With the start of the Civil War Sesquicentennial this year, the war between the states is being commemorated with special events, exhibits and reenactments. There are many well-known battlegrounds to visit: Gettysburg , of course, Antietam , Bull Run and, where it all began, Fort Sumter . But those memorials can be jammed with tour buses. An alternative is to visit less crowded sites in Virginia where a third of all Civil War battlefield encounters took place. That so many battles were fought in Virginia makes sense when you look at the map. If you were the Confederate army, Virginia was the border state that put you within striking distance of Washington, D.C. For the North, the capitol of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia was a tempting target. Twenty five miles west of Washington, Loudoun County offers many advantages for travelers who want to visit Civil War sites. Even before visiting in person, online sites offer immersive views with videos and 360-panoramas o
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