A battle was fought here on May 3-4, 1863. The Baptist Church was also used as a hospital after the battle. A new Baptist Church is adjacent to this National Park Service site. The walls of the original church are still marked with Federal shots fired at the Confederates who used the upper floor for firing positions. Both old and new Salem Baptist Churches are located on Route #3 (Plank Road) not too far from the intersection with I-95 in the Fredericksburg area. This site is an island in a sea of modern development and is difficult to reach due to extremely congested traffic

(7-2006) SALEM CHURCH BATTLEFIELD DEVELOPMENT

The land where the Battle of Salem Church was fought on May 3-4, 1863 has almost entirely been lost to development. The photos of the 23rd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Monument were taken at different angles to illustrate the loss of the battlefield land from various directions. The photo was taken in the Summer so the foliage on the trees cover the view of the modern encroachments. It is impossible to see the large mall nearby and the other Union regimental monument located just down the street and directly aside the highway (Route #3). Although traffic was congested, every time I took a picture with my camera the traffic seemed to vanish

(7-2006) SALEM CHURCH BATTLEFIELD AND 23RD NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEER INFANTRY REGIMENT MONUMENT
 
The 23rd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment was part of John Sedgewick's Corps of the Union Army of the Potomac that attacked the Confederates under McLaws at Salem Baptist Church on May 3-4, 1863 while fighting raged elsewhere at the Battle of Chancellorsville. The monument is located on the same ground the 23rd New Jersey occupied. Standing at the monument and looking at the smaller stones used to mark the regiment's position (unseen in this photo), gives a keen impression of how close these troops must have been. The slope of the surrounding landscape also offers clues to the success of the outnumbered Confederates