Outside of Farmville, Virginia, near High Bridge, a Confederate garrison was established guarding the city and the vital bridge over the Appomattox River Valley. Dubbed “Camp Paradise” by those stationed there, Confederate troops enjoyed the many luxuries and comforts that many soldiers at other posts across the Southland were denied- that was, until April 1865, when terror came to Paradise.

Travel back to 1865 under the flicker of firelight at Camp Paradise as we explore the intertwined stories of two soldiers whose lives converged during the Appomattox Campaign. Through the poignant readings of Civil War-era diary passages, we’ll journey into the minds of Henry Bahnson, a soldier of the 1st North Carolina Sharpshooters, and General Thomas Smyth, commander of Union forces advancing on Farmville. As the evening unfolds, their writings will reveal the fateful and tragic connection shared by these two men in the War’s final days.

Join us for this moving and reflective fireside program that illuminates the human experiences behind the history of the American Civil War.

Price: $5.00 per vehicle (Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express)

To reach Camp Paradise, use 1681 Aspen Hill Road Rice, Virginia 23966, to get to the entrance of Camp Paradise Road then travel 1.5 miles to the parking area. Facilities will be available at the High Bridge Trail Visitor Center