TAKE' , PRIDE IN United States Department of the Interior aSPrica

"3 1604 010 265 868

IN REPLY REFER TO:

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

P.O. Box 37127

Washington, D.C. 20013-7127 H32 (413)

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

I am pleased to provide you the Study of Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of

Virginia, which was authorized by Public Law 101-628 and prepared by the National Park

Service's American Battlefield Protection Program. Congress directed the National

Park Service in 1990 to undertake this study because of the role played by the Shenandoah

Valley during the Civil War and because of the need to learn the condition of these important

sites.

The report tells us that many of the Valley's most important Civil War sites now face threats to their survival. We must act quickly because there is a critical opportunity to preserve

these places so that future generations can visit them and learn firsthand how the Civil War

shaped our country's future. This study helps us to understand and preserve the significant

Civil War sites in the Shenandoah Valley. Among the study's valuable achievements are the

identification of 15 battlefields and an assessment of threats to their integrity. Along with the

text, we are pleased to make available a series of fold-out color maps that illustrate the

boundaries and conditions of these historic sites. Please refer to page viii of the text for

further information about the maps.

The earlier draft version of the report already has stimulated many battlefield preservation

efforts in the Shenandoah Valley. For example, the Lord Fairfax Planning District

Commission is compiling a cooperative battlefield preservation plan for five northern

Shenandoah Valley counties based on the report's findings. Other private and public efforts

have included land purchases, heritage tourism, land-use planning, and two improved

battlefield-related museums.

We trust that this final version of the study will spur further battlefield preservation efforts in

the Shenandoah Valley. Please share the report's important message with others.,

Sincerely,

Roger G. Kennedy

Director, National Park Service

Enclosures
Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2012 with funding from

LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation

http://archive.org/details/studyofcivilwarsOOnati
Shenandoah Valk

MAP 1: SHENANDOAH VALLEY

COUNTIES AND

SURROUNDING STATES
tf. 2 : C vy^,

&

Shenandoah Valley Counties and Surrounding States

MAP 1: SHENANDOAH VALLEY

COUNTIES AND

SURROUNDING STATES
C49/6

Relief of the VaU

Firs

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MAY 2 3 1995

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McDowell

MAP 2: SHENANDOAH VALLEY

RELIEF OF THE VALLEY
,2 C49/6

Second Winchester

Opequon

Coo I Spring

Cross Keys

Port Republic

MAP 2: SHENANDOAH VALLEY

RELIEF OF THE VALLEY
i- ->

11980 Rood Network

First K

MAP 3: SHENANDOAH VALLEY

1980 ROAD NETWORK
U 29 . 2 Ci

11980 Rood Networkl

Second Winchester

Opequon

Cool Spring

Port Republic

^TM

Battlefield Study Areas

V7 Independent Cities

Roads MAP 3: SHENANDOAH VALLEY

1980 ROAD NETWORK
C49/b

MAP 4: SHENANDOAH VALLEY

1973 LAND USE
MAP 4: SHENANDOAH VALLEY

1973 LAND USE
1862 Rood Networt

Firs

MAP 5: SHENANDOAH VALLEY

1862 ROAD NETWORK
9.2 C49/6 4

Second Winchester

Opequon

Cool Spring

wm Battlefield Study Areas

t> Independent Cities

Roads MAP 5: SHENANDOAH VALLEY

1862 ROAD NETWORK
jj }g,2 C49/6 1

)

Frequency of Military Conflict

First I

PUBLIC DOCUMENTS

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MAP 6: SHENANDOAH VALLEY

FREQUENCY OF

MILITARY CONFLICT

1861-1865
i

iFrequency of Military Conflict 1861 - 1865|

Second Winchester

Opequon

Cool Spring

Froni Royol

a

High Frequency

Low Frequency

MAP 6: SHENANDOAH VALLEY

FREQUENCY OF

MILITARY CONFLICT

1861-1865
I 2 9 « 2 C*8/6 i

Jockson's Volley Compaign March 3 - Ji

First Kernstown < m 2 3 1995

McDowell (May 8, 1862)

MAP 7: JACKSON'S VALLEY CAMPAIGN

MARCH 3- JUNE 17, 1862
29>2 0*9 n'i

|Jockson's Volley Campaign March 3 - June 17, 1662|

Front Royol (Moy 23. 1882)

Cross Keys (June 8. 1862)

Port Republic (June 9. 1852)

m

hi m Battlefield Study Areas

O Independent Cities

X Armed Conflicts

MAP 7: JACKSON'S VALLEY CAMPAIGN

MARCH 3- JUNE 17, 1862
6 '1

Gettysburg Campaign June 9 - ^

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MAP 8: GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN

JUNE 9-31, 1863
6

[Gettysburg Cunpoign June 9-31. 1863|

Second Winchester (June 13 - 15. 1S63)

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£2 Independent Cities

X Armed Conflicts

MAP 8: GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN

JUNE 9-31, 1863
29*2 win m

Lynchburg Campaigns May - June

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MAP 9: LYNCHBURG CAMPAIGNS

MAY -JUNE 1864
29,2 win -

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|Lynchburg Compoigns Moy - June, 1864]

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New Market (Moy 15, 186'

Piedmont (June 5, 1864)

Battlefield Study Areas

£> Independent Cities

X Armed Conflicts

MAP 9: LYNCHBURG CAMPAIGNS

MAY -JUNE 1864
*

Early's Campaign June 23 — August 7

Second Kernatown (Ji

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MAP 10: EARLY'S CAMPAIGN

JUNE 23- AUGUST 7, 1864
ft

29-2 r/.

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|Eorly's Campoign June 23 - August 7. 1864|

Cool Spring (July 18. 1864)

Battlefield Study Areas

A? Independent Cities

X Armed Conflicts MAP 10: EARLY'S CAMPAIGN

JUNE 23 - AUGUST 7, 1864
I 29U v5/i

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Sheridan's Valley Campaign August, 18

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Fi3her'3 Hill (September 21-

Tcm'3 Brook (October 9,

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MAP 1 1 SHERIDAN'S VALLEY CAMPAIGN

AUGUST 1864 - MARCH 1865
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| Sheridon's Volley Compoiqn August 1864 - Morch. 1865]

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Opequon (September 19. 1864)

Cedar Creek (October 19. 1864)-

Fisher'e Hill (September 21-22. 1864)-

Tcm'a Brook (October 9. 1864)

TM TM Battlefield Study Areas

^*5 Independent Cities

Armed Conflicts

MAP 1 1 : SHERIDAN'S VALLEY CAMPAIGN

AUGUST 1864 - MARCH 1865
yt 2 9» 2 C49/D

{Frederick Co J

MAP 12: FIRST KERNSTOWN

LAND USE- 1991
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MAP 13: FIRST KERNSTOWN

INTEGRITY- 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
Built-up Land

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map 14: Mcdowell land use - 1991
g 2fi«2 C49J&

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map 15: Mcdowell integrity - 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
|28- (

map 15: Mcdowell integrity - 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
MAP 16: FRONT ROYAL

LAND USE- 1991
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MAP 16: FRONT ROYAL

LAND USE- 1991
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MAP 17: FRONT ROYAL

INTEGRITY- 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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MAP 17: FRONT ROYAL

INTEGRITY - 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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MAP 18: FIRST WINCHESTER

LAND USE- 1991
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MAP 18: FIRST WINCHESTER

LAND USE- 1991
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MAP 19: FIRST WINCHESTER

INTEGRITY- 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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MAP 19: FIRST WINCHESTER

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(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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MAP 20: CROSS KEYS LAND USE - 1991
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(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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MAP 21: CROSS KEYS INTEGRITY- 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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MAP 22: PORT REPUBLIC

LAND USE- 1991
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MAP 22: PORT REPUBLIC

LAND USE- 1991
public:

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MAP 23: PORT REPUBLIC

INTEGRITY- 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
PUBLIC DOCUMEI

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MAP 23: PORT REPUBLIC

INTEGRITY - 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
m

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DE! OSITOR 1

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LAND USE -1991
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LAND USE- 1991
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Retained Integrity Lost Integrity Study Area Boundary

Core Area Boundary Roads

Streams and Rivers County or City Boundary

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MAP 25: SECOND WINCHESTER

INTEGRITY -1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
„!*

Stutfy ATM Boundary

Cor» ATM Boundary

Strwant and ft)*«r>

County or City Boundary

PUBLIC

DEPOSITOP i

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MAP 25: SECOND WINCHESTER

INTEGRITY - 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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MAP 26: NEW MARKET LAND USE -1991
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MAP 26: NEW MARKET LAND USE- 1991
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MAP 27: NEW MARKET INTEGRITY - 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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MAP 27: NEW MARKET INTEGRITY - 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
MAP 28: PIEDMONT LAND USE - 1991
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(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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MAP 29: PIEDMONT INTEGRITY- 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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MAP 31: COOL SPRING INTEGRITY - 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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MAP 31 : COOL SPRING INTEGRITY - 1 991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
•J, ifr <g> 3 • . v

Frederick Co.

PUBLIC DOCUMENTS

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MAP 32: SECOND KERNSTOWN

LAND USE- 1991
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MAP 32: SECOND KERNSTOWN

LAND USE- 1991
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(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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MAP 34: OPEQUON LAND USE - 1991
iu»2S*»/S

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Study Area Boundary

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i and Rivers

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MAY 2 3l995 I —Ui I

MAP 34: OPEQUON LAND USE- 1991
PUBL'C DOCUMENTS

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MAP 35: OPEQUON INTEGRITY - 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
i 2B- 2 C48/6

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MAP 35: OPEQUON INTEGRITY -1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
Built-up Land

Agricultural Land Forest Land Quarry or Strip Mine

Study Area Boundary Core Area Boundary

Roads Streans and Rivers County or City Boundary

PUBU

MAY 2 3 1995

MAP 36: FISHER'S HILL

LAND USE- 1991
t§

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Ouarry or Strip Mine

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Roods

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MAY 2 3 1995

MAP 36: FISHER'S HILL

LAND USE- 1991
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Retained Integrity Lost Integrity

Study Area Boundary

Core Area Boundary Roads

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/

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MAP 37: FISHER'S HILL

INTEGRITY- 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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MAP 37: FISHER'S HILL

INTEGRITY - 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
MAP 38: TOM'S BROOK LAND USE - 1991
MAP 38: TOM'S BROOK LAND USE- 1991
MAP 39: TOM'S BROOK INTEGRITY - 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
MAP 39: TOM'S BROOK INTEGRITY - 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
I 29. 2 C49/6

Bui It- u> Lend

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Forest Land Quarry or Strip Mine Study Area Boundary

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MAP 40: CEDAR CREEK LAND USE - 1 991
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MAP 40: CEDAR CREEK LAND USE - 1 991
i 2fl. 2 C49/8 1

Retained Integrity Lost Integrity Study Areo Boundary

Core Area Boundary Roods

Streams and R^ers

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MAP 41 : CEDAR CREEK INTEGRITY - 1 991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
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MAP 41: CEDAR CREEK INTEGRITY - 1991

(Numbers keyed to battle phases)
FEDERAL

Study of

Civil War Sites In the Shenandoah Valley

ofVirginia

Pursuant to Public Law 10l-d28 cLa*^

LIBRARY

PUBLIC DOCU^=wt55

DEPOSITORY rrr>jj

WAY 2 3 1995

September 1992

U. S. Department of the Interior

National Park Service

Interagency Resources Division
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

STUDY TEAM

National Park Service

Marilyn W. Nickels, Ph.D. Study Director

John J. Knoerl, Ph.D., Chief, Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems Facility

lean E. Travers, Historian, National Park Service David W. Lowe, Principal Research Historian / Report Author

National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers Katie A. Ryan, GIS Technician

John J. Packer, Tourism Consultant

Consulting Historians

Edwin C. Bearss, Chief Historian, National Park Service

Jeffry D. Wert, historian and author

This report was prepared under the overall direction of Lawrence E. Aten, Chief, Interagency Resources Division,

National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Cover photo: Jacob Funk House by David W. Lowe
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This study of Civil War sites in the Virginia part of the Shenandoah Valley was authorized by Public Law 101-

628. It accomplishes the following tasks:

• Identifies significant Civil War sites;

• Establishes their relative importance;

• Determines their condition;

• Assesses threats to their integrity,

• Provides alternatives for their preservation and interpretation by Federal, State and local governments or by

other public or private entities.

The time and funds available dictated a need to focus

the study on major battlefields as the kind of historic sites under the greatest preservation pressures. While the Civil War certainly did not play out exclusively on battlefields, the latter are among the most dramatic sites conveying a very high level of meaning to Americans and are extremely

vulnerable to development and visual intrusion. Action to preserve and interpret key battlefields can provide the conceptual structure around which to evaluate and

preserve other sites, buildings, and structures significant to preserving a record of the Civil War in the Valley.

Significant Sites

The study examined battlefields in eight Virginia

counties: Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Highland, Page,

Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren. Official war

records document 326 armed conflict incidents in the Shenandoah Valley and this does not include many of the

raids, ambushes, and partisan actions. As a result of

historical analysis, the 326 notable armed conflicts were

reduced to fifteen battle events of major significance. The

battlefields selected for study were associated with

Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862, the Gettysburg Campaign of 1863, and the decisive Lynchburg-Early-Sheridan Campaigns of 1864. These

three campaigns, encompassing the fifteen individual sites, are the most significant events in the Valley's Civil War

history.

The sites associated with these campaigns were: (1862) Cross Keys, Front Royal, First Kernstown, McDowell, Port

Republic, First Winchester; (1863) Second Winchester;

(1864) Cedar Creek, Cool Spring, Fisher's Hill, Second

Kernstown, New Market, Opequon, Piedmont, and Tom's

Brook.

The analysis of military campaigns as the historic context for the major battlefields in the Valley indicates

that the 1862 and 1864 campaigns are of higher importance, although for different reasons, than the local events

associated with the 1863 Gettysburg campaign. From the

field survey and historical research, it further appears that both the 1862 Jackson campaign and the 1864 LynchburgEarly- Sheridan campaigns, as represented by their fourteen associated sites, meet National Historic Landmark (NHL) criteria. Cedar Creek already is designated a National Historic Landmark, and Opequon may also individually meet NHL criteria. The other sites probably

would not meet NHL criteria on their own (a key factor in considering potential additions to the National Park

System), although they appear to qualify for the National

Register of Historic Places. There is no clear line of

historical argument that assures a credible relative ranking

of individual battlefields based on significance other than

for Cedar Creek and Opequon; however, both of these

latter sites represent the same campaign with neither

telling the whole story of its campaign.

As a result of field survey and research into the records of battle events, each site was documented as a study area, the entire area of activity involved in the battle event; and

its incorporated core area, the area of principal armed

conflict and other closely related activity such as com- mand and control locations. Taken together, the fifteen battlefield study areas in the Valley comprised 85,909 acres. The average size of the study areas was 5,727 acres and they ranged from 3,082

acres at Front Royal to 22,274 acres at Second Winchester.

Battlefield core areas totaled 33,844 acres, with an average

size of 2,415 acres. Core areas ranged from 944 acres at Front Royal to 6,252 acres at Cedar Creek. A table is enclosed with this Executive Summary listing all battlefields and their associated campaign context, their size, condition, and preservation risk.

Condition And Threats To

Integrity

Integrity tells the current condition of the battlefield core area, and threats tell what to anticipate in the

foreseeable future. Of the 85,909 acres of battlefield study

areas 82% were determined to have generally good

integrity. The primary losses of integrity have occurred in the lower (northern) Valley in the vicinity of the cities of

Winchester and Front Royal. The battlefields of
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

McDowell, Piedmont, Port Republic, Cross Keys, Cool

Spring, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill, First Kernstown and

Tom's Brook were all found to be in fair to good condition. The battlefields of Second Kernstown and New

Market were in poor to fair condition, Opequon and

Front Royal were in poor condition, and First Winchester

has been lost as a coherent battlefield site. Threats to preservation of the fifteen battlefields under

study come primarily from residential construction

(threatening 12 sites), commercial development (threatening 7), highway construction (threatening 6) and industrial development (threatening 3 sites). Taken together,

integrity and threats identify categories of risk to preservation. The following list of battlefield sites is the nearest approximation to a listing of current relative risk priority

that is possible based on both historical and descriptive

site analysis (1 is highest risk, 15 is lowest risk).

1. Front Royal (1862)

2. 1st Winchester (1862)

3. Opequon (1864)

4. 2nd Kernstown (1864)

5. 2nd Winchester (1863)

6. New Market (1864)

7. 1st Kernstown (1862)

8. Tom's Brook (1864)

9. Cool Spring (1864)

10. Fisher's Hill (1864)

11.Cedar Creek (1864)

12. Cross Keys (1862)

13. Port Republic (1862)

14. Piedmont (1864)

15. McDowell (1862)

Relative Significance

This listing of sites based on the current risk to preservation leaves unanswered the public policy question

of whether it is better to focus preservation efforts on sites

nearly lost, or on sites where pristine historic landscapes

remain well-preserved and the Civil War setting is evoked

easily. There are arguments to be made for either ap- proach but the question itself cannot be answered further through historical analysis. There are basically three choices that can be made.

A. The lowest risk, good condition sites often lend

themselves to a high degree of protection and preservation

with minimum costs and least disruption of local people

while resulting in retention of exceptional quality historical sites. Sites in this category are Cross Keys (1862), Port Republic (1862), Piedmont (1864), and McDowell (1862).

B. The higher risk, poor condition sites generally would

require higher costs and often more difficult resolution of

competing interests. However, these sites represent

historic events of great importance too, and if action is not

taken imminently, there will not even be fragments

remaining to commemorate the former existence of these

battle locations. Sites in this category are Opequon

(1864), First Winchester (1862), and Front Royal (1862).

C. There also are good reasons to choose sites under

intermediate levels of risk as the primary preservation

focus. For example, sites that are in good to fair condition

but under moderate levels of threat; or, sites that are in poor to fair condition experiencing yet greater levels of

threat. The rationale here is that good condition, low

threat sites might survive longer without intervention, and

that worthwhile preservation results can no longer be

obtained from lost or poor condition sites under extreme

threats given the extreme confrontational and other costs, while sites in the intermediate risk categories represent

problems that still are manageable. Sites in the relatively

LESS risky intermediate group are Cool Spring (1864),

Fisher's Hill (1864), and Cedar Creek (1864). Sites in the

relatively MORE risky intermediate group are First/ Second Kernstown (1862/64), New Market (1864), Tom's

Brook (1864), and Second Winchester (1863).

PreservationAlternatives

Current information indicates that the Valley's

population will grow by 18%, or by 63,150 people, over

the next 30 years. Much of this growth will be in and

around the cities of Winchester, Front Royal, and

Harrisonburg. Associated with this growth will be the four principal sources of changing land use that will damage or destroy key historic sites: residential, commercial, highway, and industrial development.

One key to preserving Civil War sites is to assure that

local governments have available to them information on

the location and significance of such sites so that they are

able to use their planning, zoning, and other powers to channel economic development in ways and places that do

not bring harm to important resources. This report and

its supporting data begins to serve that purpose. Moreover, Civil War and other historic resources are a key part of the Valley's resource base for a heritage

tourism component of economic development. The study

determined the general prospects for heritage tourism in

the Valley are broadly positive, although there should be

targeted market research as part of designing a specific
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

battlefield protection and interpretation program in the

Valley that would be structured to avoid undue intrusion on private property owners and retention of the rural Valley way of life. Nevertheless, protection of these fifteen major Civil War battlefield sites can be seen as not only an

important national objective, but also as an important

element of the local economy and, therefore, an added

incentive to local governments to play a substantial role in protecting these sites. Five approaches are available for protecting some or all of the fifteen major Civil War battlefields in the Virginia

part of the Valley. Generally these actions would apply to core areas and selected parts of study areas of each site. A

summary of the specific preservation potential at each site

is given in Part Four of the main report. The alternative preservation approaches are the following:

1. No focused action but continue to let private and local government actions occur as they are now.

2. Enhanced public funding and technical assistance to

State and local governments and to private owners for site preservation and interpretation.

Since the fifteen battlefields vary considerably in ownership, land use, integrity and threats, no single

alternative is best suited to these sites. A balance must be

achieved between preservation, the Valley lifestyle, and

economic development; this suggests a regional approach

and flexibility in how each site is treated. While alternatives 1 and 5, above, do not seem feasible or desirable, some combinations of 2, 3, and 4 would be appropriate if developed through a regional mechanism emphasizing:

(a) stewardship through continued private ownership

when current land use practices are compatible with

battlefield preservation and interpretation; and (b) wide

participation of local governments and property owners

together with State and Federal agencies.

The Virginia Shenandoah Valley is the locale for

tangible remains of some of the nation's major historic

resources. Effective retention of most of these remains is an opportunity that still is available but one that must be

handled by governments and the community working

together in order to be successful, for this opportunity will only remain for a relatively short time.

3. Create one or more affiliated areas of the National Park

System.

4. Acquire one or two sites for the National Park System

as interpretive, technical assistance, and management focal

points in conjunction with other battlefields under nonfederal management.

5. Acquire selected parts of all fifteen significant battlefields for the National Park System.

in
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Battles Ranked by Field Study/Core Core Acres Risk Priority

Core Size Rating Area Acres Retaining (over ten-year span)

(Campaign) Integrity

1. Cedar Creek (1864) FAIR 15,607/6,252 5,601 (89%) Low Moderate Risk

2. Opequon(1864) POOR 11,670/4,914 2,321 (47%) Highest Risk

3. 2nd Winchester (1863) POOR 22,274/3,113 1,624 (47%) High Moderate Risk

4. Fisher's Hill (1864) FAIR 9,644/2,751 2,354 (86%) Low Moderate Risk

5. Peidmont(1864) GOOD 9,340/2,693 2,646 (98%) Lowest Risk

6. New Market (1864) POOR 5,611/2,261 1,527(67%) High Moderate Risk

7. McDowell (1862) GOOD 4,539/2,258 2,258(100%) Lowest Risk

8. 2nd Kernstown (1864) POOR 5,861/2,203 1,098 (49%) High Moderate Risk

9. Cross Keys (1862) GOOD 5,450/2,153 2,032 (94%) Lowest Risk

10. Port Republic (1862) GOOD 4,936/2,145 2,110(98%) Lowest Risk

11. Tom's Brook (1864) FAIR 6,644/2,018 1,679 (83%) High Moderate Risk

12. Cool Spring (1864) FAIR 5,740/1,946 1,900 (97%) Low Moderate Risk

13. 1st Kernstown (1862) FAIR 4,029/1,554 1,097 (70%) High Moderate Risk

14. 1st Winchester (1862) ' LOST 4,041/1,393 302 (22%) Highest Risk

15. Front Royal (1862) POOR 3,082/944 316 (33%) Highest Risk

Executive Summary Table

Summary of Battlefield Size, Integrity, and Risk Priority

IV
Table of Contents / Overview

The Valley by David W. Lowe

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I PART ONE: OVERVIEW 1

Introduction 1 Structure of the Report 2

Battlefield Selection 3 Study Concepts 4

Battlefield Resources 5 Archaeological Resources and Battlefield Burials 8 Surveying Battlefield Resources 9 Threats to Battlefield Resources 1

Population Trends 11 Loss of Agricultural Land 12

Private Ownership, Preservation, and Public Access 17 Summary 20

PART TWO: CIVIL WAR IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY, THE HISTORIC CONTEXT 23

"The Crossroads of Our Being..." 23

Geography and Strategic Importance of the Valley 29 Streams and Rivers 29

Valley Turnpikes, Roads, and Gaps 29

Valley Railroads 31 Overview of Military Strategy in the Shenandoah Valley 35

Valley Campaigns 1861 -1865 36

Actions in 1861 36

Jackson's Valley Campaign (March-June 1862) 36

Lee's Maryland Campaign (September 1862) 37

Gettysburg Campaign (June-July 1863) 37

Lynchburg Campaigns (May-June 1864) 38

Early's Maryland Campaign (June-August 1864) 38

Sheridan's Valley Campaign (August 1864-March 1865) 39

Valley Battlefields: The Magnitude of Conflict 42

PART THREE: SHENANDOAH VALLEY BATTLEFIELDS 47

First Kernstown (23 March 1862) 47

McDowell (8 May 1862) 51

Front Royal (23 May 1862) 55

First Winchester (25 May 1862) 59

Cross Keys (8 June 1862) 63

Port Republic (9 June 1862) 67

Second Winchester (13- 15 June 1863) 71 NewMarket(15Mayl864) 77 Piedmont (5 June 1864) 81
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Cool Spring (18 July 1864) 85

Second Kernstown (24 July 1864) 89

Opequon or Third Winchester (19 September 1864) 93

Fisher's Hill (21-22 September 1864) 99

Tom's Brook (9 October 1864) 105 Cedar Creek (19 October 1864) 109

PART FOUR: BATTLEFIELD INTEGRITY, THREAT, RISK, AND RELATIVE SIGNIFICANCE 117

Field Survey of Battlefield Integrity 117 GIS Analysis of Battlefield Integrity 1 19

Relative Importance of the Battlefields 122 Threat Assessment 124

Risk Classification 126

Preservation and Interpretation Potential 128

Summary 132

PART FIVE: HERITAGE TOURISM 135

Heritage Tourism 135 Heritage Tourism Revenue Potential 135 The Valley's Tourism Infrastructure 136

Attitudes of County Planners Toward Developing Tourism 137 The Potential for State Assistance in Promoting Tourism 137 Conclusion 137

PART SIX: ALTERNATIVES TO PRESERVATION AND INTERPRETATION 139

Background 139

Preservation Priorities 139

Alternatives 140

I. No Action, Continuation of Status Quo 140

II. Enhanced Public Funding and Technical Assistance 141

III. Creation of One or More Affiliated Areas of the National Park System 145

IV. Acquisition yof Selected Battlefields for a Unit of the National Park System with Satellite Areas 147

V. Acquisition of 15 Battlefields as a Unit of the National Park System 148

Conclusion 150

APPENDIX A: BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCES 1 53

APPENDIX B: Samples of Survey Form 157

APPENDIX C: GIS DATABASES 171

VI
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Shenandoah Valley Study Battlefields 6

Figure 2. The Shenandoah Valley, Jackson's 1862 Campaign 7 Figure 3. Population of Shenandoah Valley Virginia Counties and Independent Cities (1860-2020) 14

Figure 4. Approximate Population Density Per Square Mile 15

Figure 5. Agricultural Land, Shenandoah Valley Virginia Counties 16

Figure 6. Battlefields, Showing Public Access, Estimated Number of Landowners, and Acres in Preservation 19

Figure 7. A Chronology of Armed Conflict in the Shenandoah Valley 25

Figure 8. Historic Features of the Lower Valley 33

Figure 9. Historic Features of the Upper Valley 34

Figure 10. Battles Ranked by Estimated Number of Troops Engaged 44

Figure 11. Battles Ranked by Estimated Number of Fatalities 45

Figure 12. Battles Ranked by Estimated Combined Attrition 46

Figure 13. Field-Survey Ranking of Battlefield Integrity 118

Figure 14. GIS Ranking of Battlefield Integrity 120

Figure 15. Battlefield Core Areas: Comparison of Field Survey and GIS Integrity Assessments 121

Figure 16. Summary of Battlefield Size and Rankings 125

Figure 17. Level of Threat to the Valley's Battlefields 127

Figure 18. Risk Categories: Summary of Integrity and Threat 129

Figure 19. Summary of Risk Categories and Preservation Tools 133

Figure 20. Preservation and Interpretation Activities for Battlefields in the Shenandoah Valley 142

Figure 21. Criteria for Parklands 146

Figure 22. Cost Estimates for Alternatives I-IV 151

vn
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

LIST OF MAPS

Map 1 Shenandoah Valley Counties and Surrounding States after pg. 22 Map 2 Relief of the Valley after pg. 22 Map 3 1980 Road Network of the Shenandoah Valley after pg. 22

Map 4 1973 Land Use in the Shenandoah Valley with data sheet after pg. 22

Map 5 1862 Road Network of the Shenandoah Valley after pg. 34

Map 6 Frequency of Military Conflict 1861-1865 after pg. 34

Map 7 Jackson's Valley Campaign March-June 1862 after pg. 36

Map 8 Gettysburg Campaign June-July 1863 after pg. 36

Map 9 Lynchburg Campaigns May-June 1864 after pg. 38

Map 10 Early's Maryland Campaign June-August 1864 after pg. 38

Map 1 1 Sheridan's Valley Campaign August 1864-March 1865 after pg. 40

Map 12 First Kernstown Land Use 1991 after pg. 50

Map 13 First Kernstown Integrity 1991 after pg. 50

Map 14 McDowell Land Use 1991 after pg. 54

Map 15 McDowell Integrity 1991 after pg. 54

Map 16 Front Royal Land Use 1991 after pg. 58

Map 17 Front Royal Integrity 1991 after pg. 58

Map 18 First Winchester Land Use 1991 after pg. 62

Map 19 First Winchester Integrity 1991 after pg. 62

Map 20 Cross Keys Land Use 1991 after pg. 66

Map 21 Cross Keys Integrity 1991 after pg. 66

Map 22 Port Republic Land Use 1991 after pg. 70

Map 23 Port Republic Integrity 1991 after pg. 70

Map 24 Second Winchester Land Use 1991 after pg. 76

Map 25 Second Winchester Integrity 1991 ; after pg. 76

Map 26 New Market Land Use 1991 after pg. 80

Map 27 New Market Integrity 1991 after pg. 80

Map 28 Piedmont Land Use 1991 after pg. 84

Map 29 Piedmont Integrity 1991 after pg. 84

Map 30 Cool Spring Land Use 1991 after pg. 88

Map 31 Cool Spring Integrity 1991 after pg. 88

Map 32 Second Kernstown Land Use 1991 after pg. 92

Map 33 Second Kernstown Integrity 1991 after pg. 92

Map 34 Opequon Land Use 1991 after pg. 98

Map 35 Opequon Integrity after pg. 98

Map 36 Fisher's Hill Land Use 1991 after pg. 104

Map 37 Fisher's Hill Integrity 1991 after pg. 104 Map 38 Tom's Brook Land Use 1991 after pg. 108 Map 39 Tom's Brook Integrity 1991 after pg. 108

Map 40 Cedar Creek Land Use 1991 after pg. 114 Map 41 Cedar Creek Integrity 1991 after pg. 114

via
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

LIST OF TABLES

Table A. Shenandoah Valley, 1973 Land Use/Land Cover 21 Table 1. First Kernstown, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 50

Table 2. McDowell, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 54

Table 3. Front Royal, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 58

Table 4. First Winchester, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 61 Table 5. Cross Keys, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 66

Table 6. Port Republic, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 70

Table 7. Second Winchester, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 75 Table 8. New Market, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 80

Table 9. Piedmont, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 84

Table 10. Cool Spring, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 88

Table 11. Second Kernstown, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 92

Table 12. Opequon, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 98

Table 13. Fisher's Hill, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 103 Table 14. Tom's Brook, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 108 Table 15. Cedar Creek, Land Use/Land Cover 1991 1 14

rx

Civil War Sites In the Shenandoah Valley

ofVirginia

Part One

Overview

Introduction

In

1990, a study of Civil War sites in the Shenandoah

Valley of Virginia was authorized by Public Law 101-

628. The study was to accomplish four tasks:

identify significant Civil War sites and determine

their condition, establish their relative importance, assess

short and long term threats to their integrity, and provide

alternatives for their preservation and interpretation by

Federal, State, and local governments, or by other public

or private entities. The time and oinds available to perform this study were not sufficient to cover all of the Shenandoah Valley's

significant Civil War historic sites. Instead, the work

focused on major battlefields as the kind of historic site under the greatest preservation pressures. While the Civil War certainly did not play out exclusively on battlefields,

the latter are among the most dramatic sites; they convey a

very high level of meaning to aD Americans and are extremely vulnerable to development, highway construction, and visual intrusion. Moreover, effective action to

preserve key battlefields and interpret military develop- ments in the Valley can provide the conceptual structure around which to evaluate and preserve other sites,

buildings, and structures significant to rounding out

preservation and interpretation of the Civil War in the

Valley.

To encompass both geographic and historic realities, the Shenandoah Valley study area was defined as comprising eight Virginia counties—Augusta, Clarke, Frederick,

Highland, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren. The West Virginia counties of Jefferson and Berkeley,

geographically and strategically part of the Valley, were

excluded from the study by a provision of Public Law 101-

628. Although none of the battlefields studied was in Page

County, the transportation routes that traversed the Luray

Valley influenced military strategy throughout the war. Highland County was included because of its association with Jackson's 1862 Valley Campaign. Highland is less populated than the Valley proper and has not experienced

the same level of growth and development. The counties

of Frederick, Clarke, and Warren (with Jefferson and

Berkeley counties, West Virginia) are considered the Lower Valley, while the remaining counties make up the Upper Valley.

The Shenandoah Valley's unique geographic, topographic, and economic features, and its military-strategic

importance, influenced the conduct of the Civil War in

Virginia and in the Main Eastern theater. Official records document 326 armed conflict incidents alone in the Shenandoah Valley and this does not include many of the

raids, ambushes, and partisan actions that also comprised war in Valley. As a result of historical analysis to be

described, this record of 326 notable armed conflicts was

reduced to fifteen battle events of major significance. The

battlefields selected for the study were associated with

Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862, the Gettysburg Campaign of 1863, and the decisive campaigns

of 1864. These battles were Cedar Creek, Cool Spring, Cross Keys, Fisher's Hill, Front Royal, First and Second

Kernstown, McDowell, New Market, Opequon (Third

Winchester), Piedmont, Port Republic, Tom's Brook, First and Second Winchester.

While assessing the integrity of these fifteen battlefields, many significant historic sites, such as houses, mills, and fords, were located, associated with the battles, and

mapped. Throughout the study, numerous consultations

took place among the study staff, the Department of

Historic Resources and other State agencies, regional

planning offices, local government bodies, preservation

organizations, and local residents. An effort was made to keep these parties informed of the purposes and progress
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

of the study. At the conclusion, a draft version of the

report was circulated to solicit responses, opinions, and

advice. Many of the suggestions received during the public comment period have been incorporated into this

report. As identified by this study, battlefields are large historic landscapes, encompassing many public and private

landowners and local jurisdictions. Because the fifteen

battlefields vary considerably in terms of size, ownership

patterns, land use, integrity and threats, this study

concludes that no single preservation alternative is best suited to the preservation of all of the sites. A balance

must be achieved between the common linkages among

the battlefields, which suggests a regional approach, and

the flexibility to treat each site in a manner most appropriate to it. Solutions that emphasize private ownership,

especially when current land use practices are compatible

with the preservation of the battlefields, should be

considered wherever possible. It appears that a range of

mutually supportive preservation and interpretation

alternatives, not limited to the creation of one or more

units of the National Park System, will be needed to achieve satisfactory results.

It is the recommendation of the study team that no

preservation alternatives be selected and implemented

without wide participation of local government and

property owners. This recommendation is based on the

diversity of these resources apparent during the survey, and on the basis of comments received on the draft study.

Structure of the Report

Part One of the report provides an overview of the

project and the study concepts, as well as a general

discussion of growth and development in the Shenandoah

Valley Region, and links these trends to a loss of battlefield resources.

Part Two presents the historic information compiled

by the study team to provide a context for understanding

the strategic significance of the Shenandoah Valley during

the Civil War.

Part Three describes the battles themselves in some

detail with an emphasis on linking battle events with local

sites, features, and landmarks. The condition of the

battlefields, surviving features, and the perceived level of

threat are described.

Part Four describes the methodology used to conduct

a field assessment of battlefield integrity and presents the

results of the field survey and of the Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis of land use patterns. Sites are

classified by the degree of risk, and site-specific preservation scenarios are outlined.

Part Five presents the findings of an assessment of the

potential for increasing heritage tourism in the Shenandoah Valley, suggesting that battlefield preservation could provide long-term economic benefits to the

local economy.

Part Six presents the study's findings and examines

alternatives for preservation.

Appendix A contains a bibliography of sources, including historic maps, used to produce this study.

Samples of the forms used in the field survey are included

in Appendix B. Appendix C displays the map layers

compiled for the Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

database.

Acknowledgments

Of particular value to this study has been the work of Ms. Maral Kalbian of the Frederick County Historical

Society, who has been conducting an architectural survey of Frederick, Clarke, and Warren counties over the past

several years. The extensive files of the architectural survey were generously made available to researchers for

this study. These records are also filed at the State Historic Preservation Office in Richmond. It is hoped that this

initial study will provide impetus for further research of

this nature to document more fully the historic resources of the Valley.

Many people offered advice and assistance, and none

should be slighted although they cannot all be mentioned.

We thank Edwin C. Bearss and Jeffry Wert for their guidance and expertise in serving as the study's consulting

historians. Acknowledgement is due Mr. Ben Ritter of

Winchester's Handley Library, Mr. Roger Delauter and

Dr. Brandon Beck of the Shenandoah Valley Civil War

Foundation, Mr. Joseph Whitehorne of Lord Fairfax Community College, Mr. Michael Gore of Belle Grove, Ms. Kristen Sanders of the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation, Mr. Garland Hudgins of Friends of the North

Fork, Mr. Ed Merrell of New Market Battlefield Park,

Brothers James Sommers and Benedict Simmonds of the Holy Cross Abbey at Cool Spring, Mr. Peter Svenson of Cross Keys, Mr. A. Wilson Greene and Dr. Gary Gallagher

of the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites, and Ms. Nellie Flora and Mr. W. A. Shifflet, longtime
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

advocates of Piedmont battlefield. The assistance provided

by Historian John Salmon of the Virginia Department of

Historic Resources is particularly appreciated.

Battlefield Selection

The Shenandoah Valley was a battleground of armies. There, a long line of Union generals—Banks, Fremont,

Shields, Milroy, Sigel—met disaster. There, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson confused and scattered his enemies.

Richard "Old Bald Head" Ewell led his corps to a victory at Winchester so complete that it was "as if a second Jackson

had come." Jubal A. Early directed the tattered remnants

of Jackson's and Ewell's old divisions on a whirlwind

campaign, until a Union general of different measure

"Little Phil"—applied the torch to the Valley to destroy its

agricultural production. In Struggle for the Shenandoah

(Kent State University Press, 1991 ), editor Gary W.

Gallagher writes: Few geographical regions associated with the Civil War

inspire more dramatic images than the Shenandoah Valley.

Some of the images are romantic, heavily charged with the

gloss of improbable Southern triumph against long odds. The

figure of Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson towers above all

others of this type, waging a bold campaign that catapulted

the dour Virginian to a lofty position as the mostfamous

soldier in the Confederacy. Just behind Jackson's exploits in any catalog ofmemorable scenes from the Valley come the young men of the Virginia Military Institute, who achieved

their own form of immortality when theyfought and died to

help win the Battle ofNew Market in May 1864. Cast in darker hues are Philip H. Sheridan and the Federal army that brought the agony ofU. S. Grant's strategy ofexhaustion to

the Valley during the last autumn of the war. Sheridan and

his men left a legacy of blackened ruin that served as graphic

counterpoint to the storied lushness of the area. From

beginning to end, the Valley bore witness to events that across more than a century and a quarter continue to evoke emotional responses from students of the war. Fighting was more or less continuous over four years of

Valley warfare, but the pivotal conflicts of the Valley have

been identified and studied by historians. After consultation with Edwin C. Bearss, Chief Historian of the National

Park Service, Jeffry Wert, author and consulting historian

for the study, and other historians, fifteen of the Valley's

most important battlefields, associated with campaigns in

1862, 1863, and 1864, were selected for field assessment

(see Figure 1). Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's 1862 Valley Campaign is widely studied by modern military historians and

strategists. The names of Kernstown, McDowell, Front

Royal, First Winchester, Cross Keys, and Port Republic,

are familiar to any student of this campaign. In 1863,

Confederate victory at Second Winchester cleared the Valley of Union forces and opened the door for Robert E.

Lee's second invasion of the North, which climaxed at Gettysburg. New Market and Piedmont resulted from

Union incursions southward in May and June of 1864 in support of Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign against

Richmond. The battle of New Market was a rousing

Confederate victory, but at Piedmont, roles were reversed. Outflanked and with their general killed, the Southerners

fled from the field, opening the Upper Valley to "Black

Dave" Hunter's army for the first time in the war. Jubal A.

Early's Confederate army defeated Hunter at Lynchburg

and marched north from Lynchburg in late June, invaded

Maryland, and by mid-July threatened Washington.

Early's return to the Valley resulted in the conflicts of Cool

Spring and Second Kernstown. With the appointment of

Philip H. Sheridan to command the Union army in the

Valley, the conflict grew desperate. The battle of Opequon

was hotly contested, but the Confederate army retired from the field. A few days later, the Confederate army was

routed at Fisher's Hill, and Sheridan began implementing

a "scorched earth" policy in the Valley that reached all the way from Staunton to Strasburg. Tom's Brook was the major cavalry battle of Sheridan's final campaign. Cedar

Creek was a last gasp effort by Jubal Early to surprise the Union army and reverse his fortunes. He very nearly succeeded. Together, these fifteen battlefields represent the range of major conflicts that characterized warfare in the Valley in the years 1861-1865. These events do not encompass all of the sites associ- ated with the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley. The

historic towns that line the old Valley Turnpike (modern

US 1 1 ) themselves may be justly proud of their role in

history. The names of Newtown (Stephens City),

Middletown, Strasburg, Woodstock, Edinburg, Mt.

Jackson, Lacey Spring, Harrisonburg, Mt. Crawford, and

Staunton, among others, are familiar to students of Civil War literature. A large number of historic antebellum

structures survive in the Valley, many closely associated with lesser engagements or partisan activities. Many of

these structures are specifically mentioned in battle
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

accounts or memoirs as serving as headquarters, refitting

stations, or hospitals. The battle fought within the present

limits of the City of Waynesboro on March 2, 1865,

destroyed the remnants of the Confederate army and

ended the struggle in the Valley. The City of Lexington

offers many Civil War resources, including the Virginia

Military Institute, the Stonewall Jackson House, and the grave of Stonewall Jackson. Although much needed, a full inventory of these

historic resources could not be attempted for the region,

given the limited time and funds available. Instead, we

have focused on major battlefields because they tend to be

large landscapes, whose historic character is extremely

vulnerable to development, highway construction, and

visual intrusion. It is true that much has been lost to the ravages of time and neglect, but the resources that remain

are rich and varied. Coordinated action could preserve many of these locations for the appreciation of future generations of Americans.

Study Concepts

The Shenandoah Valley study proceeded in three

stages: documentary research; field survey and verification; and mapping. During the field portion of the study,

several problems emerged pertaining to the definition of a

battlefield. The extent of a battlefield is not easily defined

because there is not always a definite starting or stopping

point. A battle is joined through the fluid motion of

armies across the landscape, leading to encounter,

confrontation, violent interaction, and disengagement.

Before attempting to circumscribe a battlefield, it is

essential to understand the size and nature of the opposing

forces, the relevant military objectives, the importance of

terrain to the direction and outcome of the battle, and to consider the interaction of military actions before, during,

and after the battle. Due to these factors, some battles were confined to relatively small geographic areas, while

others were large, sprawling affairs with military activities of various kinds directed over a large area. The field evaluation form that was used, separated

each battle into phases and attempted to capture the movements of forces across the landscape, rather than

relying on the approach of most forms designed to evaluate a static, historic landscape. Important period

features were identified from battle accounts and descriptions and were located on the map when these could be

identified. These features, which included terrain features, roads, buildings and structures, and other place names, were referred to as defining features because when mapped

they tend to define the extent of the battlefield on the landscape.

In each case, battle was judged to begin when hostile forces began responding to each other's presence and

maneuvering to ensure confrontation. For purposes of

mapping, a battlefield study area was drawn to encompass

all important components of the conflict. These components might include approach routes, areas of troop

concentrations, reserve positions, a commander's headquarters, signal stations or other important observation

points, picket lines, battle lines, maneuver areas, assault

areas, artillery positions, retreat routes, and places where

the armies bivouacked before or after the fighting when

these are nearby. The study area is viewed as providing a

strategic context and geographic setting for understanding

the conflict in question.

A core area was then identified for each battlefield. Core areas included those areas of confrontational

deployment, heaviest fighting, and most severe casualties. In modern military parlance, this is known frankly as the

"killing zone." Occasionally plotted as part of the core were sites which were important in shaping the ebb and

flow of battle, even when fighting at these sites was

minimal. These satellite areas might include river crossings, crossroads, signal stations, or other features that contributed to the battle's development and outcome.

Outlining study and core areas on the map is a

subjective, but necessary, process, if we are to understand

where and how these events occurred. In most cases, study and core outlines were drawn to follow the nearest

physical feature, such as a road, creek, ravine, woods or

ridge line. Further research will undoubtedly refine the study areas, but the adjustments should be slight and

involve a reinterpretation of the importance or location of more peripheral batde events. The study team, historians,

and other consulted parties are in agreement over the

locations of the primary battle activities included in the core areas. As mapped on the USGS quadrants and

reproduced in GIS format, each battlefield is contained by

its study area and defined more closely by its core. The study and core area outlines, as used here, do not

constitute proposed park "boundaries." Boundaries for

battlefield parks, whether national, State, or local, rarely

coincide with the actual size of the battles, but rather
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

represent decisions to set aside specific land parcels as parks. Such decisions typically include factors in addition

to the historic events, such as the National Park Service

criteria for suitability and feasibility (see Part Six). These

criteria can cover such considerations as availability of

land, funding, management structure, local land use plans, or other priorities. Thus, most National Park System

battlefields do not encompass all significant areas associ- ated with a battle. As used here, study and core area

outlines are an attempt to display the extent of the battle on the landscape based on historic sources. Management

considerations are not addressed. The 15 battlefields are located to the west of the existing Shenandoah National

Park. Front Royal and Port Republic have small portions

of their study areas (112 and 85 acres respectively) in

existing park ownership. Portions of these two battlefields (215 acres of Front Royal's study area, and 1,098 acres of

Port Republic's study and core areas) are within the authorized boundaries of the park. The study areas of

Piedmont and Cross Keys are relatively close to the authorized boundaries of the park, but GIS analysis has

determined that the boundaries do not intersect. No

management recommendations will be made by the National Park Service to include these areas within

Shenandoah National Park.
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Battlefields Location Campaign

First Kernstown Frederick County, City of Winchester lackson 1862

McDowell Highland County Jackson 1862

Front Royal Warren County Jackson 1862

First Winchester Frederick County, City of Winchester Jackson 1862

Cross Keys Rockingham County Jackson 1862

Port Republic Rockingham County Jackson 1862

Second Winchester Frederick County, City of Winchester Gettysburg 1863

New Market Shenandoah County Lynchburg 1864

Piedmont Augusta County Lynchburg 1864

Cool Spring Clarke County Early 1864

Second Kernstown Frederick County, City of Winchester Early 1864

Opequon Frederick County, City of Winchester Sheridan 1864

Fisher's Hill Shenandoah County Sheridan 1864

Tom's Brook Shenandoah County Sheridan 1864

Cedar Creek Frederick County

Shenandoah County

Warren County

Sheridan 1864

Figure 1. Shenandoah Valley Study Battlefields
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Figure 2. The Shenandoah Valley, Jackson's 1862 Campaign

From Battles and Leaders ofthe Civil War
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Battlefield Resources

A Civil War battle followed its own rules of logic based

on: standard movements, deployments, and tactics; the range and capabilities of weaponry; and the advantages

and obstacles of the terrain. How these elements came

together on a field of battle, on the other hand, was

unique. The battlefield is the landscape over which the armies contended. The outcome often relied upon the

personalities of the commanders, the disposition and

attitude of the troops, the celerity of movement, the supply of ammunition, food, or water, even, the weather. The road network, natural features such as watercourses,

ridges and ravines, river fords and bridges, the location of

a town, a church, mill, or farm house and its outbuildings,

the pattern of open fields and woodlots separated by stone or rail fences—all these features, in large measure, defined

the course of a battle.

All of these topographical and structural features, or

survivals such as foundations or abandoned roadbeds,

make up a major class of battlefield resources. If topographical features survive, a battlefield can be studied to answer important research questions about strategy and

tactics. The location of an assault can be pinpointed, and, more importantly, a conclusion reached about why the

assault succeeded or failed. The assaulting troops may

have bogged down in a swamp at the base of the hill, for example. Or high ground to the west may have offered

the ideal position for defending artillery. Little of this

direct knowledge can be attained from books or battle

reports. Buildings and structures that were present at the time

of the battle are an important battlefield resource. Often

these buildings served as headquarters, bivouacs, sharpshooter havens, or field hospitals. Researchers can use deed information or verbal history to identify the inhabit- ants of houses at the time of the battle, in order to accurately locate battle events and check the accuracy of

historic maps. Trenches and field fortifications are

tangible artifacts of the passing of the armies and often can be used to precisely locate the opposing lines of battle. In terms of understanding and interpreting history, it

is important to note that many contemporary battle reports were often incomplete, flawed, or self-serving.

Eyewitnesses sometimes differed so wildly that one cannot

believe they are describing the same event. Many accounts need to be compared and carefully weighed. Often some

small detail—a house site, a stone fence, spring, ravine, or

hillock—holds the key to locating a unit's position. Only

close study of the terrain can hope to reconcile such

conflicting accounts. Military historians cannot understand or interpret a battle if the terrain has been drasucally

altered. The concept of "battlefield as landscape" places

battlefield preservation among the complex issues of

regional planning, farmland preservation, viewshed and

watershed protection, wildlife management, and the desire of many residents to preserve open space in general. As

residents debate these issues and work to establish a viable direction for the future, they should consider battlefields

as a valuable asset. A battlefield, despite the harsh memories that are often evoked, contributes to the distinct

identity and character of a community. Battlefield preservation can establish a link with the nation's past and

provide opportunities for attracting new businesses and

visitors to the area. It is fair to say that, if it were not for

their battlegrounds, few people outside of Virginia would

know of the towns of Kernstown, Tom's Brook, Fisher's

Hill, Piedmont, Port Republic, or McDowell. But the passing of history has changed that. For those who read

history, these places are immortal.

