Old Salem Church
This simple and sturdy edifice, constructed in 1844, is typical of the brick churches which rural Baptists build around Fredericksburg in the mid-19th century. During the campaign of November and December, 1862, the building sheltered refugees from Fredericksburg and later served to store their furniture. On May 3 and 4, 1863, it had a brief but significant life as a Confederate fortress and lent its name forever to this battlefield. Then, when the battle was over, it became a crowded hospital. Old Salem Church remained a Baptist sanctuary until 1955, when the congregation built the new church just beyond the cemetery. The cemetery itself was established in 1899.
Marker can be reached from Old Salem Church Road near Plank Road (Virginia Route 3).
Courtesy hmdb.org
