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Lafayette in the Wilderness

Have you ever wondered why the Marquis de Lafayette, a French Aristocrat, came to be one of the most important heroes of the American Revolution, and, did you know that he actually spent time in the Wilderness during the war and returned with his son in the 1820s? Join the Friends of Wilderness Battlefield (FoWB) on Saturday, June 1, for a luncheon buffet and presentations by Lafayette Impersonator Charles Wissinger and Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Park Historian Peter Maugle to find the answers to these and many more interesting facts about this extraordinary individual. Plan to be entertained and informed about Lafayette: the man, his role in winning our independence and his time in the Wilderness and Fredericksburg. Following the presentations, Ranger Maugle will lead an optional walking tour to the area where Lafayette and his troops bivouacked on Ellwood Plantation in 1781.

Charles Wissinger, a Richmond resident, is a professional actor who loves history. He has combined his love for acting and history by researching and creating interpretations and impersonations of historical personalities, including the Marquis de Lafayette. National Park Historian Peter Maugle was at Valley Forge National Historical Park for six years, where he fine-tuned his Revolutionary War expertise before transferring to Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in 2011. Presently he serves as the Educational Coordinator for the park and conducts tours and other events related to the American Revolution and the Civil War.

The luncheon and presentations will be held at the Generals Quarters Restaurant, 32345 Constitution Hwy (Route 20), in Locust Grove. Doors will open at 11:30 A.M. and guests may enjoy a relaxing social time before the meal and the presentations. A cash bar will be available throughout the event. An upscale luncheon buffet will be served at noon and the presentations will begin around 12:30 P.M. with a brief Question and Answer period at the end. Weather permitting, the optional walking tour will start around 2:15 P.M. from Ellwood Manor.