Archeological Resources and

Battlefield Burials

A second important class of battlefield resources is

archeological. Many battlefields, large and small, possess

artifacts, soil strata, structural remains, or other features and combinations of features that enable archeologists to recover information on important historical questions. Patterns of military debris have been used at some sites to corroborate or amplify known information on the

location and movements of individual units. Shell fragments can be used to identify the types of artillery

engaged. A cluster of friction primer fuses can indicate the position of a single cannon and even suggest the number

of rounds fired. Clusters of spent or dropped bullets can

identify the locations of battle lines. A rifleman, for example, could easily fire his standard supply of sixty

rounds of ammunition in an hour. This amounts to about four pounds of lead. A brigade of 2,400 riflemen

could deliver 4.8 tons per hour. Although a battle may

have lasted only a few hours, experience has shown that

significant archeological evidence remains in the ground,
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

even if it has been farmed for the intervening 125 years. The thriving relic-hunting community can certainly attest

to this fact. Despite a seeming abundance of remains,

however, the archeological record of a battlefield, over

time, can be seriously depleted by relic hunting.

Human remains are also an important part of the

archeological record. Many people feel that battlefields are hallowed ground,

a sentiment expressed in President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address: We are met here on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion ofit as a final

resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and

proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we

can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living

and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor will to add or detract. More than 3,600 soldiers perished on the fifteen

battlefields studied, not including those who later died of

their wounds. The dead were typically buried hastily, and

many graves were poorly marked making later reinterment difficult. In 1865 and 1866, local residents were paid to disinter remains and bring them to the

national cemeteries established for that purpose. Many

bodies were found and removed to cemeteries at this time. Often, however, only portions of the remains were

reinterred. Authorities paid for skulls and long bones, and

other parts of the skeleton sometimes remained in the ground. Archeologists have uncovered Civil War burial

pits on other battlefields where only the skulls were

removed.

During the field survey, local residents related several anecdotes pertaining to accidentally unearthed burials at Piedmont, Fisher's Hill, and Cool Spring. No evidence was offered to corroborate these accounts (respondents were protecting their sources), but such remains have

been occasionally unearthed elsewhere. Finding the remains of a soldier who was buried where he fell, or near

a hospital or encampment site, would not be that unusual. Discovered bones have been "dropped off" occasionally at

battlefield parks, who wished to see the bodies receive proper burial.

In 1988, for example, relic hunters unearthed the remains of four members of the Irish Brigade on private

properly adjacent to Antietam National Battlefield Park. The soldiers were later reinterred in the National Cemetery with full military honors. Stories are related in the

relic-hunting community of bones discovered in the wake

of bulldozers at development sites at Chantilly and

Centreville, Virginia. In 1989, the remains of a Louisiana

artilleryman were discovered at Brandy Station during an

archeological survey. It is reasonable to assume that some

burials are scattered over the fifteen battlefields studied,

but the number cannot be estimated. Often the survival of

such remains is dependent upon the acidity of the soil. If the acidity is high, bones can be almost totally dissolved,

although buttons, belt buckles, or other evidence will

survive. Although it would be incorrect to view these

battlefields as vast cemeteries, it is probable that an unknown number of burials remain undiscovered at many of these sites. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Reserve Officers Association, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy, among others, have expressed the opinion that the remains of Civil War veterans should be reburied in a national cemetery and accorded full military honors. In

general, this is the policy followed when accidental disinterments are brought to the attention of authorities. Under Virginia law a permit is required for the archeological removal of human remains or associated artifacts from

any unmarked human burial site on state, local, or

privately owned land. For information on the permit

process, contact the State Archeologist, Department of

Historic Resources, 221 Governor Street, Richmond,

Virginia 23219, telephone: 804-786-3143.

Surveying Battlefield Resources

Before visiting the battlefields, the study's researchers examined documentary sources to establish a regional context to enable better understanding of how geography

and topography influenced the strategies of conflict in the

Valley. This research involved an examination of the

settlement pattern and transportation network of the midnineteenth century. The Valley was a relatively densely

settled and highly productive agricultural region. Understanding the historic framework, enabled the field surveyors to better determine the current condition of the

battlefields.
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Second, a historic or "campaign" context was established for each event to determine its relative importance.

Primary and secondary source materials were consulted

particularly battle accounts compiled in The War of the

Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate

Armies and historic maps held by the National Archives

and the Library of Congress—to identify the location and

extent of the battle "on the ground." The regional and

campaign context are presented in Part Two of this report. A list of consulted sources may be found in Appendix A. The geo-strategy and historic campaign contexts are presented in Part Two.

For most of the fifteen battlefields studied, useful primary and secondary works exist to guide the re- searcher. Jackson's 1862 Campaign, for example, was

extensively dissected immediately after the war by eminent

military historians of the time, such as G.F.R. Henderson,

or by actual participants, such as William Allan and

Jedediah Hotchkiss. Since then, voluminous studies have

been offered to interpret Jackson's triumph. The 1864

battles, on the other hand, although typically larger and more sanguinary than Jackson's affairs, are generally less written about. Two battlefields in particular—Piedmont

and Tom's Brook—were found to have received insufficient treatment by secondary sources, and no reliable

historic maps or sketches were discovered. For these

battlefields, more intensive research was conducted into the primary accounts, such as diaries, memoirs, regimental histories, and local histories. Local guides provided the

final word on several areas in question.

Of inestimable value were the maps and sketches produced by Jedediah Hotchkiss, a resident of Staunton

who served as the topographic engineer for Confederate

generals Thomas J. Jackson, Richard S. Ewell, and Jubal A.

Early. Hotchkiss was a participant-observer of almost

every major Valley battlefield and left behind an unparalleled cartographic record. Fully half of the Confederate

maps contained in the Official Military Atlas of the Civil War were supplied by Hotchkiss. In Spring 1862, Stonewall Jackson asked him to "make me a map of the Valley."

The resulting map, measuring three by eight feet, served as

a blueprint tor Jackson's 1862 campaign and subsequent

Confederate operations in the Valley. The Union armies

lacked a map of its equal until well into 1864. In addition

to basic topography and watershed information, the

Valley map traces more than 4,500 road segments,

provides 230 historic place names, locates 260 mills,

forges, schools, churches, tollhouses and other commercial and industrial structures, and identifies more than

1,000 farms by name of resident. Because of its pivotal

importance, the Valley Map of Jedediah Hotchkiss was

reduced to computerized format in its entirety. This

computerized map will be housed at an appropriate

facility in the Valley and made available to historical and

genealogical researchers. To supplement text and map records, every attempt was made to locate a knowledgeable local guide to accompany the research historian in the field. This was

typically someone who had studied the battle, who lived in or was familiar with the area, and who had walked the

battlefield many times. In the field, the researcher sought

access to vantage points from which the ground could be

examined and the action interpreted. Where permission was granted from landowners (most sites), the battlefield ground was walked. An evaluation form was completed

for each site, breaking down the narrative action of each

battle into phases that could be more closely associated with specific blocks of land (See Appendix B). An

assessment was then made about the condition of each

phase area relative to its described or probable appearance

at the time of the Civil War. Historic structures were

located on USGS maps, along with any survivals, such as

field fortifications, old road beds, mill sites, building

foundations, burial sites, or monuments. When a site visit was completed, the battlefield was then summarized

across phases and rated according to its overall condition

and perceived threats to its integrity. These summary

forms with accompanying maps and photographs were

reviewed for accuracy by Mr. Edwin Bearss and Mr. Jeffry

Wert, the study's two consulting historians. These

complete battlefield descriptions are included in Part Three.

Finally, the field maps were turned over to the NPS

Interagency Resources Division's Cultural Resources GIS

Facility for further analysis. The battlefield areas were

entered into the computer along with other data that enabled an examination of land use within the battlefields. A separate, computer-based integrity rating scale was

devised to compare the number of undeveloped acres with

the amount of built-up land within the study and core

areas. This computer evaluation was then used as a check

for visual integrity evaluations made in the fields and

discussed in Part Four.

10
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

GIS technology was used to produce the maps

included in this report. The long-term advantage of using

GIS is that a data base has now been created that can be

updated to reflect future land use changes for the Valley's

battlefields. Troop movements and surviving features can

be added, along with National Register properties in the

vicinity and other points of interest. The data can be

married with the digitized Hotchkiss Valley map to show

the sites of old homes and mills to guide archeologists and

surveyors. Local planners can use the computer to

evaluate proposals that may affect the battlefields, such as

alternative routes for a new road to determine which will have the least impact on a core's integrity. The map layers

compiled for the GIS data base are listed in Appendix C.

Several Valley counties currently have GIS capability,

and plans are being developed to house the database

developed in this study at a suitable Valley location, where

it is accessible to local and regional planning agencies. For

example, the GIS center at James Madison University in Harrisonburg has expressed an interest in serving as the

repository for the data base. Using GIS to study the

battlefields within the context of the Shenandoah Valley as

a whole, offers tremendous potential as one tool for guiding future growth and development at the regional

and county levels.

Threats to Battlefield Resources

In many parts of the Valley, the 19th century lies close

to the surface with merely a veneer of changes. The land is farmed, as it was a hundred years ago. Old houses, mills, and churches survive, or their foundations may be located. The new road network is congruent with the old. Paved

county roads follow the winding courses of old farm

roads. Small villages have grown into larger towns, yet preserve their core as a historic district. Most importantly,

the scenic beauty of the Blue Ridge, North Mountain, and

the Shenandoah River continues to enhance the quality of

life of Valley residents and to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors per year. When one knows where to look, the Civil War history of the Shenandoah Valley is every- where. This study shows that the integrity of the Valley's

historic resources is generally high, but several significant

battlefields have suffered severe degradation, and most are threatened in the near future. The causes of degradation

are rooted in population growth and economic expansion.

These trends were used to establish risk categories for the

battlefields as described in Part Four.

Population Trends

The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia has changed since the Civil War, but until recent decades, the rate of change

has been relatively slow. Until well into the 1950s,

agriculture remained the primary economic activity in the

Valley, and although farming technology improved,

residents continued to use the land much as their predecessors did—to grow crops and raise livestock. At the time of the Civil War, the Valley was already fairly densely

inhabited, much of the land that could be farmed was

being farmed, and the transportation network was firmly

in place. The Valley's towns ranged in size from a few

hundred inhabitants to a few thousand, with Winchester

and Staunton being the largest towns in the region.

When examining the pattern of change in the Shenandoah Valley region as a whole, it is important to note three distinct battlefield clusters, comprising eleven of the fifteen battlefields studied: five in the vicinity of

Winchester (three Winchesters, two Kernstowns); four near Strasburg at the head of Massanutten Mountain

(Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill, Tom's Brook, and Front

Royal); and three south of Harrisonburg at the base of the Massanutten (Cross Keys, Port Republic, and Piedmont).

In addition, ten of the fifteen battles were fought on or

within a few miles of the Valley Turnpike, modern US rte

1 1 (Winchesters, Kernstowns, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill, Tom's Brook, New Market, Piedmont), underscoring the importance of this thoroughfare for the movement of

troops. The same transportation routes and limiting

geographic features that contributed to the meeting of

Civil War armies in these strategic areas continue to influence population growth and density, and land use

decisions in the twentieth century.

The Shenandoah Valley's population increased

threefold from 107,660 in 1860 to 347,750 in 1990 (see Figure 3). Population growth in the Valley has not been

uniform, but centered in and around the major cities. The

population of Highland County, for example, has declined

since the Civil War. In general, the population of the Lower (northern) Valley has increased more rapidly than

that of the Upper (southern) Valley, growth that was

partly linked to the explosive development of the Washington Metropolitan area in the 1980s. Winchester

continued as the dominant city of the Lower Valley. The

population density of surrounding Frederick County

increased from 69 persons per square mile in 1970 to 1 10

in 1990 (See Figure 4), spurring much new residential and

11
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

commercial construction. The Front Royal area witnessed

similar growth.

In the 1970s Harrisonburg emerged as the economic

center of the Upper Valley. After decades of low growth,

Harrisonburg's population nearly doubled between 1960

and 1990, making it the largest city of the region with a

population of nearly 3 1 ,000. So far, this growth has had

minimal impact on the nearby battlefields of Cross Keys,

Port Republic, and Piedmont.

Current projections suggest that the population of

Virginia will grow to 7,800,000 by the year 2020, an

increase of more than 1,620,000 or 26 percent in the next

30 years. The population of the Valley will grow at a

slower rate. Current projections suggest that the population will grow from 347,750 to 410,900 in 2020, an

increase of 18 percent. Much of this growth will continue

to be associated with the cities of Winchester, Front Royal,

and Harrisonburg. Population densities for Frederick and

Warren counties, in particular, will increase from 110 and

122 to 136 and 143 persons per square mile, respectively.

Growth elsewhere in the Valley will be more uneven but

undoubtedly will be concentrated along the interstate highways, as it is today.

While portions of the Valley's battlefields have been

steadily eroded over the years by residential, industrial,

and commercial activities, the most destructive event in

the history of these battlefields was the construction of the

interstate highway system in the 1960s. 1-81, which runs

the length of the Valley parallel to the old Valley Turnpike

(US 1 1 ), intersects the study areas of First and Second

Winchester, Opequon, Second Kernstown, Cedar Creek,

Fisher's Hill, Tom's Brook, and New Market, and borders on the study area of First Kernstown. 1-66 intersects the study areas of Front Royal and Cedar Creek. Ten of the

fifteen battlefields selected for this study were degraded by

interstate highway construction, several severely, e.g., the

three Winchester battlefields and New Market. Only those

battlefields that are not crossed by interstate highways

received the highest condition ratings both on the field survey evaluation forms and in the CIS analysis. Residential and commercial development adjacent to interstate interchanges has multiplied the loss of integrity caused by

highway construction. In the absence of a concerted effort

to set aside battlefield lands along these highways, future growth and development will continue to damage these

resources. Projects to widen the interstates or to add

interchanges would have considerable impact on battlefield resources

Loss of Agricultural Land

Archivist Dallas Irvine observed that "the Civil War

was a rural social war." It is true that warfare in the Shenandoah Valley was largely a rural affair, acted out upon the mid- 19th century agrarian landscape. In Valley

history, the full range of agricultural possibilities were

represented, from large-scale plantation farming, which was prevalent in the Lower Valley, to small-scale homestead farming more common to the central region. The

importance of agriculture to the history and economy of

the Shenandoah Valley, and the fertility of its soils, deserve

special consideration when determining the direction of

long-term growth and development.

From the time of the Civil War to the present, preservation of the region's historic battlefields has depended

largely upon the survival of the rural landscape and the continued strength of agriculture. According to the 1987

Federal Agricultural Census, the Shenandoah Valley (9.9 percent of Virginia's land area and less than 6 percent of

its population) accounted for 17 percent of the State's

agricultural land and 31 percent of the market value of

agricultural products sold. Agriculture remains the

principal economic activity for several counties, in

particular, Shenandoah, Rockingham, and Augusta.

Although modern farming techniques have thoroughly

supplanted the old, the landscape in many areas retains

the distinctive open pattern of croplands, pastures, and

. woodlots, that would not have been unfamiliar to a Civil War soldier. So long as this agricultural landscape

survives, the battlefields can be considered "preserved," if

not protected. But there are clear indications that the rural landscape

of the Valley is in decline, and in some places it has already

disappeared. Between 1964 and 1987, the total acreage in

farms in the region decreased from 1,302,946 to 1,060,056

acres, a decline of nearly 243,000 acres. This is comparable to removing all of the current agricultural land of

Rockingham County from production. The amount of

agricultural land dropped in all counties (see Figure 5), but these declines were most destructive (in terms of

preserving open land) when coupled with higher rates of

urban growth and increased population densities, e.g., Warren County (41% loss) and Frederick County (27%

loss). In these counties, most of the lost agricultural lands were replaced by residential, commercial, or industrial developments.

12
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Battlefield preservation is strongly linked to farmland

preservation. While the effects of a loss of farmland on

specific battlefields must be assessed site-by-site, it seems

clear that the public cannot expect agricultural land uses

to continue to preserve open land that conveniently

coincides with the Valley's Civil War battlefields.

In many cases, agricultural use of battlefield land is synonymous with preserving the battlefields, since much

of the land was farmed during the Civil War. Exceptions

may be found in large scale agribusiness enterprises that

erect massive sheds or factories. Still, if care were taken in

situating new construction of this type within a battlefield landscape, the problem of overwhelming the viewshed

could be minimized or avoided. Buildings could be placed

below a ridge line or screened by trees. Establishing an

agricultural preservation district also appears to be a viable approach to battlefield preservation. The Shenandoah

Valley contains some of the richest farmland in the United

States, land that should not be changed to commercial and

residential uses without fully considering the farmer's role

in the Valley's past and the nation's future. The loss of battlefield resources is directly linked to population and land use trends. In many cases, county

planners have lacked the documentation that might

enable the preservation of significant parcels through

zoning decisions that weigh historic and cultural resources with the need for new residential, commercial, and

industrial construction. The 1990 Frederick County

Comprehensive Plan was recently revised to include a new

section that recognizes the importance of the county's

Civil War sites. The revision notes that battlefields represent an important category of historic resources and

that the dedication of open space to create battlefield parks

would enhance public appreciation of these resources and

promote educational and tourism goals. The plan

adopted methods that allow property owners the option

to participate in zoning or other regulatory decisions that would affect their historic properties.

13
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

County 1860 1900 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2020

Independent City projected

Augusta 27,700 32,370 34,154 37,363 44,220 47,572 54,677 64,200

Clarke 7,160 7,927 7,074 7,942 8,102 9,965 12,101 13,300

Frederick 16,600 13,239 17,537 21,941 28,893 34,150 45,723 56,400

Highland 4,300 5,647 4,069 3,221 2,529 2,937 2,635 3,800

Page 8,100 13,794 15,152 15,572 16,581 19,401 21,690 25,000

Rockingham 23,400 33,527 35,079 40,485 47,890 52,054 57,482 73,400

Shenandoah 13,900 20,253 21,169 21,825 22,852 27,559 31,636 37,900

Warren 6,500 8,837 14,801 14,655 15,301 21,200 26,142 30,700

Harrisonburg NA NA 10,810 11,916 14,605 24,655 30,707 37,100

Staunton NA 7,289 19,927 22,232 24,504 24,777 24,461 26,200

Waynesboro NA NA 12,357 15,694 16,707 18,563 18,549 18,300

Winchester NA 5,161 13,841 15,110 14,643 20,217 21,947 24,600

Total Valley 107,660 148,044 205,970 227,956 256,827 303,050 347,750 410,900

Virginia 1,219,630 1,854,184 3,318,680 3,966,949 4,648,479 5,346,812 6,187,358 7,807,200

Statistics computed from federal census data. Projection from the Virginia Statistical Abstract 1989. N/A= not applicable.

City statistics were grouped with the county in these years.

Figure 3. Population of Shenandoah Valley Virginia Counties and Independent Cities (1860-2020)

14
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

County 1860 1900 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2020

Augusta 28 33 35 38 45 49 56 66

Clarke 40 45 40 45 45 56 69 75

Frederick 40 32 42 53 69 82 110 136

Highland 10 13 10 7 6 7 6 9

Page 26 44 48 50 53 62 70 80

Rockingham 27 39 41 47 56 61 68 86

Shenandoah 27 39 41 42 44 54 62 74

Warren 30 41 69 68 71 98 122 143

Statistics computed from federal census data. Projection from the Virginia Statistical Abstract 1989.

Figure 4. Approximate Population Density Per Square Mile: Shenandoah Valley Virginia Counties 1860-1990 (Projection for 2020)

15
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

County Year Land Total Land No. of Ave. Size % of Land

Area in Farms Farms (Acres) in Farms

(Mi2

) (Acres)

Augusta 1987 972 292,191 1,536 190 45

1978 303,370 1,483 205 48

1964 316,234 1,905 166 49

Clarke 1987 177 72,611 315 231 64

1978 76,510 256 299 68

1964 78,006 276 282 70

Frederick 1987 415 111,116 555 200 41 1978 123,220 565 218 46

1964 157,434 793 198 56

Highland 1987 416 94,880 303 313 36

1978 107,787 329 328 40

1964 137,497 432 318 52

Page 1987 311 67,250 489 138 34

1978 70,245 448 148 35

1964 94,223 742 127 46

Rockingham 1987 851 242,224 1,895 128 44

1978 252,152 1,872 135 46

1964 289,118 2,587 112 52

Shenandoah 1987 512 138,883 830 167 42

1978 137,888 819 151 42

1964 159,593 1,131 141 49

Warren 1987 214 40,901 223 183 30

1978 54,933 225 244 40

1964 70,841 298 238 51

Figure 5. Agricultural Land, Shenandoah Valley Virginia Counties

Statistics computed from Federal Agricultural Census data for 1964, 1978, and 1987.

16
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Private Ownership, Preservation,

and Public Access

Most of the battlefield land in the Valley is privately

owned. Only two battlefields offer public access with

interpretive facilities for visitors: New Market and Cedar

Creek. Two hundred-eighty acres of the core area of the New Market battlefield are encompassed by the New

Market Battlefield Park, owned and interpreted by the

Virginia Military Institute. The National Trust and the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation jointly administer

about 400 acres of Belle Grove Mansion and the Cedar

Creek battlefield core. The recently opened Hupp's Hill

Battlefield Park and Study Center, also at Cedar Creek,

interprets the role of the Valley in the Civil War and also preserves sections of reconstructed and original fieldworks on the property.

Limited public access to several other sites is provided

by preservation groups that own battlefield land. A

private, non-profit preservation organization, the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites (APCWS),

holds 195 acres at Fisher's Hill, 7 acres at Port Republic,

and more than 100 acres at McDowell. The private, nonprofit Lee-Jackson Foundation owns 100 acres at Cross

Keys and an additional 100 acres at McDowell, adjacent to

the APCWS property. These groups allow public access to

their properties, but entry points are neither marked nor

advertised. This situation typically limits visitation of

these properties to the organizations' members or to

serious students of the war who come as part of a guided

tour. Bus tours of the Shenandoah Valley battlefields are conducted periodically by the Smithsonian Institute, by

Civil War Roundtables, and by the APCWS. Interpretation at these sites ranges from none to minimal.

About 170 acres of the First Kernstown core area are held by the Glen Burnie Trust, but access to this land is

restricted. Twenty-one acres of the Tom's Brook battlefield core are encompassed by a county recreational park,

but no interpretation of the battle is offered, and the site

lacks a suitable vantage point from which to interpret the

battle action. Seven acres surrounding the significant Civil War fortification, Star Fort, in Winchester, are owned by a

private Civil War reenactment group, and visitation of this unmarked site is encouraged. Holy Cross Abbey owns

two-thirds of the core area of Cool Spring battlefield and

has pledged to preserve the property. The Abbey allows

visitation with prior arrangement. At Piedmont, the northern half of the core area has been included in an

agricultural preservation district that excludes nonagricultural development for seven years until 1998, when

the district must be renewed. Visitation of this site is

typically restricted to the public roads and an adequate

driving tour of the area has not been published. A small portion of Cedar Creek and Fisher's Hill battlefields falls within holdings of the Shenandoah National Forest. Figure 6 summarizes the current state of public access, private ownership, and land protection.

Beyond these holdings and commitments, the remainder of the acreage of the Shenandoah Valley's

battlefields is privately owned and unprotected by any

formal designation or commitment. Access to private

property at these sites is understandably discouraged

under current arrangements. Local landowners repeatedly

expressed their anger over relic hunters who trespassed

and left a gate open for livestock to escape or a field full of

unfilled holes. Landowners do not like to spend extra time keeping track of trespassers. Many of the Valley's battlefields could be adequately

interpreted from the public roads if interpretive materials were produced and disseminated. Some limited access to private property would certainly enhance the experience

of visiting the battlefield in many cases and serve to attract more visitors. Public access to battlefields is a complex issue that can

be resolved only by negotiation between a responsible

agent and private landowners. Landowners wish to maintain their privacy and security. Many, however,

would allow limited or scheduled access to their property

if concerns over liability and related matters could be

resolved. In some cases, right-of-way easements could be

purchased to allow visitors to follow a hiking trail across portions of a battlefield or to reach a vantage point from

where the field could be studied. There are precedents for granting this type of access for hiking and nature trails in other States, notably Vermont, where landowners have

expressed satisfaction with the Trails for Vermont

program. Virginia law waives liability for persons who

allow fox hunters on their property. These and other

models could be studied for their applicability to Civil War battlefields. The more of these arrangements that can be contracted, the less need there may be at some sites for preservation interests to acquire land or easements to protect and interpret a battlefield. Federal and State governments could develop incentives to encourage

landowner cooperation.

17
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

There is certainly a national constituency for battle- Shenandoah Valley. It is the strong recommendation of

field landscape preservation. Based on comments received the study team that whatever approach to preservation is on the draft of this report, the local governments of taken, that local residents and elected officials be included

Frederick and Highland Counties and the City of Win- as partners in the process, and that any land acquisition

Chester, as well as private preservation groups, would be from willing sellers,

support the creation of a park at one or more sites in the

18
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Battlefields Public Access Interpretation Ownership Type/

Number of Owners

(core areas of high

integrity only)

Core Acres Protected/

Holding Group

Cedar Creek YES FULL

Visitor Center

PRIVATE/ Over 30 400/ National Trust, Cedar Creek

Battlefield Foundation

Cool Spring YES, Appointment NONE PRIVATE/ 6-10 1,200/Holy Cross Abbey

Only No Visitor Center by Cooperative Agreement

Cross Keys YES, unmarked Signage

No Visitor Center

PRIVATE/ 11-20 100/ Lee- Jackson

Foundation

Fisher's Hill YES, unmarked Signage

No Visitor Center

PRIVATE/ 11-20 195/APCWS

80/ Conservation Fund

Easement

Front Royal NONE NONE PRIVATE/ OVER 30 NONE

1st Kernstown NONE, overlook Signage PRIVATE/ 6-10 170/ Glen Burnie Trust

2nd Kernstown NONE, overlook Signage PRIVATE/ 6-10 NONE

McDowell YES, unmarked NONE

No Visitor Center

PRIVATE/ 6-10 200/APCWS, Lee-Iackson

Foundation

New Market YES FULL

Visitor Center

PRIVATE/ 11-20 280/ VMI New Market

Battlefield Park

Opequon NONE Published

Driving Tour

PRIVATE/ 6-10 7/ Star Fort Reenactment

Group

Piedmont NONE NONE PRIVATE/ 21-30 1,400/ County

Agricultural Preservation

District (7 Yrs.)

Port Republic YES, limited NONE

No Visitor Center

PRIVATE/ 6-10 8/ APCWS

Tom's Brook NONE NONE MIXED/ OVER 30 21/ County Recreational

Park

1st Winchester NONE Published

Driving Tour

PRIVATE/ 6-10 NONE

2nd Winchester NONE Published

Driving Tour

PRIVATE/ 11-20 7/ Star Fort Reenactment

Group

Acres currently protected 4,061

Figure 6. Battlefields, Showing Public Access, Estimated Number of Landowners, and Acres Currently Protected

19
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Summary

The decision to protect battlefield land and the

decision of how much of a battlefield to set aside, are

choices that hinge upon the community's goals as well as

the Nation's. Where the concern was simply to recall an

event to memory, then small parcels were typically set

aside for the erection of a monument or interpretive

markers. This approach was pursued often in the past, even for national parks, based on the "implicit preservation" of open land. In other words, an interpretive stop or

trail was acquired and markers erected to describe the

historical importance of what was expected to be rural landscape for the foreseeable future. Visitors to such sites often assumed that the landscape was somehow protected,

when in actuality, the view was a free bonus. Returning

years later, they are liable to be surprised and disturbed to

see a housing subdivision or commercial strip where they

expected to see a battlefield. In fact, residential developers

have reversed the "free bonus" and can now charge top

dollar for homes with a park in the back yard to serve the

recreational needs of a limited number of residents. The

assumptions underlying small parcel-commemoration

have been undermined on all sides, and this condition will continue to generate crisis after crisis, as constituents

recognize and respond with outrage to the loss of historic resources. The most dramatic example of public outrage in recent years was the crusade to prevent a shopping mall

from being built adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park, resulting in a costly Federal acquisition. But this is only one incident of many. The famous Cornfield at Antietam was only recently protected from development

by a private foundation. A mile-long, "commemorative"

strip of the Wilderness was recently degraded to serve as the median strip of a four-lane access road leading to a

resort community. A thousand homes and a shopping

center are planned for parcels adjacent to Gettysburg

National Military Park. With the increased pace of land

use change, the small parcel approach simply does not

protect the resources and land where historically important events took place, nor does it allow adequate public

access to enable appreciation of nationally significant events. Whether the goals of battlefield preservation are to enable interpretation of the battlefield, in terms of

understanding the terrain and military maneuvers, or, to

attract visitors who are interested in experiencing a past

event, or, to provide the opportunity for the general public

to view locations important to our national experience

and history, or, to set aside ground, as President Lincoln

stated, that was consecrated by the men who struggled

there to give life to the nation, it is clear that small parcelcommemoration is inadequate and should be abandoned

except as a last resort, when it is necessary to prevent the memory of an event and its participants from fading

entirely. The commitment to protect large tracts of

battlefield land, on the other hand, implies a larger desire

in the community to preserve open land for a variety of

reasons—not just for historical significance—but also to maintain the rural character of an area, to encourage

agriculture, to set aside natural areas, to protect watersheds, to provide recreational space, or to provide a

historic attraction that is unique to the area. Until now the preservation of battlefields in the Shenandoah Valley has depended almost exclusively on

the small parcel-commemorative approach, in many

cases, consisting simply of interpretive highway pull-offs

along the right-of-way. Several private groups—primarily

the Virginia Military Institute, the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites, the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation, and the Lee- Jackson Foundation—have

acted to protect larger parcels through acquisition funded

by public donations. Mostly, preservation has relied upon

the free bonus of open farm and natural lands and the coincidence of interests between landowners and preservationists—as shown by the establishment of the Piedmont agricultural preservation district and the preservation intent of the Holy Cross Abbey at Cool Spring. The

pace of growth and development in the Valley and the incremental loss of farmland are undermining these assumptions of "implicit preservation." Individuals, who

have shouldered the burden of preservation with little help or recognition from Local, State, or Federal governments, cannot keep pace with the loss of resources.

It remains then to determine approaches to battlefield protection that will preserve these historic resources and

landscapes. The regional coordination of preservation

and interpretation efforts, and a range of public and

public-private partnerships, will be needed to address the unique needs and values of the individual sites. There is no blanket solution. In the sections that follow, we try to provide sufficient facts and analysis to inform the public

policy choices that need to be made.

20
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Shenandoah Valley Entire Valley Battlefield Study Areas

Land Use/ Land Cover Acres Percent Acres Percent

Built-up Land: Residential 110,876 4.5 7,989 9.3

Built-up Land: Commercial 9,855 0.4 1,374 1.6

Built-up Land: Industrial 2,463 0.1 773 0.9

Built-up Land: Transportation and Communications 12,319 0.5 1,374 1.6

Built-up Land: Other Urban 4,927 0.2 515 0.6

Agricultural Land: Cropland or Pasture 899,328 36.5 53,693 62

Agricultural Land: Orchards, Vineyards, Groves 17,247 0.7 687 0.8

Agricultural Land: Confined Feeding Operations 2,493 0.1 85 0.1

Forest Land: Deciduous Forest 1,259,060 51.1 12,370 14.4

Forest Land: Evergreen Forest 68,989 2.8 1,288 1.5

Forest Land: Mixed Forest 54,206 2.2 4,295 5.0

Water: Streams and Canals 4,927 0.2 515 0.6

Water: Reservoirs 2,463 0.1 0.0

Barren Land: Strip Mines, Quarries, Gravel Pits 2,463 0.1 429.55 0.5

Barren Land: Transitional Areas 9,855 0.4 0.0

Unidentified Land Use / Land Cover 2,463 0.1 515 0.6

Total (acres rounded) 2,463,915 100.0 85,909 100.0

TABLE A

1973 LAND USE / LAND COVER SHENANDOAH VALLEY

21

Part Two: Historic Context

Pritchard House, Kernstown by Ben Ritter

Civil War Sites In the Shenandoah Valley

ofVirginia

;»-•

gttgi Part Two

Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley, The Historic Context

"The Crossroads of Our Being. . ."

Into

little more than four years, from April 1861 to June 1865, were compressed the passions, the

violence, the hopes, and the agonies of generations.

More than 600,000 American soldiers of North and

South died of battle or disease. Nearly 300,000 others were scarred by shot and shell but lived to return home at war's end, to begin their lives anew in a country now

indissolubly united. The American Civil War, in the words of historian Shelby Foote, "was the crossroads of our being." Former Poet Laureate of the United States Robert Penn Warren once wrote: The Civil War is, for the American imagination, the great single event ofour history. Without too much

wrenching, it may, in fact, be said to be American

history. Before the Civil War we had no history in the deepest and most inward sense. There was, ofcourse,

the noble vision of the Founding Fathers articulated in

the Declaration and the Constitution—the dream of

freedom incarnated in a more perfect Union. But the Revolution did not create a nation except on paper; and too often in the following years the vision of the Founding Fathers, which men had suffered and died to

validate, became merely a daydream ofeasy and

automatic victories, a vulgar delusion of manifest

destiny, a conviction ofa people divinely chosen to live on milk and honey at small expense. The vision had

not been finally submitted to the test ofhistory. There was little awareness of the cost ofhaving a history. The

anguished scrutiny of the meaning ofthe vision in experience had not become a national reality. It became a reality, and we became a nation, only with

the Civil War. The Civil War is our only "felt"

history—history lived in the national imagination.

This is not to say that the War is always, and by all men, felt in the same way. Quite the contrary. But

this fact is an index to the very complexity, depth, and

fundamental significance of the event. It is an

overwhelming and vital image ofhuman and national

experience.

Fully one-third of the recorded events of armed

conflict of the Civil War occurred in Virginia, where the proximity of Washington, D.C., and Richmond—capitals

of the opposed camps—spurred campaign after campaign. The passing of the armies in Virginia left an

indelible impression upon the American cultural landscape, endowing posterity with the resonance of such names as Manassas and Bull Run, Malvern Hill, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Wilderness,

Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg—and others less well rehearsed—Seven Pines, Gaines' Mill, Cedar Run,

Chantilly, North Anna, and Yellow Tavern. Few places associated with the Civil War in Virginia

evoke more recognition or response among students of

the time than the Shenandoah Valley, where a Southern

VMI professor-turned-general named Thomas J. Jackson

defeated three Northern armies in a single month. The

battles of Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862 are known to students of the war, not only in the United States, but

across the world. General Norman Schwarzkopf recently credited Jackson's campaign in a televised interview as one

of the guiding lights behind his strategy in the Middle East. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the "Desert Fox," is said to have been well versed in Stonewall's maxims, and an

apocryphal story has Rommel visiting the Valley and

following in Jackson's footsteps. To this day, the U.S. Army regularly conducts "staff rides" in the Valley for its

23
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

officers, following the course of Jackson's famed "Foot

Cavalry."

Less romantic, less well known than the 1862 campaign, but no less significant, were the events of the war's

later years as the North tried to exorcise the ghost of

Jackson and gain control of the Shenandoah Valley,

Virginia's most important agricultural region. The war

acquired a dark and desperate edge. In October 1864,

Union general Philip Sheridan introduced total warfare to

the Valley, a concept that Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh

Sherman introduced in Mississippi and would bring to Georgia in November and December, during his "March

to the Sea." In Sheridan's words: "I have destroyed over

2,000 barns, filled with wheat, hay, and farming imple- ments; over 70 mills, filled with flour and wheat.... When

this is completed, the Valley from Winchester up to Staunton, ninety-two miles, will have but little in it for man or beast." This bitter month became known to Valley

residents as "The Burning."

Few regions in the United States have experienced the horrors of systematic destruction, and the memories are

still close to the surface for many long-time Valley

residents. Family histories are filled with stories that relate

to the hardships of that time. It took a generation to

repair the ravages of "The Burning" and another generation before life in the Valley returned to its pre-war

condition. There can be found there today a fierce pride

in ancestors who survived the war and who struggled to rebuild all that was lost.

Official chronologies record 326 incidents of armed

conflict in the Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War: 6

battles, 21 engagements, 21 actions, and 278 skirmishes, on the average one conflict every 4-5 days (see Figure 7 and Map 6). This reckoning does not include many of the

raids, ambushes, and partisan affairs that made warfare in the Valley a daily dance with death. More than half of the recorded armed conflicts occurred in the final year of the war. Map 6 shows how these events plot out in terms of

frequency with the reddest areas showing most frequent

fighting and the bluest areas showing least frequent

fighting.

The total numbers of killed and wounded in these

conflicts has never been tallied, nor do the records exist to allow it. Thousands more died in hospitals of disease than

in battle. The Confederate and National Cemeteries at Winchester alone account for nearly 7,500 dead, and it is

difficult to locate a city or private cemetery in the Valley

that does not comment silently on the commitment and

valor of the Valley's soldiers. The history of the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley bears witness to the devastation and waste of warfare, but more importantly, it underscores the irrepressible human

will to survive, to rebuild, to carry on. Lessons which will continue to have relevance for generations to come. The

historic events and the human players of the Valley—the

heroic and the tragic alike—have contributed significantly

to the texture of our American cultural heritage.

24
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Figure 7. A Chronology of Armed Conflict in the Shenandoah Valley

Abstracted from "Chronological List of Battles, Actions, etc. in Which Troops of the Regular Army Have Engaged,

1903." Arrayed by Date, Event, Location, County.

04/18/61, Armory burned, Harpers Ferry, Jefferson 07/ 02/61, Engagement, Falling Waters, Berkeley

07/ 04/61, Skirmish, Harpers Ferry, lefferson 07/15/61, Skirmish, near Bunker Hill, Berkeley

07/21/61, Skirmish, Charles Town, Jefferson

09/ 02/61, Skirmish, Beller's Mill, Jefferson 09/ 09/61, Skirmish, Shepherdstown, Jefferson 09/15/61, Skirmish, Pritchard's Mill, Jefferson

09/ 17/61, Skirmish near, Harpers Ferry, Jefferson

10/ 1 1/ 61, Skirmish, Harpers Ferry, Jefferson

10/ 16/61, Skirmish, Bolivar Heights, Jefferson 03/ 03/ 62, Skirmish, Martinsburg, Berkeley

03/ 05/ 62, Skirmish, Bunker Hill, Berkeley

03/ 07/ 62, Skirmish near, Winchester, Frederick

03/ 11/ 62, Skirmish, Stephenson's Depot, Frederick

03/ 18/ 62, Skirmish, Middletown, Frederick

03/ 19/ 62, Skirmish, Strasburg, Shenandoah

03/ 22/ 62, Skirmish, Kernstown, Frederick

03/ 23/ 62, Battle, Kernstown, Frederick

03/ 25/ 62, Skirmish, Mount Jackson, Shenandoah

04/ 07/ 62, Skirmish, Columbia Furnace, Shenandoah

04/ 12/ 62, Skirmish, Monterey, Highland

04/ 16/ 62, Skirmish, Columbia Furnace, Shenandoah

04/ 17/ 62, Skirmish, Rude's Hill, Shenandoah

04/ 21/ 62, Skirmish, Monterey, Highland

04/ 24/ 62, Skirmish near, Harrisonburg, Rockingham

04/ 25/ 62, Skirmish near, Luray, Page

04/ 26/ 62, Skirmish, Keezletown Road, Rockingham

04/ 27/ 62, Skirmish, McGaheysville, Rockingham

05/ 05/ 62, Skirmish, Columbia Bridge, Page

05/ 06/ 62, Skirmish near, Harrisonburg, Rockingham

05/ 07/ 62, Skirmish, McDowell, Highland

05/ 07/ 62, Skirmish, Somerville Heights, Page

05/ 08/ 62, Engagement, McDowell, Highland

05/ 09/ 62, Skirmish, McDowell, Highland

05/ 12/ 62, Skirmish, Monterey, Highland

05/ 15/ 62, Skirmish, Linden, Warren

05/ 18/ 62, Skirmish, Woodstock, Shenandoah

05/ 19/ 62, Skirmish, South Fork Shenandoah, Page

05/21/ 62, Skirmish, Woodstock, Shenandoah

05/ 23/ 62, Action, Front Royal, Warren

05/ 23/ 62, Skirmish, Buckton Station, Warren

05/ 24/ 62, Skirmish, Linden, Warren

05/ 24/ 62, Skirmish, Strasburg, Shenandoah

05/ 24/ 62, Action, Newtown and Middletown, Frederick

05/ 24/ 62, Skirmish, Berryville, Clarke

05/ 25/ 62, Battle, Winchester, Frederick

05/ 28/ 62, Skirmish, Charles Town, Jefferson 05/ 30/ 62, Action, Front Royal, Warren

05/ 31/ 62, Skirmish near, Front Royal, Warren

06/01/ 62, Skirmish, Mt. Carmel Church, Shenandoah

06/ 02/ 62, Skirmish, Woodstock, Shenandoah

06/ 02/ 62, Skirmish, Strasburg, Shenandoah

06/ 02/ 62, Skirmish, Tom's Brook, Shenandoah

06/ 03/ 62, Skirmish, Mount Jackson, Shenandoah

06/ 06/ 62, Action, Harrisonburg, Rockingham

06/ 06/ 62, Skirmish near, Mount Jackson, Shenandoah

06/ 07/ 62, Skirmish near, Harrisonburg, Rockingham

06/ 08/ 62, Battle, Cross Keys, Rockingham

06/ 09/ 62, Engagement, Port Republic, Rockingham

06/ 1 3/ 62, Skirmish, New Market, Shenandoah

06/ 16/ 62, Skirmish near, Mount Jackson, Shenandoah

06/ 18/ 62, Skirmish near, Winchester, Frederick

06/ 19/ 62, Skirmish near, Winchester, Frederick

07/01/ 62, Skirmish near, Fort Furnace, Shenandoah

07/ 15/ 62, Skirmish near, Middletown, Frederick

09/ 03/ 62, Skirmish near, Martinsburg, Berkeley

09/ 04/ 62, Skirmish, Bunker Hill, Berkeley

09/ 07/ 62, Skirmish, Darkesville, Berkeley

09/ 11/ 62, Skirmish near, Martinsburg, Berkeley

09/ 12-15/ 62, Siege, Harpers Ferry, Jefferson 09/ 19/62, Skirmish, Boteler's Ford, Jefferson 09/ 20/ 62, Action, Shepherdstown, Jefferson 09/ 22/ 62, Skirmish, Ashby Gap, Clarke

09/ 24/ 62, Skirmish, Luray, Page

10/ 16/ 62, Skirmish near, Kearneysville, Jefferson 10/17/ 62, Skirmish near, Kearneysville, Jefferson

10/ 20/ 62, Skirmish, Hedgesville, Berkeley

1 1/ 02/ 62, Skirmish, Castleman's Ferry, Clarke

1 1/ 03/ 62, Skirmish, Castleman's Ferry, Clarke

1 1/ 03/ 62, Skirmish, Ashby Gap, Clarke

1 1/ 06/ 62, Skirmish, Martinsburg, Berkeley

1 1/ 06/ 62, Skirmish, Manassas Gap, Warren

1 1/ 09/ 62, Skirmish, Charles Town, Jefferson

25
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

11/22/62

1 1/ 22/ 62

1 1/ 24/ 62

11/26/62

11/29/62

12/02/62

12/02/62

12/11/62

12/20/62

12/21/62

01/17/63

02/ 06/ 63

02/ 12/ 63

02/ 24/ 63

02/ 26/ 63

02/ 26/ 63

02/ 26/ 63

03/ 19/ 63

04/ 08/ 63

04/13/63

04/ 22/ 63

05/ 16/ 63

05/ 16/ 63

06/ 02/ 63

06/ 06/ 63

06/12/63

06/ 12/ 63

06/ 12/ 63

06/13/63

06/13/63

06/13/63

06/13/63

06/13/63

06/ 13-15/

06/ 14/ 63

06/ 14/ 63

07/ 14/ 63

07/ 14/ 63

07/15/63

07/15/63

07/16/63

07/16/63

07/17/63

07/17/63

07/18/63

07/19/63

07/ 20/ 63

Skirmish, Halltown, Jefferson 07/21/ 63,

Skirmish, near, Winchester, Frederick 07/ 2 1/ 63,

Skirmish, Newtown, Frederick 07/ 22/ 63,

Skirmish, Cockrall's Mills, Jefferson 07/ 22/ 63,

Skirmish, Berryville, Clarke 07/ 23/ 63,

Skirmish, Charles Town, Jefferson 07/ 23/ 63,

Skirmish, Berryville, Clarke 08/ 02/ 63,

Skirmish, Darkesville, Berkeley 08/ 05/ 63,

Skirmish, Halltown, Jefferson 09/ 16/ 63,

Skirmish, Strasburg, Shenandoah 09/21/ 63,

Skirmish, near Newtown, Frederick 10/ 07/ 63,

Skirmish, Millwood, Clarke 10/ 07/ 63,

Skirmish, near Charles Town, Jefferson 10/ 17/ 63,

Skirmish, near Strasburg, Shenandoah 10/ 18/ 63,

Skirmish, near Woodstock, Shenandoah 10/ 18/ 63,

Skirmish, near Strasburg, Shenandoah 1 1/ 16/ 63,

Skirmish, near Winchester, Frederick 1 1/ 16/ 63,

Skirmish, near Winchester, Frederick 1 1/ 16/ 63,

Skirmish, on Millwood Road, Clarke 12/ 12/ 63,

Skirmish, Snicker's Ferry, Clarke 12/13/ 63,

Skirmish, Fisher's Hill, Shenandoah 02/ 02/ 64,

Skirmish, Charles Town, Jefferson 02/ 1 1/ 64,

Skirmish, Berry's Ferry, Clarke 02/ 20/ 64,

Skirmish, near Strasburg, Shenandoah 03/ 10/ 64,

Skirmish, near Berryville, Clarke 03/ 10/ 64,

Skirmish, Cedarville, Warren 04/ 02/ 64,

Skirmish, Newtown, Frederick 04/ 08/ 64,

Skirmish, Middletown, Frederick 04/ 24/ 64,

Skirmish, Opequon Creek, Frederick 05/ 13/ 64,

Skirmish, White Post, Clarke 05/ 1 4/ 64,

Skirmish, Bunker Hill, Berkeley 05/ 14/ 64,

Skirmish, Opequon Creek, Clarke 05/ 15/ 64,

Skirmish, Berryville, Clarke 05/ 15/ 64,

63, Engagement, Winchester, Frederick 05/ 2 1/ 64,

Skirmish, Martinsburg, Berkeley 05/ 22/ 64,

Skirmish, Berryville, Clarke 05/ 24/ 64,

Skirmish, Harpers Ferry, Jefferson 05/ 29/ 64,

Action, Falling Waters, Berkeley 05/ 30/ 64,

Skirmish, Halltown, Jefferson 06/ 05/ 64,

Skirmish, near Shepherdstown, Jefferson 06/ 10/ 64,

Skirmish, Shanghai, Berkeley 06/ 10/ 64,

Action, Shepherdstown, Jefferson 06/ 10/ 64,

Skirmish, North Mountain Station, Berkeley 06/ 10/ 64,

Skirmish, Snicker's Gap, Clarke/ Loudoun 06/ 1 1 / 64,

Skirmish, near Hedgesville, Berkeley 06/ 1 1/ 64,

Skirmish, near Martinsburg, Berkeley 06/ 1 2/ 64,

drmish, near Berry's Ferry, Clarke 06/ 26/ 64,

Skirmish, Manassas Gap, Warren

Skirmish, Chester Gap, Warren

Skirmish, Manassas Gap, Warren

Skirmish, Chester Gap, Warren

Action, Wapping Heights, Warren

Skirmish, near Chester Gap, Warren

Skirmish, Newtown, Frederick

Skirmish, Cold Spring Gap, Frederick

Skirmish, Smithfield, Jefferson Skirmish, Fisher's Hill, Shenandoah

Skirmish, Summit Point, Jefferson Skirmish, Charles Town, Jefferson Skirmish, Berryville, Clarke

Skirmish, Berryville Pike, Clarke

Skirmish, Charles Town, Jefferson Skirmish, Edinburg, Shenandoah

Skirmish, Woodstock, Shenandoah

Skirmish, Mount Jackson, Shenandoah

Skirmish, near Strasburg, Shenandoah

Skirmish, near Strasburg, Shenandoah

Skirmish, near Strasburg, Shenandoah

Raid, B8cO Railroad, Jefferson Skirmish, Front Royal, Warren

Skirmish, near Charles Town, Jefferson Skirmish, Kabletown, Jefferson Skirmish, Stony Creek, Shenandoah

