As you make your way from the Virginia Beach area, you’ll come first to Clarksville, where the Mecklenburg County Veterans Memorial is dedicated to the men and women of Mecklenburg County who lost their lives while serving in the Armed Forces from the Revolutionary War to the War on Terrorism.

From there, you’ll likely want to spend a good bit of time at the Staunton River Battlefield State Park. As you approach the bridge over the Staunton River, you’ll easily see how the geographically critical location was defended from the elaborate range of Civil War trenches. In June 1864, when Union Cavalry forces moved south on the Richmond & Danville Railroad and destroyed track as they went, they approached the Staunton River Bridge where 492 old men and young boys and 296 Confederate troops were ready to defend the intersection. That battle later became known as the Wilson-Kautz Raid. The bridge represented the final goal in General Wilson’s objective to destroy train routes throughout Southern Virginia. Lying silent today, the earthworks that so stoutly served to defend the bridge have been ranked among “the most well preserved earthworks in the State of Virginia” and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From there, you have the option to travel straight to Halifax and South Boston, or take a side trip to Red Hill, Patrick Henry National Monument. This is the American patriot who said “give us liberty or give us death!”

Even though it is not as grand as the homes of America’s other founding fathers, there is certain serenity about Red Hill. This is the property that Patrick Henry chose to live out the last five years of his life. Having lived in eleven other locations in Virginia, he selected Red Hill as “one of the best garden spots of the world.” Looking out over the Staunton River, you’ll soon understand the appeal of the property and its landscape. Altogether there are seven historic structures to explore, as well as a museum with more Henry memorabilia than any other location. Even though Patrick Henry’s Law Office is the only remaining original structure (the remainder are reconstructions on the original foundations), that fact does not take away from the history of this remarkable man.

Traveling south, you’ll soon reach historic Halifax, where the Halifax County War Memorial is dedicated to the memory of those brave men and women who answered their country's call to arms in wars and conflicts from the American Revolution through Desert Storm. Seven hundred thirty-four of these citizen soldiers from Halifax County, Virginia, made the supreme sacrifice. This monument is directly across from the historic Halifax County Courthouse.

Your accommodations this evening are in South Boston, to have you well positioned for more exploration tomorrow.

Choice of Accommodations for night one:

Holiday Inn Express: Stay at this well located, well priced property in South Boston, Virginia.
Oak Grove Plantation Bed and Breakfast: Enjoy this 1820s grand antebellum home located on over 400 acres.
Inn at Berry Hill: Experience the incredible elegance of this National Historic Landmark located on 650 acres which merges technological innovation with a meticulous architectural restoration.