The Brickhouse Run

407–409 Cockade Alley
Petersburg, VA 23803
Phone: (804) 862-1815
Website

The Brickhouse Run is located on the historic Cockade Alley in Old Town Petersburg. Petersburg received the nickname "Cockade City" during the War of 1812, due to the knot of ribbons the Petersburg men wore on their caps during the war. To walk down to cobblestone street to The Brick House Run feels like you are walking back into time.

Nathaniel Friend built the Brickhouse Run’s buildings in 1816. Friend was a wealthy plantation owner that had the buildings constructed after the great fire in 1815, which destroyed over 350 buildings in Petersburg. During the Civil War, Petersburg became an important target for the Union army due to its railroad hub that brought supplies to the Army of Northern Virginia and its close proximity to Richmond. In 1864, the Army of the Potomac, led by Ulysses S. Grant, forced Robert E. Lee's Confederate army to defend the railroads around Petersburg. Both armies began digging trenches and a nine-month siege ensued before Lee was forced to abandon his lines. During the siege, the Union army lobbed over 40,000 mortar rounds into the battered city of Petersburg.

The Brickhouse Run is a British style pub and restaurant with a great selection of beers and tavern fare. The bar boasts 6 beer taps and a lengthy wine list for any thirsty Civil War traveler. The menu offers a wide range of choices from starters to bar food and dinner entries. The fish and chips have always been a hit with my brother and I after a long hike around Petersburg National Battlefield.

The Sunken Well Tavern

720 Little Page Street
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Phone: (540) 370-0911
Website

Although not located in a historic building, The Sunken Well Tavern is special because it is situated on the killing fields below the Sunken Road at Fredericksburg. At the time of the battle in 1862, Sisson’s Grocery Store stood where the Sunken Well Tavern now stands, just below Marye’s Heights. Union Troops attacking the Sunken Road from Hanover Street were fired on by Confederate Brig. Gen. T. R. R. Cobb’s Brigade, who was positioned at the stonewall that runs behind the Sunken Well Tavern. The monument behind the Sunken Well Tavern depicts Confederate Sergeant Richard Kirkland of the 2nd South Carolina while on his mercy mission. After the battle of Fredericksburg, Kirkland climbed over the stonewall and provided water to the fallen Union soldiers. The same ground was fought over again during Union Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker’s Chancellorsville campaign.

The Sunken Well Tavern is a great place to grab a few drinks before exploring Marye’s Heights and the Sunken Road. The place has a comfortable vibe and has live music on the weekends. The staff is always friendly and the large flat-screens behind the bar provide the perfect place to catch a game. The menu offers standard pub fare and the Sunken Well Signature Deli Sandwiches are always great. It’s hard not to waste away the day at the Sunken Well Tavern until you realize that the Sunken Road waits within walking distance. Make sure to look closely at the stonewall that runs behinds the Sunken well Tavern. It is the only original section that was standing at the time of the battle.