Skirmish, Winchester, Frederick

Skirmish, near Middletown, Frederick

Skirmish, near New Market, Shenandoah

Skirmish, New Market, Shenandoah

Skirmish, Rude's Hill, Shenandoah

Skirmish, near Strasburg, Shenandoah

Engagement, New Market, Shenandoah

Skirmish, Newtown, Frederick

Skirmish, Front Royal, Warren

Skirmish, near Charles Town, Jefferson Skirmish, Newtown, Frederick

Skirmish, Newtown, Frederick

Engagement, Piedmont, Augusta

Skirmish, Brownsburg, Rockbridge

Skirmish, Middlebrook, Augusta

Skirmish, Waynesborough, Augusta

Skirmish, near Kabletown, Jefferson Skirmish, Lexington, Rockbridge

Skirmish, near Midway, Augusta

Skirmish, Cedar Creek, Frederick

Skirmish, Smithfield, Jefferson

26
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

06/ 29/ 64, Skirmish, Charles Town, Jefferson 08/ 25/ 64

06/ 29/ 64, Skirmish, Duffield's Station, Jefferson 08/ 25/ 64

07/ 03/ 64, Skirmish, Leetown, Jefferson 08/ 25/ 64

07/ 03/ 64, Skirmish, Darkesville, Berkeley 08/ 26/ 64

07/ 03/ 64, Skirmish, Martinsburg, Berkeley 08/ 26/ 64

07/ 03/ 64, Skirmish, North Mountain, Berkeley 08/ 27/ 64

07/ 04/ 64, Skirmish, Bolivar Heights, Jefferson 08/ 28/ 64

07/ 17-18/ 64, Engagement, Cool Spring, Clarke 08/ 28/ 64

07/ 1 9/ 64, Skirmish, Bunker Hill, Berkeley 08/ 29/ 64

07/ 1 9/ 64, Skirmish, Darkesville, Berkeley 08/ 29/ 64

07/ 19/ 64, Skirmish, Charles Town, Jefferson 08/ 3 1/ 64

07/ 1 9/ 64, Engagement, Berry's Ferry, Clarke 09/ 1/ 64

07/ 19/ 64, Skirmish, Kabletown, Jefferson 09/ 02/ 64

07/ 20/ 64, Engagement, Rutherford's Farm, Frederick 09/ 02/ 64

07/ 22/ 64, Skirmish, near Berryville, Clarke 09/ 03/ 64

07/ 22/ 64, Skirmish, Newtown, Frederick 09/ 03/ 64

07/ 23/ 64, Skirmish, Kemstown, Frederick 09/ 04/ 64

07/ 24/ 64, Skirmish, Falling Waters, Berkeley 09/ 05/ 64

07/ 24/ 64, Engagement, Kernstown, Frederick 09/ 07/ 64

07/ 25/ 64, Skirmish, Martinsburg, Berkeley 09/ 07/ 64

07/ 25/ 64, Skirmish, Bunker Hill, Berkeley 09/ 1 0/ 64

07/ 26/ 64, Skirmish, Falling Waters, Berkeley 09/ 1 3/ 64

07/ 27/ 64, Skirmish, Back Creek Bridge, Berkeley 09/ 1 3/ 64

07/ 30/ 64, Skirmish, near Shepherdstown, Jefferson 09/ 1 3/ 64

08/ 10/ 64, Skirmish, near Stone Chapel, Clarke 09/ 1 3/ 64

08/ 10/ 64, Skirmish, Berryville Road, Clarke 09/ 14/ 64

08/ 1 1/ 64, Action near, Newtown, Frederick 09/ 15/ 64

08/ 1 1 / 64, Action, Double Toll Gate, Frederick 09/ 1 6/ 64

08/ 1 1/ 64, Skirmish, near Winchester, Frederick 09/ 18/ 64

08/ 1 2/ 64, Skirmish, Cedar Creek, Frederick 09/ 1 9/ 64

08/ 13/ 64, Skirmish, near Strasburg, Shenandoah 09/ 20/ 64

08/ 14/ 64, Skirmish, near Strasburg, Shenandoah 09/ 20/ 64

08/ 1 5/ 64, Skirmish, near Charles Town, Jefferson 09/ 20/ 64

08/ 15/ 64, Skirmish, near Cedar Creek, Shenandoah 09/21/ 64

08/ 16/ 64, Engagement, Guard Hill, Warren 09/ 2 1/ 64

08/ 17/ 64, Engagement, Abrams Creek, Frederick 09/21/ 64

08/ 1 8/ 64, Skirmish, Opequon Creek, Clarke/Frederick 09/ 22/ 64

08/ 19/ 64, Skirmish, Berryville, Clarke 09/ 22/ 64

08/ 20/ 64, Skirmish, Berryville, Clarke 09/ 23/ 64

08/ 20/ 64, Skirmish, Opequon Creek, Clarke/Frederick 09/ 23/ 64

08/ 2 1/ 64, Skirmish, near Berryville, Clarke 09/ 23/ 64

08/ 2 1/ 64, Engagement, Summit Point, Jefferson 09/ 23/ 64

08/ 2 1/ 64, Skirmish, Middleway, Jefferson 09/ 24/ 64

08/21/ 64, Engagement, Cameron's Depot, Jefferson 09/ 24/ 64

08/ 22/ 64, Skirmish, Charles Town, Jefferson 09/ 24/ 64

08/ 23/ 64, Skirmish, Kearneysville, Jefferson 09/ 24/ 64

08/ 24/ 64, Skirmish, Halltown, Jefferson 09/ 24/ 64

, Action, near Shepherdstown, Jefferson

, Action, near Kearneysville, Jefferson

, Skirmish, Halltown, Jefferson

, Skirmish, Charles Town, Jefferson

, Action, Halltown, Jefferson

, Skirmish, Duffield's Station, Jefferson

, Skirmish, Leetown, Jefferson

, Skirmish, Smithfield, Jefferson

, Engagement, Smithfield Crossing, Jefferson

, Skirmish, near Charles Town, Jefferson

, Skirmish, Martinsburg, Berkeley

, Skirmish, Opequon Creek, Clarke/Frederick

, Action, Bunker Hill, Berkeley

, Skirmish, Darkesville, Berkeley

, Action, Bunker Hill, Berkeley

, Engagement, Berryville, Clarke

, Engagement, Berryville, Clarke

, Skirmish, Stephenson's Depot, Frederick

, Skirmish, near Winchester, Frederick

, Skirmish, near Brucetown, Frederick

, Skirmish, Darkesville, Berkeley

, Skirmish, Gilbert's Ford, Clarke / Frederick

, Skirmish, Locke's Ford, Frederick / Clarke

, Skirmish, Bunker Hill, Berkeley

, Skirmish, Abrams Creek, Frederick

, Skirmish, near Berryville, Clarke

, Skirmish, Seiver's Ford, Clarke / Frederick

, Skirmish, Snicker's Gap, Clarke/ Loudoun

, Action, Martinsburg, Berkeley

, Battle, Opequon Creek, Frederick

, Skirmish, Strasburg, Shenandoah

, Skirmish, Middletown, Frederick

, Skirmish, Cedarville, Warren

, Skirmish, Fisher's Hill, Shenandoah

, Skirmish, Front Royal, Warren

, Skirmish, Strasburg, Shenandoah

, Engagement, Milford, Page / Warren

, Battle, Fisher's Hill, Shenandoah

, Skirmish, Woodstock, Shenandoah

, Skirmish, near Edinburg, Shenandoah

, Skirmish, Front Royal, Warren

, Skirmish, Mount Jackson, Shenandoah

, Skirmish, Forest Hill, Rockingham

, Skirmish, Mount Jackson, Shenandoah

, Skirmish, near New Market, Rockingham

, Skirmish, New Market, Shenandoah

, Skirmish, Forest Hill, Shenandoah

27
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

09/ 26/ 64, Skirmish, Weyer's Cave, Augusta 1 0/ 25/ 64,

09/ 26/ 64, Skirmish, Port Republic, Rockingham 1 0/ 26/ 64,

09/ 26/ 64, Skirmish, Port Republic, Rockingham 1 0/ 28/ 64,

09/ 26/ 64, Skirmish, Brown's Gap, Rockingham 1 1 / 07/ 64,

09/ 27/ 64, Skirmish, Weyer's Cave, Augusta 1 1/ 10/ 64,

09/ 27/ 64, Skirmish, Port Republic, Rockingham 1 1 / 1 1 / 64

09/ 28/ 64, Skirmish, Waynesborough, Augusta 1 1/ 12/ 64,

09/ 28/ 64, Skirmish, Rockfish Gap, Augusta 1 1 / 1 2/ 64,

09/ 28/ 64, Skirmish, Port Republic, Rockingham 1 1 / 1 2/ 64,

1 0/ 02/ 64, Skirmish, Bridgewater, Rockingham 1 1 / 20/ 64,

1 0/ 02/ 64, Skirmish, Mt. Crawford, Rockingham 1 1 / 22/ 64,

10/ 03/ 64, Skirmish, Mount Jackson, Shenandoah 1 1/ 22/ 64,

1 0/ 03/ 64, Skirmish, North River, Rockingham 1 1 / 1 2/ 64,

1 0/ 04/ 64, Skirmish, North River, Rockingham 1 1 / 24/ 64,

1 0/ 05/ 64, Skirmish, North River, Rockingham 1 1 / 29/ 64,

10/ 06/ 64, Skirmish, near Brock's Gap, Rockingham 1 1/ 30/ 64,

10/ 07/ 64, Skirmish, Columbia Furnace, Shenandoah 1 1/ 30/ 64,

1 0/ 07/ 64, Skirmish, on Back Road, Shenandoah 1 2/ 2 1 / 64,

10/ 08/ 64, Skirmish, Luray Valley, Page 02/ 03/ 65,

10/ 08/ 64, Skirmish, Tom's Brook, Shenandoah 03/ 01/ 65,

10/ 09/ 64, Engagement, Tom's Brook, Shenandoah 03/ 02/ 65,

10/13/ 64, Engagement, Hupp's Hill, Frederick 03/ 05/65,

10/13/ 64, Skirmish, Hupp's Hill, Shenandoah 03/ 07/ 65,

10/ 14/ 64, Skirmish, Strasburg, Shenandoah 03/ 07/ 65,

10/19/ 64, Battle, Cedar Creek, Frederick 03/ 1 3/ 65,

10/ 20/ 64, Skirmish, Fisher's Hill, Shenandoah 03/ 14/ 65,

10/ 23/ 64, Skirmish, Dry Run, Warren 03/ 21/ 65,

Skirmish, Milford, Page / Warren

Skirmish, Milford, Page / Warren

Skirmish, Newtown, Frederick

Skirmish, near Edinburg, Shenandoah

Skirmish, near Kernstown, Frederick

Skirmish, near Kernstown, Frederick

Action, Newtown, Frederick

Skirmish, Cedar Creek, Shenandoah

Action, Cedar Creek, Frederick

Skirmish, Kabletown, Jefferson Action, Rude's Hill, Shenandoah

Skirmish, Front Royal, Warren

Action, Ninevah, Warren

Skirmish, Parkins Mill, Frederick

Skirmish, Charles Town, Jefferson Skirmish, Snicker's Gap, Clarke/ Loudoun

Skirmish, Kabletown, Jefferson Action, Lacey Springs, Rockingham

Skirmish, Charles Town, Jefferson Skirmish, Mt. Crawford, Rockingham

Engagement, Waynesborough, Augusta

Skirmish, Harrisonburg, Rockingham

Skirmish, near Mount Jackson, Shenandoah

Skirmish, Rude's Hill, Shenandoah

Skirmish, near Charles Town, Jefferson Skirmish, Woodstock, Shenandoah

Skirmish, near Fisher's Hill, Shenandoah

Map 5 shows the road network in the Lower and Middle Shenandoah Valley as represented on the Jedediah Hotchkiss

Valley Map (1862-1863). Hotchkiss left the vicinity of Winchester uncompleted. The Hotchkiss map, measuring 3 feet by 8 feet, has been reduced to computerized format and will be available in a GIS computer database to be developed at an appropriate facility in the Shenandoah Valley.

Map 6 is a GIS product displaying the frequency of conflict in the Shenandoah Valley throughout four years of warfare. The reddest areas are those of most frequent conflict. The bluest areas are those of least frequent conflict. The 326 events catalogued in Figure 7 were used to produce this map. No attempt was made to weigh the events according to size or

ferocity of the encounter. Notice the large cluster of events in the region south of Winchester, centered on the Valley

"chokepoint" of Fisher's Hill at the head of Masanutten Mountain.

28
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Geography and Strategic

Importance of the Valley

The Shenandoah Valley is that portion of the Great

Valley of Virginia that is drained by the Shenandoah River

and its affluents. The Valley extends on a southwest to

northeast bearing, from its headwaters north of Lexington

to the Potomac River, a distance of about 140 miles. For

convenience, the Valley can be said to extend from

Lexington to the Potomac River, although the watershed

in the immediate vicinity of Lexington drains south to the

James River. The Shenandoah Valley is bounded on the northwest

by North Mountain, the first range of the Allegheny

Mountains, and on the southeast by the Blue Ridge, which

separates the Valley from the Piedmont region and coastal

plain of eastern Virginia. The distance from Washington

to the Blue Ridge at Snickers Gap is about fifty-five miles; from Richmond to the Blue Ridge is about a hundred. At

its widest, the Valley is nearly twenty-five miles across. North of the Potomac River, the Valley continues into Maryland and Pennsylvania with a similar configuration,

but there it is called the Cumberland Valley, and the Blue

Ridge is named South Mountain.

The Shenandoah Valley encompasses two counties in West Virginia: Berkeley and Jefferson; and seven counties

in Virginia: Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Shenandoah, Page,

Rockingham, and Augusta. Highland County has been

included in the study region because of its intimate

association with Jackson's 1862 Campaign, even though it

is beyond North Mountain. Berkeley, Jefferson, Frederick,

Clarke, and Warren counties are referred to as the Lower

(downstream) Valley; while the counties south of

Strasburg are called the Upper Valley.

The Shenandoah Valley's unique feature is Massanutten Mountain, a complex ridge that extends for some fifty miles through its middle, from Strasburg

southwest to Harrisonburg. Throughout its length, the Massanutten divides the Valley into two smaller valleys,

the main or Strasburg Valley, which is drained by the North Fork Shenandoah River, and the narrower Page or Luray Valley, drained by the South Fork Shenandoah

River. Just south of Strasburg, the main Valley is only

about five miles across, while on the far side of the Massanutten, the Luray Valley funnels down to a width of

less than a mile and a half at the town of Overall (antebellum Milford).

Streams and Rivers

From the general vicinity of Lexington, a series of

small streams flows northerly, these combine to form the South River near Waynesboro, the Middle River near

Staunton, and the North River near Bridgewater. The

North and Middle rivers conjoin west of Grottoes, and the South River merges a few miles downstream at Port Republic to form the South Fork Shenandoah River. Port

Republic marked the upstream limit for seasonal navigation of the river, hence its name. The South Fork flows down the Luray or Page Valley to Front Royal.

The North Fork Shenandoah River arises from the many small streams that spring from Shenandoah and

North Mountain west and south of Timberville. The

river's largest tributary—Smith Creek—joins near Rude's

Hill at Mt. Jackson. Two other important tributaries join

farther downstream—Stony Creek at Edinburg and

Narrow Passage Creek near Woodstock. From here the

river meanders northeast through a series of incised meanders, known as "Seven Bends." At Strasburg, the North Fork turns abruptly east across the head of the Massanutten, where it is joined by Cedar Creek. At Front

Royal the North and South forks conjoin, forming the Shenandoah River proper, now several hundred yards

wide. From Front Royal, the Shenandoah flows steadily to

the northeast along the flank of the Blue Ridge to empty

into the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry. At the time of

the Civil War, locks on the Potomac River allowed access

to the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal, which carried

canal boat traffic to Georgetown.

For the last forty miles of its journey to the Potomac,

the Shenandoah River is paralleled on the west by a meandering, high-banked stream called Opequon Creek,

or simply the Opequon (Oh-PECK-n) which arises in the

vicinity of Winchester and drains the western portion of

the Lower Valley, emptying into the Potomac River.

Valley Turnpikes, Roads, and Gaps

The Valley Map of cartographer Jedediah Hotchkiss

(produced 1862-1863) reveals an intricate web of turnpikes and farm roads within the Valley, reflecting its

densely settled agricultural character at the time of the

Civil War. In most places, the modern network of State and county roads is congruent with the historic network.

The primary historic Valley highways and roads are in use

today. (See Maps 3 and 5.)

29
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

The major northeast-southwest thoroughfare of the Shenandoah Valley at the time of the Civil War was the

Valley Turnpike, which extended from the Potomac River

at Williamsport via Martinsburg, Winchester,

Middletown, Strasburg, New Market, Harrisonburg,

Staunton, and Fairfield to Lexington. This road is one of

the oldest and most historic transportation routes in America. In prehistoric times, Indians followed buffalo herds along its route. Later it was referred to as the Warrior Trace. The first settlers entered the Valley from

Maryland, crossed the Potomac River at Williamsport,

Shepherdstown, and Harpers Ferry, and followed the road

south. In the 18th century, it was part of the Great Wagon

Road, which ran from Philadelphia to the back country of

the Carolinas and the Cumberland Gap. When it was

incorporated as the Valley Turnpike (a toll road) in the

1 9th century, it had already contributed mightily to the settlement of the American frontier. In the 20th century,

first US 1 1 and then 1-81 were laid out to follow its course.

In the 19th century, the Valley Turnpike was part of a

fledgling State transportation network of turnpikes, local roads, railroads, and canals. It boasted a macadamized

surface that enabled travel in wet weather. The army that controlled this road had the advantage of being able to move swiftly up or down the Valley, while its enemies

bogged down on the muddy side roads. Not surprisingly,

most of the Shenandoah Valley's battles and smaller engagements were fought somewhere along the Valley

Turnpike. Two dirt roads ran parallel with the Turnpike

for most of the distance between Winchester and

Staunton, and these roads were used extensively in conjunction with troop movements along the Turnpike.

The Back Road, which skirted the flank of Little North

Mountain, was known for years as the Cattle Road after the herds that were once driven north along its route to market. The Middle Road traced a meandering course between the Back Road and the Valley Turnpike. These

routes today are followed by paved county roads. The placement of the major east-west routes through

the Valley depended on the location of gaps through the Blue Ridge on the east and through the Alleghenies on the

west. The Blue Ridge gaps were low and relatively numerous, while only a few natural gaps in the North

Mountain of the Alleghenies allowed settlers to penetrate

farther into the interior. Roads were built through these gaps to carry traffic into West Virginia and to the Ohio

River. The modern road network utilizes many of these

natural gap

Winchester was a vital transportation hub in the Lower Valley (see Figure 8). Including the Valley Turnpike (sometimes known as the Martinsburg Turnpike

north of town), nine important roads or turnpikes

radiated from the city. North of town, the Old Charles

Town Road (rte. 761) diverged from the Valley Turnpike

at Stephenson's Depot, leading to Harpers Ferry via Summit Point and Charles Town. The "Berryville"

turnpike (modern VA 7 east) led through Snicker's Gap to Bluemont (antebellum Snickersville) where branches

continued to the seaport of Alexandria via Leesburg

(Leesburg and Snicker's Gap Turnpike, Leesburg and

Alexandria Turnpike) and through Aldie (Snicker's Gap

Turnpike) to Fairfax Courthouse on the Little River

Turnpike. From Winchester, the Winchester and Berry's

Ferry Turnpike (US 50 east) ran southeast through

Ashby's Gap. The Front Royal and Gaines's Crossroads

Turnpike (US 522 south) led south to the town of Front

Royal. Middle Road (rte. 628) led south to Strasburg and

Cedar Creek Grade or Cedar Creek Turnpike (rte. 622) led southwest to Cedar Creek Gap. The North Western

Turnpike (US 50 west) left the Valley by Petticoat Gap on

its way to Romney. just beyond the gap, the Hardy and

Winchester Turnpike (rte. 608 south) diverged southwest

to Moorefield in Hardy County via Wardensville. The

North Frederick Turnpike (US 522 north) led west and

north to Hancock, Maryland.

Because of its strategic location in the Lower Valley,

Winchester changed hands an estimated 72 times during

the war, as the armies repeatedly advanced and receded.

Five major battles (three at Winchester, two at Kernstown) and many smaller engagements (including Rutherford's Farm and Abrams Creek) were fought in the

vicinity. Front Royal, situated at the confluence of the North

and South forks of the Shenandoah River at the head of

the Massanutten, was a second important transportation

node. In addition to the turnpikes leading north to Winchester and Berryville, roads ran west to intersect the Valley Turnpike at Strasburg (VA 55 west), east through

Manassas Gap to join the Warrenton Turnpike at

Gainesville (VA 55 east), and southeast through Chester

Gap to Massie's Corner (US 522 south). The Luray and

Front Royal Turnpike (US 340) led southwest through

Page County along the course of the South Fork to Luray.

From Luray, the New Market and Sperryville Turnpike (US 21 1 east) crossed Thornton's Gap to Sperryville,

where roads branched northeast to Warrenton and

30
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

southeast to Culpeper Courthouse. Heading west from

Luray, the turnpike crossed Massanutten Mountain to New Market, from where it continued (VA 21 1 and 259)

to Brock's Gap in Little North Mountain. The Luray Road

(US 340) continued south to Waynesboro via Shenandoah, Elkton, and Port Republic.

Harrisonburg, situated on the Valley Turnpike near

the base of Massanutten Mountain, was an important

crossroads (See Figure 9). The Swift Run Gap Turnpike

(US 33 east) passed along the base of the Massanutten via

Elkton over Swift Run Gap to Gordonsville. From

Harrisonburg, a road (US 33 west) led into the Alleghenies

through Dry River Gap to Franklin, West Virginia. The

Warm Springs Turnpike (VA 42) led southwest into Bath

County. An important Blue Ridge crossing in this area, which led from Port Republic through Brown's Gap (rte.

663) to Charlottesville, no longer carries modern traffic. From Harrisonburg, the Valley Turnpike (US 1

south) continued to Staunton where it intersected the major east-west thoroughfare of the Upper Valley—the "Parkersburg Road" (US 250). This road actually comprised three turnpikes on its course from central Virginia

to Parkersburg, West Virginia. From Charlottesville, the Rivanna and Rockfish Gap Turnpike led to the gap where

it entered the Staunton and Scottsville Turnpike, leading

to the city. From Staunton west, the Staunton and

Parkersburg Turnpike passed through Buffalo Gap to

reach Parkersburg via McDowell and Monterey.

Staunton's location at the intersections of the Valley

Turnpike, the Parkersburg Road, and the Virginia Central

Railroad, made it the most vital transportation center of

the Upper Valley. It was an important supply and staging

area for Confederate armies operating in the Valley until

the summer and fall of 1864, when it was repeatedly

ravaged by Union forces. Deserving notice are several other Blue Ridge gaps, which are sometimes mentioned in historic accounts. Seven miles south of Harpers Ferry is Keyes Gap, crossed by VA 9 from Charles Town into Loudoun County. Six

miles farther south is Gregory's or Wilson Gap, which is no longer in use. Between Chester Gap and Thornton's

Gap above Luray, were two minor gaps, which are not in

use today—Gravelly Spring and Beham's gaps. East of

Waynesboro near Rockfish Gap is a cluster of little-used gaps—Turk's, Jarman's, and Beagle. Farther south are Howardsville Gap, Reed's Gap (rte. 664), and Indian or

White's Gap (US 60 east), which carries the road from

Lexington and eventually to Richmond.

Of these many gaps, Snickers, Ashby's, Manassas,

Chester, Swift Run, Brown's, Thornton's, and Rockfish gaps are most often mentioned in Civil War literature.

Valley Railroads

Crucial for understanding military operations in the Shenandoah Valley were the railroads. By 1860, about

1,600 miles of railroads had been built in Virginia. The

Baltimore & Ohio (B&O), Winchester & Potomac

(W&P), and Manassas Gap railroads traversed the Lower

Valley; while the Virginia Central served the Upper Valley.

The most important of these railroads in terms of volume

of traffic was the B&O Railroad, which ran from Baltimore

to Wheeling, West Virginia, via Harpers Ferry, Martinsburg, and Grafton. The B&O served as a major

east-west transportation artery for the North and re- mained in Federal hands on-and-off for most of the war. As a vital rail, river, and canal junction, Harpers Ferry was occupied by the Confederacy early in the war and later

served as Union general Philip H. Sheridan's principal

base of operations for his 1864 campaign. The Confederates raided the B&O throughout the war at Harper's Ferry,

Duffield's Depot, Martinsburg, and elsewhere. The B&O

was severed repeatedly, but the North's ability to repair

damage and keep the trains running outstripped the

South's ability to disrupt the railroad. When West

Virginia was admitted into the Union in 1863, the West

Virginia Panhandle (Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan

counties) was added to the new State in a bid to maintain

control of the B&O Railroad, even though most of the

citizens of those counties supported the Southern cause. The W&P Railroad ran from Winchester to Harpers

Ferry via Charles Town, a distance of 32 miles. Farther

south, the Manassas Gap Railroad ran 78 miles from near Mt. Jackson via Strasburg, Front Royal, and Manassas Gap

to Manassas Junction where it joined the Orange &

Alexandria Railroad (O&A). Before the war, these

railroads carried the produce of the Lower Valley to the markets of Baltimore and Washington. By 1862, both the W&P and the Manassas Gap had been thoroughly

dismantled. The Union army made some attempt to

repair these railroads in 1864 but abandoned the effort because of the activities of Col. John S. Mosby and his

partisan rangers. Serving the Upper Valley, the Virginia Central

Railroad ran more than 195 miles from Jackson's River

Depot near Covington to Richmond—via Buffalo Gap to

31
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Staunton and via Rockfish Gap Tunnel to Charlottesville and beyond. Between Charlottesville and Gordonsville,

the Virginia Central used the same tracks as the O&A,

enabling connections to Lynchburg and points south, or Culpeper, Manassas, and Alexandria to the north. From

Gordonsville, the Virginia Central continued east via Hanover Junction to Richmond. This railroad carried

vital supplies from the Valley to the Confederate capital

(with disruptions) well into 1864. Although not geographically part of the Shenandoah

Valley, Lynchburg served as a major rail and canal center,

supply depot, and hospital complex for the Confederacy.

Produce from the Upper Valley could be shipped there by

road or stream and thence to Richmond on the Jarnes River Canal, the Southside Railroad, or the O&A Railroad

via Charlottesville and Gordonsville. The Southside

Railroad linked Richmond with the western Confederacy

through its connections with the Virginia & Tennessee

Railroad. The Southside Railroad continued to supply

Richmond, with interruptions from Federal raiders, until the Battle of Five Forks ( 1 April 1865).

32
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

• s 10

i Scale of Miles

m

Aldie

Figure 8. Historic Features of the Lower Valley

33
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Figure 9. Historic Features of the Upper Valley

34
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Overview of Military Strategy

in the Shenandoah Valley

Throughout the Civil War, Confederate armies used

the Shenandoah Valley as a natural corridor to invade or

threaten invasion of the North. Because of its southwestnortheast orientation, Confederate armies marching down

the Valley approached Washington and Baltimore, while

Union armies marching up the Valley moved farther away

from Richmond. The Blue Ridge served as a natural

screen for the movement of troops. By defending the gaps

with cavalry, Confederate armies could move swiftly north

behind the protective wall of the Blue Ridge into Maryland and Pennsylvania; Gen. Robert E. Lee did this in the Gettysburg Campaign in 1863, as did lubal Early in 1864. The Blue Ridge offered similar protection to Lee's army

during its retreats from Antietam and Gettysburg.

When the need arose, Confederate defenders could

hold the gaps in reverse against a Union army operating in the Valley. By withdrawing to the Blue Ridge near Brown's Gap to protect Charlottesville and eastern

Virginia, the Confederates could threaten the flank and

rear of any Union forces intent on penetrating the Upper

Valley. The western gaps in the Allegheny chain were

defended by Confederates against sporadic Union feints and incursions from West Virginia.

On the whole, Confederate armies succeeded in preventing deep Union penetration of the Upper Valley

until late in the war, and Valley geography cooperated

with the defense. Where the Massanutten Mountain rises abruptly between Front Royal and Strasburg, the width of

the Valley is greatly decreased. With strong infantry at

Fisher's Hill in the main valley south of Strasburg and

cavalry at Overall (antebellum Milford) in the Luray

Valley, a Confederate general could effectively hold the Upper Valley against a numerically superior enemy.

Fisher's Hill astride the Valley Turnpike was an important

strategic "choke point" throughout the war.

If Confederate generals chose to withdraw up the

Valley Turnpike from Fisher's Hill, any pursuing Union

general was forced to split his forces at the Massanutten in order to cover an advance up both the main and the Luray

valleys. Once divided, he could not again reunite his forces for more than fifty miles because of the intervening

mountain. Only a single rough road crossed the Massanutten—running from New Market to Luray

through the New Market Gap.

Stonewall Jackson used Massanutten Mountain to screen his offensive movements in the 1862 Valley

Campaign. Crossing from New Market to the Luray

Valley in May, he advanced on Front Royal and then on

Winchester, forcing the Union army, then at Strasburg,

into abrupt withdrawal. Later in the campaign, he

prevented two Union columns advancing against him up

the main and Luray valleys from reuniting and defeated each separately in the climax of his campaign at the battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic.

The Shenandoah Valley was referred to as the "Granary of Virginia." It was the richest agricultural region in Virginia, and its abundance supplied the Confederate

cause. Because a large number of the inhabitants of

Frederick, Shenandoah, Rockingham, and Augusta

counties were pacifist Quakers or Dunkers who refused to

fight in the war, the Valley continued to produce horses,

grains, and livestock even after other portions of Virginia were made barren by the flight of slaves or the enlistment

and conscription of the farmers. As the war continued,

the City of Richmond and the Army of Northern Virginia,

pinned down in the trenches at Richmond and Peters- burg, came to depend more heavily on produce shipped

from the Valley on the Virginia Central Railroad. Capturing the supply depot of Staunton and severing this railroad became a major objective of the Union armies in 1864. As the war progressed, Lynchburg, too, became an

important objective of Union campaigns in the Valley. In 1864, several expeditions—up the Valley from Winchester, and north from Bulls Gap, Tennessee—were devised

to capture Lynchburg, but the city remained in Confederate hands until the end of the war. For the Union, defending the vulnerable B&O

Railroad and the line of the Potomac River were essential considerations for any operations in the Shenandoah

Valley. Because of implicit threats against Washington, a small Confederate army in the Valley could pin down

three to five times its number in Union defenders, threaten vital Union transportation and communication

lines, and carry the war to the North, if opportunity

presented itself. As the war dragged on, the Shenandoah Valley

increased in importance to the Southern cause, and

correspondingly it became more urgent that the Northern

armies succeed there after dramatic failures in 1862, 1863,

and May 1864. Ultimately, the Northern army was forced

to lay waste to the agricultural abundance of the Valley in order to destroy support for the Southern war effort.

35
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Valley Campaigns 1861-1865

Actions in 1861

After the bombardment of Fort Sumter, South

Carolina, and President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers, Virginia seceded on April 17, 1861 . At once,

Virginia State militia moved to secure the railroad assets, musket factories, and the Federal armory and arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Although Union forces attempted to burn

the facilities, most of the rifle-musket manufacturing

equipment was salvaged and shipped south to bolster the Confederate ordnance effort. Former VMI professor

Thomas J. Jackson assumed command of a newly formed

brigade at Harpers Ferry in the spring and moved to consolidate Confederate strength in the area. In July 1861,

Confederate reinforcements traveled from the Shenandoah Valley to Manassas Junction on the Manassas

Gap Railroad to reach the fighting at Bull Run, marking

the first time in modern warfare that troops were moved

by train to a battlefield. On the battlefield of Manassas,

Jackson earned the sobriquet "Stonewall." Although the remainder of the year saw sporadic

skirmishing and an engagement at Falling Waters along

the Potomac River, most of the fighting during the summer and fall of 1861 occurred farther to the west. During this time, Confederate forces gradually lost

political and military control of the counties that would

later be incorporated into the new state of West Virginia.

In winter 1861-1862, Jackson conducted a campaign

against Union forces at Romney, West Virginia.

Jackson's Valley Campaign (March-June 1862)

Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson's Valley Campaign of

1862 is one of the most studied campaigns of military

history. This campaign demonstrates how a numerically

inferior force can defeat larger forces by fast movement,

surprise attack, and intelligent use of the terrain. In March 1862, as a Federal force under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel

Banks began to advance cautiously up the Valley, General

Jackson retreated to Mount Jackson where he could

defend the Valley Turnpike. His task was two-fold—to prevent deep penetration into the Valley and to tie down

as many opposing forces as possible. When he learned

that Banks was ready to detach part of his force to assist the Army of the Potomac then being concentrated on the Peninsula to threaten Richmond, Jackson marched down

the Turnpike and fought a battle at Kernstown on March

23. Although defeated, Jackson's aggressive move convinced Washington that Confederate forces in the Valley

posed a real threat to Washington, and Maj. Gen. George

B. McClellan, with his army preparing to move on

Richmond, was denied reinforcements at a critical moment in the Peninsular Campaign.

In late April, Jackson left part of his enlarged com- mand under Maj. Gen. Richard S. Ewell to confront Banks

and marched with about 9,000 men through Staunton to meet a second Union army under Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont, whose vanguard approached on the Parkersburg

Road from western Virginia. Banks was convinced that Jackson was leaving the Valley to join the Confederate

army at Richmond. But on May 8, Jackson turned up to defeat two brigades of Fremont's force, under Brig. Gens. Robert Milroy and Robert Schenck, at McDowell. He

then marched swiftly back to unite with Ewell against

Banks. On May 23, Jackson overran a detached Union

force at Front Royal and advanced toward Winchester,

threatening to cut off the Union army that was concentrated around Strasburg. After a running battle on the 24th along the Valley Turnpike from Middletown to Newtown (Stephens City), Banks made a stand on the heights south of Winchester. On May 25, Jackson

attacked and overwhelmed the Union defenders, who

broke and fled in a panic to the Potomac River. Banks was

reinforced and again started up the Valley Turnpike,

intending to link up with Brig. Gen. James Shields's Union

division near Strasburg. Shields's division spearheaded the march of Irwin McDowell's corps recalled from

Fredericksburg, while Fremont's army converged on

Strasburg from the west. Jackson withdrew, narrowly

avoiding being cut off from his line of retreat by these converging columns.

The Union armies now began a two-prong offensive

against Jackson. Fremont's troops advanced up the Valley

Turnpike while Shields's column marched up the Luray

Road along the South Fork. At this point nearly 25,000 men were being brought to bear on Jackson's 1 7,000. Jackson's cavalry commander, Brig. Gen. Turner Ashby

was killed while fighting a rear guard action near Harrisonburg on June 6. Jackson concentrated his forces near the bridge at Port

Republic, situating himself between the two Union

columns that were separated by the mountain and the rain-swollen Shenandoah South Fork. On June 8, Fremont attacked Ewell's division at Cross Keys but was

36
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

driven back. The next morning (June 9), Jackson with his remaining force attacked Shields east and north of Port

Republic, while Ewell withdrew from Fremont's front burning the bridge behind him. Ewell joined with Jackson

to defeat Shields. Both Union forces retreated, freeing Jackson's army to reinforce the Confederate army at Richmond.

In five weeks, Jackson's army had marched more than

650 miles and inflicted more than 7,000 casualties, at a

cost of only 2,500. More importantly, Jackson's campaign

had tied up Union forces three times his strength. Jackson's victories infused new hope and enthusiasm for the Confederate cause, and materially contributed to the

defeat of McClellan's campaign against Richmond. (See

Map 7, showing incidents of conflict and battlefield study

areas associated with the Jackson's 1862 campaign.)

Lee's Maryland Campaign (September 1862)

After decisively defeating the Union Army of Virginia

under Maj. Gen. John Pope at Second Manassas (August

28-30) and fighting a drawn battle at Chantilly (September

1), General Lee invaded Maryland. Lee's advance was one arm of a great Confederate offensive that extended along a thousand-mile front from Tidewater Virginia to the Indian Territory in the west.

Lee's Army of Northern Virginia crossed the Potomac

north of Leesburg and concentrated at Frederick, Maryland, on September 9. While there, Lee learned that Pope

had been removed from command, and McClellan again

had assumed overall control. He also discovered that Union garrisons in the Lower Shenandoah Valley at Martinsburg and Harpers Ferry had not withdrawn as had

been anticipated. Lee could not continue his invasion

with these troops sitting on his supply line. He audaciously divided his army and prepared to move deeper

into the North while simultaneously investing Harpers

Ferry.In the next few days, Jackson's "Foot Cavalry"

marched via Williamsport and Martinsburg to approach

Harpers Ferry from the west. Three other divisions occupied the heights to the north and east of the town,

surrounding the defenders. Lee left a division of infantry

and the cavalry to hold the South Mountain passes in the

face of any Union advance. The plan unfolded flawlessly

until a copy of Lee's orders outlining the movements fell into Union hands. McClellan then advanced from

Frederick, hoping to defeat the Confederate army in detail.

The US army wrested control of the South Mountain

passes, but on September 15, 12,000 Union soldiers at Harpers Ferry surrendered to Jackson, even as McClellan

moved west to confront Lee at Sharpsburg. At dawn on

September 17, the Union army launched a powerful

assault on Lee's left flank that began the bloodiest day in American military history. Although outnumbered twoto-one, Lee battled McClellan's army to a standstill. In one day's fighting, the two armies suffered a combined

total of more than 23,000 casualties (killed, wounded,

missing, captured). In spite of crippling casualties, Lee continued to face McClellan throughout the 18th, while

skirmishing. After dark, Lee ordered the battered Army of

Northern Virginia to withdraw across the Potomac to the

safety of the Shenandoah Valley. When McClellan failed

to pursue Lee's army, President Lincoln relieved him of

command.

Gettysburg Campaign (June-July 1863)

Union defeats at Fredericksburg in December 1862

and Chancellorsville in May 1863 gave General Lee the

initiative, and he moved again to invade the North. After the cavalry battle at Brandy Station on June 9, Lt. Gen.

Richard S. Ewell's Second Corps of the Army of Northern

Virginia, which included Stonewall Jackson's old command, was assigned the task of clearing Union forces out

of the Valley. This he accomplished at Second Winchester

(June 13-15), defeating (and nearly destroying) a Union

division under Brig. Gen. Robert Milroy. With cavalry

holding the Shenandoah Valley gaps, the Confederate

army marched behind the screening Blue Ridge into Maryland and then penetrated deep into Pennsylvania.

Maj. Gen. George G. Meade replaced Maj. Gen. Joseph

Hooker as commander of the Army of the Potomac and

brought the invading Confederate army to battle at the crossroads town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on July 1. After two days of fierce fighting in which Union forces were driven back, General Lee attempted to break the

center of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. The Pickett- Pettigrew Assault, or "Pickett's Charge" as it is known, was

bloodily repulsed, and General Lee was forced to retreat on July 4, the same day that Confederate forces surren- dered to Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Vicksburg. The

battle of Gettysburg, the most sanguinary battle of the war,

resulted in more than 50,000 casualties and a loss of

Confederate manpower that could not be replaced.

The Confederate army reached the rain-swollen

37
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Potomac River at Williamsport on July 6 but could not

recross until the 14th, when it returned to the Shenandoah

Valley. During the retreat, Confederate forces defended

the passes of the Blue Ridge, allowing Lee's defeated army

to withdraw with little molestation. Meade's Army of the Potomac came close to penetrating Lee's defensive screen only once—at Manassas Gap east of Front Royal on July

23. But the inability of the Federal army to coordinate

their attacks allowed the Confederate army to escape to the vicinity of Culpeper Courthouse. (See Map 8, showing

incidents of conflict and battlefield study areas associated with the the 1863 Gettysburg campaign.)

Lynchburg Campaign (May-June 1864)

In March 1864, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant assumed

overall command of the Union armies, east and west. In May, he ordered Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel to cooperate with

the Army of the Potomac's spring offensive by advancing

up the Valley to disrupt Confederate communications at Staunton and Charlottesville. On May 15, while Grant

and Lee were locked in desperate combat at Spotsylvania

Courthouse, Sigel made contact with a Confederate force under former vice president of the United States John C. Breckinridge at New Market. Sigel was defeated and

retreated rapidly beyond Strasburg, crossing Cedar Creek

by dusk on May 16. Grant then replaced Sigel with Maj.

Gen. David "Black Dave" Hunter, who was given the task of cutting the Virginia Central Railroad.

In the meantime, Breckinridge's division had been

called east to reinforce the Army of Northern Virginia at Hanover Junction, and Brig. Gen. William E. "Grumble"

Jones assumed command of the remaining Confederate

forces in the Valley. On June 5, Hunter crushed the smaller Confederate army at Piedmont, killing Jones and

taking nearly 1,000 prisoners. The disorganized Confederates could do nothing to delay Hunter's advance to Staunton, where he was joined by reinforcements marching from West Virginia.

From Staunton, Hunter continued south, sporadically

destroying mills, barns, and public buildings, and condoning widespread looting by his troops. On June 11, Hunter

swept aside a small cavalry force and occupied Lexington,

where he burned the Virginia Military Institute and the home of former Virginia Governor John Letcher. Hunter's successes forced Lee to return Breckinridge and

to send the Second Corps of the Army of Northern

Virginia under Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early to the defense of

Lynchburg. Sending Early to the Valley was a desperate

decision that restricted Lee's ability to undertake offensive operations against Grant on the Richmond-Petersburg front. On the afternoon of June 17, Hunter's army reached

the outskirts of Lynchburg, even as Early's vanguard began

to arrive by rail from Charlottesville. After a brief, but

fierce engagement, Hunter retreated into West Virginia.

Early pursued for two days, but then returned to the Valley and started his troops north to the Potomac River. (See Map 9, showing incidents of conflict and battlefield study areas associated with the 1864 Lynchburg campaigns.)

Early's Maryland Campaign (June-August 1864)

Hunter's retreat left the Shenandoah Valley virtually

undefended, and Early moved swiftly north, reaching

Winchester by July 2. General Sigel, commanding a reserve division, withdrew to Maryland Heights at Harpers Ferry, offering little resistance. On July 4, Early

confronted Sigel but then determined to turn the position

by crossing the Potomac and moving over South Mountain to Frederick, Maryland. On July 9, Early defeated a

hastily organized Union force under Maj. Gen. Lew

Wallace at the Monocacy River. Wallace retreated toward

Baltimore, leaving open the road to Washington, but his defeat had bought valuable time. On the afternoon of July 11, Early's command,

numbering no more than 12,000 infantry, demonstrated

before the Washington fortifications, which were weakly

manned by garrison troops. Veteran reinforcements (VI

and XIX Corps), diverted from Grant's army to meet the

threat on the capital, began arriving at mid-day, and by

July 12, fully manned the Washington entrenchments.

After a brief demonstration at Fort Stevens, Early called off an attack on the capital. The Confederate army withdrew

that night, recrossed the Potomac River at White's Ford

and reentered the Valley by Snickers Gap. Maj. Gen.

Horatio Wright, commanding the pursuing Union army, attempted to bring Early to bay.

On July 18, a Union division crossed the Shenandoah

River west of Snickers Gap but was thrown back at the

battle of Cool Spring. Union cavalry were turned back at

Berry's Ferry, nine miles farther south, the next day. On

July 20, Union Brig. Gen. William Averell's mounted

command, backed by infantry, moved south from

Martinsburg on the Valley Turnpike and attacked the

38
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

infantry division of Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur at Rutherford's Farm near Winchester and routed it. In response to this setback and converging movements, Early

withdrew to Fisher's Hill south of Strasburg.

Early's withdrawal convinced Wright that he had

accomplished his task of driving off the Confederate

invaders. He therefore ordered the VI and XIX Corps to return to Alexandria, where they would board transports

to join the Army of the Potomac. Wright left Crook with

three small infantry divisions and a cavalry division at Winchester to cover the Valley.

Under a standing directive to prevent Union rein- forcements from reaching Grant, Early was quick to take advantage of Wright's departure. He attacked and routed

Crook's command at Second Kernstown on July 24, and

pressed the retreating Union forces closely. When Crook

retreated toward Harpers Ferry, Early sent his cavalry to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, to exact tribute or burn the

city. The citizens refused to comply, and McCausland's

cavalry burned the center of the town in retaliation for Hunter's excesses in the Valley. (See Map 10, showing

incidents of conflict and battlefield study areas associated with Early's 1864 campaign in the Valley only.)

Sheridan's Valley Campaign

(August 1864-March 1865)

Early's threat to Washington, Crook's defeat at Second

Kernstown, and the burning of Chambersburg, forced Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant move decisively to end the Confederate threat in the lower Shenandoah Valley. Grant

returned the VI and XIX Corps to the Valley, reinforced

by two divisions of cavalry, and consolidated the various

military districts of the region under Maj. Gen. Philip H.

Sheridan, who assumed command of the Middle Military

District at Harpers Ferry on August 7. Early deployed his forces to defend the approaches to Winchester, while Sheridan moved his army, now 50,000

strong, south via Berryville with the goal of cutting the

Valley Turnpike. On August 11, Confederate cavalry and

infantry turned back Union cavalry at Double Toll Gate in sporadic, day-long fighting, preventing this maneuver.

Lee was quick to reinforce success and sent Maj. Gen.

Joseph Kershaw's infantry division of the First Corps,

Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry division, and an artillery battalion,

under overall command of Lt. Gen. Richard Anderson, to

join Early. On August 16, Union cavalry encountered this force advancing through Front Royal, and in a sharp

engagement at Guard Hill, Brig. Gen. George A. Custer's brigade captured more than 300 Confederates. Sheridan had been ordered to move cautiously and

avoid a defeat, particularly if Early were reinforced from

the Petersburg line. Uncertain of Early's and Anderson's

combined strength, Sheridan withdrew to a defensive line near Charles Town to cover the Potomac River crossings

and Harpers Ferry. Early's forces routed the Union rear guard at Abrams Creek at Winchester on August 1 7 and

pressed north on the Valley Turnpike to Bunker Hill. Judging Sheridan's performance thus far, General Early

considered him a "timid" commander.

On August 21, Early and Anderson launched a converging attack against Sheridan. As Early struck the main body of Union infantry at Cameron's Depot,

Anderson moved north from Berryville against Sheridan's

cavalry at Summit Point. Results of the fighting were

inconclusive, but Sheridan continued to withdraw. The

next day, Early advanced boldly on Charles Town,

panicking a portion of the retreating Union army, but by

late afternoon, Sheridan had retreated into formidable

entrenchments at Halltown, south of Harpers Ferry,

where he was beyond attack. Early then attempted another incursion into Maryland, hoping by this maneuver to maintain the initiative. Leaving Anderson with Kershaw's division entrenched in front of Sheridan at Halltown, he directed the rest of the army north toward Shepherdstown. On August 25, two

divisions of Sheridan's cavalry intercepted Early's advance,

but the Confederate infantry drove them back to the Potomac River in a series of actions along KearneysvilleShepherdstown Road. Early's intentions were revealed,

however, and on August 26, Sheridan's infantry attacked and overran a portion of the Confederate entrenchments

at Halltown, forcing Anderson and Kershaw to withdraw

to Stephenson's Depot. Early abandoned his raid and

returned south, establishing a defensive line on the west bank of Opequon Creek from Bunker Hill to Stephenson's

Depot.

On August 29, Union cavalry forded the Opequon at Smithfield Crossing (Middleway) but were swiftly driven

back across the creek and beyond the hamlet by Confederate infantry. Union infantry of the VI Corps then ad- vanced and regained the line of the Opequon. This was

one more in a series of thrusts and parries that characterized this phase of the campaign, known to the soldiers as the "mimic war."

39
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

On September 2-3, AverelTs cavalry division rode

south from Martinsburg and struck the Confederate left flank at Bunker Hill, defeating the Confederate cavalry but

being driven back by infantry. Meanwhile, Sheridan

concentrated his infantry near Berryville. On the after- noon of September 3, Anderson's command encountered

and attacked elements of Crook's corps (Army of West

Virginia) at Berryville but was repulsed. Early brought his

entire army up on the 4th, but found Sheridan's position

at Berryville too strongly entrenched to attack. Early again

withdrew to the Opequon line. On September 1 5, Anderson with Kershaw's division and an artillery battalion left the Winchester area to return

to Lee's army at Petersburg and by the 18th had reached

the Virginia Piedmont. Early spread out his remaining

divisions from Winchester to Martinsburg, where he once more cut the B&O Railroad. When Sheridan learned of

Anderson's departure and the raid on Martinsburg, he

determined to attack at once while the Confederate army

was scattered. On September 19, Sheridan advanced his army on the

Berryville Turnpike, precipitating the battle of Opequon.

By forced marches, Early concentrated his army in time to

intercept Sheridan's main blow. The battle raged all day on the hills east and north of Winchester. Early's veterans decimated two divisions of the XIX Corps and a VI Corps

division in fighting in the Middle Field and near the Dinkle Barn. Confederate division commander Maj. Gen.

Robert E. Rodes and Union division commander Brig.

Gen. David A. Russell were killed within a few hundred

yards of one another in the heat of the fighting. Late in the afternoon a flanking movement by Crook's corps and the Union cavalry finally broke Early's overextended line north of town. Opequon was a do-or-die effort on the

part of both armies, resulting in nearly 9,000 casualties. Sheridan's victory was decisive but incomplete; Early

retreated twenty miles south to his entrenchments at

Fisher's Hill and Sheridan followed. Preliminary skir- mishing on the 21st showed that a frontal assault would be

costly, so Sheridan resorted to a flanking movement on

September 22. Hidden from the Confederate signal

station on Massanutten Mountain by the dense forest, Crook's two divisions marched along the shoulder of Little North Mountain to get behind the Confederate lines. In

late afternoon, Crook's soldiers fell on Early's left flank and rear "like an avalanche," throwing the Confederate

army into panicked retreat. At Milford (Overall) in the

Luray Valley on the same day Confederate cavalry

prevented two divisions of Union cavalry from reaching

Luray and passing New Market Gap to intercept Early's defeated army as it withdrew up the Valley.

