good time to look for open country passerines. Savannah Sparrows are a constant presence here from November until late April or early May, often congregating in the open ground around the parking area and farmhouse. Horned Larks and American Pipits are often present throughout the winter as well, with larks reported into the summer and likely breeding at this site, but both species can be difficult to detect if they are out in the fields. Northern Harriers can sometimes be spotted coursing over the fields, while Red-shouldered Hawks are almost always hunting this area. Completing the full walking loop will also allow for edge birding where the fields meet mixed woods with a healthy number of hollies – watch birds feeding on the edges to pick up all of the winter woodland denizens. Sometimes large Rusty Blackbirds flocks can be encountered here.
Migration holds some additional possibilities here. If the fields are flooded, shorebirds may drop in. Though as of 2024 only Wilson’s Snipe, Solitary Sandpiper, and Spotted Sandpiper have been reported, the right conditions could certainly turn up other species. This is also a spot worth keeping in mind for rarer shorebirds like Upland Sandpiper. Complementing the usual Savannah, Field, and other sparrows here, Vesper Sparrow may be encountered during their short migration window in spring or fall. Likewise Bobolink is an occasional migrant here. This is not a particularly good spot for migrant passerines, though working the wood edge on the western boundary of the property might turn up some. This is a good spot to look for Common Nighthawks coursing over the fields on a fall evening.
Summer birding here is more limited, but not without its merits. Horned Larks are often still around and may breed here, while the songs of territorial Grasshopper Sparrows and Eastern Meadowlarks can’t be missed. Dickcissels have bred here in the past and should be on any birder’s mind the summer, but they are not recorded annually.
Accessibility: Slaughter Pen Farm is located on Rt. 2 just south of Fredericksburg, sandwiched between Shannon Airport to the north and an industrial park to the south. The property is owned and managed by the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust. It is free and open to the public. Access is through a dirt road directly off Rt. 2, with an unpaved parking area around the old farmhouse. Rt. 2 is a very busy road, so take care when turning in or out of the parking area.
The property itself is 208 acres of mostly agricultural fields, extending west to the railroad tracks. There is a 1.75-mile walking loop that traverses the entire property; the trail departs in one direction from the parking area out into the farm fields, then splits north and south, ultimately forming a loop. Interpretive signage with information about the battle is placed at intervals along the trail. This area is popular with dogwalkers, and occasionally you may encounter unleashed pets here.
Accessibility can vary depending on the condition of the trails. All walking areas are unpaved, dirt trails that can become difficult to traverse in wet conditions. Likewise, the entry road and parking area are dirt and can be difficult for some vehicles if they were wet or washed out. The farm fields are usually in active agricultural use, so take care to stick to designating walking trails.
Owner/Manager: Central Virginia Battlefields Trust
eBird Hotspot: Slaughter Pen Farm Historic Site