Early retreated to Rockfish Gap near Waynesboro,

opening the Valley to Union depredations and what

became known as "The Burning" or "Red October."

Sheridan thought he had destroyed Early's army, but

Kershaw's division and another brigade of cavalry were

returned to the Valley, nearly making up the losses suffered at Opequon and Fisher's Hill. After convincing

Grant that he could proceed no farther than Staunton,

Sheridan withdrew down the Valley systematically

burning mills, barns, and public buildings, destroying or

carrying away the forage, grain, and livestock. During this portion of the campaign, Confederate partisan groups

under John S. Mosby and Harry Gilmor increased their

activities against Union supply lines in the Lower Valley.

Early followed Sheridan's withdrawal, sending his cavalry under Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Rosser to harass the Union rear guard. Angered by Rosser's constant skirmishing, Sheridan ordered his commander of cavalry, Maj.

Gen. Alfred T. Torbert, to "whip the enemy or get

whipped yourself." On October 9, Torbert unleashed the

divisions of his young generals, Wesley Merritt and

George Custer, on the Confederate cavalry, routing it at Tom's Brook. In the melee that followed, victorious Union troopers chased the Confederates twenty miles up

the pike and eight miles up the Back Road, in what came

to be known as the "Woodstock Races." The morale and

efficiency of the Confederate cavalry were seriously

impaired for the rest of the war. On October 13, Early reoccupied Fisher's Hill and

pushed through Strasburg to Hupp's Hill where he

engaged a portion of Sheridan's army. When Sheridan

realized the proximity of Early's forces, he recalled the VI

Corps, which had again been dispatched to join Grant. On October 19, at dawn, after an unparalleled night

march, Confederate infantry directed by Maj. Gen. John

B. Gordon surprised and overwhelmed the soldiers of

Crook's corps in their camps at Cedar Creek. The XIX

Corps suffered a like fate as the rest of Early's army joined

the attack. Only the VI Corps maintained its order as it withdrew beyond Middletown, providing a screen behind

which the other corps could regroup. Sheridan, who was absent when the attack began,

arrived on the field from Winchester and immediately

40
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

began to organize a counterattack, saying "if I had been

with you this morning, boys, this would not have happened." In late afternoon, the Union army launched a coordinated counterattack that drove the Confederates

back across Cedar Creek. Sheridan's leadership turned the

tide, transforming Early's stunning morning victory into afternoon disaster. Early retreated up the Valley under

sharp criticism of his generalship, while President

Abraham Lincoln rode the momentum of Sheridan's

victories in the Valley and Sherman's successes in the

Atlanta campaign to re-election in November. A campaign slogan of the time duly noted that the "Early" bird

had gotten its "Phil." Early attempted a last offensive in mid-November,

advancing to Middletown. But his weakened cavalry was

defeated by Union cavalry at Newtown (Stephens City)

and Ninevah, forcing him to withdraw his infantry. The

Union cavalry now so overpowered his own that Early

could not maneuver offensively against Sheridan. On

November 22, the cavalry fought at Rude's Hill, and on

December 12, a second Union cavalry raid was turned

back at Lacey Springs, ending active operations for the winter season. The winter was disastrous for the Confederate army, which was no longer able to sustain itself on

the produce of the devastated Valley. Cavalry and infantry were returned to Lee's army at Petersburg or dispersed to

feed and forage for themselves. Riding through sleet on March 2, 1865, Custer's and

Brig. Gen. Thomas Devin's cavalry divisions advanced

from Staunton, arriving near Waynesboro in the early afternoon. There, they found Early's small army, consist- ing of a remnant of Brig. Gen. Gabriel Wharton's division and some artillery units. Early presented a brave front although the South River was to his rear, but in a few

hours, the war for the Shenandoah Valley was over.

Early's army fled before the Union cavalry, scattering up

the mountainside. Early escaped with a few of his aides,

riding away from his last battle with no forces left to contest Union control of the Shenandoah Valley.

With the Confederate threat in the Valley eliminated,

General Sheridan led his cavalry overland to Petersburg to

participate in the final campaign of the war in Virginia.

On April 9, 1865, after collapse of the Petersburg lines and

a harried retreat, General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse. (See Map 1 1, showing incidents of conflict and battlefield study areas associated with

Sheridan's campaign, 1864-1865.)

Note on Valley Generals. According to Civil War Generals, compiled by James Spencer, the Shenandoah Valley produced

eight brigadier generals, six who fought for the Confederacy and two for the Union: John D. Imboden (C/Staunton), James W. Denver (U/Winchester), John R. Jones (C/Harrisonburg), Thomas Jordan (C/Luray), Richard L. Page (C/

Clarke County), Alexander W. Reynolds (C/Clarke County), John D. Stevenson (U/Staunton), and James A. Walker (C/ Mt. Sidney). Of 1 17 generals who were killed in battle, 50 died on Virginia battlefields, 7 in the Valley: Brig. Gen. Turner

Ashby (C/Harrisonburg/June 1862), Brig. Gen. Daniel D. Bidwell (U/Cedar Creek/Oct. 1864), Brig. Gen. Archibald C. Godwin (C/Opequon/Sept. 1864), Brig. Gen. William "Grumble" Jones (C/Piedmont/June 1864), Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur (C/Cedar Creek/Oct. 1864), Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes (C/Opequon/Sept. 1864), and Brig. Gen. David A.

Russell (U/Opequon/Sept. 1864). Col. George S. Patton, grandfather of Gen. George S. "Blood and Guts" Patton of

World War II fame, was killed commanding a Confederate brigade at Opequon on September 19, 1864. He is buried in Stonewall Cemetery, Winchester.

41
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Valley Battlefields:

The Magnitude of Conflict

All of the conflicts selected for inclusion in the Shenandoah Valley Study have been referred to by

historians as battles, but the range of comparison among

these battles is so large that use of the term "battle" to describe all equally could be questioned. The nineteenthand early twentieth-century archivists who compiled the

Official Records, and other event lists and chronologies

used a ranking system of "battle," "engagement," and

"action" based on the command structure of the forces engaged (typically the Union forces engaged). Rather than

providing guidance as to the size and intensity of an

encounter, these terms tell us only that: a battle was

directed by the ranking general of the military district and

involved the bulk of the forces under his command; an engagement might be directed by a subordinate leader or

involve only a portion of the armies in the field; an action was a conflict, typically limited in scope, that could not be

easily labeled a battle or an engagement. This early

ranking system was not designed to describe or interpret events but to award appropriate plaudits to the commanding officers and the units involved. Figure 10 portrays a range of comparison among the

battlefields selected for the Shenandoah Valley Study,

ranking them according to the relative size of the forces engaged and indicating their traditional ranking of battle

(B), engagement (E), or action (A). The figures provided

are the best approximations that can be offered, considering the uneven reliability of the sources. Confederate

strengths, in particular, are often only estimated since many Confederate records were lost. Also, the full forces of one army or the other were not always brought to the

field and were not all engaged. The number of troops on

the field and actively engaged must be estimated, and

existing estimates often differ widely.

A second way to compare battles is to rank the number of fatalities incurred at each. More deaths in a

conflict typically equated to determined, dose-quarters

fighting. Battles of maneuver and surprise, on the other

hand, often resulted in lower numbers of fatalities and

higher numbers of captured and missing. Figure 1 1 shows

the Shenandoah Valley battlefields ranked according to the approximate number of fatalities. A third way to compare the battles is to rank attrition

(total killed, wounded, captured, and missing) of the a

forces engaged, a useful measure of a battle's influence on

the progress of its campaign. High attrition rates incurred

by one side or the other in a single battle might cripple its force and compel a retreat. In many cases, higher than

average attrition rates resulted from a disastrous rout by one side or the other with large numbers of prisoners

falling into enemy hands. Figure 12 provides a ranking by

estimating the combined attrition of the forces engaged.

The battles of Opequon and Cedar Creek stand out in terms of size, fatalities, and attrition. Although the size of

Confederate armies in the Valley remained surprisingly consistent from 1862 to 1864, averaging 16,000-24,000

men, the size of the Union armies increased dramatically

under Sheridan's command in 1864, to nearly 40,000. At Opequon, Sheridan outnumbered Early 2.6 to 1, and both

armies were fully engaged. Together, Opequon and Cedar

Creek accounted for nearly 52 percent of the fatalities of

the fifteen battles and 43 percent of the combined attrition. Considering that these two battles were fought only

a month apart, the toll, in the context of Valley warfare, is

staggering. In the six representative battles of Jackson's 1862

Campaign, the Confederate army inflicted 393 fatalities at

a cost of 367 dead (total 760). This ratio is near parity.

Looking at attrition, the tally diverges more dramatically.

The Union armies suffered about 6,400 casualties compared to Confederate losses of 2,745 (total 9,145). Many

of the surplus Union casualties were prisoners taken at

First Winchester and Front Royal. In the six representative battles of the Early-Sheridan

1864 campaign, the Confederate army inflicted 1,587

fatalities at a cost of 776 dead (total 2,363), a two-to-one

ratio. Overall, however, the Union armies closed the gap

somewhat, suffering about 12,890 casualties compared to Confederate losses of 9,130 (total 22,020), a ratio of about

three-to-two. These figures provide a useful comparison

of scale between the 1862 and 1864 campaigns.

Numbers engaged, fatalities, and attrition rates are

indicators of how intensely a battle was fought. Yet these

indicators tend to obscure the strategic significance of some of the smaller conflicts. While it is true that the

larger battles achieved significance by sheer firepower and

weight of numbers, the significance of a battle is best determined by its campaign context, a context that must

be carefully assessed as to its influence on regional and

national events. Often it was the battle that was not fought or the conflict cheaply won, that determined the course of

42
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

a campaign and the ultimate strategic and political outcome. Thus a battle, such as Front Royal, which was won at little cost to Stonewall Jackson, attains a heightened

importance when examined in light of his strategy of

flanking the main Union army at Strasburg. Jackson's

tactical loss at First Kernstown, for example, achieved

strategic success by diverting thousands of Union soldiers

as reinforcements to the Valley. Future historians will continue to debate the relative significance of these events.

It will require the greatest watchfulness, the greatest promptness, and the most untiring energy on your part to arrest the

progress of the enemy in the present tide ofsuccess. I have given you all I can. —Gen. Robert E. Lee to Lt. Gen. Jubal Early, Autumn 1864

If the war is to last another year, we want the Shenandoah to remain a barren waste. —Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan, Autumn 1864

43
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Battlefield Approx. Approx. Total Dyer Campaign

Numbers Numbers Engaged Rank*

Engaged Engaged

CS US

1. Opequon 15,200 39,236 54,436 B Sheridan 1864

2. Cedar Creek 15,265 31,944 47,209 B Sheridan 1864

3. Fisher's Hill 9,500 29,444 38,944 B Sheridan 1864

4. Second Kernstown 14,000 10,000 24,000 E Early 1864

5. First Winchester 16,000 6,500 22,500 B Jackson 1862

6. Second Winchester 12,500 7,000 19,500 E Gettysburg 1863

7. Cross Keys 5,800 11,500 17,300 B Jackson 1862

8. Piedmont 5,500 8,500 14,000 E Lynchburg 1864

9. Cool Spring 8,000 5,000 13,000 E Early 1864

10. First Kernstown 3,400 8,500 11,900 B Jackson 1862

11. New Market 4,090 6,275 10,365 E Lynchburg 1864

12. Tom's Brook 4,000 6,300 10,300 E Sheridan 1864

13. McDowell 6,000 4,000 10,000 E Jackson 1862

14. Port Republic 6,000 3,500 9,500 E Jackson 1862

15. Front Royal 3,000 1,063 4,063 A Jackson 1862

* B, Battle; E, Engagement; A, Action. Statistics for Jackson's Campaign derived from Allan and Henderson; New

Market, Davis; Second Winchester, Grunder and Beck; Cool Spring, Meaney; Piedmont, Brice; Second Kernstown,

Lossing; all others, Official Records, Armies.

Figure 10. Battles Ranked by Estimated Number of Troops Engaged

44
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Battle CS US Total

Fatalities Fatalities Fatalities

1. Cedar Creek 320 644 964

2. Opequon 226 697 923

3. Piedmont 100 150 250

4. Second Kernstown 100 120 220

5. First Kernstown 80 103 183

6. Cross Keys 42 125 167

7. Port Republic 88 67 155

8. New Market 50 96 146

9. Cool Spring 80 65 145

10. Second Winchester 47 95 142

11. First Winchester 68 38 106

12. McDowell 71 28 99

13. Fisher's Hill 30 52 82

14. Front Royal 18 32 50

15. Tom's Brook 20 9 29

Totals 1,340 2,321 3,661

Statistics for Jackson's Campaign derived from Allan and Henderson; New Market, Davis; Second Winchester, Grunder

and Beck; Cool Spring, Meaney; Piedmont, Brice; Second Kernstown, Lossing; all others, Official Records, Armies.

Figure 1 1 . Battles Ranked by Estimated Number of Fatalities

45
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Battlefield Combined CS US Numbers Percent

Attrition Attrition Attrition Engaged Attrition

1. Opequon 8,629 3,611 5,018 54,436 16

2. Cedar Creek 8,575 2,910 5,665 47,209 18

3. Second Winchester 4,709 266 4,443 19,500 24

4. First Winchester 3,400 400 3,000 22,500 15

5. Piedmont 2,375 1,500 875 14,000 17

6. Port Republic 1,818 816 1,002 9,500 19

7. Second Kernstown 1,800 600 1,200 24,000 8

8. Fisher's Hill 1,763 1,235 528 38,944 5

9. New Market 1,381 540 841 10,365 13

10. First Kernstown 1,293 725 568 10,000 13

11. Front Royal 960 56 904 4,000 24

12. Cross Keys 951 287 664 17,300 6

13. Cool Spring 819 397 422 13,000 6

14. McDowell 717 461 256 10,000 7

15. Tom's Brook 407 350 57 10,300 4

Totals/Average 39,597 14,154 25,443 N/A 13

Statistics for Jackson's Campaign derived from Allan and Henderson; New Market, Davis; Second Winchester, Grunder

and Beck; Cool Spring, Meaney; Piedmont, Brice; Second Kernstown, Lossing; all others, Official Records, Armies.

Figure 12. Battles Ranked by Estimated Combined Attrition

46
Part Three: Battlefields

fc^p'-^-----.

tv Market Battlefield Park by David W. Lowe

IstKernstown

tone Wall at First Kernstown by Patrice Gilbert

Civil War Sites In the Shenandoah Valley

ofVirginia

Part Three

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields

P

art Three addresses each of the battlefields in chronological order, summarizing the battle's statistics, size, and

significance. The battle action is described in phases. Important events are linked with features that can be

located on the ground. The current condition of the battlefield is assessed in narrative form, and perceived

threats to the sites are summarized in detail. Also included for each site is a list of features that were mentioned

in battle accounts, including place names, topographical features, standing structures and buildings, ruins, sites of lost

features, and archeological sites. The battle phases are keyed roughly to the numbers on the battlefield integrity maps.

FIRST KERNSTOWN

(23 March 1862)

County: Frederick, VA and City of Winchester.

General Location: West of US 1 1 (Valley Pike) and N. of

Hoge Run; Rte. 37 (4-lane bypass) bisects the area of

heaviest fighting along Sand Ridge.

Size of Study/Core Areas: 4,029/1,554 acres

GIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 56/71 percent; Fair/

Fair

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Fair

USGS Quadrants: Winchester, Stephens City

Campaign: Jackson's Valley Campaign

Principal Commanders: [c] Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson;

[u] Col. Nathan Kimball, commanding Brig. Gen. James

Shields' division.

Forces Engaged: [c] Jackson's infantry division of three brigades (Garnett, Burks, and Fulkerson), 27 guns, and a

cavalry contingent under Col. Turner Ashby; total

strength did not exceed about 3,600-3,800, of which most

were engaged; [u] One infantry division of three brigades

(Kimball, Sullivan, and Tyler), 24 guns, and 16 companies

of cavalry under Broadhead; total force between 8,500 and

9,000, three-fourths of which were brought into action.

Casualties: [c] 718 (80k/375w/263mc); [u] 590 (118k/

450w/22mc).

Significance: This battle is considered by many historians

as the opening conflict of the famous Valley Campaign of

1862. It was the only battle recorded as "lost" by Stonewall Jackson, but in many ways he gained as much by

losing as by winning. After the battle, President Lincoln was disturbed by Jackson's potential threat to Washington

and redirected more than 35,000 men to defend ap- proaches from the Valley before the campaign was

finished. Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's army was

deprived of these reinforcements, which he claimed would

have enabled him to take Richmond during his Peninsular

campaign. Because of this redeployment of Federal

troops, First Kernstown is considered one of the decisive engagements of 1862.

47
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Description of the Battle

Prelude: Acting on faulty intelligence that suggested that

his small army outnumbered the Federal forces at Winchester, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson moved to strike his opponents and prevent US reinforcements from leaving the Valley to aid McClellan's army on the Peninsula. The

division of Brig. Gen. James Shields in fact outnumbered

Jackson more than two-to-one. On the afternoon of 22

March, Ashby's cavalry and horse artillery skirmished with

US forces near Kernstown. General Shields was wounded

in this affair, his arm broken by a shell fragment, and

divisional command devolved to Col. Nathan Kimball.

Phase One. Skirmishing at Kernstown: At dawn Kimball

moved against Ashby's advance on the Valley Pike north

of Kernstown. Sullivan's and a portion of Kimball's US

brigades advanced, straddling the pike, and pushed Ashby

south of Hoge's Run, taking possession of Pritchard's Hill. Ashby's troopers formed a new defensive line, which was

later supported by infantry and maintained throughout

the battle. Jenks' US battery unlimbered on Pritchard's

Hill and responded to Ashby's artillery in position near the Opequon Church. About 1 100 hours, Jackson's infantry

began to concentrate south of Kernstown. It was soon

evident to Kimball that Jackson's army was arriving on the

field. Kimball consolidated his position and awaited

reinforcements.

Phase Two. CS Flank Movement: By 1400 hours,

Jackson's infantry was on the field, massed south of Kernstown. Jackson launched a feint toward Kimball's

main position along the Pike with a portion of Burks'

brigade, but this was to disguise a flanking movement to

his left along Sand Ridge. Jackson directed Fulkerson's and Gamett's brigades to the ridge, leaving Burks to support Ashby. Confederate artillery (3 batteries) were

positioned on the eastern face of the ridge and engaged US

batteries on Pritchard's Hill. Fulkerson advanced on the

left, seizing an east-west stone fence on the Glass farm

under fire. Garnett came up on Fulkerson's right,

extending the CS battle line from Opequon Creek east

across the front of the ridge, then bending back south to cover the artillery. A regiment was deployed across the Middle Road to maintain a connection between the CS

flanks. Recognizing the threat to his right, Kimball moved

Tyler's brigade forward from its reserve position near the

toll gate at the intersection of the Valley Pike and Cedar

Creek Grade to confront Fulkerson and Garnett. As the

artillery duel continued, skirmishers closed and the

fighting began to heat up.

Phase Three. US Assault on Sand Ridge: At 1600 hours,

Tyler deployed his five regiments (about 3,000 men) and

attacked the CS position on Sand Ridge, supported by his

batteries on Pritchard's Hill and a small cavalry force on

his far right flank. Several attempts to turn the CS left flank were repulsed with heavy casualties. Tyler now

focused his attention on the CS center on the crest of the

ridge. Recognizing that Ashby's activity on the Valley Pike was a demonstration only, Colonel Kimball marched his brigade and part of Sullivan's (about 3,000) to the right,

joining with Tyler to assault the CS center and right on

Sand Ridge. Garnett's outnumbered brigade lacked the protection of a stone fence like Fulkerson's and soon began to fall back. Jackson dispatched two regiments to the support of Garnett but before they arrived, Garnett ordered a withdrawal, believing his position untenable. This movement opened Fulkerson's right flank to a heavy

fire and he too retired. The retreat soon became badly

disorganized. The CS artillery kept US forces in the open

ground east of Sand Ridge at bay, firing canister, but no

fire could be brought to bear along the wooded ridge itself. The Union advance along the crest forced the guns to

retire.

Phase Four. Rear Guard Action: Jackson deployed two

regiments (5VA and 42VA) across the ridge to slow the US

advance. Several regiment-sized attacks were repulsed,

and for a brief time fighting was fierce and hand-to-hand.

According to Henderson, colors of the 5th Ohio changed

hands six times. A body of US cavalry advanced south

along the road (rte. 621), but were checked by Funston's

cavalry. Darkness ended the fighting.

Phase Five. CS Retreat: Jackson withdrew along "Stone Lane" past the Magill House and south along the Valley

Pike. Ashby remained with the cavalry at Bartonsville,

while the infantry went on to Newtown (Stephens City).

Jackson slept in the corner of a rail fence near Bartonsville. US forces did not pursue.

48
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Current Condition of the Battlefield

The core area of the battlefield where the major Union

attacks occurred is bisected by the four-lane rte. 37-bypass, but the western and eastern portions of the field are in

relatively pristine condition. The western portion, scene of the most intense fighting, is the Glass properly, site of

the 1840s Glass House (in the same family). The property

preserves all of the original land contours and remnants of

stone fences that figured prominently in the battle. Part of

the property is farmed as it was during the Civil War, but

the woodland along Sand Ridge is more extensive now

than at the time of the battle. To the east is Pritchard's

Hill and the Pritchard-Grim property. Pritchard's Hill served as a Union artillery strongpoint during First Kernstown and was the center of fighting for Second

Kernstown. This property from rte. 628 to the historic Opequon Church and north of rte. 652 is also in very good condition. The area of skirmishing on the morning

of the battle along the Valley Pike (US 1 1

) has been

claimed by industrial, commercial, and residential developments and is lost. Little remains of the original

hamlet of Kernstown other than Hoge's Ordinary, which

has been renovated into office space. The area where the

rear guard action was fought on Sand Ridge is occupied by

a housing development. The importance of this ground is enhanced by its significance in two major Shenandoah

Valley campaigns.

Perception of Threats to Battlefield

Land east of US 11 along the railroad tracks has been

developed for a large-scale industrial/business park. Route

1 1 is zoned commercial/industrial and has been densely

developed from south of Kernstown to the Winchester

city limits, causing concern over potential development

plans west of US 1 1. A county planning official noted,

however, that watershed and ground water considerations

make development in the Pritchard's Hill and Sand Ridge

areas less desirable. These factors would need to be

considered before any development plans would be

approved. Residential development is encroaching on the northern part of Pritchard's Hill. For the present, a large

portion of this land remains in private ownership and has

been altered little since the Civil War. The Glass property

has been placed in the Glen Burnie Trust and Pritchard- Grim farm and adjacent portions of Pritchard's Hill are owned by the Charles Hardy Grim Estate.

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

the Battlefield (unsurveyed*)

Bartonsville Mill Cedar Creek Grade

Front Royal Road

Glass House

Hoge's Ordinary

Hoge's Run

Kernstown

Magill House*

Middle Road

Old Town Winchester

Opequon Church and Cemetery

Pritchard House

Pritchard's Hill Sand Ridge

Springdale Stone Lane

Stone Walls

Toll Gate (site of) Valley Pike

49
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Study Area Core Area

Acres Percent Acres Percent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land 1,782.85 44.25 454.48 29.25

Agricultural Land 2,091.88 51.92 965.69 62.15

Forest Land 154.31 3.83 133.63 8.60 Total 4,029.04 100.00 1,553.80 100.00

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 2,245.39 55.73 1,097.29 70.62

Lost Integrity 1,783.66 44.27 61.39 29.38

Level of Integrity Fair Fair

TABLE 1

1991 LAND USE / LAND COVER

FIRST KERNSTOWN BATTLEFIELD

50
McDowell

l wfrom Sitlinglon Hill by David W. Lowe

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Mcdowell

(8 May 1862)

County: Highland, VA

General Location: Rte. 250 east of McDowell, between

Bull Pasture River and Sitlington's Hill.

Size of Study/Core Areas: 4,539/2,258 acres

GIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 100/100 percent;

Good/Good

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Good

USGS Quadrants: McDowell, Monterey SE, West Augusta

Campaign: Jackson's Valley Campaign

Principal Commanders: [c] Maj. Gen. T. J. Jackson, Brig. Gen. Edward Johnson;

[u] Brig. Gen. R.C. Schenck, Brig. Gen. R. Milroy.

Forces Engaged: [c] Johnson's brigade (six regts.) and

Taliaferro's (3 regts.), about 6,000 engaged, [u] Two

brigades (Milroy and Schenck), about 6,500. Milroy

attacked Sitlington's Hill with 2,250.

Casualties: [c] about 500 k/w/m ( 12GA suffered about 175

k/w/m); [u] about 260 k/w/m.

Significance: Some historians consider the battle of

McDowell the beginning of "Stonewall" Jackson's 1862

Valley Campaign, while others prefer to include First Kernstown, Stonewall's only defeat. The battle of

McDowell is studied today by military historians for

several reasons. At the tactical level, it can be argued that

the US forces achieved a draw. Milroy's "spoiling attack"

surprised Jackson, seized the initiative, and inflicted

heavier casualties, but did not drive the Confederates from

their position. Historians derive lessons about use of

terrain, small unit tactics and leadership, and

overexuberance under fire (12th Georgia). At the strategic

level, the battle of McDowell and the resultant withdrawal

of the US army was an important victory for the South.

The battle demonstrated Jackson's strategy of concentrating his forces against a numerically inferior foe, while

denying his enemies the chance to concentrate against

him. Jackson rode the momentum of his strategic win at McDowell to victory at Front Royal (23 May) and First Winchester (25 May).

Description of the Battle

Phase One. CS Advance on Parkersburg Turnpike (7

May): Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson's columns departed

West View and Staunton on the morning of 7 May,

marching west along the Parkersburg turnpike. Elements

of Brig. Gen. Edward Johnson's brigade composed the vanguard. At mid-afternoon, Union pickets were encountered at Rodgers' tollgate, where the pike crosses Ramsey's

Draft. The Union force, which consisted of portions of

three regiments (3WV, 320H, 750H) under overall command of Brig. Gen. Robert Milroy, withdrew hastily,

abandoning their baggage at the tollgate and retreating to

the crest of Shenandoah Mountain.

At Rodgers', Johnson and Jackson conferred. The

Confederate force split into two columns to envelope the US holding position on Shenandoah Mountain. Milroy

ordered his force to withdraw and concentrate at McDowell, where he hoped to receive reinforcements.

Milroy also positioned a section of artillery on Shaw's

Ridge to impede Johnson's descent from the crest of

Shenandoah Mountain. These guns were soon withdrawn

with their supports to McDowell. By dusk, Johnson's

advance regiments reached Shaw's Fork where they

encamped. Because of the narrow roads and few camp

sites, Jackson's army was stretched 8-10 miles back along

the pike with its rear guard at Dry Branch Gap. Jackson

established his headquarters at Rodgers' tollgate. During

the night, Milroy withdrew behind the Bullpasture River

to McDowell, establishing headquarters in the Hull House.

Phase Two. CS Advance to Sitlington's Hill (8 May):

Starting at dawn of 8 May, the Confederate advance

crossed Shaw's Ridge, descended to the Cowpasture River

at Wilson's House, and ascended Bullpasture Mountain.

The advance was unopposed. Reaching the crest of the

ridge, Jackson and Jedediah Hotchkiss conducted a reconnaissance of the Union position at McDowell from a rocky spur right of the road. Johnson continued with the advance to the base of Sitlington's Hill. Expecting a roadblock ahead, he diverged from the road into a steep

51
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

narrow ravine that leads to the top of the hill. After driving away Union skirmishers, Johnson deployed his infantry along the long, sinuous crest of the hill. Jackson

asked his staff to find a way to place artillery on the hill and to search for a way to flank the Union position to the

north.

Phase Three. Deployment of US Forces: About 1000

hours, Brig. Gen. Robert Schenck arrived after a forced march from Franklin. Being senior to Milroy, Schenck

assumed overall command of the Union force at McDowell with headquarters at the Hull House. He

deployed his artillery, consisting of 18 guns on Cemetery

Hill and near the McDowell Presbyterian Church to defend the bridge over theBullpasture River. He deployed

his infantry in line from McDowell south along the river

for about 800 yards. He placed one regiment (2WV) on

Hull's Hill, west of the river and overlooking the pike.

Three companies of cavalry covered the left flank on the road to the north of the village.

Phase Four. US Attack on Sitlington's Hill: Schenck and

Milroy sent out skirmishers to contest the base of

Sitlington's Hill along the river. As CS forces on the crest of the hill increased in numbers, Schenck and Milroy

conferred. Union scouts reported that the Confederates were attempting to bring artillery to the crest of the hill which would make the US position on the bottomland at McDowell untenable. In absence of an aggressive CS

advance, Schenck and Milroy attempted a spoiling attack. Milroy advanced his brigade (250H, 320H, 750H, 3WV)

and the 82nd Ohio of Schenck's brigade, about 2,300 men. About 1500 hours Milroy personally led the attacking

force, which crossed the bridge and proceeded up the

ravines that cut the western slope of the hill. In the meantime, Jackson had been content to hold

the crest of the hill while searching for a route for a flanking movement to the north. He declined to send

artillery up the hill because of the difficulty of withdrawing

the pieces in the face of an attack. Union artillerymen on

Cemetery Hill elevated their pieces by digging deep

trenches in the ground for the gun trails and began firing

at the Confederates in support of the advancing infantry.

Schenck also had a six-pounder hauled by hand to the

crest of Hull's Hill to fire on the CS right flank above the turnpike (some accounts say a section of guns, another

says a whole battery). The Union line advanced resolutely

up the steep slopes and closed on the Confederate

position. The conflict became "fierce and sanguinary."

The 3rd West Virginia advanced along the turnpike in an attempt to turn the CS right. Jackson reinforced his right on the hill with two regiments and covered the turnpike with the 21st Virginia. The 12th Georgia at the center and slightly in advance of the main CS line on the

hill crest bore the brunt of the Union attack and suffered heavy casualties. The fighting continued for four hours as the Union attackers attempted to pierce the center of the CS line and then to envelope its left flank. Nine CS

regiments were engaged, opposing five US regiments in the fight for Sitlington's Hill. At dusk the Union attackers withdrew to McDowell.

Phase Five. Union Withdrawal (9 May): At dark US

forces withdrew from Sitlington's Hill and recrossed to McDowell, carrying their wounded from the field. About

0200 hours of 9 May, Schenck and Milroy ordered a general retreat along the turnpike toward Franklin. The

73rd Ohio held their skirmish line along the river until near dawn when they withdrew and acted as rear guard for the retreating column. Ten men of the regiment were

inadvertently left behind and captured. Shortly after the Federals retired, the Confederates entered McDowell.

Schenck established a holding position on 9 May (north of

modern intersection of rte. 629 and US 220) but only

minor skirmishing resulted. For nearly a week, Jackson

pursued the retreating Union army almost to Franklin before commencing a return march to the Valley on 15 May.

Current Condition of the Battlefield

The battlefield of McDowell retains the highest

integrity of all of the Shenandoah Valley battlefields surveyed; this is due to its location and the rugged nature of the ground, which precludes almost any land use other than agriculture or woodland. Highland County retains a low population density (fewer residents now than at the time of the battle) and a distinct rural character. In

general, the landscape consists of narrow river valleys

which are farmed and high ridge lines which are mostly

forested with interspersed pastureland. The line of

Jackson's advance along rte. 250 passes through the George Washington National Forest, which ends at the Cowpasture River. The core of the battlefield on

Sitlington's Hill is owned and preserved by the Association

52
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

for the Preservation of Civil War Sites (APCWS) and the

Lee-Jackson Foundation. Together the two groups own

more than 200 acres bounded by rte. 250 on the east and

north, including the ravine used by CS troops to reach the summit and main areas of attack and defense. A single

individual owns the remaining portions of Sitlington's

Hill. A hiking trail on APCWS property leads to the crest

of Sitlington's Hill, providing unmarked access for

visitors. The village of McDowell retains much character,

including many historic structures: a renovated mill next

to the bridge, Presbyterian Church (used as a field hospital

by both sides), and the Hull House (Federal headquarters). The general store and other structures appear to

date from about 1900. Hull's Hill north of rte. 250 is

privately owned; its crest is maintained as pastureland as at

the time of the battle, while its slopes and base are heavily

wooded.

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

the Battlefield

Bullpasture River

Cedar Knob

Cemetery Hill Crab Run

Fort Johnson

Hull House

Hull's Hill Mill Site Old Town McDowell

Parkersburg Road

Presbyterian Church

Rodger's Tollgate (site of) Shaws Ridge

Shenandoah Mountain

Sitlington Hill UDC Battle Monument

Warm Springs Road

Wilson House (site of)

Perception of Threats to Battlefield

The general perception is that the battlefield of

McDowell was substantially preserved by the recent APCWS acquisition of about 100 acres on Sitlington's

Hill. The county's economy is sluggish, compared with

that of the Shenandoah Valley proper, and little development of any kind is present. The county prides itself on its

annual Highland Maple Festival, which attracts thousands

of visitors every spring. Local residents are content that

"their battlefield" is in one piece, and many expressed the

desire that more tourists could be attracted to McDowell

to visit it. The Hull House is currently occupied seasonally

and the structure appears in good condition.

53
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Study Area Core Area

Acres Percent Acres Percent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land

Agricultural Land

163 40 3 60 • 164 85 7 30

1,116.59 24.60 494.53 21.90

Forest Land 3,258.99 71.80 1,598.77 70.80 Total 4,538.98 100.00 2,258.15 100.00

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 4,538.98 100.00 2,258.15 100.00

Lost Integrity 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Level of Integrity Good Good

TABLE 2

1991 land use / land cover

Mcdowell battlefield

54
Guard Hill by David W. Lowe

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

FRONT ROYAL

(23 May 1862)

County: Warren, VA

General Location: Along US 340/522 from Limeton

through Front Royal, Guard Hill, and Cedarville. Old

Buckton Depot.

Size of Study/Core Areas: 3,082/944 acres

GIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 48/33 percent; Poor/ Poor

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Poor

USGS Quadrants: Bentonville, Front Royal, Strasburg

Campaign: Jackson's Valley Campaign

Principal Commanders: [c] Maj. Gen. T. J. Jackson; [u]

Col. J. R. Kenly.

Forces Engaged: [c] Jackson's and Ewell's divisions and

three regiments of cavalry, about 16,500, 48 guns; only

about 3,000 were actively engaged at Front Royal; [u]

Reinforced regiment under Col. J. R. Kenly, about 1,063

and two guns.

Casualties: [c] 50 k/w/m; [u] 904 (32k/122w/750 captured).

Significance: Maj. Gen. T. J. Jackson's decisive victory over

a small Union force at Front Royal on 23 May 1862,

forced the main Union Army at Strasburg under Maj.

Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks into abrupt retreat. Jackson

deceived Banks into believing that the CS army was in the main Valley near Harrisonburg; instead he had marched

swiftly north to New Market and crossed Massanutten via New Market Gap to Luray. The advance to Front Royal

placed Jackson in position to move directly on Winchester

in the rear of the Union army. On 24 May, Banks

retreated down the Valley Pike to Winchester, harassed by

CS cavalry and artillery at Middletown and Newtown

(Stephens City), setting the stage for the battle of First Winchester the following day.

The action at Front Royal demonstrated Jackson's use of Valley topography and mobility to unite his own forces

while dividing those of his enemies. At a minimal cost, he

forced the withdrawal of a large Union army by striking at

its flank and threatening its rear. The confusion engendered by Jackson's appearance at Front Royal and the

hasty Union retreat from Strasburg to Winchester

contributed materially to the defeat of Banks' army at First Winchester on 25 May. Jackson used his cavalry to good

advantage at Front Royal, to sever US communications

east and west, and to strike the final blow at Cedarville.

Description of the Battle

Prelude: On 21 May 1862, the US army under Maj. Gen.

Nathaniel P. Banks, numbering about 9,000 men, was

concentrated in the vicinity of Strasburg with two companies of infantry at Buckton Depot. Col. J. R. Kenly

commanded 1,063 men and two guns at Front Royal. CS

cavalry under Col. Turner Ashby confronted Banks near

Strasburg, but then withdrew to join the main army which

crossed Massanutten Mountain via New Market Gap to

reach Luray.

On 22 May, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson's Army of

the Valley (about 16,500 men) advanced along the muddy

Luray Road to within ten miles of Front Royal. Jackson's headquarters were at Cedar Point. Colonel Thomas

Munford's cavalry regiment was sent east to close off Manassas Gap and cut communication between Front

Royal and Washington.

Phase One. CS Advance: On the morning of 23 May, the vanguard of Jackson's army reached Spangler's crossroads

(present day Limeton). Here the CS cavalry under

colonels Ashby and Flournoy diverged west to cross the South Fork Shenandoah at McCoy's Ford. The infantry

continued to Asbury Chapel and right onto a cross road to reach Gooney Manor Road. Following this road, they

approached Front Royal from the south, bypassing

Federal pickets stationed near the river on the Luray Road

one mile south of the courthouse. After minor skirmishing the Federals withdrew.

Phase Two. Deployment of Forces: Jackson's leading

brigade, Taylor's, deployed on Prospect Hill and along the

ridge to the east. The 1st Maryland and Wheat's Louisiana

battalion were thrown out in advance, entering the town

55
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

and clearing it of US skirmishers. Col. J. R. Kenly, in command of US forces, withdrew his force to Camp

(Richards') Hill, supported by a section of artillery. The

US line extended in an arc from the South Fork to Happy

Creek, defending the South Fork bridge. Kenly's artillery

opened fire and slowed the CS advance. Kenly's headquarters were in the Vanoort House.

Phase Three. US Defense of Camp Hill: The Confederate

infantry advanced through town, deploying into line of

battle under an accurate artiDery fire. A CS flanking

column moved to the east, crossing Happy Creek in an

attempt to force US withdrawal without a frontal assault. After a long delay because of the muddy roads, a battery of

rifled artillery was deployed on or near Prospect Hill to counter the Union guns on Camp Hill.

Phase Four. Skirmish at Buckton Depot: In the meantime, after crossing the South Fork at McCoy's Ford,

Ashby's and Lt. Col. Flournoy's (6VA) cavalry rode via

Bell's Mill and Waterlick Station to reach the US outpost

at Buckton Depot. Ashby made a mounted assault, which

cost him several of his best officers before the US defenders surrendered. Ashby cut the telegraph lines, severing

communication between the main US army at Strasburg

and the detached force at Front Royal. He then divided

the cavalry, sending Flournoy's regiment east toward

Riverton to threaten Kenly's rear. Ashby remained at Buckton Depot astride the railroad to prevent reinforce- ments from being sent to Front Royal.

Phase Five. US Retreat: On discovering that Confederate

cavalry was approaching from the west, Col. Kenly

abandoned his position on Camp Hill, retreated across the South and North Fork bridges, and attempted to burn

them. He positioned part of his command at Guard Hill, while the Confederates ran forward to douse the flames,

saving the bridges. While CS irtfantry repaired the bridges

for a crossing, Flournoy's cavalry arrived at Riverton and

forded the river, pressing Kenly's forces closely. As soon as the CS infantry crossed, the US position could be flanked by a column moving along the river. Kenly chose to continue his withdrawal, his outmatched cavalry fighting a rear guard action against Flournoy's 6th Virginia Cavalry.

Phase Six. US Surrender: Kenly withdrew along the Winchester turnpike beyond Cedarville with Flournoy's

cavalry in close pursuit. General Jackson rode ahead with

the cavalry, as CS infantry began to cross the rivers. At the Thomas McKay House, one mile north of Cedarville,

Kenly turned to make a stand, deploying on the heights on

both sides of the pike. Flournoy's cavalry swept around

the US flanks, causing panic. Kenly fell wounded, and the US defense collapsed. More than 700 US soldiers threw

down their weapons and surrendered.

Current Condition of the Battlefield

Many terrain features associated with this battle have

been overwhelmed by the growth of the City of Front

Royal. At the time of the battle, Front Royal was a small

village of several streets clustered around the courthouse.

Troops maneuvered among the buildings and on open

ground, south, east, and north of the village, areas which

have now been urbanized. Loss of integrity is most

obvious when attempting to understand maneuvers in and around Camp (Richardson's) Hill. It is difficult to

find a vantage point to understand the terrain advantage

of the US position there. Camp Hill itself, site of Kenly's

defense, is densely residential (Warren Park subdivision).

Open ground east of Camp Hill and Happy Creek would

enable some understanding of CS flanking maneuvers

although access is restricted. The massive reshaping of Guard Hill, due to roadwidening and quarrying, and heavy construction north to 1-66 is an obvious loss. The current "gap" in Guard Hill for US 340/522 is largely a modern cut. Large industrial

structures, including the DuPont Automotive plant, have

been constructed in the vicinity of Cedarville on ground

maneuvered over in the closing phase of the battle. In spite of these losses, several features, primarily

architectural, remain by which the flow of the battle may

be interpreted. The hamlet of Spangler's Crossroads

(Limeton) and the road to McCoy's Ford enable an

understanding of CS cavalry movements, preparatory to the battle. The roads from McCoy's Ford to Buckton

Depot taken by the CS cavalry pass through a scenic rural countryside. The site of Buckton Depot (and a depot

building, vintage uncertain), the site of Ashby's skirmish, can be located. Asbury Chapel marks where the CS

infantry diverged from Luray Road to reach Gooney

Manor Road. Gooney Manor Road passes through a scenic landscape until near the entrance to Skyline Drive

at Front Royal, where there is dense development.

In the town of Front Royal, Prospect Hill Cemetery

maintains open ground where the CS left flank first

56
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

deployed and where artillery was positioned. The cemetery offers a good vantage point for understanding the

terrain and tactical movements. Monuments to Mosby's men and to the Warren Rifles are in Prospect Hill Cemetery. In a general sense, the Front Royal old town can be

considered a supporting resource, although the district is

not listed in the National Register. The Warren Rifles museum interprets the role of Warren County residents in

the Civil War. A historic marker and a Confederate

monument stand in front of the courthouse. The estate of

Rose Hill, a beautiful old home, is specifically mentioned

in several battle accounts. The South and North Fork bridge sites can be located.

Riverside Farm (c. 1850) at Riverton preserves about 150

acres of open farmland and a segment of the original

alignment of the Front Royal-Winchester turnpike.

(Stonewall Jackson is said to have slept on the porch here on the night after the battle.) The hamlet of Riverton dates

primarily from the 1880s. The old Guard House stands on the hill to the west of the new road cut. The Robert

and Jacob McKay houses (late 1700s) and the old store (c.

1860) at Cedarville provide some sense of historic character in spite of encroaching residential development. The

Thomas McKay House where US forces surrendered

stands one mile north of Cedarville (currently an antique

store). A large industrial building adjacent to the house

degrades the setting.

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

the Battlefield (unsurveyed*)

Asbury Chapel

Bell's Mill (site of)

Belle Boyd House

Buckton Depot (site of) Carson's Ford

Cedarville

Cedarville Baptist Church

Cedarville Store County Courthouse

Crooked Run

Gooney Manor Road

Guard Hill Guard House

Happy Creek

Jacob McKay House

Limeton (Spangler's Crossroads)

Manassas Gap Railroad

McCoy's Ford

Mrs. King House (site of*)

North Fork Bridge Site Old Luray Road

Old Town Front Royal

Old Winchester Pike

Prospect Hill Cemetery

Richardson's (Camp) Hill Riverside Farm

Robert McKay House

Rose Hill South Fork Bridge Site Thomas McKay House

Vanoort House (site of) Waterlick Station (site of)

Perception of Threats to Battlefield

In terms of terrain, battlefield ground within the city

limits of Front Royal has been lost. The Riverton Corporation controls access to Guard Hill along the river. Heavy

quarrying is occurring on the northern and eastern slopes of the hill and on land adjacent to the river. Highway

widening has increased the size of the Guard Hill gap and

is reshaping the ground. Plans being discussed to build a second span over the North Fork would further degrade

this area of low integrity. Riverside Farm is the last area of

open farmland at Riverton. The flood plain of the North

Fork is currently agricultural land. An 1-66 interchange

has spurred commercial and industrial development

north of Guard Hill on the road to Cedarville. The area north of Cedarville and east of US 340 is an expanding

industrial park, currently encroaching on the US surrender area. Adjacent to this industrial park is an "Inland

Port" complex centered on a railroad terminal.

57
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Study AresL Core Area

Acres Percent Acres Percent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land 1,492.35 51.51 626.64 66.36

Agricultural Land 772.91 24.54 217.09 22.99

Forest Land 577.95 18.35 83.38 8.83 Water: Streams and Canals 164.41 5.22 15.20 1.61 Barren Land: Strip Mines, Quarries, Gravel Pits 11.97 0.38 1.98 0.21 Total 3,149.59 100.00 944.29 100.00

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 1,515.59 48.12 315.68 33.43

Lost Integrity 1,634.02 51.88 628.62 66.57

Level of Integrity Poor Poor

TABLE 3

1991 LAND USE / LAND COVER

FRONT ROYAL BATTLEFIELD

58
1st Winchester

First Winchester by David W. Lowe

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

FIRST WINCHESTER

(25 May 1862)

County: Frederick, VA and City of Winchester

General Location: US forces held heights S of town,

including Bower's and Camp Hill; CS forces advanced N

along US 1 1 and along rte. 522.

Size of Study/Core Areas: 4,041/1,393 acres

GIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 28/22 percent; Poor/

Lost

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Lost

USGS Quadrants: Winchester

Campaign: Jackson's Valley Campaign

Principal Commanders: [c] Maj. Gen. T. J. "Stonewall"

Jackson; [u] Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks

Forces Engaged: [c] Jackson's division of three brigades

(Winder, Campbell, Taliaferro) and Ewell's division of

four brigades (Taylor, Trimble, Elzey, Scott), three

regiments of cavalry, and 1 1 batteries (48 guns), about

16,000; [u] Banks's command of two brigades of infantry

(Donelly, Gordon), two regiments of mixed cavalry, and

three batteries (16 guns), about 6,500.

Casualties: /cj400 (68k/329w/3m); [u] 2,019 (62k/243w/

l,714m&c).

Significance: First Winchester was a major victory in General Jackson's 1862 Valley Campaign. On the tactical

level, the battle displays considerable finesse, particularly on the part of Ewell's division on the Front Royal Pike.

Brig. Gen. Taylor's attack on Bower's Hill is considered a model brigade maneuver by military historians. The

ultimate significance of Jackson's victory at Winchester was its strategic impact. Union plans for a convergence on Richmond were disrupted by Jackson's audacity, and

thousands of Union reinforcements were diverted to the

Valley and the defense of Washington.

Description of the Battle

Prelude: May 24, 1862, was a disastrous day for Maj. Gen.

Nathaniel Banks. Learning that the Confederates had

taken Front Royal and were closing on Winchester, Banks

ordered a hasty retreat down the Valley Pike from

Strasburg. His columns were attacked at Middletown and

again at Newtown (Stephens City) by the converging

forces of Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson. The Confederates

took many US prisoners and captured so many wagons

and stores that they later nicknamed the Union general

"Commissary Banks." Jackson pressed the pursuit for most of the night and allowed his exhausted soldiers but a few hours sleep before dawn.

Phase One. US Deployment at Winchester: Banks now

deployed at Winchester to slow the CS pursuit. He had

two brigades of infantry under Donelly and Gordon, a mixed brigade of cavalry under Hatch, and 16 guns. Gordon's brigade was placed on the US right on Bower's

Hill with its left flank at the Valley Pike, supported by a

battery of artillery. The center of the line (Camp Hill) was

held by the cavalry supported by two guns. Donelly's

brigade was placed in a crescent on the left to cover the Front Royal and Millwood roads with the rest of the

artillery. At earliest light the CS skirmish line advanced in

force driving the US pickets back to their main line of

battle.

Phase Two. CS Advance on Front Royal Pike: During the

night, the advance of Maj. Gen. Richard Ewell's division

(four brigades) reached Buffalo Lick. At dawn, he

deployed his brigades astride the Front Royal Pike and

advanced against the Union left flank. His leading

regiments (in particular the 21st North Carolina) came

under heavy fire from US forces deployed behind stone

fences and were repulsed. CS forces regrouped and

brought up artillery. After about an hour, they again

advanced, this time sending regiments to either side of the high ground to enfilade the Union position. Donelly (US)

withdrew his brigade to a position closer to town with his

right flank anchored on Camp Hill. Trimble's brigade

(CS) then attempted a flanking movement to the right

beyond the Millwood Road. This movement threatened

the US left and rear. This movement, in conjunction with

Confederate maneuvers on the left beyond the Valley Pike,

caused the Union line to collapse in this sector.

59
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Phase Three. CS Advance on Valley Pike: In conjunction

with Ewell's advance on the Front Royal Pike, Jackson

advanced the Stonewall Brigade on the Valley Pike at early

dawn in a heavy fog. At Jackson's command, the brigade

swept over a hill to the left of the pike, driving off the US

skirmishers who held it. Jackson quickly placed a section of artillery on the hill to engage US artillery on Bower's

Hill at a range of less than half a mile. Union sharpshooters along Abrams Creek began picking off the cannoneers.

In response, Banks moved his artillery farther to the right

to enfilade the CS artillery and heavily reinforced his right

flank with infantry. Jackson brought up the rest of his

artillery and a duel ensued with the Union guns on

Bower's Hill. It now appeared that the Union forces were

preparing to turn the Confederate left. To counter this threat, Jackson deployed Taylor's

Louisiana brigade, reinforced by two regiments of

Taliaferro's, to the left along Abrams Creek. Taylor

marched under fire to a position overlapping the Union

right and then attacked Bower's Hill. The Confederate

assault swept irresistibly forward over the crest in the face of determined resistance. The Union right flank collapsed, even as the left flank was being pressured by Ewell. Union

soldiers began streaming back into town.

Phase Four. US Retreat: With the collapse of both flanks, Union forces retreated through the streets of Winchester

and north on the Valley Pike. Confederate pursuit was

lethargic, as the troops were exhausted from the non-stop

marching of the previous week. Nevertheless, many

Union prisoners fell into Confederate hands. Ashby's

cavalry was disorganized from the actions of 24 May and

did not pursue until Banks had already reached the Potomac River.

Current Condition of the Battlefield

The battlefield of First Winchester has been lost as a coherent landscape to the growth of the city of Winchester. Most of the core area has been developed for resi- dences on Bower's Hill, along US 1 1, and around the

intersection of 1-81 and rte. 50. US Artillery positions have

been built upon and vantage points lost. According to a county planning official 1 ,600 new residences have been

approved for construction at the base of Bower's Hill along Abrams Creek. Access to Battery Hill (Hill 819)

north of Cedar Creek Grade, west of US 11 and south of

railroad tracks, would offer an interesting vantage point,

although access is restricted. This site overlooks the field over which Taylor's Louisiana brigade marched to assault Bower's Hill, just south of the water tower. This same

ground was fought over during the first day's fighting at Second Winchester when this hill served as a CS artillery

position.

Willow Lawn, circa 1765, is set back from the road

behind an industrial building, west of US 11 and north of

the railroad. Parkins Mill on US 1 1 at Abrams Creek

(burned in 1864 and rebuilt after the war). All historic structures are surrounded by modern buildings. The

Winchester Historic District protects many buildings of

Civil War vintage and offers a focal point for visitors. Beck and Grunder's "Three Battles of Winchester"

provides a driving tour of the battlefield with stops at Camp Hill, Milltown, Williamsburg Heights, and Bower's

Hill.

Perception of Threats to Battlefield

The core area of the First Winchester battlefield has

largely been lost and, according to a county planning

official, 1600 additional houses are planned for this area in the immediate future. This will eliminate the remaining

core area of First Winchester and decrease the size of the remaining core area of Second Winchester.

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

the Battlefield (unsurveyed*)

Abram's Creek

Abram's Delight

Battery Hill Bower's Hill Camp Hill Cedar Creek Grade

Jonathan Smith House

Keckley Mills

Middle Road

Milltown

Old Town Winchester

Parkin's Mill

Pritchard's Hill Tollgate (site of) Valley Pike

WiDow Lawn*

60
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Study Area Core Area

Acres Percent Acres Percent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land 3,127.7 38.09 677.41 48.56

Agricultural Land 797.38 19.73 264.11 18.96

Forest Land 116.39 0.05 48.06 0.00 Total 4,041.47 100.00 1,392.98 100.00

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 1,1,34.44 28.07 312.16 22.41

Lost Integrity 2,907.04 71.93 1,080.81 77.59

Level of Integrity Poor Lost

TABLE 4

1991 LAND USE / LAND COVER

FIRST WINCHESTER BATTLEFIELD

61

Cross Keys

Cross Keys by David W. Lowe

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

CROSS KEYS

(8 June 1862)

County: Rockingham, VA

General Location: South of rtes. 659 and 276, crossroads

of Cross Keys, including the village of Port Republic.

Size of Study/Core Areas: 5,450/2,153 acres

GIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 94/94 percent; Good/

Good

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Good

USGS Quadrant(s): Harrisonburg, Grottoes

Campaign: Jackson's Valley Campaign

Principal Commanders: [c] Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson,

Brig. Gen. Richard Ewell, Brig. Gen. Isaac Trimble; [u]

Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont.

Forces Engaged: [c] Three of four brigades of Ewell'

division (Trimble, Elzey, Steuart) and Patton's brigade,

about 8,500 engaged; [u] Blenker's infantry division (three

brigades), three attached brigades (Cluseret, Milroy,

Schenck), Bayard's cavalry, and nine batteries, about

11,500 men.

Total Casualties: [c] 287 (42k/230w/15m); [u] 664 ( 1 14k/

443w/127m).

Significance: The battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic were the decisive victories of Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's 1862 Valley Campaign. At Cross Keys, one

of Jackson's divisions beat back the army of Maj. Gen.

John C. Fremont approaching from Harrisonburg, while

elements of a second division held back the vanguard of

Brig. Gen. James Shields' division advancing toward Port

Republic on the Luray Road. During the night of 8-9

June, Jackson withdrew from in front of Fremont and at dawn attacked two of Shields's four brigades (commanded

by Brig. Gen. E. B. Tyler), precipitating the batde of Port

Republic. Fremont reached the vicinity too late to aid

Tyler, who was badly beaten. With the retreat of both US

armies, Jackson was freed to join the CS army com- manded by General Robert E. Lee in the Seven Days'

Battles against McClellan's army before Richmond.

In addition to its importance in Jackson's overall

strategy of defeating two separated armies in detail, Cross Keys provides interesting lessons at the tactical level. By

deft maneuver and clever use of the terrain, Confederate

Brig. Gen. Isaac Trimble shattered a larger US force and

stalled Fremont's attack. The ground where this tactical

action occurred is pristine and enables understanding of

this phase of the conflict.

Description of the Battle

Prelude: The hamlet of Port Republic lies on a neck of

land between the North and South rivers at the point

where they conjoin. On 6-7 June 1862, the army of Maj.

Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, numbering about 16,000,

bivouacked north of Port Republic, Ewell's division along

the banks of Mill Creek near Goods Mill, and Winder's

division on the north bank of North River near the bridge.

One regiment ( 15AL) was left to block the roads at Union

Church. Jackson's headquarters were in Madison Hall,

the home of Dr. Kemper, at Port Republic. The army

trains were parked nearby.

Two US columns converged on Jackson's position.

The army of Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont, about 15,000

strong, moved south on the Valley Pike and reached the

vicinity of Harrisonburg on 6 June. The division of

General Shields, about 10,000 strong, advanced south

from Front Royal in the Luray (Page) Valley, but was

badly strung out because of the muddy Luray Road. At

Port Republic, Jackson possessed the last intact bridge on

the North River and the fords on the South River by which

Fremont and Shields could unite. Jackson determined to check Fremont's advance at Mill Creek, while meeting

Shields on the east bank of the North Fork. A CS signal

station on Massanutten monitored US progress.

Phase One. Skirmishing at Cross Keys Tavern: Late in the day on 7 June, Fremont's advance guard encountered

Jackson's pickets near Cross Keys Tavern. A few shots were fired and the US cavalry fell back onto their main

body, which was approaching. Darkness prevented

further developments.

Phase Two. Surprise Raid on Port Republic: Colonel

Samuel Carroll at the head of a regiment of cavalry,

63
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

supported by a battery and a brigade of infantry, was sent ahead by Shields to secure the North River Bridge at Port

Republic. Shortly after dawn (8 June), Carroll scattered the CS pickets, forded the South River, and dashed into Port Republic. Jackson and his staff raced down the main

street from headquarters and across the bridge, narrowly

eluding capture (two members of his staff were captured).

Carroll deployed one gun aimed at the bridge and brought

up another. Jackson directed the defense, ordering

Poague's battery to unlimber on the north bank.

Carrington brought up a gun from the vicinity of Madison

Hall to rake the Main St. The 37VA Infantry charged

across the bridge to drive the US cavalry out of the town.

Carroll retreated in confusion, losing his two guns, before

his infantry could come within range. Three CS batteries unlimbered on the bluffs east of Port Republic on the north bank of the South Fork and fired on the retreating

Federals. Carroll retired several miles north on the Luray

Road. Jackson stationed Taliaferro's brigade in Port Republic and positioned the Stonewall Brigade near Bogota with the artillery to prevent any further surprises.

Phase Three. US Deployment: Meanwhile, Fremont, with

Cluseret's brigade in the lead, renewed his advance from

the vicinity of Harrisonburg. After driving away the CS

skirmishers, Cluseret reached and deployed his right flank along the Keezletown Road near Union Church. One by

one, the US brigades came into line: Schenck on Cluseret's

right, Milroy on his left, and Stahel on the far left, his left flank near Congers Creek. Bohlen's and Koltes' brigades were held in reserve near the center of the line. A regiment of US cavalry moved south on the road to secure the

right flank. Batteries were brought to the front.

Phase Four. CS Deployment: Gen. Richard Ewell deployed his infantry division (CS) behind Mill Creek,

Trimble's brigade on the right across the Port Republic

Road, Elzey's in the center along the high bluffs. Ewell concentrated his artillery (4 batteries) at the center of the

line. As US troops deployed along Keezletown Road,

Trimble advanced his brigade a quarter of a mile to Victory Hill and deployed Courtenay's (Latimer's) battery on a hill to his left supported by the 2 INC Regiment. The

15AL, which had been skirmishing near Union Church,

rejoined the brigade. Trimble held his regiments out of

sight behind the crest of the hill.

Phase Five. US Attack and Repulse: Fremont determined

to advance his battle line with the evident intention of

developing the CS position, assumed to be behind Mill Creek. This maneuver required an elaborate right wheel.

Stahel's brigade on the far left had the farthest distance to cover and advanced first. Milroy moved forward on

Stahel's right and rear. US batteries were advanced with

infantry lines south of Keezletown Road and engaged CS

batteries. Stahel appeared oblivious to Trimble's advanced

position. His battle line passed down into the valley, crossed the run, and began climbing Victory Hill. At a distance of "sixty paces," Trimble's infantry stood up and

delivered a devastating volley. Stahel's brigade recoiled in confusion with heavy casualties. The Union brigade

regrouped on the height opposite Victory Hill but made

no effort to renew their assault.

Phase Six. Trimble's Flanking Attacks: Stahel did not renew his attack but brought up a battery (Buell's) to support his position. Trimble moved the 15AL by the

right flank and up a ravine to get on the battery's left. In the meantime, Ewell sent two regiments ( 1 3VA and

25VA) along the ridge to Trimble's right, attracting a severe fire from the US battery. With a shout, the 15AL

emerged from their ravine and began to climb the hill toward the battery, precipitating a mele- Trimble

advanced his other two regiments ( 16MS on left and

21GA on right) from their position on Victory Hill, forcing back the US line. The US battery limbered hastily

and withdrew, saving its guns. A US regiment counterattacked briefly striking the left flank of the 16MS but was

forced back in desperate fighting.

Phase Seven. US Withdrawal to Keezletown Road:

Trimble continued advancing up the ravine on the CS

right, outflanking successive US positions. In the meantime, Milroy advanced on Stahel's right supported by

artillery. Milroy's line came within rifle-musket range of

the CS center behind Mill Creek and opened fire. US

batteries continued to engage CS batteries in an artillery

duel. Bohlen advanced on the far US left to stiffen Stahel's crumbling defense. Milroy's left flank was endangered by

Stahel's retreat, and Fremont ordered him to withdraw.

Jackson brought Taylor's brigade forward to support

Ewell if needed, but Taylor remained in reserve on the Port Republic Road near the Dunker Church.

64
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Phase Eight. US Attacks on the Right: Seemingly paralyzed by the decimation of Stahel's brigade on his left, Fremont was unable to mount a coordinated attack. He

ordered Schenck's brigade forward to find the CS left flank

south of Union Church. Ewell reinforced his left with

elements of Elzey's brigade. Severe firing erupted along

the line but quickly died down. CS brigadiers Elzey and

Steuart were wounded in this exchange. Fremont withdrew his force to Keezletown Road, placing his artillery on

the heights to his rear (Oak Ridge). Artillery firing

continued. At dusk, Trimble pushed his battle line forward to within a quarter mile of the US position,

anticipating a night assault. CS accounts describe the US

soldiers going into camp, lighting fires and making coffee.

Ewell ordered Trimble to withdraw without making the

attack.

Current Condition of the Battlefield

The battlefield of Cross Keys is largely intact, and the landscape retains a marked similarity to its Civil War-era

appearance. Land use is primarily agricultural with some

residential housing along the main roads. New houses on

large lots have been built along the CS defensive line behind Mill (Black Anchor) Creek. Several historic

structures in the vicinity remain: the Union Church

(Ruritan Hall) and cemetery, an antebellum house

adjacent to the cemetery, and the old Cross Keys Tavern

behind the farm bureau co-op, an old house across from

the farm bureau, and the Widow Haugh House adjacent

to Lee-Jackson parcel. The Widow Haugh House resident

points out repaired damage to the roof and interior walls

of the house caused by a US solid shot. The Lee-Jackson Foundation owns 100 acres on

Victory Hill, scene of Trimble's maneuvers and some of

the most severe fighting. The road network appears to have been altered somewhat but historic maps are not

accurate enough to allow reconstruction. The landscape is very hilly and cut with deep ravines making further assessment of small-scale features difficult without gaining

access to perhaps a dozen private farms. The town of Port Republic is listed in the National

Register as a historic district. The UDC has erected a small monument near the intersection of rtes.276 south of rte.

659. One small section of the original road bed of the Port

Republic Road may be seen just south of Victory Hill School along rte. 659. Several old structures remain in the

hamlet of Goods Mill, which played a peripheral role in

the battle.

Perception of Threats to Battlefield

Developmental pressures from the vicinity of

Harrisonburg have spread south into the vicinity of Cross Keys in recent years, although the study area has not yet

been impacted. Several large parcels of land are or will soon be for sale. Although the market is currently soft

(1991), there is some fear, according to a local landowner,

that these tracts will be bought by developers and subdivided. A county planning official stated that the dramatic

growth of the City of Harrisonburg during the 1980s has

slowed, thus easing developmental pressures south of the

city. The growth rate for the City of Harrisonburg is expected to stabilize for the 1990s. Several very large

poultry sheds have been built in the immediate vicinity,

and although these are not technically "permanent," they can quickly overwhelm a viewshed if prominently placed.

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

the Battlefield (unsurveyed*)

Black Anchor Creek and Heights

Brick House*

Cross Keys Battle Monument

Cross Keys Tavern

Keezletown Road

Kempers or Kyle's Mill (site of*)

Longs Hill Massanutten Peak

Mill Creek

Oak Ridge

Port Republic

Port Republic Road

Trimble's Ravine

Union Church Cemetery

Union Church (site of) Victory Hill Widow Haugh House

65
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Study Area Core Area

Acres Percent Acres Percent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land 359.71 6.6 120.56 5.6

Agricultural Land 4,883.37 89.6 2,032.25 94.4

Forest Land 207.11 3.8 0.00 0.0

Total 5,450.19 100.00 2,152.81 100.00

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 5,143.34 94.37 2,032.47 94.41

Lost Integrity 306.85 5.63 120.34 5.59

Level of Integrity Good Good

TABLE 5

1991 LAND USE / LAND COVER

CROSS KEYS BATTLEFIELD

66
Port Republic

Port Republic by David W. Lowe

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

PORT REPUBLIC

(9 June 1862)

County: Rockingham, VA

General Location: N. of rte. 659, S. of rte. 708, between

South Fork Shenandoah and state rte. 340. Village of Port

Republic.

Size of Study/Core Areas: 4,936/2,145 acres

GIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 94/98 percent; Good/

Good

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Good

USGS Quadrants: Grottoes

Campaign: Jackson's Valley Campaign

Principal Commanders: [c] Maj. Gen. T. J. "Stonewall"

Jackson; [u] Brig. Gen. E. B. Tyler

Forces Engaged: [c] Jackson's and Ewell's divisions, about

6,000 engaged; [u] Two brigades of Shields's division

(Tyler and Carroll), about 3,500.

Casualties: /c/ 816 (88k/535w/34m); [u] 1,002 (67k/361w/

574m&c).

Significance: The battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic were the culmination of "Stonewall" Jackson's Valley

Campaign in which lackson maneuvered to defeat superior Union forces by surprise, swift marching, and

concentration offeree. In May and June, Jackson's Army

of the Valley, which never exceeded 17,000 men, inflicted more than 7,000 casualties on his opponents at a cost of

only 2,500 of his own men, and tied up Union forces three times its strength. Jackson's victories infused new hope in

the Confederate cause and contributed to the defeat of

McClellan's campaign against Richmond. The battle of

Port Republic was a fierce contest between two equally

determined foes and was the most costly battle fought by

the Army of the Valley during its campaign. At its conclusion, Union forces withdrew down the Valley,

freeing Jackson's command to go to the aid of the CS

army facing Maj. Gen. George McClellan's army in front of Richmond.

Description of the Battle

Phase One. Dispositions of the Armies: During the night

of 8-9 June 1862, Winder's "Stonewall" Brigade was

withdrawn from its forward position near Bogota and

rejoined Jackson's division at Port Republic. CS pioneers

built a bridge of wagons across the South River at Port

Republic. Winder's brigade was assigned the task of

spearheading the assault against US forces south of the

river. Trimble's brigade and elements of Patton's were left

to delay Fremont's forces at Cross Keys, while the rest of

Ewell's division marched to Port Republic to be in

position to support Winder's attack.

Phase Two. US Deployment: Brig. Gen. E. B. Tyler's

brigade joined Col. Samuel Carroll's brigade north of

Lewiston on the Luray Road. The rest of Shields's division was strung out along the muddy roads back to Luray.

General Tyler, in command on the field, advanced at dawn of 9 June to the vicinity of Lewiston. He anchored

the left of his line on a battery positioned on the Lewiston

Coaling, extending his infantry west along Lewiston Lane

(present day rte. 708) to the South Fork near the site of

Lewis' Mill. The right and center were supported by

artillery (16 guns in all).

Phase Three. CS Advance on the Left and Center: Winder's brigade crossed the river by 0500 hours and

deployed to attack east across the bottomland. Winder

sent two regiments (2VA and 4VA) into the woods to

flank the US line and assault the Coaling. When the main

CS battle line advanced, it came under heavy fire from the US artillery and was soon pinned down. CS batteries were

brought forward onto the plain but were outgunned and

forced to seek safer positions. Ewell's brigades were

hurried forward to cross the river. Seeing the strength of

the US artillery at the Coaling, Jackson sent Taylor's

brigade to the right into the woods to support the flanking

column that was attempting to advance through the thick underbrush.

Phase Four. US Counterattack: Winder's brigade

renewed its assault on the US right and center, taking

heavy casualties. General Tyler moved two regiments

from the Coaling to his right and launched a counterat67
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

tack, driving CS forces back nearly half a mile. While this was occurring, the first CS regiments probed the defenses of the Coaling but were repulsed.

Phase Five. Fighting at the Coaling: Finding resistance more fierce than anticipated, Jackson ordered the last of

Ewell's forces still north of Port Republic to cross the

rivers and burn the North Fork bridge. These reinforce- ments began to reach Winder, strengthening his line and

stopping the US counterattack. Taylor's brigade reached a position in the woods across from the Coaling and

launched a fierce attack, which carried the hill, capturing

five guns. Tyler immediately responded with a counterattack, using his reserves. These regiments, in hand-to-hand

fighting, retook the position. Taylor shifted a regiment to the far right to outflank the US battle line. The CS attack again surged forward to capture the Coaling. Five captured guns were turned against the rest of the Union

line. With the loss of the Coaling, the Union position

along Lewiston Lane became untenable, and Tyler ordered

a withdrawal about 1030 hours. Jackson ordered a general

advance.

Phase Six. Tyler's Retreat/Fremont's Advance:

Taliaferro's fresh CS brigade arrived from Port Republic

and pressed the retreating Federals for several miles north

along the Luray Road, taking several hundred prisoners.

The Confederate army was left in possession of the field. Shortly after noon, Fremont's army began to deploy on

the north bank of the South Fork, too late to aid Tyler's defeated command. Fremont deployed artillery on the high bluffs to harass the CS forces. Jackson gradually

withdrew along a narrow road through the woods and

concentrated his army in the vicinity of Mt. Vernon

Furnace. Jackson expected Fremont to cross the river and

attack him on the following day, but during the night

Fremont withdrew toward Harrisonburg.

Current Condition of the Battlefield

The setting of Port Republic battlefield, along the South

Fork Shenandoah River at the base of the forested Blue

Ridge, is very scenic. From some locations the base of Massanutten Mountain can be seen to the north. The

core of the battlefield of Port Republic extends from the

village of Port Republic east to rte. 708, which approximately traces the main US battle line. The old Luray- Port Republic Road followed rte. 955 north from the village

until joining present day US 340. (US 340 south of this intersection is not historic.) The ford over South River

where Jackson built his "wagon bridge" is located just west of the confluence of the South and North rivers and can be reached by a dirt road off rte. 955. The North River

bridge was at the end of rte. 1601. Fremont's batteries were deployed along the north bank of the South Fork,

south of Lawyer's Road, in the battle's last phase.

The main CS assaults of General Winder were carried out on the bottomland between rtes. 955, 708, and the

river. The land remains agricultural and retains a strong

similarity to its Civil War appearance, except for the

railroad which was not there at the time of the battle (built 1892). The railroad artificially divides the battlefield but

does not particularly intrude upon most viewsheds.

The Coaling, which was the key to the US defense, is located just northeast of the intersection of US 340 and

rte. 708. The Association for the Preservation of Civil War

Sites (APCWS) owns about 8 acres of the Coaling,

acquired from the Lee- Jackson Foundation. An 1880s house sits atop the Coaling where US batteries were

deployed. Access to this property is encouraged but

unmarked.

The village of Port Republic is listed as a historic

district in the National Register. Several historic structures remain in the area, including Lynnwood, Bogota, Frank

Kemper House in Port Republic, and others. The Dr. Kemper house at the west edge of town, which served as Jackson's headquarters, is no longer extant. The ruin of Mt. Vernon Furnace in the area where Jackson's army

bivouacked after the battle is situated in Shenandoah

National Park along rte. 659. A driving tour of Port Republic could be laid out to view the battlefield with

stops at the village, at the railroad (rte. 708), and the Coaling. Because of the terrain, Port Republic can be

interpreted from public roads. The portion of the Coaling

preserved by APCWS allows an expanded interpretation

of the battle. The areas of major infantry fighting along

the river are in private hands, but the logic of the respective positions can be understood for the most part from

public roads.

Perception of Threats to the Battlefield:

The bottomland south of the South Fork in the core

area of the battlefield is owned by two or three large

landowners. Several years ago the county denied one of

the landowners a petition to establish a gravel quarry,

68
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

partly because of concerns for maintaining battlefield

integrity. Continuing integrity of the landscape is dependent upon landowners continuing to farm their properties.

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

the Battlefield (unsurveyed*)

Baugher House (site of*) Luray Road

Bogota Lynwood

Brown's Gap Road Mt. Vernon Furnace (ruin)

Coaling New Haven

Deep Run Pirky's Ford

Dr. Kemper House (site of) Port Republic Battle Monument

Frank Kemper House Port Republic

Jackson's Prayer Tree South Fork Bridge Site John Lewis House (site of) South River

Lawyer's Road Wagon Bridge Site

Lewis' Mill (site of) Yost House (site of*)

Lewiston (site of)

69
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Study Area Core Area

Acres Percent Acres Percent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land 360.31 7.3 90.08 4.2 Agricultural Land 3,252.70 65.5 1,574.18 73.4 Rangeland: Shrub and Brush Rangeland 19.74 0.4 0.00 0.0 Forest Land 1,303.05 26.4 480.40 22.4 Total 4,935.81 100.00 2,144.66 100.00

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 4,627.32 93.75 2,110.13 98.39

Lost Integrity 308.49 6.25 34.53 1.61 Level of Integrity Good Good

TABLE 6

1991 LAND USE / LAND COVER

PORT REPUBLIC BATTLEFIELD

70
2nd Winchester

HHinra^KHiBSiKUHl

tar Fort by Ben Rittcr

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

SECOND WINCHESTER

(13-15 June 1863)

County: Frederick VA, and City of Winchester

General Location: Valley Pike (US 1 1 at Abrams Creek),

Apple Pie Ridge and "Louisiana Heights" W of town,

West Fort, Fort Milroy, and Star Fort; S. of present day

Stephenson's (US US of 761).

Size of Study/Core Areas: 22,274/3,1 13 acres

CIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 48/52 percent; Poor/

Fair

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Poor

USGS Quadrants: Winchester, Stephenson

Campaign: Gettysburg Campaign

Principal Commanders: [c] Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell; [u]

Maj. Gen. Robert H. Milroy.

Forces Engaged: [c] Second Corps ANV, two divisions

(Early and Johnson), about 12,500; [u] Three infantry

brigades (Elliott, Ely, McReynolds), numbering about

7,000.

Casualties: [c] 269 (47k/219w/3m); [u] 4,443 (95k/373w/

3,975m&c).

Significance: After the Battle of Brandy Station (9 June

1863), Gen. Robert E. Lee launched his plan for a second

invasion of the north. He ordered the Second Corps,

Army of Northern Virginia, under Maj. Gen. Richard

Ewell to attack the US force at Winchester and clear the Lower Valley of Union opposition. In the resulting three- day battle (13-15 June), Ewell's corps defeated, routed,

and nearly destroyed a US division under Maj. Gen.

Robert Milroy. This victory (the apogee of Ewell's career)

offered high hopes for the success of Lee's second invasion

of the North, hopes that were dashed on the battlefield of

Gettysburg in July. In the words of Confederate artillerist Maj. Robert Stiles, "This battle of Winchester ... was one of

the most perfect pieces of work the Army of Northern

Virginia ever did." The battle was won by deft flanking maneuvers and underscores the inadequacy of relying on

entrenchments when confronted by a mobile attacking

force.

Description of the Battle

Prelude (12 June): On 12 June 1863, the Second Corps of

the Army of Northern Virginia under Lt. Gen. Richard S.

Ewell, three divisions nearly 19,000 strong, entered the Valley at Chester Gap and pressed on to Front Royal. Two

divisions under Maj. Gen. Jubal A. Early and Maj. Gen.

Edward Johnson continued north on the Valley Pike and

the Front Royal Road to converge on the Union defenders

of Winchester under Maj. Gen. Robert Milroy. Despite

the superior forces that were rumored to be approaching,

Milroy was confident that the strength of his fortifications would enable him to repel the Confederates or withstand a

siege. The ridges west of town were heavily fortified and

consisted of trenches linking central strong points or

"forts". The strongest of these were Fort Milroy and Star

Fort. West Fort, a redoubt of six guns, featured prominently in the action.

Phase One. US Dispositions (13 June): On 13 June, Milroy advanced elements of Elliott's brigade to

Pritchard's Hill at Kernstown and sent elements of Ely's

brigade to intercept any advance on the Front Royal Pike. McReynolds brigade was at Berryville.

Phase Two. CS Advance on Front Royal Pike (13 June):

Edward Johnson's Division of four brigades (Steuart,

Williams, Walker, Jones) advanced on the Front Royal

Pike driving back Union pickets. Approaching the

intersection of Millwood Road about 1400 hours, Johnson

deployed and swept forward, driving Union skirmishers

from behind stone fences. US troops withdrew to high

ground north of Abrams Creek under cover of a battery

and the heavy guns of Fort Milroy. Johnson brought up a

battery and engaged Union field artillery, driving several

pieces from the field. The CS guns lacked the range to reply to Fort Milroy's guns and eventually were forced to withdraw. Johnson's.advance was stalled, and he awaited

the arrival of Early's division to the west on the Valley

Pike.

Phase Three. CS Advance on Valley Pike (13 June):

Early's division of four brigades (Hays, Smith, Avery,

71
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Gordon) marched toward Winchester on the Valley Pike

in conjunction with Johnson's division on the Front Royal

Road. Late afternoon, Early's column reached the

outskirts of Kernstown and drove back the US skirmish

line encountered at Pritchard's Hill. US forces retreated to Cedar Creek Grade and briefly counterattacked, but Early

extended his line to the west, out-flanking successive Union positions. US cavalry attacked several times up the Valley Pike to ease pressure on the infantry. Eventually, the Union force retreated north of Abrams Creek under

cover of the heavy guns from Bower's Hill and Fort Milroy.

Phase Four. Milroy Withdraws into the Forts (13 June):

After dark Milroy concentrated his forces inside a triangle

defined by Fort Milroy, Star Fort, and West Fort. McReynolds' brigade reached Fort Milroy after marching

a round-about route from Berryville, harassed by Confederate cavalry. Milroy's soldiers had fought well during the previous afternoon, and he was confident that he could

withstand renewed Confederate assaults in the morning.

In the meantime, Ewell ordered his third division under

Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes to advance on Martinsburg via

Berryville to cut off Milroy's retreat in that direction.

Phase Five. Early's Flank March (14 June): At dawn of 14

June, one of Early's brigades (Gordon) swept forward to capture Bower's Hill with little resistance. Johnson

extended his line to the right against very light opposition;

there was fitful skirmishing in the streets of Winchester.

Early and Ewell conferred on Bower's Hill and decided on

a flanking strategy. Gordon's brigade and two batteries were left on Bower's Hill, while Early led his three other

brigades back to Cedar Creek Grade, west beyond Apple

Pie Ridge where it was out of view of US fortifications,

then north over Cloverdale Plantation to Walnut Grove. His column was accompanied by 20 guns. While Early

made this march, Johnson advanced a line of skirmishers on the right to occupy the Federals' attention. The CS

batteries on Bower's Hill opened up, touching off a duel

with the Union guns in Fort Milroy. By mid-afternoon,

Early's force had gained a position opposite West Fort on

Apple Pie Ridge. Eight guns were positioned on the

Brierly Farm northwest of the fort, while 12 guns were

placed in an orchard southwest of the fort. By this time

the field had quieted, and the US forces believed that the Confederates had been repulsed from Winchester.

Phase Six. Attack on West Fort (14 June): About 1800

hours, Early's artillery opened fire on West Fort. The

twenty guns fired for 45 minutes, while Brig. Gen. Harry

T. Hays stealthily advanced his Louisiana brigade through

the corn and wheat fields at the base of Apple Pie Ridge.

On command, the brigade rushed forward across 300

yards of open fields and swept upward into the works.

After a brief hand-to-hand struggle, US defenders abandoned the works, retreating to Fort Milroy. Hays was

supported in the attack by two brigades (Smith and

Avery). Early consolidated his line on West Fort Ridge,

but darkness prevented further gains. An artillery duel continued until long after dark. After the battle, Ewell

christened West Fort Ridge as "Louisiana Heights" in honor of Hays's brigade.

Phase Seven. Johnson's Flank March (14-15 June): Ewell assumed that Milroy would retreat during the night and

ordered Johnson to prevent his escape by cutting the Charles Town Road. About 2100 hours, Johnson (with

Steuart's and Williams's brigades and 8 guns) marched

north to Berryville Pike and west to Jordan Springs Road,

where he turned north toward Stephenson's Depot.

About midnight, the Stonewall brigade disengaged and

joined the rear of the column, leaving one brigade (Jones)

astride the Berryville Pike east of town.

Phase Eight. US Withdrawal (14-15 June): After conferring with his officers, Milroy made the decision to try to "cut their way through" to Harpers Ferry on the old Charles Town Road. All of the cannons were spiked and

their carriages destroyed. Shortly after midnight, the Union soldiers left their works so quietly that Early's

Confederates did not know they were gone until morning.

The column massed in the low ground between Star Fort and Fort Milroy, then moved down the railroad and the Valley Pike toward the Charles Town crossroad, just south

of Stephenson's Depot.

Phase Nine. US Surrender at Stephenson's Depot (15

June): Near dawn, Johnson's skirmishers encountered the head of Milroy's retreating column near the intersection of

the Valley Pike and old Charles Town road. Milroy faced

his column to the right on the pike and prepared to fight

his way out of a "murderous trap." Johnson deployed his regiments along Milburn Road as they came up and

advanced to the railroad and placed two guns on either

72
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

side of the Charles Town Road railroad bridge. The rest of

the artillery was deployed on the heights east of Milburn

Road. As it grew light, US forces made several desperate

but uncoordinated attacks against the bridge and railroad embankment. The Confederates were being steadily

reinforced and repulsed each attempt. The Stonewall

brigade now came up in line of battle north of the road

and advanced to cut the Valley Pike. This was the final

blow; Union regiments hoisted the white flag. Between

2,500 and 3,000 surrendered. Milroy and his staff, and

other small units escaped to the west. (Note: US casualty

figures for Second Winchester vary widely. This is

explained by the fact that about two thousand Union

soldiers not belonging to Milroy's command were in field

hospitals in the city and were often added to the number

of captured and missing. Milroy, of course, played down

his losses.)

Current Condition of the Battlefield

Contrary to popular perception, Second Winchester is not a "lost" battlefield. Because of the wide-ranging

Confederate maneuvers involved, the battlefield covers a

great deal of ground, but the major fighting and casualties occurred at five locations: Pritchard's Hill; the intersection of Millwood and Front Royal pikes (interchange 82 of I -

81 ); Abrams Creek and Bower's Hill; Apple Pie Ridge and

West Fort; and Stephenson's Depot. Three of these

locations retain high levels of integrity: Pritchard's Hill, Apple Pie Ridge and West Fort, and Stephenson's Depot.

The parcel of ground at Pritchard's Hill figured prominently in both battles of Kernstown and in the rear guard

actions of Opequon. The parcel of ground at Stephenson's Depot figured in cavalry actions during the

battle of Opequon and in the engagement of Rutherford's Farm (20 July 1864). Although the field over which the

Louisiana Brigade attacked West Fort has been divided by

the rte. 37 bypass, the terrain is still intact and adds to the

interpretation of the battle. Central to understanding the Union ring of fortifications at Winchester are Fort Milroy, Star Fort, and West

Fort. Of these, Star Fort is well preserved, while remnants

survive of Fort Milroy and West Fort. Portions of related entrenchments survive on ridges north and west of

Winchester, although the extent of survivals has not been

measured. The view from Star Fort is essential for understanding the US position at Second Winchester.

Access to Fort Milroy and creation of a viewshed among

trees would enhance the ability to interpret the Union

situation. The routes of CS flanking maneuvers (Early to the west and Johnson to the east) can be followed. Early's route traverses well preserved rural tracts north from

Cedar Creek Grade along Apple Pie Ridge. The exact route can only be followed on foot across private property.

Johnson's route crosses a portion of the Opequon

battlefield and follows rural roads past Jordan Spring to the intersection of rtes. 761 and 1 1 near Stephenson.

Much of this course is through scenic farmland, although

the density of housing along segments of these roads is

increasing. Driving this route offers an appreciation of CS

strategy and of the final action at Stephenson's Depot.

Many historic structures associated with the battle remain in and around the city of Winchester, including

Taylor's Hotel which served as the US headquarters, and

Cloverdale and Walnut Grove, which were passed by

Early's flank march.

Perception of Threats to Battlefield

The city of Winchester has grown up around the US

defensive position, which was anchored by West Fort, Star

Fort, Fort Milroy, and connecting entrenchments. In most cases, however, the ridge crests have been the last to develop as residential tracts have filled the valleys. As a

result, Star Fort is well preserved; portions of Fort Milroy

remain; and traces of West Fort can be located. Recently,

housing has been built along West Fort Ridge ("Louisiana

Heights") destroying or otherwise segmenting surviving

earthworks. The northern portion of Fort Milroy was

recently purchased for the purpose of development; the southern portion is owned by National Fruit Products. Seven acres of Star Fort are owned by a local preservation group, but the surrounding 50 acres are zoned commercial/business and are currently for sale; portions of

earthworks at Star Fort are in need of stabilization; grounds would need to be cleared, planted with grass, and

maintained to expand visitation and interpretation.

Commercial and industrial development along rte. 522

intrudes somewhat on the viewshed.

Of the five main engagement areas, Bower's Hill is a housing subdivision and site of a high school, elementary

school, and water tower. A degraded portion of the field

(also fought over during First Winchester) remains along

railroad tracks west of US 1 1, but this land is scheduled for high density residential development. Johnson's position

73
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

on June 13-14 at the intersection of Front Royal and

Millwood pikes lies beneath 1-81 interchange #82. Land

contours have been extensively altered and viewsheds

blocked by dense commercial/industrial development in

the vicinity. These two segments for most interpretive

activities have been lost.

Pritchard's Hill is privately owned and remains in a

relatively pristine state. The land between Pritchard's Hill

and Bower's Hill has already been densely developed for

residential and commercial purposes. The Apple Pie

Ridge-West Fort parcel across which the Louisiana brigade

attacked West Fort is bisected by rte. 37-bypass but is

visually well preserved, maintained as pasture and apple

orchards. Two historic stone houses survive adjacent to

the highway, which runs through a ravine and is not

particularly intrusive to the view from Apple Pie Ridge.

An excellent vantage point for understanding this phase

exists just south of the intersection of rtes. 522 and 679.

The area south of Stephenson's Depot, site of the

massive US surrender, is by far the best preserved parcel of

Second Winchester. Except for power lines and towers,

the land retains its Civil War appearance. This parcel

covers much of the ground where the battle culminated,

where the most desperate fighting occurred, and where

nearly 3,000 Union soldiers surrendered; its significance

should not be underestimated. The parcel is owned by a

local developer, but is not currently serviced by sewage

lines.

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

THE BATTLEFIELD (UNSURVEYED*)

Abrams Creek

Abrams Delight

Apple Pie Ridge

Battery Hill

Battery Heights

Berryville Pike Bower's Hill Camp Hill Cedar Creek Grade

Cloverdale*

Collier Redoubt

Entrenchments

Fort Milroy

Front Royal Pike

Jonathan Smith House

Jordan Springs

Keckley Mills Kernstown

Louisiana Heights

Middle Road

Milburn Cemetery

Milburn Road

Milltown

National Cemetery

Northwestern Pike

Old Charles Town Road

Old Town Winchester

Parkin's Mill

Pritchard's Hill

Star Fort Stephenson's Depot

Stine's Chapel (site of) Stone Houses

Stonewall Cemetery

Taylor's Hotel

Tidball's Spring

Tollgate (site of)

Valley Pike

West Fort Walnut Grove*

Willow Lawn*

Winchester & Potomac

Railroad

74
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Study Area Core Area

Acres Percent Acres Percent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land 6,662.24 29.91 1,037.99 33.34

Agricultural Land 8,136.80 36.53 1,528.66 49.10

Forest Land 525.67 2.36 7.16 0.23 Barren Land: Strip Mines, Quarries, Gravel Pits 135.87 0.61 0.00 0.0 Total 15,460.5 69.41 2,573.81 82.67

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 10,722.8 48.14 1,624.24 52.17

Lost Integrity 11,551.4 51.86 1,489.12 47.83

Level of Integrity Poor Fair

TABLE 7

1991 LAND USE / LAND COVER

SECOND WINCHESTER BATTLEFIELD

75

NewMarket

V ew North from Shirley's Hill by David W. Lowe

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

NEWMARKET

(15 May 1864)

County: Shenandoah, VA

General Location: Vicinity of town of New Market, near

intersection of 1-81 and rte. 21 1. Battle lines extended

from Shenandoah on west to Smith Creek on east. Action

extended from Shirley's Hill in the south to Rude's Hill in

the north.

Size of Study/Core Areas: 5,61 1/2,261 acres

GIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 74/67 percent; Fair/

Fair

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Poor

USGS Quadrants: New Market

Campaign: Lynchburg Campaign (Sigel)

Principal Commanders: [c] Maj. Gen. John C.

Breckinridge; [u] Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel.

Forces Engaged: [c] Two infantry brigades (Echols and

Wharton), VMI cadet battalion, Imboden's cavalry

brigade, and several batteries, totaling about 5,335, 4,087

of which were engaged; [u] One infantry division under

Sullivan (two brigades: Moor and Thoburn), cavalry

division under Stahel (two brigades: Tibbits and

Wynkoop), and five batteries of artillery, totaling 8,940 of

which 6,275 were engaged.

Casualties: /c/540 (50k/480w/10m); [uj 841 (96k/520w/

225m).

Significance: As part of his 1864 spring offensive, Lt. Gen.

Ulysses S. Grant ordered Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel to advance

south along the Valley Pike to destroy the railroad at Staunton and then to move on the rail complex at Lynchburg. Although outnumbered, Maj. Gen. John C.

Breckinridge, former senator and vice president of the US,

was able to concentrate scattered CS forces to meet Sigel's

army near New Market. Sigel was decisively defeated on

15 May 1864, and the Valley remained in Confederate

hands until Maj. Gen. David Hunter renewed the US

offensive on 26 May. The battle of New Market is noted

for the participation of a battalion of VMI cadets, who

distinguished themselves in combat beside veteran troops.

Description of the Battle

Phase One. Cavalry Actions: On 14 May 1864, Union

cavalry under Quinn (mainly 1st NY Cav Lincoln)

advanced south on the Valley Pike from Mt. Jackson,

driving CS cavalry (18VA) under Imboden across Meem's

Bottom and beyond Rude's Hill, where defense stiffened. Reinforced by a brigade of infantry under Moor, and

Wynkoop's cavalry brigade, US forces again advanced

with Imboden withdrawing to New Market. CS cavalry,

fighting dismounted supported Imboden and established

a line south of New Market behind Shirley's Hill. The CS

line stretched thinly from Shirley's Hill to Smith Creek.

Federals continued to advance, launching two attacks about 2000 and 2200 hours, both of which were repulsed.

After dark, Imboden withdrew farther to the south, after

successfully retarding Sigel's advance.

Phase Two. CS Advance: After midnight, Breckinridge

brought most of his command north along the Valley Pike

from near Lacey Spring. By 0600 hours, 15 May,

Breckinridge reached the Shenandoah County line. He

halted near here to reconnoiter and about 0800 hours sent

his cavalry and artillery forward to harass the US force under Moor at New Market. CS artillery unlimbered and

fired from Shirley's Hill. Moor established his line along

the old River Road with artillery on Manor's Hill and in

St. Matthews (currently the Lutheran) cemetery. The rest of Sigel's infantry was spread out along the pike as far north as Edinburg. Brig. Gen. Julius Stahel arrived about

0830 and ordered Moor to withdraw some of his troops to Bushong's Hill. While Breckinridge waited on the rest of

his infantry to reach the field, US guns at the cemetery and

CS guns on Shirley's Hill exchanged fire.

Phase Three. US Deployment/ Initial CS Attacks: About

1 100 hours, Sigel arrived on the battlefield and established temporary headquarters at the Rice House. After reviewing Moor's dispositions he ordered his line withdrawn to a stronger position on Bushong's Hill, stretching between a bend in the North Fork and Smith's Creek. Sigel brought

up 14 guns to support his position, leaving DuPont's

battery at Rude's Hill awaiting orders. He placed cavalry

77
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

on his left flank between the Valley Pike and Smith's

Creek. Breckinridge deployed on both sides of the Pike

and advanced his infantry in force, driving back US

skirmishers. Imboden crossed Smith's Creek with his

cavalry and attempted to outflank Sigel by moving north

along the east bank. By 1230, Sigel had withdrawn entirely

from the town of New Market. The 18CT and 1230H

resisted the CS advance on Manor's Hill before joining the main battle line at Bushong's.

Phase Four. Bushong's Hill: About 1400 hours,

Breckinridge launched an all-out assault against the US

position on Bushong's Hill, using the 26VA, 30VA, 51VA,

and 62VA. The 62nd Virginia suffered more than 50

percent casualties. When-the CS attack stalled under

heavy small arms and artillery fire, the VMI battalion was

ordered to fill the gap in the line near the Bushong House. About 1445 hours, the US cavalry under Stahel attacked up the Valley Pike, riding into massed artillery which

Breckinridge had shifted east from Shirley's Hill. Stahel was repulsed with heavy casualties. About 1500 hours,

Sigel directed a confused counterattack, which was soon

repulsed. CS sharpshooters began picking off Union

gunners on Bushong's Hill north of the farm, and Sigel

ordered the batteries withdrawn. When the artillery fire

slackened, Breckinridge ordered a general advance and

swept the Union line off Bushong's Hill. In this assault,

the VMI cadets captured a gun and many men of the 34MA. To the east near the Valley Pike, elements of the 34MA and 54PA continued to resist, covering the Union

retreat. These regiments were eventually driven back, and

the Union forces began a general retreat.

Phase Five. Rear Guard Actions: On his own initiative,

Capt. Henry DuPont (US) brought up his battery to cover

the retreat. He unlimbered first near the Harshburger

House, then withdrew his pieces rearward en echelon as

the Confederates advanced. Sigel fell back to his supports

at the Cedar Grove Dunker Church and cemetery and

organized a holding action, while his confused troops

reorganized. DuPont's artillery continued to slow the

pursuit. About 1630 hours, Breckinridge ordered a halt to

regroup confronting the US line at Cedar Grove Church.

Imboden's cavalry returned from their fruitless effort to

get in rear of Sigel's army to burn the Meem's Bottom

Bridge across the North Fork (the creeks were swollen

with rainfall). An artillery duel continued until about

1700 hours. Breckinridge was unable to organize another

attack and, by 1900 hours, the Union army escaped across

the North Fork and burned the bridge. Sigel retreated down the Valley Pike rapidly, leaving his badly wounded

at Mt. Jackson. He arrived at Strasburg on the following

day.

Current Condition of the Battlefield

The Virginia Military Institute owns battlefield land

and operates a museum and visitor center. New Market is one of two Valley battlefields that currently has facilities

for visitors, the other being Cedar Creek.

The New Market Battlefield Historical Park was

established by VMI in 1967. The Hall of Valor was

constructed on the battlefield and opened in 1970. The

park contains about 280 acres: 24 acres of Shirley's Hill

(recently acquired), about 40 acres east of 1-81 around the

Pennsylvania monument, and about 215 acres at the Hall

of Valor parcel adjacent to the steep bluffs overlooking the North Fork Shenandoah River. The park protects and

preserves about ten percent of the core area of the New

Market battlefield, but this includes several areas of the most severe infantry fighting. The cavalry field, east of US

1 1 to Smith's Creek, remains farmland. The village of

New Market is listed in the National Register as a historic

district. In spite a degree of the protection afforded by the

battlefield park, the field survey integrity of the battlefield was rated low, due to the fragmented nature of the park

and the prominent positioning of 1-81, which is the most

obtrusive feature. 1-81 bisects the battlefield and battlefield park, and interchange 67 of 1-81 empties at the base

of Manor's and Shirley's Hill. The park is limited in its

ability to interpret its separate parcels at Shirley's Hill,

Bushong's Hill, and at the Pennsylvania monument.

Two monuments were erected by veterans on the New

Market battlefield and these are contained within the VMI

battlefield park. The Missouri (Woodson) monument

near the Bushong House commemorates the role of Co. A,

1st Missouri cavalry that fought in the battle. The second

monument commemorates the role of the 54th Regiment

Pennsylvania infantry, located directly east of Bushong's

Hill but separated from the main park by 1-8 1

North on US 1 1 between New Market and the

Pennsylvania Monument parcel there is light commercial

and residential development, although this strip development is less dense than that south of town. New construc78
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

tion has occurred on Manor's Hill on ground associated

with the opening phases of the battle along the access road

to the battlefield park (rte. 619) north of rte. 21 1. This

includes a large Day's Inn Motel and the New Market

Battlefield Military Museum. The exhibits of the Military

Museum cover all American wars with special emphasis on the Civil War. Monuments on the grounds were

erected by the museum.

The vicinity of Rude's Hill, Meem's Bottom, Mt. Airy,

and the Cedar Grove Church is prime agricultural land

that preserves the rural-historic integrity of this area. Meem's Bottom and Rude's Hill were the scene of many

armed encounters during the war because these features formed a "choke point" on the Valley Turnpike. Confederate cavalry defended the North Fork Shenandoah River

crossing and used Rude's Hill as an observation post. The

well preserved estate, Mt. Airy, served as a way station for Confederate staff officers and partisans, including Henry

Kyd Douglas and Harry Gilmor. Although not included

directly in the battlefield study area, Meem's Bottom and

Mt. Airy should be considered supporting resources.

Perception of Threats to Battlefield

The battlefield park is divided into at least four

separate parcels. The 1-81 interchange has spawned a commercial strip that physically and visually separates the northern and southern portions of the main field of

action. The interstate itself divides the battlefield east and

west. The view from Shirley's Hill to the Lutheran (St. Matthews) Cemetery looks directly over a commercial

strip and the large signs that are typical along interstates. A large motel complex has been constructed between St. Matthews Cemetery and the interstate highway. Two

parcels of land at the base of Shirley's Hill along rte. 21

(about 5 acres) are zoned commercial. New construction

at these sites would further degrade the important view

from Shirley's Hill. New residential construction north of

town along US 1 1 in the vicinity of the Pennsylvania

momument has continued the process of fragmentation.

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

the Battlefield (unsurveyed*)

54th PA Monument

Bushong Farm and Orchard

Bushong's Mill (site of) Cedar Grove Church and

Cemetery

Harper- Rice House (site of*)

Harshburger House (site of*)

Indian Hollow

J. B. Strayer House (site of*)

Manor's Hill Meem's Bottom

Mt. Airy

NefPs Mill (mill race)

North Fork Bridge Site Old Church Road

Old Town New Market

Rice House

Rude House

Rude's Hill

Shirley's Hill

Sigel's Hill Smith Creek Crossing

St. Matthews Church

(site of)

St. Matthews Cemetery

Valley Pike

Williamson's Hill Woodson Monument

Zirkle's Mill (site of*)

79
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Stud> Area Core Area

Acres Percent Acres Percent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land 1,618.21 128.84 931.80 41.22

Agricultural Land 3,715.61 66.22 1,528.66 49.10

Forest Land 222.76 3.97 207.07 9.16 Barren Land: Strip Mines, Quarries, Gravel Pits 54.43 0.97 45.21 2.00 Total 5,611.01 100.00 2,260.58 100.00

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 4,182.45 74.54 1,527.25 67.56

Lost Integrity 1,428.56 25.46 733.33 32.44

Level of Integrity Fair Fair

TABLE 8

1991 LAND USE / LAND COVER

NEW MARKET BATTLEFIELD

80
Piedmont

View from Sheep Hill by David W. Lowe

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

PIEDMONT

(5 June 1864)

County: Augusta, VA

General Location: Near village of Piedmont, crossing of

rtes. 608 & 778; Piedmont is four miles east of the Valley

pike, and seven miles southwest of Port Republic.

Size of Study/Core Areas: 9,340/2,693 acres

GIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 97/98 percent; Good/

Good

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Good

USGS Quadrants: Grottoes, Crimora, Fort Defiance

Campaign: Lynchburg Campaign (Hunter)

Principal Commanders: [c] Brig. Gen. William E. "Grumble" Jones; [u] Maj. Gen. David Hunter.

Forces Engaged: [c] Two infantry brigades (Jones and

Browne), home guards, and cavalry under Imboden and

Vaughn, about 5,500; [u] Sullivan's division (two brigades

under Moor and Thoburn), Stahel's cavalry division, and

artillery under DuPont, about 8,500.

Casualties: [c] about 1,500 (100k/500w/900m8cc); [u] 875

(150k/650w/75m).

Significance: On 5 June 1864, the US army of General

David Hunter crushed the smaller Confederate army at Piedmont, killing the CS commander (General

"Grumble" Jones) and taking nearly 1,000 prisoners.

Piedmont was an unmitigated disaster for CS arms in the

Valley. The disorganized Confederates could do nothing

to delay Hunter's advance to Staunton, where he was

reinforced by Brig. Gen. George Crook's Army of West

Virginia marching from the west. United, the US forces moved on Lynchburg. Hearing of Jones' defeat, Gen.

Robert E. Lee first rushed J. C. Breckinridge's division back to Rockfish Gap (7 June) and then detached the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia under Lt. Gen. Jubal Early to confront Hunter at Lynchburg (12

June). This detachment severely limited Lee's ability to undertake defensive-offensive operations on the Richmond-Petersburg lines and served to open up the Shenandoah Valley as a second front in the 1864 fighting

in Virginia.

Description of the Battle

Phase One. Cavalry Action at Mt. Meridian: Shortly after dawn, 5 June 1864, US cavalry advanced on the Staunton

Road and met CS cavalry under Brig. Gen. John D. Imboden at Mt. Meridian. The US troopers were driven

back until reinforced and again advanced to Mt. Meridian,

supporting their attack with ten field pieces. The Confederates responded with two guns. Imboden continued to

delay the US advance, while gradually retiring. US cavalry

incurred about 100 casualties in the morning's action.

Fighting occurred around Bonny Doon. In the wake of

the cavalry, US infantry marched south from Port

Republic.

Phase Two. CS Deployment at Piedmont: General

"Grumble" Jones deployed his army in an "L" anchored on a bend of Middle River facing north and bending south

along the ridge line. He placed his two veteran brigades

(under Col. Beuhring Jones and Col. William H. Browne) on the left and center behind barricades of fence rails. His

reserves, which consisted of home guards, were drawn up

in the woods just south and west of Piedmont. Vaughn's

cavalry brigade was in position along the Cross Road

(present day rte. 778) east of Piedmont. His line was

supported by artillery. Jones made his headquarters in a

tent in the yard of the modern McDonald House.

(Imboden's cavalry brigade after the morning's delaying

action withdrew behind Polecat Draft near Round Hill.)

Phase Three. US Advance to Piedmont: About 1000

hours, US cavalry drove the CS troopers back to the main

infantry line at Piedmont and then withdrew out of cannon range to await the arrival of their infantry and

artillery. Moor's brigade arrived first and deployed to the

right of the road into the river bend. They were fired on

by CS skirmishers. Thoburn's brigade deployed to the left of the road in the vicinity of the Shaver House. DuPont

arrayed his artillery battalion on the heights confronting

the CS position. Hunter made his headquarters in the Shaver House. One brigade of US cavalry was held in

reserve.

81
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Phase Four. US Attacks on the Right: DuPont massed 22

guns against the angle in the CS line, eventually forcing

two batteries to retire and take up a position closer to Piedmont village. Shortly after noon, elements of Moor's

brigade ( 18CT) assaulted the hill to their right front, driving out the CS skirmishers. Supported by a regiment

of Thoburn's brigade, Moor's entire line advanced,

driving back the advanced CS line on the northern brow

of the ridge. Jones withdrew his infantry to barricades

along Walker's Lane, reinforced his left to meet the US

charges, and launched a counterattack. Fighting swayed

back and forth across the fields. Hunter now reinforced

Moor with Wynkoop's cavalry brigade, fighting dis- mounted, and renewed his attack.

Phase Five. US Attack on the Left: While fighting raged on the right, Col. Thoburn led three regiments through a ravine and woods on the left and attacked across the Givens Run Valley. Mid-afternoon, he charged directly into a gap in the CS line that was opened when Jones

reinforced his left flank. CS reserves were advancing to fill the gap but Thoburn's regiment reached the crest first, and a savage, hand-to-hand mel*e erupted. About this time, Gen. Jones was killed, and the CS defense came

unraveled. Inexplicably, the CS cavalry (Vaughn) wit- nessed Thoburn's attack but did not advance.

Phase Six. CS Rout: Pressed on the front and rear, Confederate soldiers went streaming over the steep bluffs behind to wade and swim the river. All order was lost. A

nasty skirmish was fought over possession of the ford to the rear of the Col. Crawford House. Stahel's US cavalry

division advanced on the far left to close in on the village

by the Cross Road. They were met by Vaughn's and

Imboden's cavalry who at last came into play to act as rear guard. Some CS units attempted to stand near the Middle

River Church and at New Hope, and US pursuit gradually

slackened. The CS army lost about 900 captured.

Current Condition of the Battlefield

Piedmont battlefield is located on the Middle River in an area of great scenic beauty. The battle is readily

interpreted from public roads with minimal access to

private lanes and farm roads. The landscape in much of

the area is similar to its appearance at the time of the battle with some intrusions, most notably the WamplerLongacre experimental poultry farm. This farm, with

about a dozen very large barns, is situated just behind a major US artillery position and is visible from several parts

of the field. One of the best views of the CS position is from this farm, although access is restricted. The site of

the major US attacks on the right is in very good condition. Site of Thoburn's attack on the left along Givens

Run is in good condition. There are considerably fewer

trees along the river now than at the time of the battle. Round Hill was a CS signal station and anchored the far right flank of the CS cavalry.

The Shaver House, which was General Hunter's

headquarters, is owned by the same family as at the time

of the battle. Various other historic structures remain,

including the Finley House, Crawford House, David Beard

House (Belmont), Mt. Horeb Church, and the old Garber

barn; Bonnie Doon and Givens House in Mt. Meridian.

Grand Caverns (Weyer's Cave) is nearby at Grottoes. "Jackson's Prayer Tree" is located just north of Mt.

Meridian. Local landowners say that Jackson conducted a prayer meeting here in June 1862. Jackson's headquarters were in the woods near here. There is strong anecdotal

evidence among local landowners that burials have been

unearthed on Piedmont battlefield.

Perception of Threats to the Battlefield

Much of the northern half of the battlefield, scene of

the most severe fighting, has been placed in a county

agricultural preservation district, which restricts nonagricultural development for seven years. Several property owners in the core area refused to participate in the voluntary district. Long-time residents state that they

desire to "keep farming forever" and express concern that the government might take their land to make a national

park. The agricultural district allows intensive poultry

farming similar to the Wampler-Longacre farm, although

densities of these barns are limited by disease considerations and may already be close to maximum density. The

southern end of the field around the villages of Piedmont

and New Hope has attracted some new residential construction and is served by county sewage lines. New

construction along rte. 778 east of Piedmont or on rte. 608

between Mt. Meridian and Piedmont would tend to degrade the battlefield's high integrity. Round Hill is a

distinctive feature of the area, dominating views from

many parts of the battlefield.

82
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

the Battlefield (unsurveyed*)

Beard House*

Bonnie Doon

Col. Crawford House

Crawford's Ford

Cross Road

East Road

Garber House (site of*) Garber's Hill Given's Run Valley

Givens Mill (site of*)

Humbert House (site of*) lackson's Prayer Tree

Jacob Miller House

McCoOey House (site of*)

Middle River Mt. Meridian

New Hope

Piedmont

Rockfish Road

Round Hill

S. B. Finley House

Shaver House

Sheep Hill US Battery Heights

W. L. Finley House (ruin)

83
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Stud> Area Core Area

Acres ] 3ercent Acres Percent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land 317.55 3.40 105.03 3.90

Agricultural Land 7,938.63 85.00 2,550.27 94.70

Forest Land 1,083.39 11.60 37.70 1.40 Total 9,339.56 100.00 2,693.00 100.00

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 9,059.37 97.00 2,646.14 98.26

Lost Integrity 280.19 3.00 46.86 1.74

Level of Integrity Good Good

TABLE 9

1991 LAND USE / LAND COVER

PIEDMONT BATTLEFIELD

84
iew of Main Ford by David W. Lowe

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

COOL SPRING

(18 July 1864)

County: Clarke, VA

General Location: Along Shenandoah River from above

crossing of rte. 7 north to Parker Island on west bank

(present monastery grounds) and east bank (Shenandoah

Retreat and golf course).

Size of Study/Core Areas: 5,740/1,946 acres

GIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 97/97 percent; Good/

Good

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Fair

USGS Quadrants: Bluemont, Ashby Gap, Round Hill,

Berryville

Campaign: Early's Maryland Campaign

Principal Commanders: [c] Lt. Gen. Jubal Early, Maj.

Gen. Robert E. Rodes [u] Maj. Gen. Horatio Wright, Brig. Gen. George Crook, Col. Joseph Thoburn.

Forces Engaged: [c] Three infantry divisions under

Gordon, Wharton, and Rodes, about 8,000, and at least 3

batteries; [u] Three infantry brigades of Crook's Corps

(about 3,250 men), supported by batteries and a division

of the VI Corps, about 5,000 engaged.

Casualties: [c] 397 (80k/300w/17m); [uj 422 (65k/301w/

56m).

Significance: In the first weeks of July 1864, Lt. Gen. Jubal

A. Early raided Maryland with an army of about 14,000 men, defeated a US force at the battle of Monocacy (9

July), and marched on Washington D.C. Confronted

there on 12 July by US veterans diverted from the Army of

the Potomac, Early retreated, crossing the Potomac River

at White's Ferry and the Blue Ridge at Snickers Gap.

Elements of three US corps (about 25,000 men) under

overall command of Maj. Gen. Horatio Wright pursued

and met Early's rear guard at the Shenandoah River

crossing of Snickers Ferry near the farm of Cool Spring.

Although brief in duration, the battle of Cool Spring was

desperately fought, checking US pursuit for several days.

The battle of Cool Spring (also known as Snickers Ferry or

Parker's Ford) is representative of the division-sized engagements that occurred almost weekly throughout the remainder of the 1864 Valley Campaign, including

Rutherford's Farm (20 July), Guard Hill (16 August),

Abrams Creek (17 August), Cameron's Depot and

Summit Point (21 August), Smithfield Crossing (29

August), and Berryville (3-4 September). These encounters led up to the decisive battle of Opequon (Third

Winchester) on 19 September.

Description of the Battle

Phase One. Skirmishing at Snickers Ford (17 July): On

the afternoon of 17 July 1864, the US cavalry division of

Alfred Duffie reached Snickers Ford and attempted to

force a crossing of the Shenandoah River. Two regiments

of CS infantry supported by two pieces of artillery positioned on North Hill overlooking the ford repulsed the

attempt. US cavalry then tried to cross at Shepherd's Ford

about two miles south but were repulsed by CS cavalry of

Vaughn's brigade. During the night, Duffie continued

south along the river, leaving a smaller force to picket the

fords. On the morning of 18 July, US cavalry pickets,

supported by Mulligan's brigade of infantry (Crook's

corps) again attempted a crossing at Snickers Ford but were repulsed.

Phase Two. Advance of US Infantry (18 July): Col. Thoburn's division of Crook's Corps, followed by the VI

Corps arrived on the Berryville Pike (current rte. 7) from

their bivouac near Purcellville. Union generals Wright,

Emory, and Crook conferred on River Hill, where they

established a signal station and brought up a battery of

artillery. It was assumed that General Early's CS army was

in retreat to Winchester and that the ford was defended

only by cavalry. Because the attempted crossing at

Snickers Ford in the morning had been unsuccessful, the US commanders decided to cross a division one mile

downstream. The infantry diverged from the main road onto a rocky cart road that led to Judge Parker's house,

mill, and ford. The intervening hills disguised the move- ment from the CS pickets on the west bank of the river.

Phase Three. River Crossing (18 July): About 1500 hours,

Thoburn's 3,250 infantrymen forced CS skirmishers back

85
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

from Parker's Ford and crossed the shallow river at a number of places across and between the islands. Once on

the west bank, US skirmishers fanned out across the Cool

Spring farm, while the main body deployed along a rise about 100 yards from the river in the midst of a large wheatfield. Commands regrouped after the crossing and

prepared to move south to uncover Snickers Ford. Captured Confederates, however, revealed that the island fords had been defended by infantry and that Early's army

was nearby. Thoburn alerted his superiors on River Hill (by signal flag and courier) and awaited further instructions. He was told that he would be supported by a division of the VI Corps, which had begun to arrive on the

east bank near the Parker House.

Phase Four. CS Response (18 July): In response to Thoburn's crossing (or in anticipation of it) Maj. Gen.

John B. Gordon's division advanced along the Berryville

Pike from its bivouac at Webbtown. Gordon deployed

along the river bluffs north and south of North Hill. Simultaneously, Brig. Gen. Gabriel Wharton's division moved toward Cool Spring from its bivouac near

Wickliffe Church. Wharton deployed in line of battle and

advanced on Cool Spring forcing back the US skirmishers

to their main line near the river. Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes's division was farther north at Gaylord but was set

in motion to come up on the left of Wharton. Skirmishing extended along Wharton's and Gordon's fronts.

Phase Five. Rodes's Flank Attack (18 July): Colonel

Thoburn was now aware of his precarious position but

hoped to hold out until reinforced or withdrawn after dark. Rodes's division arrived from Wickliffe Church,

moving through ravines and behind the grove at Westwood which concealed the movement of the troops

until they were within striking distance of Thoburn's

contracted line. Rodes deployed to Wharton's left, his line bending in an arc almost at right angles to the river and

the US right flank. About 1800 hours Rodes threw his division forward on a compact front, surprising and

crushing the US right.

Thoburn sent the 1 16th Ohio to reinforce his right as both sides struggled for possession of a stone fence that bisected the wheatfield. A second CS attack drove US

forces back to another stone fence along the river bank.

There, they held out against a third desperate CS attack

that came near to driving them into the river. Three

batteries of Union artillery came into play from the

heights on the east bank. A division of the VI Corps

deployed on the east bank and engaged in sharpshooting,

but it was not sent across the river. Three batteries of CS

artillery supported Rodes's attack. Colonel Owens,

commanding a CS brigade was mortally wounded. The

bulk of the almost 850 casualties of the battle occurred at

this time and littered the wheatfield.

Phase Six. US Withdrawal (18 July): The Union line held out until dark, then began to recross the river unmolested

by CS infantry. An artillery duel broke out across the

river. US and CS batteries fired at each others' positions,

guided by the flashes of discharge and explosion. When

US infantry was safely on the east bank, the artillery fire tapered off, ending about 2100 hours. Later CS skirmishers advanced to the river, finding the Union line abandoned. CS units spread out across the field to tend to the wounded of both sides. General Crook was angered that Thoburn's command had been left to their own devices without being reinforced by the VI Corps, which was at hand.

Current Condition of the Battlefield

The setting of Cool Spring battlefield at the base of the Blue Ridge and on both banks of the Shenandoah River is very scenic. The combination of rural condition and

standing historic structures invokes a strong historic atmosphere. The core area of the battlefield (where

infantry attacks occurred) is private property owned by

Holy Cross Abbey. Buildings have been added on abbey

grounds and Cool Spring mansion has been enlarged, but

these additions, although visually intrusive, do not

interfere with interpretation of the battle. The recently

constructed Abbey Retreat House sits astride the CS batde

line and overlooks the main battlefield. The wheatfield

and river bank where the major infantry fighting occurred

are in pristine condition. The abbey does accommodate

visitors to the battlefield with prior arrangement.

US approach routes along rte. 7 from Snickers Gap

have been altered but not so that the strategy of movement

is lost. US staging and deployment areas on the east bank

in the vicinity of the Parker House are private property

owned by Golf Links, Inc. Approaches to the fords here were recontoured for a previous golf course, which has

been out of business for some years. US artillery positions on the bluffs overlooking the river have beenxleveloped

86
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

for a low-density housing project (Shenandoah Retreat). Access to this portion of the battlefield is restricted due to

private ownership.

The general area contains many Civil War-era

structures, including the Judge Parker House (judge who

sentenced John Brown), North Hill, Riverside farm and

tenant house, the old Snickers House, Waterloo, Cool

Spring, and Wickliffe Church, besides other historic

estates within a radius of several miles—Audley, Auburn,

Clermont. These structures reveal the plantation-style settlement pattern characteristic of this part of the Shenandoah Valley. Remains of Westwood House near

the Abbey can be located. Remnants of stone fences used

in the battle remain or old alignments can be traced. Access roads to fords can be traced on the east and west

banks. The field surveyor rated this field fair, while GIS rated

it good. The field surveyor made deductions for the

fourlane highway bridge, the recontoured ground on the

east bank, housing on battery heights, and the modern

retreat house which dominates many views from inside

the core.

Perception of Threats to Battlefield

The east bank of the battlefield is occupied by the Shenandoah Retreat development and a former golf

course. These areas were used for US staging and deployment in preparation of crossing the river and for the Union artillery positions. The area was under fire from

Confederate batteries. It is uncertain how the planned

redevelopment of the golf course by Golf Links, Inc., would impact battlefield integrity. The east bank has

already been substantially recontoured for the previous

golf course upstream from the Parker House.

There has a long-standing controversy in the county

among those who wish to redevelop the golf course and

those who oppose further development in the area. Golf

Links did receive zoning from the county to go ahead with

redevelopment, but as yet major construction has not

begun. A spokesman for the Holy Cross Abbey has

suggested that the monastery might be forced to relocate

to a more secluded place in response to the "loss of

privacy" caused by encroaching development. Residents

of Shenandoah Retreat, on the other hand, have complained in the past about loud, raucous drinking parties

along the river when the golf course was closed. As a

result, many residents support redevelopment of the golf

course. (It should be noted that public access to the Shenandoah River in this area is very restricted.) A

spokesman for Golf Links, Inc., said that the owners were

interested in incorporating a display and a possible

walking trail into the new golf course design to help

interpret the battle of Cool Spring. The Judge Parker

House (with existing additions) will serve as the club house for the golf course, if redevelopment proceeds. At least two new housing tracts, featuring large houses on one- to three-acre lots have appeared along rte. 7 west of North Hill in the last several years. Although these

tracts are not within the battlefield study area, they are representative of the type of development that is occurring

in this area.

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

the Battlefield (unsurveyed*)

Berry's Ferry

Berryville Pike

Big Hill Castleman's Ferry House

Champe Shepherd's Mill (site of*)

Cool Spring House

Cool Spring Run

Fairview Mill (site of*)

Frankford

Front Royal-Charles Town Pike

Gaylord

Glenwood

Island Fords

Judge Parker House "Retreat" North Hill Old River Road (traces) Parker's Ford

Parker's Hole

Parker's Island

Parker's Mill (site of) River Hill Riverside Farm

Riverside Tenant House

Shepherd's Mill (site of*)

Snicker House

Snicker's Ford

Snicker's Gap

Stone Walls (traces) UDC Cool Spring Batde

Monument

US Battery Heights

Waterloo

Webbtown

Westwood (ruin)

Westwood Grove

Westwood Run

Wheat Spring Branch

Wickliffe Church

87
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Study Area Core Area

Acres Percent Acres ] 3ercent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land 178.26 3.10 61.19 3.12 Agricultural Land 2,960.72 51.49 1094.19 55.79

Forest Land 2,235.06 38.87 660.36 33.67 Water: Streams and Rivers 376.06 6.54 145.53 7.42 Total 5,750.10 100.00 1,961.27 100.00

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 5,571.85 96.90 1,899.88 96.87

Lost Integrity 178.25 3.10 61.39 3.13 Level of Integrity Good Good

TABLE 10

1991 LAND USE / LAND COVER

COOL SPRING BATTLEFIELD

88
2NDKERNST0WN

Ipequon Church from Pritchard House by Ben Ritter

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

SECOND KERNSTOWN

(24 July 1864)

County: Frederick, VA and City of Winchester

General Location: US 1 1 (Valley Pike) and Hoge Run; Old

Opequon Church is approximate center of the field;

Pritchard's Hill.

Size of Study/Core Areas: 5,861/2,203 acres

GIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 50/52 percent; Poor/

Fair

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Poor

USGS Quadrants: Winchester, Stephens City

Campaign: Early's Maryland Campaign

Principal Commanders: [c] Lt. Gen. Jubal Early; [u] Brig. Gen. George Crook.

Forces Engaged: [c] Four infantry divisions (Gordon,

Rodes, Ramseur, and Breckinridge/Wharton), four

brigades of cavalry, and artillery, totalling about 13,000;

[u] Three infantry divisions (Thoburn, Duval, and

Mulligan), two cavalry divisions (Averell and Duffle), and

three batteries of artillery, numbering about 10,000.

Casualties: [c] unreported, est. 600 (100k/500w); [u]

about 1,200 (120k/600w/480m&c).

Significance: In late June and early July 1864, Lt. Gen.

Jubal A. Early's Confederate army used the strategic

Shenandoah Valley corridor to terrorize Maryland, defeat a Union army at Monocacy, and march on Washington,

D.C. Only the diversion of reinforcements from the Army

of the Potomac, bogged down in the trenches before

Petersburg, turned back the invasion. Early returned to

the Valley and achieved a decisive victory over George

Crook's command at Second Kernstown on 24 July. He

subsequently sent cavalry to burn Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on 30 July. These disasters forced Lt. Gen. U.S. Grant to take immediate action to solve the Valley

problem. The VI Corps and elements of the XIX Corps

were returned to the Valley and united with Crook's corps

(called the Army of West Virginia). Additional cavalry

units were diverted to the Valley. More importantly,

Grant unified the various military districts of the region

into the Middle Military District and appointed Maj. Gen.

Philip Sheridan as overall commander. Sheridan took

command of the newly christened Army of the Shenandoah on 7 August at Harpers Ferry. Sheridan's

leadership and his strongly reinforced army turned the

tide against Confederate power in the Shenandoah Valley.

Rutherford B. Hayes, later president of the United

States, commanded a brigade during the battle on the left of the US line. John C. Breckinridge, former senator and

vice president of the United States, commanded the Confederate division that confronted Hayes.

Description of the Battle

Phase One. Skirmishing at Kernstown (23 July): On the afternoon of 23 July 1864, CS cavalry advanced aggressively down the Valley Pike, driving US cavalry from

Newtown (Stephens City) to Kernstown. Brig. Gen.

George Crook directed Duval's infantry division to deploy

across the pike and clear the town of Confederates, which

they did with little difficulty. Crook then withdrew his infantry to Winchester behind Abrams Creek, leaving a brigade of cavalry to picket Kernstown. The CS army

encamped in the vicinity of Strasburg with headquarters at the Kendricks' House: Ramseur at Capon Grade, Rodes at

Fisher's Mill, Wharton and Gordon on Hupp's Hill. The

CS cavalry withdrew to the vicinity of Newtown.

Phase Two. Advance of CS Infantry (24 July): At first

light, the CS infantry left their encampments near

Strasburg and advanced down the Valley Pike. At

Bartonsville, Ramseur's division was directed west on side roads to the Middle Road. Gordon, Wharton, and Rodes

continued ahead on the pike. Early sent two columns of

cavalry to the east and west on a wide-ranging maneuver

to converge on Winchester and the Federal rear. Cavalry

led the advance down the pike, coming up against the main US force at Kernstown about 1000 hours. About

noon, the vanguard of the CS infantry reached Kernstown. Gordon deployed to the left of the Valley Pike, Wharton

to the right. Ramseur deployed across the Middle Road at Mrs. Massie's house. Rodes moved east from the Pike,

following a ravine.

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Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Phase Three. US Deployment on Pritchard's Hill: Crook

received information that Early's army was approaching

and brought two of his three divisions into line just north

of Hoge's Run at Kernstown. Mulligan's division held the US center behind a stone fence at the Pritchard House,

supported by Capt. Henry DuPont's artillery massed on

Pritchard's Hill to his rear. Duval's two brigades were

separated and posted on Mulligan's flanks with Hayes'

brigade extending the US line east of the Valley Pike. A

strong skirmish line was posted near Opequon Church.

Thoburn's division was held in reserve on Pritchard's Hill

to the right rear of the main US line. Cavalry protected

both flanks.

Phase Four. CS Attack on Center: About noon, Gordon's

division advanced in line west of the pike, driving back the skirmishers and closing with the main US line in the

vicinity of Opequon Church. Mulligan's division counterattacked, supported by Hayes on his left and took posses- sion of the churchyard. Soldiers sheltered there from the

intense firing behind stone fences and headstones in the cemetery. Gordon regrouped and again advanced,

compelling Mulligan to fall back 250 yards to the stone

fence along Pritchard's Lane. Gordon reached Opequon

Church but could make no further headway. CS artillery was brought up south of the church to engage US artillery on Pritchard's Hill. One of Wharton's brigades came into

line on Gordon's right. Crook repositioned his forces. Duval's right flank brigade was moved west, astride Middle Road. Thoburn's division was brought forward to

fill the gap between Mulligan and Duval. Elements of

Duffie's cavalry supported the right flank on the Middle

Road and picketed Cedar Creek Grade to the west.

Phase Five. CS Attack on Left: Ramseur's division came

into line from the Middle Road on Gordon's left and

advanced. Gordon shifted a brigade to the open ground

west of Opequon Church and advanced against Thoburn

in conjunction with Ramseur. Without orders Gordon's

brigade attacked and dislodged US troops sheltering

behind two stone fences. Thoburn withdrew to the base

of Pritchard's Hill, bending his line back to the north and

exposing Mulligan's right flank. Ramseur advanced in

force, wheeling right to confront Thoburn's line and

bringing a heavy enfilade fire against Mulligan's line.

Phase Six. CS Attack on Right: Wharton's division moved

along the ridge east of the Pike to threaten the US left flank

held by Hayes. Elements of AvereO's cavalry division were .. in position to delay this maneuver but withdrew without

engaging. In conjunction with Ramseur's advance on the CS left, Wharton attacked about 1500 hours and quickly

turned the US left. Hayes retreated to the stone walls that lined the Valley Pike and rallied his brigade, facing east at right angles to the center held by Mulligan.

Phase Seven. US Retreat: Three CS divisions now moved

in concert to envelope the US center. Mulligan's division was under fire from three directions. While trying to

direct the defense, Mulligan himself was pierced by five mini* balls and fell mortally wounded. "Lay me down

and save the colors!" he snapped at the officers who tried to assist him. The US center collapsed, and soldiers began

streaming to the rear. Hayes' brigade stood long enough on the crest of Pritchard's Hill to allow the US artillery to escape. Elements of Duffie's cavalry made a brief counterattack along the Middle Road, buying time for Thoburn's

division to retire in relatively good order.

Phase Eight. Rear Guard Actions: A brigade of Thoburn's

division made a stand near the toll gate at the intersection of the Valley Pike and Cedar Creek Grade, while the rest of

Crook's infantry retreated through the streets of Winchester. Rodes' division, in the meantime, crossed from the Valley Pike to the Front Royal Road and marched north to cut off the Federal retreat, meeting only light opposition

from the US cavalry. Rodes followed the Federal forces north to Stephenson's Depot, taking hundreds of prisoners until darkness ended the pursuit. The CS cavalry did not advance as Early expected. The disorganized Federal army retreated to Bunker Hill where it regrouped. Crook

continued the retreat before dawn and eventually reached

the Potomac River on 27 July. For a few days after the

battle, Federal prisoners were held in Star Fort.

Current Condition of the Battlefield

The core of the battlefield, the US center and goal of

decisive CS assaults, is Pritchard's Hill and the Pritchard

Farm, owned by the Charles Hardy Grim Estate. The

"Pritchard-Grim" property (roughly from rte. 652 to Pritchard's Hill and from rte. 628 to the historic Opequon

Church, about 200 acres) is agricultural land that retains a marked similarity to its Civil War appearance. The

property features a fine brick antebellum structure (Pritchard House), a frame tenant house, and several

90
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

outbuildings that date from the time of the battle. Col. James Mulligan, commander of the Union center, was wounded in front of and died in the Pritchard House two

days after the battle. The stone fence defended by

Mulligan's infantry still runs along Pritchard's Lane. CS

forces attacked across the open meadow south of the

house. Pritchard's Hill served as a Union artillery

strongpoint and was assaulted directly during the battle's

closing phases.

Opequon Church was the focal point of initial

fighting; the original building was destroyed during the war but rebuilt in 1896. Union accounts describe firing

from behind tombstones in the cemetery. An adjacent

parcel (bounded by rte. 37, Cedar Creek Grade, and

Middle Road to the Winchester city limits) is primarily

agricultural with some riew residences along Middle Road

and Cedar Creek Grade. This land, about 275 acres, was

significant during First Kernstown, and was the location of

the US far right at Second Kernstown, anchored on Sand

Ridge until turned by Ramseur's advance. Of about 2,200

acres of battlefield core, excluding Rodes' pursuit and

cavalry actions, an estimated 625 acres of contiguous open

ground remains. Ramseur's deployment area on Middle Road is bisected by the four-lane rte. 37-bypass. Gordon's

deployment area is occupied by an industrial building and

a housing subdivision. The area where Wharton made his decisive flanking movement and attack Rutherford B. Hayes' brigade is occupied by a high density industrial park along US 1 1 and the railroad corridor. Dense

industrial and commercial development characterizes the land adjacent to and east of US 1 1. The Pritchard-Grim

property and Pritchard's Hill are the last portions of open

ground south of the Winchester city limits. Most historic buildings of old Kernstown have been

lost, with the notable exception of Hoge's Ordinary or Beemer's Tavern, which has been renovated into office space and anchors a five-acre office-commercial develop- ment. Taylor provides a useful drawing of this structure

in his sketchbook. The Frederick County Historical Society has recently erected new interpretive signs and a map adjacent to Opequon Church, making the action more comprehensible to visitors.

business park. Route 1 1 is zoned commercial/industrial

and has been densely developed from south of Kernstown

to the Winchester city limits, causing concern over

potential development plans west of the highway. A new

business/office park was recently constructed near the entrance to the Opequon Church with Hoge's Ordinary as

its center piece.

A county planning official noted, however, that watershed and ground water considerations make

development in the Pritchard's Hill and Sand Ridge areas

less desirable. These factors would need to be considered

before any development plans would be approved.

Residential development is encroaching on the northern

part of Pritchard's Hill. For the present, a large portion of

this land remains in private ownership and has been

altered little since the Civil War. The Pritchard-Grim

farm and adjacent portions of Pritchard's Hill are owned

by the Charles Hardy Grim Estate.

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

the Battlefield (unsurveyed*)

Bartonsville Mill Buffalo Lick Run

Cedar Creek Grade

Front Royal Road

Glass House

Hoge's Ordinary

Hoge's Run

Kernstown

Magill House*

Middle Road

Old Town Winchester

Opequon Church and Cemetery

Pritchard House

Pritchard's Hill Pritchard's Lane Sand Ridge

Springdale

Stephenson's Depot

Stone Lane

Stone Walls

Tollgate (site of) Valley Pike

Perception of Threats to the Battlefield

Land east of US 1 1 (Valley Pike) along the railroad

tracks has been developed for a large-scale industrial/

91
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Stud)r Area Core Area

Acres Percent Acres Percent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land 2,837.23 48.41 1,105.3 50.17

Agricultural Land 2,799.71 47.77 1,090.54 49.5

Forest Land 223.89 3.82 7.27 0.33 Total 5,860.83 100.00 2,203.12 100.00

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 3,025.94 51.63 1,098.03 49.84

Lost Integrity 2,830.78 48.30 1,105.08 50.16

Level of Integrity Fair Poor

TABLE 11

1991 LAND USE / LAND COVER

SECOND KERNSTOWN BATTLEFIELD

92
Opequon

/ ickwood House try Patrice Gilbert

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

OPEQUON or Third Winchester

(19 September 1864)

County: Frederick, VA and City of Winchester

General Location: Area east of Winchester from 1-81

along Berryville Pike (VA 7) to Opequon Creek. Also

combat north of Red Bud Run W to US1 1. Stephenson's

Depot. Star Fort. Collier Redoubt.

Size of Study/Core Areas: 1 1,670/4,914 acres

GIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 54/47 percent; Fair/ Poor

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Poor

USGS Quadrants: Winchester, Stephenson

Campaign: Sheridan's Valley Campaign

Principal Commanders: [c] Lt. Gen. Jubal Early; [u] Maj.

Gen. Philip Sheridan.

Forces Engaged: [c] Four divisions (Gordon, Rodes,

Ramseur, Breckinridge/Wharton), two cavalry divisions

(Fitz Lee, Lomax), about 15,200; [u] Three infantry corps

(Wright, Emory, Crook), cavalry corps (Torbert), about

39,236.

Casualties: [c] 3,611 (226k/l,567w/l,818m&c); W 5,018

(697k/3,983w/338m).

Significance: Opequon or Third Winchester (fought 19 September 1864) was the largest and most desperately

contested battle of the Civil War in the Shenandoah

Valley, resulting in more than 9,000 casualties. The battle was a turning point of the war in the Valley, marking the

rise of Sheridan and the decline of Confederate power.

Sheridan defeated the Confederate army again three days

later at Fisher's Hill (22 September), forcing it to retreat up the Valley to near Waynesboro. The CS army of Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early suffered about 23 percent casualties.

Casualties for the larger Union army under Maj. Gen.

Philip Sheridan exceeded 5,000, nearly 20 percent. The

Union XIX Corps sustained 40 percent casualties (2,074

men) and lost every regimental commander during its

assaults on the Middle Field and Second Woods. The

most severe fighting and casualties occurred in the large

parcel east of 1-81, north of rte. 7, west of rte. 656, and

south of rte. 661. The Middle Field ranks with some of the most sanguinary fields of the Civil War, witnessing more

than 3,000 casualties. CS general Robert E. Rodes and US

general D. A. Russell were both killed within a few

hundred yards of the Dinkle Barn site at the entrance to Winchester Mall.

Description of the Battle

Phase One. US Advance (19 September): Maj. Gen.

Philip Sheridan's army advanced from the vicinity of

Berryville on the Winchester-Berryville Pike about 0200

hours, 19 September 1864. At earliest light, Brig. Gen. James Wilson's cavalry division crossed the Opequon at Spout Spring and advanced through a defile known as

Berryville Canyon, followed by the US infantry (VI Corps,

XIX Corps, and Crook's corps). At the canyon's mouth

the cavalry met the first elements of Maj. Gen. Stephen Ramseur's CS division and drove them back on their

supports. Johnston's brigade deployed across the pike and

held back the Union advance, while the rest of the division came into line to cover the Berryville Pike and Senseny

Road farther to the south. The US cavalry launched

several mounted and dismounted charges, driving the CS

infantry back about 150 yards to the vicinity of the Dinkle

Barn. Here Ramseur stiffened his defense with artillery, and the US cavalry withdrew as its infantry began to

deploy. Wilson's division moved to cover the US left flank where it remained for the rest of the battle.

Phase Two. Cavalry Action: About 0200 hours Brig. Gen.

Wesley Merritt's cavalry division of three brigades (Custer,

Devin, Lowell) advanced toward Seiver's and Locke's fords from the vicinity of Berryville. Their crossings were

resisted by Brig. Gen. John McCausland's cavalry brigade

dismounted behind barricades. The Reserve brigade

(Lowell) pushed across at Seiver's Ford against fitful opposition. Custer's brigade met heavier resistance at Locke's Ford and made several mounted charges before securing a foothold on the western bank. By 0800 hours

both wings were across the creek, but the cavalry did not advance for several hours. About 1030 hours,

McCausland's skirmishers withdrew, and Merritt's division moved cautiously forward. Waiting for them was

93
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Wharton's infantry division about a mile west of the fords,

deployed across the roads in woods and behind stone

fences. About 1 100 hours, the US cavalry began testing the CS defenses with skirmishers and artillery. Custer launched one mounted attack but was quickly repulsed.

About noon, Sheridan's main infantry attack was underway, and Wharton's division withdrew to cover the CS left flank on the Valley Pike north of Winchester. Merritt

continued forward along Charles Town Road. Custer

followed the line of the Winchester & Potomac Railroad. About 1400 hours Merritt's division converged with

Averell's cavalry division on the Valley Pike near

Stephenson's Depot. (See phase seven.)

Phase Three. Deployment of US Infantry: In the meantime, the Union infantry bogged down in the narrow

confines of Berryville Canyon, dashing Sheridan's hopes of

quickly taking Winchester and defeating the CS army in

detail. Maj. Gen. Horatio Wright's VI Corps of three

divisions (Getty, Ricketts, Russell) emerged from the canyon in order. Getty's division deployed south of the pike with its left flank resting on Abrams Creek. Ricketts' division formed north of the pike on Getty's right and

extending to Redbud Run. Russell's division was held in

reserve. The XIX Corps of two divisions (Dwight and

Grover) did not begin crossing until after 0900 hours and

eventually deployed north of the pike into the First Woods, connecting with Ricketts' right. Sheridan

established his headquarters near the Berryville Pike,

probably south of the road on the Eversole Farm. As the US infantry deployed, the CS batteries opened a furious

fire from behind the Dinkle Barn. Union batteries swung

into action on both sides of the pike to engage the CS

guns.

In the meantime, Lt. Gen. Jubal Early concentrated his scattered divisions. Rodes' division, marching from near Stephenson's Depot, deployed to the left and rear of Ramseur's division in the West Woods. Gordon's division extended the line across the Hackwood Farm to Redbud

Run. Wharton's infantry and Fitz Lee's cavalry division drew a line across the Valley Pike north of town near Stephenson's Depot. CS batteries deployed on high

ground along Baker Lane north and south of the West

Woods, and north of Redbud Run. Skirmishing continued along Ramseur's front.

Phase Four. Fighting in Middle Field: At 1 140 hours, a US signal gun boomed and Grover's division of four

brigades (Birge, Molineux, Sharpe, and Shunk) launched

its attack from the First Woods across Middle Field toward the Second Woods behind which Gordon's

division waited. CS horse artillery north of Redbud Run

played havoc with the flanks of Grover's attacking line. Birge's brigade reached the woods, driving back skirmishers, but then came up against Gordon's main line and

were staggered. Sharpe's brigade came up on Birge's left, and the fighting became desperate. The Confederate line broke, falling back across the Hackwood property. Seven CS cannon in the Hackwood Lane fired canister pointblank into the US attackers, throwing them back. Gordon now launched a counterattack with two brigades,

driving Birge and Sharpe out of the Second Woods and

back across Middle Field. Grover ordered Molineux to advance and plug the gap that had opened between Birge

and Sharpe. The firing was so intense that Molineux's

flanks seemed to "melt away." Shunk's brigade was

thrown forward to bolster the wavering Union line, coming in on Molineux's right rear. Shunk closed to within sixty yards of the CS line in the Second Woods.

The two lines delivered pointblank volleys into each

others' ranks. Gordon again counterattacked, and the Union attack collapsed. The wreckage of Grover's

division went streaming back across the Middle Field to the safety of the First Woods. The CS horse battery

(Breathed) north of Redbud Run again worked execution

among the retreating division. Every regimental com- mander in Grover's division was killed or wounded;

casualties totaled nearly 1,500. Beal's brigade of Dwight's

division deployed in the treeline at the east end of the Middle Field and advanced into "that basin of Hell" to stem the retreat. Gordon's men waiting along the treeline of the Second Woods laid down a murderous fire. The

Union brigade did not reach within 200 yards of the Second Woods before being pinned down. They ex- pended all of their ammunition before retreating back to the First Woods. The 1 14th New York suffered casualties of 60 percent (188 of 350 effectives). McMillan's brigade,

personally directed by Corps commander Maj. Gen.

William Emory, advanced. They reached a shallow ravine about 200 yards from the Second Woods, where two

regiments (8VT and 12CT) clung on for nearly two hours. By 1300 hours, the main thrust of the XIX Corps attack was blunted and its ranks decimated. By 1400 hours,

firing on this end of the field sputtered out from sheer exhaustion.

94
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Phase Five. Fighting Near Dinkle Barn: At 1 140 in conjunction with the XIX Corps' advance on the right,

Getty's and Ricketts's divisions of the VI Corps launched

their attack against Ramseur's line, which was positioned on high ground, stretching from the Dinkle Barn south

behind Abrams Creek. Ricketts' division on the right was

ordered to guide its attack on the Berryville Pike, which

takes a sharp jog to the left in front of the Dinkle Barn. As

they advanced, a gap widened between the VI Corps and

the XIX Corps on the far right. Keifer's and Emerson's

brigades ruptured the Confederate center at the Dinkle

Barn and moved to capture a battery of artillery in front of

the West Woods. Ramseur's left flank now gave way and

Confederates began to drift back toward Winchester.

Phase Six. Rodes's Counterattack: Just as Ramseur's left

flank gave way from the Union attacks, Maj. Gen. Robert

E. Rodes brought his division forward from its protected

position in the West Woods. About 1330 he launched a

devastating counterattack into the gap that had opened

between the VI and XIX Corps. Batde's Alabama brigade "came out of the woods like a whirlwind," crushing

Ricketts's division, which formed the right flank of the VI

Corps. About this time, General Rodes was killed by

shrapnel. He fell somewhere along the woods line. Union

soldiers streamed back along the Berryville Pike, while two

US batteries astride the pike tried to slow the CS assault. From his command post on Eversole's Hill, Sheridan and

Wright witnessed the disaster. Sheridan immediately

committed his reserves to stave off certain defeat; this was

David A. Russell's division of three brigades (Campbell,

Upton, and Edwards). Campbell advanced his brigade

astride the Berryville Pike with Edwards' brigade to his

right. General Russell, directing these maneuvers, was

mortally wounded. The two brigades struck Battle's

attackers head-on and stalled them in the ravine from

which they had emerged and drove them back on their supports at the edge of the West Woods—the rest of

Rodes' division. Upton's brigade came in on Edwards'

right advancing from the edge of the Second Woods. The

two divisions—Rodes' and Russell's—closed, exchanging

murderous volleys. Upton's impetuous charge stopped

the CS counterattack and drove it back into the West

Woods. Russell's division was then withdrawn out of

range to regroup. Wright called Upton's attack the

turning point of the battle.

Phase Seven. Cavalry Action: Concurrent with the above

events, there was cavalry fighting along the Valley Pike

north of Winchester. About 0500 hrs. the Union cavalry

division of William Averell crossed the Opequon near

Darkesville and moved to the Valley Pike, steadily pushing

back the 23rd Virginia Cavalry, which fought a delaying

action back to Bunker Hill. There the 23VA were rein- forced by the 62nd Virginia mounted infantry.

About 10 o'clock, Union cavalry attacked at Bunker

Hill, forcing the CS cavalry to retire. Averell continued

pushing south on the pike to link up with Merritt's division about 1400 hours, near Stephenson's Depot.

South of the old Charles Town road, the Confederate

cavalry units were stiffened by Smith's infantry brigade

(Wharton's Division). About 1330, Devin's brigade

arrived on the road to the depot. About one mile south of

the depot, it encountered McCausland's brigade drawn up

in line of battle and attacked, driving the Confederates

back in confusion. The 23VA cavalry and the 62VA

mounted infantry attacked the Union flank disrupting the

charge. McCausland and Smith retired one mile to the

lightly entrenched line at near Collier Redoubt where they were reinforced by Fitz Lee's two brigades (Wickham and

Payne) and Wharton's infantry division. Maj. Gen.

Fitzhugh Lee fell wounded, during the fighting south of

Stephenson's Depot. The Union cavalry deployed five brigades in line of battle, stretching from the railroad west toward the ridge near the intersection of the Valley Pike

and Welltown Road.

Phase Eight. Crook's Flank Attack: About 1300 hours,

Sheridan directed Crook's corps of two divisions (Thoburn and Duval) to advance from its reserve position near Spout Spring. The divisions marched to near the "Factory" on Redbud Run, where they split up. Thoburn's division moved west on the south bank of

Redbud into the First Woods to relieve the XIX Corps.

Duval's division crossed the run and turned west accompanied by the artillery of Capt. Henry DuPont. Duval's

division deployed near the Huntsberry House. DuPont

unlimbered 18 guns on what has been named DuPont

Hill, opposite Gordon's flank in the Second Woods and

opened fire. Crook now ordered Duval's division forward

into a "wall of flame." They swept across Redbud Run at the Hackwood House, turning Gordon's flank and

advancing against Wharton's line, stretching from Collier Redoubt east. About this time, Thoburn's division

95
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

charged out of the First Woods into the Middle Field.

This two-pronged assault forced Gordon to abandon the Second Woods and align himself with Breckinridge to his

left rear. The CS line was now drawn into a compact Lshape, anchored by cavalry at Star Fort. Wharton's

division faced north. Gordon's division made the turn of

the L and Rodes' and Ramseur's divisions extended the

line south to Abrams Creek.

Phase Nine. Collapse of CS Line: With the success of

Crook's attack on the right, Sheridan ordered a general

advance against the constricted CS position on the plateau

just north and east of the town. The Confederates were

posted behind stone fences, rail barricades, and in shallow

earthworks constructed in 1862. They could retreat no

farther without losing organization in the streets of

Winchester. As the Union advance closed from east and

north, firing became fierce and desperate. The massed

artillery of both sides fired case shot and canister. General

Sheridan rode forward to the battle lines to urge his troops

forward. About 1530 hours, as the infantry fighting

reached a crescendo, Averell and Merritt advanced their

cavalry divisions astride the Valley Pike, first at a walk and

then at a thundering gallop. They swept over the CS line

at Collier Redoubt driving back the CS cavalry on the low

ground below Star Fort. Schoonmaker's brigade of

Averell's division repeatedly attacked Munford's cavalry at

Star Fort, eventually overrunning the work. The CS

infantry withdrew to another line about 150 yards to the

rear but the damage was done. The sound of Union

cavalry pounding in their rear spread panic all along the Confederate line, and soldiers began streaming to the rear and "whirling through Winchester." Wharton's and

Gordon's divisions seemed to disintegrate. Seven Federal horseman captured Confederate battle flags, each earning

a Medal of Honor. Rodes's division (commanded now by

Grimes) performed the difficult maneuver of "changing

front" to the north to stop the onrushing US cavalry.

Early's army retreated in disorder.

Phase Ten. Rear Guard Actions: General Early fashioned

a defensive line at Kernstown (probably at Pritchard's Hill and behind Hoge's Run) which saved his wagons and

most of his artillery. Cavalry and elements of the VI Corps

probed this makeshift CS defense as night fell, but the US

forces were too disorganized by success to mount an

effective pursuit. After dark, the CS army withdrew up the

Valley Pike to Fisher's Hill south of Strasburg. Gen.

Sheridan established his headquarters in Winchester at

the home of Lloyd Logan. Casualties were so severe that

nearly every sizeable structure in Winchester served as a

hospital after the battle.

Current Condition of the Battlefield

The Opequon battlefield is large and sprawling,

covering thousands of acres east and north of Winchester. In general, much of the battlefield has been greatly

degraded or destroyed by the expanding urban environs

of Winchester, but several significant parcels currently

remain, perhaps 800-900 acres: these include the Cavalry

Field north of Collier Redoubt, the Hackwood Estate, northern half of Middle Field and First Woods adjacent

to Redbud Run, and the heights (including DuPont's

Hill) north of Redbud Run. Together, these parcels form

a block of battlefield core that retains a high degree of

integrity.

Many historic structures remain in the vicinity,

including Hackwood; Spout Spring (Wood House) on

rte. 7 adjacent to a sewage treatment plant; an old house,

mill site, and a dye house where rte. 656 crosses Redbud

Run; an old log house where rte. 659 crosses Redbud

Run; Brumley House; Valley Mill Farm; Jordan Springs;

Tanquary House; and others. The Hackwood Estate

dates from 1777 and is a historic treasure in its own right.

Preservation of this house and parcel alone would allow

substantial interpretation of the battle of Opequon.

Other parcels, such as the Opequon Crossing and

Spout Spring, Seiver's and Locke's fords, and the Second

Winchester parcel at Stephenson's Depot (which was

scene of cavalry actions during this battle) would expand

interpretation. Star Fort and Collier Redoubt appear

protected, although without sufficient buffers. Although hemmed in by development and severely

degraded, the Dinkle Barn site adjacent to the 1-81

entrance ramp off rte. 7 is key to understanding the

attack of the VI Corps and Rodes' counterattack. A

portion of the ravine down which Rodes attacked is

intact northeast of 1-81 interchange in front of the Dinkle Barn site at the entrance of Winchester Mall. The battery

heights west of 1-81 are being developed for business,

industrial, and residential uses. The last surviving parcel

of West Woods (adjacent to 1-81 ) is currently being

bulldozed for townhouses.

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Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

The Hastings marker is the only monument erected on

the battlefield that remains. It is enclosed by an iron fence and sits next to the road in the midst of Fort Collier

Business/Industrial Park east of Collier Redoubt. Nearby

are the remains of old stone fences and an old farm lane

defended by CS troops in the battle's later phases.

Perception of Threats to Battlefield

Threats are immediate and of large order. If continued as planned, the residential development of Caleb

Heights and associated development would destroy the

last remaining intact parcels of the infantry fighting at the

battle of Opequon. According to county-approved plans,

construction would occupy most of the area south of

Redbud Run with more than 600 single family homes,

townhouses, and a commercial strip. A connector road

would be pushed through from the north, separating

Hackwood and DuPont's Hill. As of this writing, construction has not begun and has been held up by financial

transactions. The Hackwood House and property (144 acres) was

recently offered for auction but the sale was postponed.

This property could potentially be subdivided. Regency

Lakes subdivision was built several years ago on southern

portions of Middle Field and First Woods. Further phases

of housing development, if constructed, would cover the

last portion of Second Woods, "Rodes' Ravine," and

another segment of the First Woods. Star Fort itself is owned by a Civil War reenactment group but the sur- rounding 50-acres is for sale and zoned commercial/

industrial. The Shenandoah Valley Civil War Foundation, a local

preservation group, has negotiated to preserve a small

portion of the Second Woods area as a park if development proceeds. The developer, Top of Virginia Corporation, has agreed to set aside 63 acres in the area adjacent to Hackwood as a commemorative park. A forty-acre parcel of Middle Field next to Redbud Run is privately owned;

the owner has stated in the past that he will not develop it.

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

the Battlefield (unsurveyed*)

Baker House (site of)

Berryville Canyon

Berryville Pike

Brumley House

Burnt Factory Farm

C.Wood's Mill (site of*) Carter House

Cleridge Farm

(Opequon Inn)

Collier Redoubt

Dinkle Barn (site of) DuPont's Hill Eversole House (site of)

First Woods

Greenwood Church

Hackwood

Hackwood Lane

Hastings Monument

Hoffmann House (site of*)

Huntsberry House (site of)

I. Wood House

Jordan Springs

Locke's Ford

Milburn Cemetery

Middle Field Morgan's Mill (ruin)

National Cemetery

Old Town Winchester

Opequon Crossing

Ravine up which Rodes attacked Red Bud Mill (site of*)

Rutherford House (site of) Second Woods

Seiver's Ford

Spout Spring (Wood House)

Star Fort Stephenson's Depot (site of) Stonewall Cemetery

Tanquery's Ford

Thomas McCann House

Valley Mill Farm

Valley Pike

West Woods

Wood's Mill (site of*)

Wright's Ford

97
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Study Area Core Area

Acres Percent Acres Percent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land 6,149.06 45.22 2,382.65 45.05

Agricultural Land 5,386.21 39.61 2,011.90 38.04

Forest Land 1,678.01 12.34 484.46 9.16 Unidentified Land Use / Land Cover 384.83 2.83 409.89 7.75 Total 13,598.1 100.00 5,288.90 100.00

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 7,285.86 53.58 2,321.18 47.24

Lost Integrity 6,312.24 46.42 2,592.42 52.76

Level of Integrity Fair Poor

TABLE 12

1991 LAND USE / LAND COVER

OPEQUON BATTLEFIELD

98
Fisher's Hill

Tumbling Run and Mill by Charles Moseley

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

FISHER'S HILL

(21-22 September 1864)

County: Shenandoah, VA

General Location: On heights north and south of rte. 601

and Tumbling Run from the river to the Back Road;

hamlet of Fisher's Hill is marked on contemporary maps.

Size of Study/Core Areas: 9,644/2,751 acres

GIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 89/85 percent; Good/

Good

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Fair

USGS Quadrants: Tom's Brook, Strasburg, Mountain

Falls, Middletown

Campaign: Sheridan's Valley Campaign

Principal Commanders: [c] Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early; [u]

Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan.

Forces Engaged: [c] Four infantry divisions (Wharton,

Gordon, Pegram, Ramseur), one cavalry division (Lomax), about 9,500; [u] Three infantry corps (Wright,

Emory, Crook), Averell's cavalry division, about 29,444.

Casualties: [c] 1,235 (30k/210w/995m&c); [u] 528 (52k/

457w/19m).

Significance: Lt. Gen. Jubal Early was "outgeneraled" by

Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan at Fisher's Hill. Although the

casualty figures were not high, this battle was a masterpiece of maneuver and surprise. Sheridan's flanking

attack brought Crook's corps to the left rear of Early's

position on Fisher's Hill and threw the CS army into a

panic. Confederate defeat at Fisher's Hill (on the heels of

defeat at Opequon) opened the Shenandoah Valley to a US advance that reached beyond Staunton. When

Sheridan withdrew during the first part of October, his army systematically burned mills, barns, crops, and forage,

and ran off livestock. By implementing this strategy of

"total warfare," Sheridan felt that he accomplished the primary objective of his campaign—to deprive the Confederacy of the agricultural abundance of the Valley.

Description of the Battle

Phase One. CS Dispositions (19-20 September): After its crushing defeat at Winchester on 19 September 1864, the CS army withdrew to Fisher's Hill. The US army pursued

as far as Hupp's Hill on 20 September and massed near

Strasburg. The Confederate position at Fisher's Hill was a strong one, particularly at the center and on the right

flank. Wharton's division, on the Confederate right flank, entrenched along the high bluff overlooking Miller's bottom extended to the left to cover the Valley Pike (old

alignment). Gordon's division deployed from the Valley

Pike across Manassas Gap Railroad to near the Middle

Road above the hamlet of Fisher's Hill. Pegram's division (formerly Ramseur's) was to Gordon's left, and Ramseur's

division (formerly Rodes's) extended the line west to a high hill south of Tumbling Run South Fork (referred to a "Ramseur's Hill" in this report). The CS cavalry under

Lomax extended the main line northwest to and beyond

the Back Road. Lomax's position was held with little more

than a skirmish line. To mask these deployments, Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early

placed a strong skirmish line on the hills north of Tumbling Run (Quarry Hill, Flint Hill, School House Hill). General Early had his headquarters at the Widow

Funkhouser house on the Valley Pike. Confederate signal

stations on Massanutten (Signal Knob) and Round Hill

offered wide-ranging views of any Union moves against

this line. Early's artillery commanded all approaches

along the pike, the railroad, and the Middle Road. The

advanced CS positions north of Tumbling Run were not supported by artillery. A brigade of CS cavalry and a

battery of horse artillery were placed on Sandy Hook east of the North Fork Shenandoah.

Phase Two. US Advance (21 September): About noon, 21 September, Sheridan advanced his army south and west from Strasburg, massing the bulk of the VI Corps in a horseshoe opposite the CS right center on the plateau

north of Flint Hill, its left at the Manassas Gap railroad. The XIX Corps, weakened from the battle of Opequon,

was placed on the US left east of the railroad with a skirmish line extending back through Strasburg to cover

the fords over the Shenandoah North Fork and the road to Front Royal. The line of these two corps was entrenched.

Crook's corps (nominally the Army of West Virginia) was

held in reserve and out of sight of Signal Knob "in the timber near Strasburg." Wright (VI Corps) established his

99
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

headquarters in the Amos Stickley House (near the

intersection of rte. 757 and 1-81). Averell's cavalry division covered the Back Road. The rest of Sheridan's cavalry was

sent via Buckton Ford and Front Royal to advance up the Luray (Page) Valley. Sheridan established headquarters at the George Hupp House just north of Strasburg.

Phase Three. Capture of Flint Hill (21 September): As US

soldiers entrenched their new position, skirmishing heated

up. Sheridan and Wright surveyed the land but could see

little of the main CS line because of two intervening hills,

called "Flint Hill." These hills were defended by a rein- forced skirmish line barricaded behind "hog" or "bull pens" (U-shaped barricades made offence rails that sheltered three men). Sheridan ordered Wright to take the

hills so that he would have an "unobstructed view." Two

regiments (1260H and 139PA) advanced but were thrown back. Reinforced by a third regiment, they tried again without success. The First Brigade/Second Division

(five New York and Pennsylvania regiments) was brought

into battle line and swept forward under command of Col.

J. M. Warner (formerly commander of the Vermont

brigade). The hills fell quickly. General Wright described

this movement as "of the greatest importance to the operations of the next day, as it gave us a view of the enemy's line and afforded excellent positions for artillery, of which we availed ourselves in the more important

struggle of the 22nd." Warner's men threw up rifle pits

and bivouacked on the hills within rifle-musket range of

the main CS line south of Tumbling Run.

Phase Four. US Battle Line Advanced (21-22 September):

During the night, Sheridan extended his line westward

with Ricketts division on the far right, Getty next, and

Wheaton connecting with the XIX Corps at the railroad. After sunrise, Crook's corps was brought forward,

following ravines and staying in timber to be out of sight

of the CS signal stations. Shortly before noon, Ricketts

division (VI Corps) moved to possess the heights over- looking the North Fork of Tumbling Run, while Averell's cavalry division advanced on the Back Road to establish a connection with Ricketts's right flank. Keifer's brigade

assaulted and carried the two hills south of the run

(School House Ridge), driving CS skirmishers back on

their main line. Union skirmishers were pushed to within range of the CS works and began laying down a steady fire. Ricketts formed his division behind the crest of the hills

and awaited Crook's attack. In the meantime, about 1215 hours, Emory (XIX

Corps) rushed Quarry Hill on the left with a brigade and

seized the CS rifle-pits there. His men immediately

reversed the entrenchments, giving the Union army an unbroken line of rifle pits, extending from Quarry Hill across Flint Hill, confronting the main CS line on Fisher's

Hill at a range of about 500 yards; skirmishing erupted

along the line. US batteries were brought up, and an

artillery duel erupted in the vicinity of the village of

Fisher's Hill. Skirmishing continued until about 1600

hours.

Phase Five. Crook's Flank Attack (22 September): During

the morning Gen. George Crook moved his two divisions (about 5,000 men) to the base of Little North Mountain

beyond St. Stephens Church, unseen by the Confederate

signal station on Massanutten Mountain. About 1400

hours, Sheridan directed him to commence a flanking

movement along the shoulder of the mountain. Crook

formed his corps in two parallel columns and marched

south until more than half of the command was beyond

the Confederate left flank, which was held by Lomax's

cavalry division. Crook encountered only scattered fire from a few surprised pickets.

About 1600 hours, Crook ordered his columns to face

left and to charge. The soldiers charged down the side of

the mountain, shouting at the tops of their lungs. The CS

cavalry took to their horses and scattered. In their rush

down the hill, Crook's divisions lost all order; a mass of men funneled through the ravine of the Middle Fork of

Tumbling Run past the Barbe House and closed on the Confederate infantry on "Ramseur's Hill." A second mass

funneled to the right along an old road that penetrated to the rear of the Confederate positions. Grimes's brigade of

North Carolinians held out against Crook's onslaught

until Ricketts ordered his division forward. Hearing, more than seeing, that they were flanked, CS defenders

along the remainder of the line began abandoning their entrenchments. Battle's CS brigade was sent to the left to confront Crook but was misdirected into a ravine and

missed the fighting altogether. Sheridan advanced his other divisions, the men attacking generally up the

ravines. Early's army was soon in full flight, abandoning

equipment and 14 artillery pieces that could not be

extricated from the works.

100
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Phase Six. Rear Guard Action at Prospect Hill (22

September): The CS army was a shambles but attempted

to collect itself at the base of Round Hill on the Valley

Pike. Generals Gordon, Ramseur, and Pegram and staff

officers established a rear guard of artillery and infantry at

Prospect Hill and held off the disorganized Union pursuit.

During this action, Col. Alexander "Sandie" Pendleton,

Stonewall Jackson's favorite staff officer, was wounded; he

died the following day in Woodstock. The CS army

retreated to Narrow Passage, and the wagon train went on

to Mt. Jackson. Darkness and confusion among the Union victors prevented effective pursuit.

During the fighting at Fisher's Hill, a CS cavalry

division turned back the Union cavalry at Milford (present

day Overall) in the Luray Valley, preventing an attempt to

gain Early's rear by crossing the gap to New Market.

Sheridan remarked that if his cavalry had been successful, he could have captured Early's army.

Current Condition of the Battlefield

The excellent state of preservation and the existing

rural character make the study of this battlefield pleasant

as well as informative. The battlefield can be interpreted

mostly from public roads using about four vantage points,

although the best-preserved Confederate entrenchments

are on private property. The hamlet of Fisher's Hill

retains a historic appearance that includes an old mill

(Keller's Mill) and other structures of Civil War vintage.

Rte. 601 from rte. 623 (Back Road) to US 1 1 (Valley Pike)

is a pristine rural landscape, except for a short stretch of

trailers and a few modern houses west of but out of sight of "Ramseur's Hill." 1-81 is conducted over rte. 623 with no interchange and is not intrusive at ground level but

becomes intrusive if one climbs the hills adjacent to it. In 1990, the Association for Preservation of Civil War

Sites (APCWS) acquired about 195 acres of land west of

and adjacent to 1-81 and north and south of rte. 601. (The

parcel of land south of rte. 601 is referred to as "Ramseur's

Hill" in this report.) This was where the Confederate

infantry met Crook's flank attack from the west and the

assault of Ricketts' division from the north. The parcel of

APCWS land north of rte. 601 was the scene of preparatory skirmishing and a staging area for Ricketts' division. Access to Ramseur's Hill provides an important vantage

point for understanding and interpreting the battle. Traces of Confederate entrenchments remain on the hill. This area, although critically important in understanding

the action, is visually degraded by 1-81. A vantage point slightly north of the intersection of

rtes. 639 and 757 allows interpretation of opening phases

of the battle and offers views of Flint Hill (actually two

hills, separated by rte. 757) assaulted on 21 September.

The Emanuel Evangelical Church above the hamlet of

Fisher's Hill offers a sweeping panorama of the CS

positions south of Tumbling Run. Many historic structures, including the Eastep and

Barbe houses, a brick house (S. Funkhouser house) at the base of Ramseur's Hill, Keller's Mill, Stickley's Mill, and

the Miller House are along rte. 601 in Tumbling Run

valley. The Widow Funkhouser House site, Early's

headquarters, is on US 1 1 (vintage of current house was

not determined). Stone fences remain near the shell of the Jacob Funk house and barn, built by one of the county's

first residents in the mid- 1 700s. Sections of the fieldworks on Fisher's Hill are extant with some segments in a good state of preservation.

Portions were bulldozed years ago where the entrenchments extended across pastureland, although in some

cases shallow traces remain. Works overlooking the old bed of the Valley Pike are in good condition. The line of

entrenchments should be professionally surveyed. Near

the intersection of rtes. 1 1 and 601 the abutments of the

old stone Valley Pike bridge remain. The old road trace climbs the face of the hill and in places is supported by

stone retaining walls.

Perception of Threats to Battlefield

New construction activity in the area has been slight. Several local landowners have erected modern houses for themselves or their families along rte. 601. There is a large

trailer park along US 1 1 but behind Fisher's Hill, where it

is not particularly intrusive. Several new homes have been

built at the base of Flint Hill and in the vicinity of the

intersection of rtes. 639 and 757, degrading the ability to

interpret the battle's initial phases. There is a short strip of

modern housing along rte. 757 south of Fisher's Hill. Based on interviews with several local landowners, there was general approval of the recent APCWS acquisition

and a strong consensus that new development in the area should be excluded. The major visual intrusion in the

battlefield is 1-81, which prompted the field surveyor to lower the integrity rating from good to fair. Any future move to widen 1-81 or to provide an interchange would

severely impact the battlefield's integrity.

101
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

the Battlefield (unsurveyed*)

A. Funkhouser House (site of*)

Back Road

Barbe House

Eastep House

Entrenchments

Fisher's Hill

Fisher's Mill*

Flint Hill Fort Banks (site of) Hupp House

I. Piper House (site of*)

Jacob Funk House and Barn (ruin)

Keller's Mill Locust Grove School (site of) Manassas Gap Railroad

Middle Road

Miller House

Miller's Bottom

Mt. Hebron Church

Newell House (site of*)

Old Town Strasburg

Picnic Ground

Prospect Hill Quarry Hill Ramseur's Hill Round Hill

S. Funkhouser House

Signal Knob

Spangler's Mill

St. Stephens Church

Stage Road

Stone Bridge Site (ruin)

Tumbling Run

Valley Pike

Widow Funkhouser House (site of)

102
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Study Areet Core Area

Acres Percent Acres Percent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land 1,088.24 11.13 327.61 11.91

Agricultural Land 5,685.67 58.15 1,373.46 49.93

Forest Land 2,876.57 29.42 980.66 35.65 Barren Land: Strip Mines, Quarries, Gravel Pits 127.11 1.30 69.04 2.51 Total 9,777.59 100.00 2,750.77 100.00

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 8,678.59 88.76 2,354.11 85.58

Lost Integrity 1,099.00 11.24 396.66 14.42

Level of Integrity Good Good

TABLE 13

1991 LAND USE / LAND COVER

FISHER'S HILL BATTLEFIELD

103

Tom's Brook

found Hill by David W. Lowe

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

TOM'S BROOK

(9 October 1864)

County: Shenandoah, VA

General Location: Valley Pike (US1 1 ) at Tom's Brook and

Jordon Run, 1-81, Back Road (rte. 623) at Tom's Brook.

Size of Study/Core Areas: 6,644/2,018 acres

GIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 83/83 percent; Good/

Good

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Fair

USGS Quadrants: Tom's Brook, Woodstock

Campaign: Sheridan's Valley Campaign

Principal Commanders: [c] Maj. Gen. Thomas Rosser,

Maj. Gen. Lunsford Lomax; [u] Brig. Gen. Alfred Torbert.

Forces Engaged: [c] Two cavalry divisions (Rosser and

Lomax) about 3,500; [u] Two cavalry divisions (Merritt

and Custer), about 6,300.

Casualties: [c] 350 (20k/50w/280m&c); [u] 57 (10k/47w).

Significance: Tom's Brook was a battle of strategy and

maneuver that pitted cavalry against cavalry. The CS

cavalry were eager for revenge against the US cavalry,

which had been burning barns and mills in the Valley for

the previous week. On 9 October 1864, however,

Sheridan ordered his cavalry to "whip" the enemy or get

whipped themselves. In the resulting conflict, the US

troopers routed the CS cavalry, impairing its morale and

efficiency for the remainder of the campaign. The CS

flight was referred to by Valley residents and victorious Union troopers as the "Woodstock Races." The fighting on the Back Road at Spiker's Hill pitted two former West

Point roommates against one another—Tom Rosser and

George Armstrong Custer. Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan

watched the battle unfold, reputedly from the summit of

Round Hill.

Description of the Battle

Phase One. Disposition of Forces: On 8 October 1864,

the Confederate Cavalry under overall command of Maj.

Gen. Thomas Rosser harried the withdrawing US cavalry on the Valley Pike and the Back Road, fighting a brisk skirmish along Tom's Brook near the Back Road. The CS

cavalry were enraged by the destruction of the Valley they

had witnessed in the last week and were attempting to

arrest further destruction. Rosser had been dispatched to

the Valley from Petersburg to command the CS cavalry

and had generally been hailed by the local populace as the

"Savior of the Valley." At dark, Rosser halted his division of three brigades (about 2,500 men) on the Back Road in

the vicinity of Spiker's Hill and pushed skirmishers

beyond Tom's Brook to Mt. Olive. The Middle Road was

covered by a force of observation of unknown size. Maj.

Gen. Lunsford Lomax's Division of two brigades and a

battery of horse artillery (about 1,000 men) bivouacked on

both sides of the Valley Pike behind Jordon Run just south

of the hamlet of Tom's Brook.

Brig. Gen. Wesley Merritt's US cavalry division (about

3,500 men) under overall command of Brig. Gen. Alfred Torbert encamped at the base of Round Hill. Brig. Gen.

George Armstrong Custer's division of two brigades

(about 2,500), bivouacked "behind Tumbling Run"

northeast of Mt. Olive on the Back Road. Upset by

Rosser's aggressive tactics of the previous days, army

commander Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan ordered

Torbert to move at daylight of 9 October and "whip the

rebel cavalry or get whipped himself."

Phase Two. US Advance on Valley Pike: Torbert planned

to bring an overwhelming force against Rosser's division on the Back Road while holding Lomax's division at bay

with a reinforced brigade on the Valley Pike. Lomax's

main battle line was deployed behind Jordon Run on both

sides of the Valley Pike, supported by six guns. His front

line was dismounted, while he maintained a strong

mounted reserve on the pike. At dawn, Lowell's brigade (Merritt) advanced to Tom's Brook on the Pike, deployed, and pushed forward

"one-quarter of a mile" where it found Lomax's main line, dismounted behind Jordon Run. The CS line was

supported by six guns placed on either side of the Valley

Pike and a strong mounted reserve. While Lowell was

engaged, Kidd's brigade rode north along Tom's Brook to connect and cooperate with Custer. Devin's brigade

105
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

followed but veered off on the Harrisville Road (or

overland) and advanced to the vicinity of St. Johns

Church, maintaining a connection with the force on the Valley Pike and at the same time extending a skirmish line to connect with the Kidd's brigade on the right.

Phase Three. Custer's Advance/ Fighting on Back Road:

Rosser dismounted most of his troopers behind Tom's

Brook at the base of Spiker's Hill behind stone fences and

rudimentary fieldworks (his brigades from left to right,

Munford, Payne, and the Laurel brigade). Rosser's six guns unlimbered along the crest of Spiker's Hill slightly

behind a second line of barricades. A mounted reserve was maintained on the ridge; the right was extended

toward the Middle Road with mounted skirmishers. Advancing beyond Mt. Olive, Custer pushed forward

three regiments of dismounted skirmishers against the main CS position. Three other regiments and Wells' brigade were kept mounted and maneuvered for position

behind the skirmish line. A battery of artillery unlimbered on the hill in front of present-day St. Matthews (or Sand

Ridge) Church and engaged the Confederate artillery on

Spiker's Hill. When Kidd's brigade made contact with

Custer's left, Custer extended his right flank along the shoulder of Little North Mountain, supporting the movement with a battery. Kidd deployed over the hill, driving Rosser's skirmishers before him, and unlimbered

another battery to enfilade the CS position. The Confed-.

erate line was gradually forced back into a horseshoe

around the front of Spiker's Hill. A regiment of US

cavalry (probably of Devin's brigade), moving on the Middle Road from Harrisville arrived on a hill overlooking Sand Ridge Road (intersection of Middle Road) and to the right and rear of Rosser's main force. Reacting to this

threat, Rosser ordered a withdrawal. His men raced to mount their horses. At this point, Wells brigade attacked

Spiker's Hill up the Back Road, taking few casualties. At

the crest, Wells encountered Miinford's brigade and a mounted mel*e ensued. Rosser's force retreated, partly

down Back Road to Pugh's Run, partly on Sand Ridge and

Middle roads toward Woodstock. Custer's and Kidd's

troopers pursued. General Sheridan is said to have

watched the action from Round Hill, where there was a US signal station during the battle.

Phase Four. Fighting on the Valley Pike: In the meantime, fighting continued along the Valley Pike. Lowell's brigade drove CS pickets back to Jordon Run and deployed on both sides of the pike. The 1st Michigan

(Kidd's brigade) supported Lowell's right flank, while

Devin's brigade moved farther to the right along the Middle Road beyond St. Johns Church. As Devin

maneuvered, Lomax counterattacked down the Valley

Pike, driving the Reserve brigade back to Tom's Brook.

Lowell, in turn, attacked until stopped by artillery, At last, Devin reached a position from which to operate against the flanks of both Lomax and Rosser. He advanced the 9NY and other elements against Lomax's left and rear (probably down current rte. 657), making Lomax's

position untenable. The Confederates began to retreat up

the pike toward Woodstock.

Phase Five. Rear Guard Action at Pugh's Run: Rosser

retreated, losing at least two of his guns at Spiker's Hill. Munford's brigade attempted a stand behind Pugh's Run

on the Back Road, but this position was quickly breached.

The CS cavalry continued to retreat to Columbia Furnace,

losing the rest of its artillery and all of its wagons. Perhaps

150 CS prisoners were captured during this phase of the

retreat.

Phase Six. Rear Guard Action at Woodstock Lomax

retreated up the Valley Pike to Woodstock, where he was

joined by a confused portion of Rosser's command. The

forces attempted to stand behind Pugh's Run but were soon scattered. Union troopers pressed forward, driving

the CS cavalry to Mt. Jackson. Lomax lost five pieces of

artillery and his rolling stock during this rout—two pieces

at Woodstock, two at Edinburg, and the fifth beyond

Stony Creek. The Union cavalry retired to the vicinity of

Woodstock where it bivouacked for the night.

Current Condition of the Battlefield

The focal points of action were Spiker's Hill where the Back Road crosses Tom's Brook, and the area southwest of

the village of Tom's Brook along US 1 1 (Valley Pike)

between Tom's Brook and Jordon Run. The network of

roads between US 1 1 and Spiker's Hill played a shaping

role in the unfolding Union strategy. Several vantage points and viewsheds are essential for

interpreting the battle: a) view from Round Hill where

there was a US signal station at the time of the battle; b)

Sand Ridge Church Hill, which allows interpretation from

Custer's line and provides a panorama from Round Hill to

Little North Mountain; and c) from Spiker's Hill where

106
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Rosser concentrated his command. If viewsheds from

these three points could be preserved, the battlefield could

be interpreted and would retain a high degree of historic

integrity and rural setting. Many historic structures remain in the vicinity, including the Peter Muhlenburg

Farm (County Alms House) at Maurertown and the Thornton house which served as a stage stop on the Back

Road. A 21 -acre parcel of Lomax's position across the

Valley Turnpike (US 1 1) has been preserved as a county

recreation park. The park offers no interpretation of the

battle.

residential housing; a commercial/residential strip runs

the rest of the way into the town of Tom's Brook. The

right flank of Lomax's line along rte. 650 is lined with

trailers and houses, making interpretation difficult. Lomax's bivouac and HQ area in the vicinity of the Peter Muhlenburg Farm (County Alms House) is managed by

the county. Efforts to preserve the rural character of the

cross roads between Back Road and the Valley Pike (rtes. 653, 655, 657, and 642), which were used as routes of maneuver by the US cavalry, would enhance the battlefield

setting.

Perception of Threats to Battlefield

Almost all of the battlefield of Tom's Brook is privately

owned. There are several immediate threats to the

integrity of the above-mentioned viewsheds. A parcel on

the summit of Spiker's Hill may be subdivided; survey work has been conducted but as of this writing construction has not begun. Construction of more houses on

Spiker's Hill would degrade the viewshed's current high

integrity. The area where the Reserve brigade attempted

to turn Lomax's left flank was recently threatened by

possible subdivision of the Heischmann property (about

150 acres). This property was auctioned in parcels but a

local resident acquired the entire property and plans to continue farming.

The viewshed from Round Hill may be threatened by

development adjacent to the 1-81 interchange where there

is currently a truck stop complex with peripheral commercial enterprises. The interchange has spurred residential development along rte. 642, south of the truck stop. A

portion of land is currently being developed as a subdivision where the Middle Road (rte. 642) crosses Tom's

Brook. The 1-81 interchange will certainly continue to stimulate further residential development in this area. An L-shaped section of property south of the Truck

Stop and 1-81 along rte. 651 (about 250 acres) is owned by

a local developer who has sought to rezone the property

for industrial/commercial/business. Initial requests for rezoning were denied because of concerns over water

quality. The impact of development of this section of land on the viewshed from Round Hill should be evaluated; the

property near the intersection of rte. 651 and US 1 1 was

part of Merritt's division bivouac area the night before the

battle. The strip along US 1 1 south of the village of Tom's

Brook has been developed for a trailer court and other

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

the Battlefield (unsurveyed*)

Back Road

Baker's Store

Crabill House*

Frieden Church (site of)

Harrisville Heischmann Farm

lordon Run

Locke House*

Middle Road

Mt. Hebron Church

Mt. Olive

Muhlenburg Farm

Old Mill Sites

Old Town Tom's Brook

Pugh's Run

Round Hill Sand Ridge Road

Sawmill Valley

Spiker's Ridge

St. Johns Church (site)

St. Matthews Church Hill Thornton Farm (Stage Road Inn)

Tom's Brook

Turnpike Toll House (Maurertown)

Valley Pike

Woodstock Road

107
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Study Area Core Area

Acres Percent Acres Percent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land 1,076.33 16.20 336.87 16.69

Agricultural Land 4,114.01 61.92 1,314.80 65.14

Forest Land 1,345.42 20.25 349.19 17.3 Barren Land: Strip Mines, Quarries, Gravel Pits 49.17 0.74 0.00 0.0 Unidentified Land Use / Land Cover 59.13 0.89 17.56 0.87 Total 6,644.06 100.00 2,018.42 100.00

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 5,508.60 82.91 1,678.72 83.17

Lost Integrity 1,135.47 17.09 339.70 16.83

Level of Integrity Good Good

TABLE 14

1991 LAND USE / LAND COVER

TOM'S BROOK BATTLEFIELD

108
Cedar Creek

[

Belle Grove by David W. Lowe

Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

CEDAR CREEK

(19 October 1864)

Counties: Frederick, Warren, Shenandoah

General Location: Along US 1 1, Cedar Creek to Middletown; Belle Grove is a focal point. CS march began

from Fisher's Hill.

Size of Study/Core Areas: 15,607/6,252 acres

GIS Integrity of Study/Core Areas: 89/89 percent; Good/

Good

Field Assessment of Study Area Integrity: Fair

USGS Quadrants: Tom's Brook, Strasburg, Mountain

Falls, Middletown

Campaign: Sheridan's Valley Campaign

Principal Commanders: [c] Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early, [u]

Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan, Maj. Gen. Horatio Wright.

Forces Engaged: [c] Five infantry divisions (Gordon,

Wharton, Ramseur, Pegram, Kershaw), two cavalry

divisions, about 15,265; [u] Three infantry corps (Wright,

Emory, Crook), two cavalry divisions (Merritt and

Custer), numbering 31,944.

Casualties: [c] 2,910 (320k/l,540w/l,050m); [u] 5,665

(644k/3,430w/ 1,591m)

Significance: The battle of Cedar Creek dealt the crushing

blow to the Confederacy in the Shenandoah Valley and,

together with William T. Sherman's successes in the

Atlanta Campaign, spurred the reelection of President

Abraham Lincoln. The battle can be ranked in size and

intensity with the battle of Opequon (Third Winchester)

and both are included among the major battles of the Civil War. The Confederate surprise attack at Cedar Creek is considered one of the most daring and successful maneuvers of its kind and is studied by military theorists today.

It was a feat "unduplicated" during the Civil War. General

Sheridan's arrival on the field of battle to rally his broken

troops passed into American verse and folklore as

"Sheridan's Ride," and offers a dramatic example of the

effect of charismatic leadership. Rarely have the scales of

victory and disaster swung to such extremes during battle: the morning's brilliant Confederate success was trans- formed into a Union victory by day's end.

Description of the Battle

Phase One. US Dispositions Behind Cedar Creek: The

Union Army of the Shenandoah, about 32,000 men under

Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, encamped on the heights

above Cedar Creek from near Middle Marsh Brook to south of the Valley Turnpike. On the night of October 18-

19, General Sheridan was at Winchester, returning from a conference in Washington, D.C. In his absence, Maj. Gen.

Horatio Wright, commander of the VI Corps, was left in command of the army, his headquarters at Belle Grove,

south of Middletown. The army comprised three infantry corps (Wright's VI, Maj. Gen. William Emory's XIX, and

Brig. Gen. George Crook's Army of West Virginia), and a

cavalry corps commanded by Maj. Gen. Alfred Torbert. The VI Corps was on the far right of the Union infantry on the hills north of Meadow Brook. Torbert's cavalry

(Brig. Gen. Wesley Merritt's Division), encamped near Nieswander's Fort. Brig. Gen. George A. Custer's division covered the Back Road and the Cedar Creek crossings in

the vicinity of Hite's Chapel. The XIX Corps occupied the

bluffs above Cedar Creek, extending from Meadow Brook

to the Valley Pike bridge. Crook's corps and an attached

"provisional" division under Brig. Gen. John Howard

Kitching were bivouacked south and east of the Valley

Pike. The vast trains of the army were parked on level ground west of Belle Grove near the pike. Two of the

three corps erected entrenchments. The Union left flank was considered protected by the North Fork Shenandoah

River and the rough ground in front of the Massanutten and was lightly picketed by cavalry. Other elements of US

cavalry covered Buckton Ford and the roads from Front

Royal.

Phase Two. CS Approach and Preparations for Batde: On 17 October 1864, Maj. Gen. John Gordon and

topographical engineer ledediah Hotchkiss climbed to

Signal Knob on the Massanutten to survey the Union

position behind Cedar Creek. While there, they formulated a daring plan to turn the Union left flank, which Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early approved. After dark on 18 October,

the plan was set in motion. Gordon's, Ramseur's, and

109
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Pegram's divisions, (Second Corps, Army of Northern

Virginia) under overall command of Gordon, marched

from their entrenchments and crossed the North Fork east of Fisher's Hill. They followed a narrow path along the

face of the Massanutten, often in single file, and along the Manassas Gap railroad to a spot opposite Mclnturffs and

Colonel Bowman's fords. After surprising and capturing

the pickets, the divisions recrossed the North Fork, passing

north on a farm lane, past Col. Bowman's House "Long

Meadow," to the vicinity of the Cooley House, where they

faced to the left to form a line of battle beyond the left flank of Crook's corps. Gordon's column was in position

by 0400 hours.

In the meantime, Kershaw's and Wharton's divisions accompanied by the army's artillery, advanced down the

pike, by Spangler's Mill and through Strasburg. Kershaw's

column, accompanied by Gen. Early, diverged to the right on the road to Bowman's Mill Ford, where it prepared for the dawn attack. Wharton continued on the pike past the George Hupp House to Hupp's Hill, where he deployed.

The CS artiDery massed on the Valley Pike south of

Strasburg to await developments at the front. In conjunction with these maneuvers, Brig. Gen. Thomas Rosser's

cavalry division advanced on the Back Road to Cupp's

Ford. Brig. Gen. Lunsford Lomax's cavalry division was

ordered to advance on the Front Royal-Winchester Road

and then cross over to the Valley Pike in the vicinity of

Newtown (Stephens City). Lomax did not advance as . directed.

Phase Three. Surprise Attack on US Left Flank: Before

dawn a heavy fog descended on the area. At precisely

0500, Kershaw's division fired a thunderous volley and

rushed the entrenchments of Thoburn's division (Crook),

overrunning them. Gordon's force began to advance and

a few minutes later smashed into Brig. Gen. Rutherford B. Hayes' division (Crook) and Kitching's provisional

division. Hayes' veterans attempted a stand which soon

evaporated as Confederates closed in on both flanks of the disorganized units. Union soldiers, surprised in their camps, streamed rearward. At the sound of firing, Wharton's division advanced to the creek and deployed,

awaiting further developments. The CS artillery raced to the front and opened fire on the XJX Corps from the

heights overlooking Cedar Creek. A detachment of CS

cavalry with Gordon attempted to reach Belle Grove,

where they expected to capture Sheridan.

By 0530, mobs of stragglers from Crook's and

Kitching's commands streamed west across the Valley

Pike, confirming the scope of the disaster. Emory withdrew the units that covered the turnpike bridge and

attempted to form a defensive line parallel with the pike.

As he did so, Wharton's division crossed Cedar Creek at

Stickley's Mill and rushed the heights, capturing 7 guns. Only desperate action enabled the rest of the US artillery to escape. Colonel Thomas Wilde's brigade (Crook's

corps) went into line just east of the pike to contest the CS

attack. General Wright directed their advance personally

and was painfully wounded in the chin. A second US

brigade under Col. Stephen Thomas (XIX Corps) ad- vanced to high ground about 200 yards east of the pike

and fired volley after volley into the fog, suffering heavy

casualties. The stand of these brigades bought time for the Union trains parked near Belle Grove to escape to the

north. The advanced US units were steadily driven back

to Belle Grove. Crook's corps and Kitching's command

were shattered and out of the fighting for the rest of the

day.

Phase Four. VI Corps and XIX Corps Resistance: The VI

Corps deployed to meet the approaching assault. While

elements of the XIX Corps reorganized on Red Hill,

Ricketts's Division (VI Corps) formed a line of battle anchored on Cedar Creek and fought an isolated battle against Kershaw's division which furiously attacked their

line. Wheaton's Division (VI Corps) advanced to high

ground in the fields north of Belle Grove Mansion, where

they were assaulted by Gordon. The fog burned off and

for the first time the opposing forces could see one

another clearly. CS batteries were brought to bear against the US line. Kershaw assaulted repeatedly but was

repulsed. Gradually, all US forces in the area withdrew

and retreated northeast along Middle Marsh Brook.

Phase Five. Getty's Defense of Cemetery Hill: While

fighting raged to his right, Maj. Gen. George Getty

maneuvered his division (VI Corps) toward Middletown,

seeking to extend the Union line to cover the Valley Pike. When US forces on the right began to withdraw, however,

Getty established a defensive salient on Cemetery Hill, supported by artillery. General Early concentrated against

Getty's position, launching disjointed attacks with

elements of four different divisions which were successively repulsed with heavy casualties in the area near the

110
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Sperry House and the Ridings House. The CS artillery

massed along the Valley Pike and concentrated a deadly

fire on Cemetery Hill. After about an hour, Getty withdrew to join the rest of the army which was rallying, first

along the Old Forge Road and then in a salient across the

Valley Pike. Getty's stand broke the momentum of the CS

assaults and enabled other US units to withdraw north of

the cemetery to regroup.

In the meantime, Custer's division, after throwing

back Rosser's feeble attempt to gain the US rear, joined

Merritt on the far left of the Union line, east of the pike

and north of Middletown. This concentration of cavalry threatened Early's right flank and forced him to redeploy

heavy force in this area.

Phase Six. Sheridan Arrives/ US Army Regroups: About

1030, Sheridan arrived on the field after riding from

Winchester. He established his command post near the

Valley Pike (vicinity of the Dinges Farm) and began to reorganize his forces. The VI Corps was deployed on the

left, adjacent to the Valley Pike, with the XIX Corps on the

right. Crook's disorganized command was placed in

reserve along the pike. In a dramatic moment, Sheridan

rode along the front of the reestablished battle line. The men responded with a tremendous cheer. As skirmishing

continued, Sheridan placed a cavalry division on each of

his flanks, Merritt on the left and Custer on the right.

About 1500, he prepared to launch a counterattack.

Phase Seven. CS Line Advances to Miller's Mill Road:

After the US withdrawal from Cemetery Hill, Early

advanced to occupy the hill and called a halt to regroup. He placed his divisions in a line about two and a half miles

long, just north of Middletown, and pushed Ramseur and

Kershaw forward to Miller's Mill Road. The CS divisions from left to right were: Gordon, Kershaw, Ramseur,

Pegram, Wharton. As the afternoon wore on, skirmishing

continued and several probes were made of the newly

reestablished US line, but no serious fighting developed.

Early appeared convinced that he had won the battle and

that US forces would retreat after dark.

Phase Eight. Cavalry Maneuvers/Collapse of CS Left: About 1500 hours, Merritt advanced on the Union left, putting pressure on the CS right flank north of

Middletown. Heavy US skirmish lines forced CS skir- mishers back on their main line along the Miller's Mill

Road and west. Custer maneuvered into position on the US right flank, confronting Gordon's men near Middle

Marsh Brook. About 1530 Custer's division of cavalry and

elements of the XIX Corps advanced against the CS left flank (Gordon and Kershaw), which was hanging in the

air. Custer continued extending west beyond Middle

Marsh Brook, thinning the CS line. He then launched a powerful attack that overran and scattered Gordon's

division. The Confederate line now began to unravel from

west to east, putting additional pressure on Ramseur's command at the center.

Phase Nine. Union Counterattack: At 1600 Sheridan

ordered a general advance which led to fierce fighting

along the front. Ramseur's division at the Confederate

center near Miller's Mill bore the brunt of the attacks and

repulsed several, in spite of the withdrawal of Kershaw and

Gordon on his left. Fighting raged around the D. J. Miller House and mill until Ramseur fell mortally wounded.

Then CS resistance in this area began to collapse. CS

forces along the pike retreated hastily, although in fairly good order, up the Valley Pike toward the Union camps

they had captured in the morning. Delaying actions fought by artillery and infantry units kept pursuing Union

forces at bay. Merritt pressed forward with his division,

pursuing closely as Confederates retreated across Cedar

Creek.

Phase Ten. CS Retreat to Fisher's Hill: Custer's division advanced south along Middle Marsh Brook, gaining the

rear of the Confederate army. As the CS rout continued, Custer crossed Cedar Creek at Hottel's Mill Ford and

joined Merritt's division on Hupp's Hill at dusk about

1830. The cavalry advanced, pursuing the Confederates

back along the Valley Pike. The bridge near Spangler's Mill collapsed causing Early to lose most of his artillery

and many wagons. The cavalry pursuit continued after

dark, ending at Fisher's Hill. The US cavalry captured 43

cannons, more than 200 wagons, and many prisoners.

The Confederates lost at least ten battie flags, which

symbolized the progressive disintegration of the army.

Current Condition of the Battlefield

In spite of the damage wrought by interstate highway

construction, encroaching development in the vicinity of

Middletown, and a large-scale quarry along Middle Marsh

Brook, the integrity of Cedar Creek battlefield is high. The

111
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

battlefield core is very large, extending from Hupp's Hill to rte. 633 north of Middletown, and from the North Fork

Shenandoah to Middle Marsh Brook. The study area encompasses the initial Confederate position at Fisher's

Hill.Beginning with surviving entrenchments on Fisher's

Hill, the line of Gordon's flank march can be traced along

the base of Massanutten through a pristine natural landscape. The fords where Confederate infantry crossed

the North Fork can be located and waded. The Col. Bowman and Cooley houses, which figured prominently

in the Confederate deployment, are there and in good

condition. Union entrenchments remain on Hupp's Hill and along Cedar Creek. Belle Grove (Sheridan's headquarters) is preserved by the National Trust. Two

hundred-fifty-eight acres of the surrounding fields are held by the National Trust and the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation (CCBF). An additional 100 acres adjacent to Cedar Creek in the vicinity of Bowman's Fort has recently

been donated to the National Trust/CCBF. Cedar Creek

Battlefield is registered as a National Historic Landmark.

The acreage included within the landmark boundaries

fairly accurately reflects the size of the battlefield's core

area. The CCBF is currently raising funds to renovate the

historic Heater House. The view from Getty's position on Cemetery Hill remains scenic in spite of new townhouse construction at the base of the hill. The Historic District of Middletown is

a contributing resource. The D. J. Miller House and the McDaniel House, where Ramseur was mortally wounded,

stand. Undisturbed fields to the north and east witnessed

the counterattack directed by Sheridan late in the day,

although new construction has begun that may impact

upon this area. These and related parcels allow in-depth

interpretation of the battle.

Perception of Threats to the Battlefield

In recent years, the pace of subdivision and new

construction in the area has stepped up. An industrial/

business park was built along US 1 1 south of Middletown

(ironically, on the very ground labelled "Cedar Creek

Battlefield" on the USGS quadrant). This industrial park

currently consists of three large, but low-profile buildings,

south of the Victorian house called Montvue. On this

crest Confederate artillery massed against Cemetery Hill and General Early established his command post, during

the battle. These buildings are visible from many parts of

the battlefield. Construction northeast of Belle Grove

along rte. 624 would tend to degrade the viewshed of the land preserved by the National Trust and CCBF. A

modern house is currently under construction in this area. The area between Cemetery Hill and Old Town

Middletown has filled in with townhouses and apartments

in the past few years. Residential development has also occurred and continues adjacent to the 1-81 interchange

(#77). New construction of several large homes on 3-5

acre lots began in early 1991 and is ongoing south of rte. 634 and west of the Miller-McDaniel Farm (ground has being recontoured). This area saw severe fighting in later phases of the battle. Of all residential construction, this new development is potentially the most damaging to

battlefield integrity, because it establishes a foothold in the

rural landscape west of town. Other construction has been more or less associated with the existing town. Lord

Fairfax College and the new elementary school were built north of town, along US 1 1, on ground separating the two

final battle lines of the armies and fought over by Wesley

Merritt's cavalrymen and Gabriel Wharton's, John

Pegram's, and William Wofford's infantrymen.

The quarries along Cedar Creek and Middle Marsh

Brook are large-scale operations that are gradually

working northeast along the valley. It appears that the quarry company owns land all the way to rte. 627 and

possibly beyond. If continued north another half mile,

this quarrying will eradicate the ruins of 18th-century

Nieswander's Fort, site of Merritt's bivouac and George A.

Custer's decisive flanking attack against John B. Gordon.

The quarry works are visually intrusive from various parts

of the battlefield. The battlefield south of the junction of interstate highways 1-66 and 1-81 does not seem immediately in jeopardy because there is no interchange and access to the area is restricted to four county roads. This block of land

retains very high rural/historic integrity and contains the Colonel Bowman and Cooley houses.

112
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Identified Sites and Features Associated with

the Battlefield (unsurveyed*)

8th Vermont Monument

19th Corps Entrenchments

128th New York Monument

Belle Grove

Bowman's Fort Bowman's Mill (site of) Bowman's Mill Ford

Buckton Ford

Cedar Creek

Cedar Creek Crossing

Clover House at Mine Bank Ford"

Col. Bowman's Ford

Collapsed Bridge Site Cooley House

Crook's Entrenchments (traces) Cupp's Ford

Entrenchments

Fisher's Hill

Fisher's Mill* G. A. Hupp House (site of*)

George Hupp House

Heater House

Hottel's Mill (site of*)

Hupp's Ford

Hupp's Hill Long Meadow (Col. Bowman House)

Lowell Monument

Manassas Gap Railroad

Mclnturff House (ruin)

Mclnturffs Ford

Meadow Brook

Middle Marsh Brook

Middletown Cemetery

Miller House

Miller's Mill (ruin)

Miller-Kendricks Structures Nieswander's Fort North Fork Shenandoah River

Old Front Royal Road

Old Town Strasburg

Old Town Middletown

Ramseur Monument

Red Hill Signal Knob

Fort Banks (site of) Spangler's Mill Sperry House (site of*)

Stickley House

Stickley's Mill (ruin) Stone Bridge (ruin) Stone House

Sunnyside

Thoburn's Redoubt

Valley Turnpike

Walton House

Widow Funkhouser House (site of) Wm. Dinges Farm*

113
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Study Area Core Area

Acres Percent Acres Percent

LAND USE / LAND COVER

Built-up Land 1,649.63 10.48 662.43 10.56

Agricultural Land 9,508.95 60.41 4,158.95 66.3

Forest Land 4,284.61 27.22 1,407.02 22.43 Barren Land: Strip Mines, Quarries, Gravel Pits 297.50 1.89 44.54 0.71 Total 15,740.69 100.00 6,272.94 100.00

GIS ASSESSMENT OF INTEGRITY

Retained Integrity 13,976.17 88.79 5,601.10 89.29

Lost Integrity 1,764.53 11.21 671.83 10.71 Level of Integrity Good Good

TABLE 15

1991 LAND USE / LAND COVER

CEDAR CREEK BATTLEFIELD

114
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

I was returning by a shorter route when I came suddenly on a "Jessie Scout" in the narrow lane that led out to Griffith's factory.

I had taken the precaution to put around my neck a white handkerchief, leaving a long end hanging down over the shoulder,

the badge by which the "Jessies" distinguished each other. Those "Jessie Scouts" were a body ofmen dressed in Confederate

uniforms, organized by General Fremont. The fellow rode up cautiously, his pistol drawn, but I pretended to be unconcerned,

showing no disposition to draw mine. He rode a noble dapple gray, and stopped when our horses's heads were nearly together. "Where are you going?" said he. "Going into town, " replied I, quietly, but in a firm voice. He then inquired where I belonged,

and I answered, "To the same crowd you do—to Captain Purdy's scouts.

"Why I don't remember seeing you, though I hav'nt been detailed long myself." "That is Just my case," I replied.

He then asked what regiment I was detailed from. I told him from the 12th Pennsylvania, Captain Tenner's company F. This

satisfied him; he put up his pistol; and, as I rode up alongside, I noticed a pair ofhandcuffs looped over the small strap that

holds the saddle-pocket to the flap. I asked what he was going to do with the "ruffles. " He replied, "There is a Reb out at old

Griffith s, and I am going after him. " "Let me look at them, " said I; and, as he stooped to take them off, I quickly drew my

sabre... —Colonel Harry Gilmor, Four Years in the Saddle, 1866.

115

Part Four: Integrity, Threat, Risk

ew from Hospital Hill, Cool Spring by David W. Lowe

Civil War Sites In the Shenandoah Valley

ofVirginia

Part Four

Battlefield Integrity, Threat, Risk, and Relative Significance

Part

Four describes the integrity of the fifteen

battlefields as determined by both field survey and GIS techniques, discusses the level of threat

to each of the sites, and classifies them by

categories of risk. Possible preservation and interpretation

scenarios are described for the battlefields, and a time

frame for preservation action is offered.

Field Survey of Battlefield

Integrity

The fifteen battlefields were examined by the field surveyor and rated in terms of their perceived similarity to

the Civil War landscape. Although time has not stopped

at any of these sites, the currently existing features of the

rural landscape were used as a baseline. A distinction was made between changes to the landscape wrought by crop

cycles; woodland succession or less dense, single family

residential growth; and abrupt changes caused by the introduction of a radically non-historic land use practice, such as the construction of new, non-historic roads and

high density housing developments, or the recontouring

of the ground.

In most cases, farming or new woodland cover

preserves all historic ground contours and enables

interpretation of the battlefield, even when a specific

viewshed might be obscured. Single family dwellings on

large lots were usually not deemed intrusive if the balance

of surrounding rural land was maintained. The presence

of historic structures, ruins, or other survivals, such as earthworks and stone fences, was weighed against the presence of modern structures or other alterations and in many cases boosted the rating of specific battlefield

parcels. Historic districts listed in the National Register of

Historic Places, such as Winchester and New Market were

considered a reinforcement of integrity, since these areas tend to maintain the street grid, scale, and mass of the

Civil War era. With each modern addition to or alteration of the

historic landscape, the condition of a battlefield is eroded

and the ability to understand and interpret a site is degraded. While a battlefield's study area can absorb some degree of alteration (depending on the site), the loss of core area acreage inhibits the interpretation of essential

battlefield events and at some imprecise point prohibits

interpretation altogether. Although some level of inter- pretation can occur on smaller parcels of land, preservation of the land where the battle took place enables a fuller understanding of events. The ratings derived from the field-survey evaluation

forms apply generally to the entire study area of a battlefield. A "Good" rating denotes that the appearance of the

site is essentially unchanged from the historic period with

respect to terrain, land use, road network, and mass and

scale of buildings. "Fair" describes a site where the primary

geographical, topographical, or structural features are

largely intact with some changes. "Poor" denotes a site where the primary geographical, topographical, or

structural features have been altered, as by road construction, or other changes of land use. "Lost" denotes a site

that has "changed beyond recognition," meaning that a

resident of the time returning to the site today presumably

would not recognize his surroundings.

A larger study area tended to lower the overall rating

of a battlefield because of the greater likelihood of intru- sions—visual and physical—even though essential core

parcels were substantially intact. With a smaller study

area, on the other hand, the effects of land use alterations tended to be amplified and more immediately communicated to the battlefield core.

117
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Battlefield Integrity Assessment

County/City

McDowell (1862) 4.6 GOOD Highland

Cross Keys (1862) 4.25 GOOD Rockingham

Piedmont (1864) 4.2 GOOD Augusta

Port Republic (1862) 4.1 GOOD Rockingham

Cool Spring (1864) 3.7 FAIR Clarke

Fisher's Hill (1864) 3.5 FAIR Shenandoah

Tom's Brook (1864) 3.2 FAIR Shenandoah

Cedar Creek (1864) 3.1 FAIR Frederick

Warren

Shenandoah

First Kernstown (1864) 3.0 POOR-to-FAIR Frederick

Winchester

Second Winchester (1863) 2.9 POOR Frederick

Winchester

Second Kernstown (1864) 2.6 POOR Frederick

Winchester

New Market (1864) 2.6 POOR Shenandoah

Front Royal (1862) 2.5 POOR Warren

Opequon(1864) 2.3 POOR Frederick

Winchester

First Winchester (1862) 1.25 LOST Frederick

Winchester

Figure 13. Field-Survey Ranking of BatUefield Integrity

-5 GOOD (Similar to CW Appearance), 3-4 FAIR (Somewhat Altered), 2-3 POOR (Decidedly Altered),

1-2 LOST (Changed Beyond Recognition)

118
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Only those battlefields with few large-scale additions

or alterations in both study and core areas received the

highest marks. These were McDowell, Cross Keys,

Piedmont, and Port Republic. Battlefields with some

alterations or intrusions (most often interstate highways),

yet retaining relatively high core integrity were Cool

Spring, Fisher's Hill, Tom's Brook, Cedar Creek, and First Kernstown.

Battlefields deemed to have suffered a significant loss of integrity due to alterations, intrusions, and fragmentation were Second Kernstown, Second Winchester, Front

Royal, New Market, Opequon, and First Winchester. Of

these sites, Front Royal and First Winchester have suffered most, because of the relatively small sizes of the study and

core areas. These battlefields have been highly fragmented

and essential core areas and defining features lost to the

point and where interpretation of the battle events is severely inhibited. Except for a single valley and forested

hill, the core area of First Winchester has been assimilated

into the City of Winchester, with additional new construction planned.

In spite of integrity loss, important core parcels remain

for the battlefields of First and Second Kernstown, Second

Winchester, and Opequon. In the case of Opequon,

surviving core parcels total more than 900 contiguous

acres. Even First Winchester, rated as lost retains several small parcels that would enable commemoration of the

battle. Figure 13 summarizes the findings of the field-survey evaluation forms.

GIS Analysis of Battlefield

Integrity

The field survey form rated battlefield integrity

through the eyes of the survey team. While these observations are valuable in terms of how the battlefield landscapes are perceived subjectively, for the purposes of this study it was deemed important to find a more objective measure of the loss or retention of integrity. For this we

turned to the Cultural Resources GIS Facility for a computer analysis of land use within the battiefield study

and core areas. Computer mapping and analysis software,

collectively known as Geographic Information Systems

(GIS) were used in this study to create a mosaic map by

combining many different modern and historic maps; to document study and core areas, to assess current land uses

within defined areas; and to calculate statistics for land

parcels.

The battlefield study and core areas were reduced to a computer format to enable various comparisons. The

average size of study areas of the fifteen battlefields was

5,727 acres, ranging from 3,082 acres at Front Royal to 22,274 acres at Second Winchester. The size of the Front

Royal study area accurately reflects the smaller numbers of

troops engaged and their restricted deployment along the main roads. Second Winchester, on the other hand,

involved a larger force, a network of Union entrenchments, two sweeping flank marches by Confederate forces

that literally encircled the town of Winchester, and three days of fighting and maneuvering. The study areas of the

Valley's two major battles (in terms offerees engaged and

casualties) at Opequon and Cedar Creek were 1 1,670 acres and 15,607 acres respectively. Because the study areas of several battlefields overlap, the total acreage for the study areas of the fifteen battlefields was 85,909 acres, 3.4 percent of the area of the Shenandoah Valley under consideration. Battlefield core

areas ranged in size from 944 acres at Front Royal to 6,252

acres at Cedar Creek. The mean size of the core areas was

2,415 acres. Total acreage included in the batdefield core

areas was 33,844 acres, 1.4 percent of the Valley's land

area.Figure 14 presents the integrity of the batdefields as determined by the GIS analysis. The percentage of built- up lands was computed for the battlefield study and core

areas, using available 1973 land use data. These figures were then updated by on-site field inspections. In general,

built-up lands, new roads, and quarries were subtracted from study and core area acreage, to achieve an integrity

rating. One exception was built-up areas that were

residential at the time of the Civil War and that still retain a similar scale and density, such as the old towns of

Winchester, New Market, and McDowell. These districts were felt to support battlefield integrity. Retention of 75- 100 percent natural and agricultural lands rated "Good,"

50-74 percent rated "Fair," 25-49 percent rated "Poor,"

and less than 25 percent rated "Lost." As presented, the GIS analysis reflects the relative integrity of the battlefields as of 1991. Figure 15 compares the findings of the field survey with the GIS integrity assessment. The field surveyors were more critical of visual intrusions, particularly of

highways, bridges, powerlines, and construction within

119
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Battlefield Size of Study

/Core Areas

Integrity of

Study Areas

Integrity of

Core Area

McDowell 4,539/2,258 100% (Good) 100% (Good)

Port Republic 4,936/2,145 94% (Good) 98% (Good)

Cool Spring 5,740/1,946 97% (Good) 97% (Good)

Cross Keys 5,450/2,153 94% (Good) 94% (Good)

Piedmont 9,340/2,693 94% (Good) 94% (Good)

Cedar Creek 15,607/6,252 89% (Good) 89% (Good)

Fisher's Hill 9,644/2,751 89% (Good) 85% (Good)

Tom's Brook 6,644/2,018 83% (Good) 83% (Good)

First Kernstown 4,029/1,554 56% (Fair) 71% (Fair)

New Market 5,611/2,261 74% (Fair) 68% (Fair)

Second Kernstown 5,861/2,203 50% (Poor to Fair) 52% (Fair)

Second Winchester 22,274/3,113 48% (Poor) 52% (Fair)

Opequon 11,670/4,914 54% (Fair) 47% (Poor)

Front Royal 3,082/944 48% (Poor) 33% (Poor)

First Winchester 4,041/1,393 28% (Poor) 22% (Lost)

Figure 14. GIS Ranking of Battlefield Integrity

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Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

ASSESSMENT OF GIS Rating GIS Rating GIS Rating GIS Rating

CORE INTEGRITY GOOD (75-100%) FAIR (50-75%) POOR (25-50%) LOST (0-25%)

Field Survey Rating

GOOD

Similar to CW

Appearance

McDowell

Cross Keys

Piedmont

Port Republic

Field Survey Rating

FAIR

Somewhat Altered

Cedar Creek 1st Kernstown

Fisher's Hill Cool Spring

Tom's Brook

Field Survey Rating

POOR

Decidedly Altered

2nd Winchester Opequon

2nd Kernstown Front Royal

New Market

Field Survey Rating

LOST

Changed Beyond

Recognition

1st Winchester

Figure 15. Battlefield Core Areas: Comparison of Field Survey and GIS Integrity Assessments

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Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

the battlefield cores. Four battlefields ranked good by GIS

were ranked fair by the field survey team: Cedar Creek,

Fisher's Hill, Cool Spring, and Tom's Brook. Four

battlefields ranked fair by the GIS methodology, were

ranked poor by the field survey: Second Winchester,

Second Kernstown, and New Market. Both methods

agreed on the good integrity of McDowell, Cross Keys,

Piedmont, and Port Republic, on the fair integrity of First Kernstown, on the poor integrity of Opequon and Front

Royal, and the lost condition of First Winchester. Al- though the integrity ranking derived through GIS differed

in these instances from the field survey rating, both

methods cluster the battlefields similarly toward the top

and bottom of the scale. The GIS method generates a

gross ratio between land of high and low integrity and

does not measure many visual intrusions that are apparent

in the field. A minor intrusion in terms of acreage might

appear as a major visual intrusion, depending on the

location and setting. In this sense, the computer is more

forgiving than the critical observer. This reference data is

crucial, however, for obtaining a more objective view of

the current status of the battlefields. Where the GIS rating

is considerably higher than the field survey rating,

perhaps, visual intrusions could be removed or masked to improve integrity. The GIS assessment will provide a

reference point for monitoring further loss of integrity.

Several interesting facts emerged from a regional

analysis of the battlefield study areas. The study areas . contain a higher proportion of agricultural land (63

percent) than is the case for the Valley as a whole (37

percent). Due to this, changes in agricultural patterns or

loss of agricultural land tend to have a higher impact on

the battlefields than on the overall Valley landscape.

Forests make up more than 56 percent of the Valley's acreage but only about 21 percent of battlefield acreage. This is accounted for by the fact that the Valley's forests

are more concentrated in the higher elevations, while

battles typically were fought oh lower, flatter ground. In

addition, built-up lands are more concentrated in the

battlefield study areas ( 14 percent) than in the Valley as a whole (6 percent), reflecting the location of battlefields on

or near important towns and transportation nodes. A

relatively high level of existing residential development

within a battlefield study area indicates that further development in the vicinity is probable due to zoning and

continued growth.

Relative Importance of the

Battlefields

The study team was asked to prioritize the batdefields of the Shenandoah Valley in terms of their significance.

There is no easy way to arrive at such an assessment through historical analysis alone. The richest understanding of individual major battles within the Valley is best achieved by viewing the battlefields together, in their

interaction with one another within a campaign context. The battle events are so interdependent, due to geography

and topography, that to consider one battlefield separately

from those of which it is a part, is to miss a critical meaning of this unique aspect of the Civil War. How

Stonewall Jackson manipulated these geographic realities remains a source of continuing fascination for military

strategists. Viewed individually, Jackson's 1862 batdes are dwarfed by the larger 1864 conflicts at Opequon and

Cedar Creek. Yet Jackson's successful campaign pro- foundly shaped the early conduct of the war when the hopes of the Confederacy were high and its armies in the

East seemed almost invincible. Jackson's campaign

contributed materially to the defeat of Union armies in the Seven Days' Battles before Richmond by diverting large

numbers of troops to protect Washington, D.C. Prioritizing by size, forces engaged, or casualties alone will not

reflect adequately the significance of the individual events. National Historic Landmark criteria are used by the National Park Service to evaluate cultural properties that

possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or

interpreting our heritage, and that possess a high degree of

integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The following National

Historic Landmark significance criteria apply to the Civil War sites in the Shenandoah Valley. A complete version

of National Historic Landmark significance and integrity

criteria may be found in Federal Regulations 36 CFR Part

65.

Battlefields that would meet the Landmark criteria are

sites:

• That are associated with events that have made a

significant contribution to, and are identified with, or

that outstandingly represent, the broad national

patterns of United States history and from which an

understanding and appreciation of those patterns may

be gained (Criterion 1); or

• That arc associated importandy with the lives of persons

122
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

nationally significant in the history of the United States (Criterion 2); or

• That represent a significant, distinctive and exceptional

entity whose components may lack individual distinction (Criterion 4). When applied to Stonewall Jackson's 1862 Campaign,

the above National Historic Landmark criteria stand up

well. The battlefields of the Jackson campaign—First Kernstown, McDowell, Cross Keys, and Port Republic —

are well documented as outstanding examples of the

military strategy of Stonewall Jackson. These battlefields

retain high integrity, the latter three being among the best preserved battlefields in the Valley. The battlefields of

First Winchester and Front Royal may no longer meet the

criteria for integrity and would not be eligible for Landmark status. A case can be made for the national significance of

Second Winchester within the context of the Gettysburg

Campaign of 1863. The battle was not decisive in the campaign, yet the crushing victory achieved there may

well have contributed to the aura of invincibility that the Confederate army carried with it to Gettysburg. This

battlefield should be considered a valuable, supporting

resource for understanding and interpreting the Gettysburg Campaign.

Turning to the 1864 Lynchburg campaigns of Sigel

and Hunter, the national significance of the representative

battlefields—New Market and Piedmont—is evident

when viewed in context of General Grant's Overland

Campaign. New Market Battlefield is currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places to commemorate

the role of the Virginia Military Institute cadets and

alumni in the battle. It also represents a failed attempt to accomplish what Union forces were able to do a month

later at Piedmont. Piedmont ranks among the three

bloodiest battles of the Valley, yet it is modest in size when

compared to other major battles of the Civil War. Its significance within the context of Valley and Virginia

warfare has been underrated, however. The Confederate

defeat at Piedmont allowed General Hunter's army to penetrate as far as Lynchburg for the first time during the war and forced General Lee to detach nearly a third of his army to deal with this threat, materially influencing the

direction of the campaigns for Richmond and Petersburg.

Early's and Sheridan's 1864 Valley campaigns initiated the largest and most costly events, in terms of casualties, forces engaged, and frequency of combat, in the history of

Valley warfare. Early's invasion of Maryland, Union

defeats at Cool Spring and Second Kernstown, and the subsequent burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, by

Confederate raiders, led directly to the appointment of

Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan as overall commander of the Union armies in the Valley. Sheridan fielded the largest

Union fighting force—the Army of the Shenandoah—to

act in concert in the Valley. Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early, who

learned his art at Stonewall Jackson's feet, conducted a masterful campaign with fewer men and resources than

Jackson and came close to defeating Sheridan's much

larger army at Opequon and again at Cedar Creek. Union

successes at Opequon and Fisher's Hill led to "The

Burning."

Indeed, the scope, size, and casualties of the battles of

Opequon and Cedar Creek would rank in any list of

significant battlefields of the Civil War. A strong case can be made that either or both of these battlefields can be

considered nationally significant in their own right,

although the campaign context offers the strongest

evidence of significance. Cedar Creek Battlefield already is designated a National Historic Landmark and has retained

a high degree of integrity, while Opequon has gone

unrecognized, has deteriorated, and faces further fragmentation in the immediate future. Taken together, the

battlefields of the Early- Sheridan campaigns—Cool

Spring, Second Kernstown, Opequon, Fisher's Hill, Tom's

Brook, and Cedar Creek—represent a unique and

nationally significant chapter in the history of the Civil War.

Collectively, thirteen battlefields appear to meet

National Historic Landmark criteria, excluding Front Royal and First Winchester. Of the largest Valley battlefields, Cedar Creek is already designated a National

Historic Landmark, and Opequon might qualify on its own for National Historic Landmark designation, pending

a full assessment of integrity. Both of these battlefields represent the same campaign but neither site tells the whole story of its campaign. The ability of other battlefields to warrant such NHL designation individually is problematic. Certainly these sites appear to qualify for

listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The National Park System Advisory Board, after reviewing the draft report, recommended listing all of the

battlefields on the National Register. Review of this report

by the Board was required under the legislation authorizing this report. Documentation prepared on these

123
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

battlefields for this study, as well as the resolution of the National Park System Advisory Board, will be provided to the Virginia State Historic Preservation Officer to initiate the nomination process. Since listing in the National

Register of Historic Places usually is a process initiated through States, and for which owners are afforded by law

the opportunity for input, this process would be the next

appropriate step in recognizing the importance of these

sites.In conclusion, Jackson's 1862 Campaign is undoubtedly the most famous and most widely studied of the Valley campaigns. It was, however, not the longest, nor

the largest, nor the most influential in terms of the war's outcome, nor the most costly in terms of either men or

materiel. All of these "laurels" belong to the EarlySheridan campaigns of 1864. Second Winchester attains

its significance within the context of the Gettysburg

Campaign of 1863, which amply demonstrates the Valley's

strategic importance as an invasion corridor into the North. Civil War Veterans considered Gettysburg to be

the pivotal battle of the Eastern theater, and sites associ- ated with this campaign, such as Second Winchester, may

justifiably share its significance. New Market and Piedmont attain significance within the context of Ulysses

S.Grant's grand strategy to end the war by pushing his armies forward on all fronts. No single battlefield can be singled out to represent the

entire Shenandoah Valley Civil War period, since each

represents one campaign (with the exception of the overlapping Kernstown battlefields). In addition, there is no clear line of historical argument that assures a credible ranking of battlefields within the individual campaigns,

again, excepting Cedar Creek and Opequon, which stand out as the culmination of Early's and Sheridan's decisive confrontation. Cross Keys and Port Republic marked the culmination of the 1862 campaign, but Jackson's campaign itself is the story, and each of the individual battlefields tells but one episode.

Figure 16 summarizes the standards of comparison

that have been developed in Parts Two and Four of this

report. These rankings, combined with levels of threat and risk, and an assessment of the preservation potential

for each site, may provide guidance for a regionally

coordinated approach to preserving and interpreting as many of the battlefields as possible.

Threat Assessment

From a ranking of the battlefields in terms of acreage, forces engaged, casualties, and fatalities, we turn to an

assessment of the threats to each site. In Part Three, the perceived threats to each site were described in some

detail. In this section we rank the sites in terms of relative threats and try to provide a sense of the time frame within

which preservation activities must proceed. It is a tight

schedule for many of the sites, which are in danger of

slipping from poor to lost or from fair to poor condition

within the next few years. If the current building recession continues, the fate of these sites may be prolonged for a few more years but not indefinitely. Many developers

have placed their plans on hold, waiting to see how the market will develop. Land prices have declined somewhat

in the high growth zones. Several battlefield parcels have

been auctioned off for bankruptcy. In this climate, local governments seem more willing to consider alternative development scenarios, which include preserving battlefield sites in order to strengthen the tourism sector. If economic boom times return, however—and no preservation efforts have occurred in the meantime—then the

integrity of many of the Valley's battlefields will decline

rapidly, following the downward trend described below.

The assessment of threats to integrity was derived from

a combination of factors, primarily the current integrity of

the site, the number of landowners, known threats to

specific core and study area parcels, current zoning (if any), the rate of population growth, and the amount of

recent land use change in the vicinity. The threats assessment is meant to extrapolate from current trends and cannot be expected to foresee "catastrophic," that is, sudden and unexpected change.

In reality, someone could decide tomorrow to build a

large residential subdivision in the heart of Piedmont or Cross Keys battlefields, but this would not be likely. Such

a subdivision would be outside of Harrisonburg's current building zone and would presumably be unprofitable in the near future. The number of landowners would make a

large development more difficult to assemble. The high

integrity of both sites would tend to stand up longer

against incremental land use change. Agriculture is still strong and viable in the vicinity, allowing farmers to hold on to their land and continue their livelihood. Opequon

battlefield, on the other hand, is in poor condition; it is in

the heart of Winchester's high growth area; it is zoned for

124
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Battles Ranked by Core Core Acres Rank by Rank by Rank by

Core Size Acres Retaining Forces Combined Fatalities Integrity Engaged Attrition

1. Cedar Creek (1864) 6,252 5,601 (89%) 2 2 1

2.0pequon(1864) 4,914 2,321 (47%) 1 1 2

3. 2nd Winchester (1863) 3,113 1,624 (47%) 6 3 10

4. Fisher's Hill (1864) 2,751 2,354 (86%) 3 8 13

5. Piedmont (1864) 2,693 2,646 (98%) 8 5 3

6. New Market (1864) 2,261 1,527 (67%) 11 9 8

7. McDowell (1862) 2,258 2,258(100%) 13 14 12

8. 2nd Kernstown (1864) 2,203 1,098 (49%) 4 7 4

9. Cross Keys (1862) 2,153 2,032 (94%) 7 12 6

10. Port Republic (1862) 2,145 2,110(98%) 14 6 7

11. Tom's Brook (1864) 2,018 1,679 (83%) 12 15 15

12. Cool Spring (1864) 1,946 1,900(97%) 9 13 9

13. 1st Kernstown (1862) 1,554 1,097 (70%) 10 10 5

14. 1st Winchester (1862) 1,393 302 (22%) 5 4 11

15. Front Royal (1862) 944 316(33%) 15 11 14

Figure 16. Summary of Battlefield Size and Rankings

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Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

residential development; remaining core parcels are owned by fewer landowners, several of whom have plans

for development; and several core parcels have recently

been for sale. It is not difficult to predict the imminent

loss of this battlefield's remaining resources without an immediate and strenuous effort to preserve them.

Five threat levels were assigned—very high, high,

moderate, low, and very low—and these are defined

below:

1. Very High: Rapidly changing land use in study area, core parcels immediately threatened, battlefield highly

fragmented by large parcels of lost integrity, imminent loss of remaining resources.

2. High: Rapidly changing land use in study area, large core parcels threatened, portions of battlefield already lost, substantial loss of resources within ten years.

3. Moderate: Incremental change of land use in study

area, battlefield largely intact with small core parcels lost or threatened, some resource loss within ten years probable.

4. Low: Land use in study area changing slowly, core

parcels as yet unthreatened, battlefield intact, some

resource loss within ten years possible.

5. Very Low: Land use in study area has not changed,

core parcels preserved, battlefield intact, loss of resources within ten years improbable.

Figure 17 summarizes levels of threat for the fifteen

battlefields. The threats to three sites —First Winchester,

Opequon, and Front Royal— are considered very high.

Threats to four sites —First and Second Kernstown,

Second Winchester, and Tom's Brook— are rated high.

New Market, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and Cool Spring

are moderately threatened. Piedmont, Cross Keys, and

Port Republic are experiencing low levels of threat, and

McDowell, very low.

It can be seen that, in the absence of preservation

efforts, the only battlefield that appears entirely secure within the foreseeable future is McDowell. Only

McDowell is not significantly threatened by any form of

land use change. The principal source of threats for all

sites comes from expansion of residential development

followed, in declining order of incidence, by commercial,

highway, and industrial developments. Residential construction threatens twelve battlefields, commercial

development threatens seven, highway construction

threatens six, industrial and quarrying development

threatens three.

Risk Classification

To further develop a priority list of battlefields, the

level of threat was combined with the current integrity to

classify each battlefield according to its "at risk" standing.

Integrity describes the current condition of a battlefield. The level of threat suggests what to anticipate for the site

in the foreseeable future. Combining present and potential conditions, produces an assessment of risk for each of

the battlefields. The field survey ratings were used to

classify sites. Although core areas are used for this

classification, risks for the larger study areas are generally consistent with and follow those of the core areas. Figure

1 8 summarizes the risk classification for the fifteen

battlefields as described below (threats 1-5, integrity A-D):

Highest Risk (Al, Bl ): lost or poor integrity with very high threat; High Moderate (2B, 2C, 3B): poor to fair integrity

with high or moderate threat; Low Moderate (3C, 3D): fair to good integrity with

moderate threat; Lowest Risk (4D, 5D): good integrity with low or very low levels of threat. Within each of the subcategories in the table, battlefields were ranked by relative size in core acreage in ascending order because it is assumed that, of two

battlefields under similar threat, the smaller would be more quickly damaged by further loss of integrity. This

order, moving down each column and from left to right, was then used to produce the risk priority ranking.

Sites with the highest risk are experiencing very high

threats and already are in lost or poor condition as coherent battlefield landscapes. Any protection or

interpretation at these sites will be limited to relatively small fragments and focused largely on commemoration.

Limited potential remains to interpret the battle or to convey a realistic sense of the battle setting and the terrain and other military conditions experienced by the troop

formations and their commanders. Such sites include Front Royal ( 1862), 1st Winchester (1862), and Opequon

(1864).

Sites with the lowest risk are in good condition and

experiencing low to very low levels of threats ranging from

McDowell (1862) with no currently identified threats to very gradual expansion of residential construction at Cross Keys (1862), Port Republic (1862), and Piedmont (1864).

126
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Level of Threat Definition Battlefields

1. Very High Imminent loss of remaining resources Front Royal

First Winchester

Opequon

2. High Substantial loss of resources within ten years probable Second Winchester

Second Kernstown

Tom's Brook

First Kernstown

3. Moderate Some loss of resources within ten years probable Fisher's Hill New Market

Cool Spring

Cedar Creek

4. Low Some loss of resources within ten years possible Port Republic Cross Keys

Piedmont

5. Very Low Loss of resources within ten years improbable McDowell

Figure 17. Level of Threat to the Valley's Battlefields

127
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Protection of these sites can focus on ways to build

community consensus in order to implement a long range

landscape or agricultural preservation plan. Three of these

sites represent Jackson's 1862 Campaign, including its culmination at Cross Keys and Port Republic.

The majority of battlefield sites are arrayed in intermediate or moderate risk situations which have been divided

into "high moderate" and "low moderate" categories

depending on the particular gravity of the integrity/threats

combination. High moderate sites include First and

Second Kernstown (1862/1864), Second Winchester

(1863), New Market(1864), and Tom's Brook (1864).

Low moderate sites include Fisher's Hill (1864), Cedar

Creek (1864), and Cool Spring (1864). Many types and

combinations of preservation and interpretive efforts may

be appropriate to these sites, focusing on high moderate

sites for the near term and low moderate sites for longer range plans.

Preservation and Interpretation

Potential

This section describes the preservation and interpreta- tion scenarios for each of the battlefields, drawing upon

the descriptions of condition and threat outlined in Part Three of this report, current land use practices, and upon

comments received from individuals and local govern- ments during the public comment period. These possibilities for preservation and interpretation are offered as guidance to the types of actions that could be pursued at each site within a regional preservation framework. Sites

are discussed in order, from the most at risk to the least at

risk.

1 . Front Royal: Preservation and interpretation efforts

for this battlefield would need to focus, first, on providing an adequate driving tour of the remaining resources. Many visitors could be encouraged to drive Stonewall

Jackson's route from Limeton to Cedarville, if the route was marked and interpreted. Such a tour would pass through the center of town, tempting visitors to visit the

city's museums and patronize its businesses. Interpretive

signage at Prospect Hill Cemetery would enable an

understanding of the battle areas covered over by the town

of Front Royal. Access to the North and South Fork

bridge sites would assist interpretation and might be

acquired by public access easement. Public access by

hiking trail to an overlook on the crest of Guard Hill could

be sought by donation or by easement. The Thomas

McKay House and US surrender site north of Cedarville would probably need to be acquired by purchase and

considerable restoration work would be required to make

the site attractive to visitors. (Even in its current condition, several hundred visitors stop there each year.)

Summary: Potential for driving tour with several interpretive stops in an altered setting. The level of local govern- ment support for such an effort is unknown.

2. First Winchester: Although lost as a coherent

landscape, enough remains of the battlefield to allow

commemoration and some level of interpretation of the

events. Bowers Hill, which was the focus of the Federal

defense, remains a prominent landmark, despite residential development. The importance of this site could be

appreciated by an overlook and interpretive shelter on the

crest of the hill that lies west of and adjacent to US 11, north of rte. 622, and south of the abandoned Winchester

and Western railroad spur. The abandoned spur line could be modified as a trail with interpretive signs along

the way. This path parallels the course taken by the Louisiana brigade on its way to assault Bowers Hill. Easements could be sought to allow hikers to climb from

the railroad to the hill crest and overlook. The site would

retain interpretive value even if the planned residential construction for this area occurs. The developers of the

site might benefit by a combined recreational and interpretive trail that serves residents, while at the same time

allowing public appreciation of the battlefield site. Summary: Landscape preservation options are extremely

limited. Potential exists for public-private interpretive/

commemorative effort utilizing small parcels within a

vastly altered setting.

3. Opequon: One of the largest and most significant

battlefields of the Valley, a portion of its core—east of I81, south of Redbud Road, west of rte. 656, and north of

the residential and commercial development along VA

7—retains considerable integrity. The potential remains

here for some form of larger scale landscape preservation,

although currently much of the area is scheduled for

residential development. Hackwood Estate, which was

recently on the market, was a focal point of the battle and

could be acquired by purchase. With Hackwood Estate

alone, the battle could be interpreted, although this would

fall short of landscape preservation. Adjacent lands in the

First Woods and Middle Field sections (where from a

third to half of the battle's fatalities were incurred) would

128
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Level of Threat A. LOST B. POOR C.FAIR D. GOOD

1. VERY HIGH 1st Winchester Front Royal

Imminent loss of remaining Opequon

resources

2. HIGH 2nd Kernstown 1st Kernstown

Substantial loss of resources 2nd Winchester Tom's Brook

within ten years probable

3. MODERATE New Market Cool Spring

Some loss of resources within Fisher's Hill ten years probable

4. LOW

Cedar Creek

Port Republic

Some loss of resources within Cross Keys

ten years possible Piedmont

5. VERY LOW McDowell

Loss of resources within ten

years improbable 1 1

Key to Risk

Categories

1

1 HIGHEST HIGH LOW 1 LOWEST 1 RISK MODERATE

RISK

MODERATE

RISK

1 RISK I

1 1

1 1

Figure 18. Risk Categories: Summary of Integrity and Threat

129
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

probably need to be acquired fee-simple. The properties' owners have expressed a previous willingness to sell. Redbud Run Valley, if protected by easements, could

provide a scenic-natural corridor and wildlife refuge, of

particular value if residential development in the area continues to fill in the available open space. The City of

Winchester and Frederick County have expressed an

interest in efforts to establish a visitor contact facility at

this site. Such an effort would be expensive and may not be timely enough to prevent loss of remaining resources. Summary: Potential for preserving 200 to 900 acres of the core area exists through fee simple acquisition. Park

establishment might be supported by local governments.

4. Second Kernstown: The key to interpreting Second

Kernstown battlefield is Pritchard's Hill. Without this feature in its current setting, the batdefield would be lost. The view from Opequon Church (where there are currendy interpretive signs) to Pritchard's Hill enables a

full interpretation of the battle, making it essential that the intervening property be protected through zoning,

easements, incentives, or some other arrangement suitable

to the owners. Summary: This property displays potential

for a battlefield park of manageable proportions. Local government officials have expressed interest in exploring

the potential of a park at this site.

5. Second Winchester: The essential fieldwork, Star

Fort, is critically endangered. Although about 7 acres of

the fort area is currently preserved, the surrounding 50

acres is zoned commercial/industrial and would probably

need to be acquired fee simple on the open market to preserve the viewshed. Some public access to Fort Milroy

could probably be negotiated but restoration would be

required. The viewshed from Apple Pie Ridge to West

Fort (Louisiana Heights) could be protected by the purchase of easements. This would be an ideal site for an

interpretive shelter and battle map. The land south of

Stephenson's Depot (bounded by US 1 1, rte. 761, rte. 662,

and rte. 838) is by far the best preserved part of the

battlefield and holds great potential for interpretation.

This parcel would probably need to acquired fee simple.

Summary: Landscape preservation potential exists but at a limited number of sites. Significant parcels would need to be acquired soon—fee simple purchase—in order to prevent further deterioration of this battlefield.

6. New Market: The VMI New Market Battlefield Park could be enlarged by acquiring more land from

willing sellers. This would expand the ability to protect

and interpret the battlefield. A study should be conducted

to determine if 1-81 could be screened in some way to make it less intrusive without further disrupting the landscape contours. The existing batdefield park could

serve as an access point for visitors who wish to see other

VaUey battlefields. Summary: Acquisition of property or easements from willing sellers would enhance the pre- served portions of the battlefield. The battlefield park

would require some form of assistance.

7. First Kernstown: Pritchard's Hill (See Second

Kernstown) and Sand Ridge form the interpretive nuclei of the First Kernstown battlefield. Although bisected by

the VA 37 bypass, these parcels are visually and strategically related. The Sand Ridge parcel cannot be adequately

interpreted from the road. Access through easement or donation would be required. The Sand Ridge parcel has

been placed in the Glen Burnie Trust. Some means

should be found to provide further incentive to the owner

to maintain the land in its current condition. Summary.

If coupled with the parcel discussed under Second

Kernstown, this property displays great potential for a park of manageable proportions. Park establishment

might be supported by the local governments. Such a park could serve as an introduction to two major Valley

campaigns.

8. Tom's Brook: This battlefield could be interpreted

from the vantage point of Sand Ridge Church. Easements

could be on Tom's Brook Valley and on the opposing

portions of Spiker's Hill. An overlook could be established on the site where Custer rode out and doffed his hat

to his opponent. A marked hiking trail, leading from

North Mountain to the Massanutten Mountain already

traverses the battlefield along the county roads. The

viewshed from Spiker's Hill to the head of Massanutten Mountain is one of the most striking of the Valley and

could be protected through easements and planning at the county level. Interpretive signs could be placed in the

existing county park to describe fighting on the Valley

Pike. Under current plans, it appears that Round Hill, a

distinctive landmark, eventually may be encircled by

commercial and industrial development, spawned by the

interstate interchange. Efforts to preserve the rural character of sections of the cross roads between Back Road

and the Valley Pike (rtes. 653, 655, 657, and 642), which

were used as routes of maneuver by the US cavalry, would

enhance the battlefield setting. Summary: Landscape

preservation is possible and desirable but would require

130
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

easement protection for hundreds of acres. Fee simple

acquisition might be required to preserve portions of the

core areas. Acquisition of public access easements and an

interpretive overlook at Spiker's Hill would be crucial.

9. Cool Spring: Much of the battlefield on the west bank of the river is owned by the Holy Cross Abbey, which

has expressed a desire to maintain its high integrity. A golf

course is scheduled for redevelopment on the east bank,

and the historic Judge Parker House would serve as a club

house. The owners might be willing to offer some public

access to the fords and interpretive signage. Technical

assistance could be offered in this endeavor. Summary:

Potential exists for cooperation among private owners to

reach a development/preservation compromise that would benefit all parties. Public access will probably

continue to be limited to appointment.

10. Fisher's Hill: This site offers much potential for developing a creative solution to the private propertypublic access issue. Much of the battle can be interpreted

from the roads with well-designed pull-offs and signage.

With cooperation of landowners, a hiking trail could be

designed to follow a portion of the surviving CS entrenchments, using the old bridge site and roadbed of the Valley

Pike as an access point. This would require a footbridge

over the creek, which could be gated to prevent unauthorized access. Easements given for the hiking trail could be

modeled on the Trails for Vermont contract, which allows persons to use a trail only if they register, stay within

bounds, and follow specified rules. Property owners could

revoke right-of-way, if there are violations. The potential

for private development of battlefield resources is significant: the old mill would be admirably suited as a museum

and interpretive center; several period homes in the area could be developed as bed and breakfast inns. Private development of this type would need to be directed by the

local landowners and supported by incentives. APCWS

owns 195 acres of the battlefield, providing a suitable core

for visitation. The conservation fund holds a protective easement on about 80 acres. Summary: Scenic valley. High potential for public-private battlefield development,

utilizing creative public access techniques built around

currently protected portion of battlefield core.

1 1. Cedar Creek The National Trust and the Cedar

Creek Battlefield Foundation have made a good start in preserving portions of the battlefield around Belle Grove

Mansion through private donations. Their efforts should

be supported. Several adjacent parcels could be acquired

immediately from willing sellers. The viability of agriculture is slipping at this end of Frederick County, and some

means could be found to support farmers to retain as much land as possible in agricultural production. The

landscape between Belle Grove and Cemetery Hill is most

in danger of residential development, and hundreds of

acres would need to be protected through purchase of easements in order to retain the high integrity of the

currently preserved parcels. Summary: The landscape is

largely intact with some intrusions. Retaining the integrity

of currently preserved portions of the battlefield core will

require fee simple acquisition of several large parcels and

negotiated easements on hundreds of acres more. Because

of the significance of this battle, this National Historic Landmark property displays potential for a Federal

battlefield park. Park establishment would be supported

at some level by the local governments. Because of the

potential expense, vital portions of the battlefield north of

Middletown might need to be given a lower priority for

action.

12. Piedmont: This battlefield can be interpreted from

the public roads with adequate signage, pull-offs, and

interpretive materials. Farmers could be encouraged to continue the agricultural use of their property by some

form of incentives. Local landowners organized to form a county agricultural preservation district that encompasses

much of the battlefield. These landowners could be

supported by tax or other incentives. A small, interpretive

wayside with a battle map could be established near the

angle of the Confederate line where "Grumble" lones was

killed. Summary: Landscape is largely intact. Minimal

public access is needed. Easements would be required at

specified interpretive stops and where necessary to protect

battlefield land where agricultural incentives are not

successful. Agricultural preservation incentives are recommended.

13. Cross Keys: Cross Keys offers a wonderful opportunity for landscape preservation, using the agricultural

preservation district approach. The Lee-Jackson Foundation owns 100 acres of key ground on Victory Hill, allowing public access. This ground would need to be

cleared of scrub and an unobtrusive, interpretive shelter put into place. Easements could be acquired, allowing

public access to battle sites not visible from the roads. Restoration of the old Cross Keys Tavern by private

groups should be supported and encouraged. Summary:

The landscape is largely intact. Currently preserved land

131
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

could be secured by purchase of easements on adjacent

parcels. Easements for public access would be required at

several sites within the battlefield. There is potential for developing a battlefield hiking trail. Agricultural preservation incentives are recommended.

14. Port Republic: Port Republic battlefield can be

viewed almost entirely from public roads with adequate

signage and interpretive materials. APCWS owns about 8

acres at the Coaling site, allowing interpretation from this vantage point. The bottomland, where severe fighting

occurred, is currently farmed. The railroad right-of-way

across this ground could be used to provide public access

if deemed necessary. Easements could be sought or

incentives provided to continue agricultural use on this portion of the battlefield. The village of Port Republic is

listed on the National Register, and the Society of Port Republic Preservationists has recently purchased the "Turner Ashby House" to serve as a museum and potential interpretive center for the town and battle. With

adequate support, the site could serve as a public access point for the battles of Cross Keys, Port Republic, and

Piedmont. Summary: Potential exists for public-private

cooperation in preserving and interpreting three nearby

battlefields. Landscape is largely intact. Agricultural

preservation incentives are recommended.

15. McDowell: Pristine and scenic, the battlefield holds

great potential for attracting visitors, who are interested in nature as well as history. The APCWS and the Lee- Jackson Foundation own about 200 acres of battlefield

core, including the crest of Sitlington's Hill and a hiking

trail to reach it. The view of the Valley is well worth the arduous climb. Currently, there is no on-site interpretation, and this would need to be expanded. An interpretive

shelter in the town with several cannon (perhaps at the site of US batteries on Cemetery Hill) would encourage

visitors. Summary: Landscape is largely preserved and

protected. Interpretive assistance is required.

integrity and threats identify categories of risk to integrity.

Combined with the significance of the respective campaigns, the following list of battlefield sites is the nearest approximation to a listing of current relative risk priority

that is possible based on descriptive site analysis ( 1 is highest risk, 15 is lowest).

1. Front Royal (1862)

2. 1st Winchester (1862)

3. Opequon(1864)

4. 2nd Kernstown( 1864)

5. 2nd Winchester (1863)

6. New Market (1864)

7. 1st Kernstown (1862)

8. Tom's Brook (1864)

9. Cool Spring (1864)

10. Fisher's Hill (1864)

11. Cedar Creek (1864)

12. Cross Keys (1862)

13. Port Republic (1862)

14. Piedmont (1864)

15. McDowell (1862)

Summary

Figure 19 provides a summary of risk categories and

preservation tools and offers a suggested time frame for

action. Threats to the integrity of the fifteen battlefields under study come primarily from residential construction

(threatening 12 sites), commercial development (threatening 7), highway construction (threatening 6) and industrial development (threatening 3). Taken together,

132
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Risk Category Time Frame

for Action

Preservation Tools Battlefields

HIGHEST

RISK

Immediate Action

Required

1. Fee-simple acquisition by land trust Front Royal

2. Public/private commemorative efforts 1st Winchester

3. Public access easements Opequon

4. Interpretive signs, shelters, materials

HIGH 2-5 years 1. Fee-simple acquisition 2nd Kernstown

MODERATE 2. Public access easements 2nd Winchester

RISK 3. Landscape preservation easements New Market

4. Zoning 1st Kernstown

5. Support for private preservation efforts Tom's Brook

6. Interpretive signs, shelters, materials

LOW 5-10 years 1 . Public access easements Cool Spring

MODERATE 2. Landscape preservation easements Fisher's Hill RISK 3. Agricultural preservation efforts

4. Preservation tax incentives

5. Support for private preservation efforts

Cedar Creek

6. Interpretive signs, shelters, materials rLOWEST

RISK

10-15 years

L

1. Landscape preservation easements Cross Keys

2. Agricultural preservation efforts Port Republic

3. Preservation tax incentives Piedmont

4. Support for private preservation efforts McDowell

5. Interpretive signs, shelters, materials

~1

J

Figure 19. Summary of Risk Categories and Preservation Tools

Time Frame for Action. These recommended time frames identify when preservation activities at the very latest should take place. Earlier efforts by local governments and private citizens are appropriate and should not be discouraged. Earlier efforts would undoubtedly be less costly and encourage more effective preservation regionwide.

133

Part Five: Heritage Tourism

Tour by Ed Bearss, Chief Historian , NPS by David W. Lowe

Civil War Sites In the Shenandoah Valley

of Virginia

Part Five

The Potential for Developing Civil War-Related

Tourism in the Shenandoah Valley

Heritage Tourism

Civil War-related attractions fall into a growing

area of the tourism industry known as heritage

tourism. Heritage tourism can be defined as "experiential tourism that provides for encounters with nature or feeling part of the history of a

place." The concept of heritage tourism is not new.

Organizations and academics have been practicing and

promoting heritage tourism for years, but it has seen a

resurgence. Increasing numbers of visitors are avoiding

contrived tourist attractions and searching out places that evoke more "authentic" natural, cultural, and historic experiences.

The Shenandoah Valley has much to offer the heritage

tourist, from Skyline Drive and the Shenandoah National

Park, to vineyard tastings and tours, to caverns, old towns,

and historic buildings, to more casual driving tours of the

rural landscape. In the last decade, the number of bed and

breakfast accommodations in the Valley has risen dramatically, catering to the desires mostly of urbanites who

are eager to relax for the weekend in a scenic and historic

setting.

Although it is impossible to pin down an exact number, thousands of visitors come to the Valley each

year to visit Civil War sites. New Market Battlefield Park,

for example, receives 45,000 to 65,000 visitors a year, while

Belle Grove on Cedar Creek battlefield (the only other

battlefield providing public access and interpretation) is

visited by about 50,000 per year, a large portion attracted by their interest in the Civil War.

Several thousand come to the Valley just for Stonewall

Jackson. They come for the essence of Stonewall, which is

found on his battlefields. Seeking out Stonewall's

battlefields is a difficult task because of limited public

access, inadequate signage, lack of site-specific description and interpretation, and lack of direction, but many

persist and are rewarded by the vistas of Cross Keys and

Port Republic or the pristine qualities of McDowell.

Civil War history in the Valley is a largely untapped

reservoir of riches in terms of heritage tourism. Its potential has not been adequately explored nor pro- moted. The present threat is that these sites will continue to go unrecognized and be gradually eaten away by

loss of farmland and encroaching residential, commercial, and industrial development. There is no greater

disappointment for a heritage tourist than to seek out a spot diligently and find its historic appearance significantly changed. He or she will move on, go elsewhere, seek out something more authentic.

Heritage Tourism Revenue

Potential

Nationwide, tourism is among the three largest industries in 39 out of 50 states. (Sources of the statistical data are included in a separate report available from

the National Park Service (Attn:413) upon request; ask

for "Tourism in the Shenandoah Valley" prepared by

John Packer, 1991.) It is the second largest employer in the country, providing jobs for about six million. Tourism is the largest business service export, the second

largest employer following health services, and the third

largest industry after food services and auto sales. Viewed nationally, tourism is a vital economic force.

135
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

In Virginia, tourism plays a major role in the eco- nomic vitality of the State. Tourism revenues have

increased each year since 1975, with tourism dollars more

than doubling from 1982 ($3.3 billion) to 1988 ($7.1

billion). The numbers speak for themselves.

In 1989, tourism generated more than $8 billion for the State economy including $204 million in State taxes and $124 million in local taxes. Tourism created 162,000

jobs statewide. Every dollar invested in tourism advertis- ing returned $3.53 to State tax coffers. Tourist spending

represented 18% of Virginia's retail business sales. Most of these visitors come for the "must see" attractions. The following is a list of the top 20 destinations for Virginia travelers according to the Survey of Current

Business, 1990 U.S. Department of Commerce (Valley destinations in boldface):

1. Blue Ridge Mountains 30.3%

2. Virginia Beach 29.9%

3. Williamsburg 24.4%

4. Richmond 23.1%

5. Charlottesville 20.6%

6. Shenandoah Valley 19.9%

7. Norfolk 17.3%

8. Busch Gardens 16.6%

9. Kings Dominion 14.2%

10. Alexandria 14.0%

11. Skyline Drive 13.0%

12. Roanoke 13.6%

13. Jamestown 12.9%

14. Natural Bridge 11.3%

15. Petersburg 10.3%

16. Abingdon 9.9%

17. Luray Caverns 9.6%

18. Fredericksburg 8.9%

19. Chincoteague/Assateague 7.3%

20. Mount Vernon 6.4%

As this list reveals, the Shenandoah Valley is already a major "must see" destination in the State, its attractions being primarily scenic and natural—the Blue Ridge, the Shenandoah Valley in general, Skyline Drive, and Luray

Caverns.

Travel in Virginia (1988) reported significant eco- nomic benefits to the eight-county Shenandoah Valley

study area. It is estimated that between 1.8 and 2.2 million

people from all over the world visit the region each year. In 1988, tourism in the Valley generated $266.8 million in

revenue, created nearly 5,900 jobs with a payroll of more

than $60 million, generated State tax revenues of

$9,579,000 and local tax revenues of $3,325,000.

The recently successful television advertising campaign

conducted by Luray Caverns has attracted many new

visitors to the area with its slogan: "Until you've seen Luray Caverns, you've just scratched Virginia's surface." Identifying, interpreting, and promoting nearby Civil War

battlefields and related sites, such as New Market, New

Market Gap, Cross Keys, Port Republic, Piedmont,

Staunton, Harrisonburg and others, would certainly tempt

many of these visitors to extend their stay in light of the

fact that 83 percent are coming to Virginia to see historic

attractions. Beginning just prior to this Shenandoah Valley Study,

a separate analysis was conducted for the National Park

Service to evaluate the local revenue potential of one or more Civil War national park units in the valley. This

report, "Distributional Economic Impacts of Civil War

Battlefield Preservation Options," was prepared by lay

Sullivan and Daniel G. Johnson of the Department of

Forstry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The report was given limited public distribution in August 1991. That report's general conclusion was that there is a

significant local revenue potential in such a scenario. Unfortunately, that analysis did not have access to the

detailed historical evaluations later developed for this present report, nor to the results of extensive consultation

with local governments subsequently conducted, and so the limited data available were extrapolated to a hypothetical park scenario. Likewise, that report did not seek

to consider other significant factors such as acquisition,

development, and management costs. As a result, that

report's specific findings are not used here other than to

reinforce our general conclusion that there is a positive revenue potential to be gained from heritage tourism in the Valley.

The Valley's Tourism

Infrastructure

Does the Valley have the infrastructure to handle more

visitors? There are currently no less than 15 facilities in the region catering to visitor needs, ranging from local chambers of commerce to visitor and welcome centers.

In the eight-counties, 181 establishments provide

travellers with overnight accommodations, broken down

136
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

in terms of Hotels/Motels (1 13 with 6,557 rooms), Bed/

Breakfasts (53 with 435 rooms), and Campgrounds (15

with 753 spaces). Annual average occupancy rates range from 60 to 65 percent, according to the "Commonwealth

of Virginia Trend of Business Lodging Industry Reports

(1990)." In brief, the lodging infrastructure is in place to support larger numbers of visitors, particularly off-season. Likewise, data indicate that the area has an adequate

restaurant sector.

Attitudes of County Planners

Toward Developing Tourism

To estimate the attitudes of local planners and

residents toward developing Civil War-related tourism in the region, the study team presented a questionnaire and

conducted interviews with ten local planning officials, representing seven counties and three cities. Most of these planners stated that, along with a continued emphasis on

agriculture, their localities were attempting to attract a blend of new businesses, primarily "clean industries," such

as computer assembly firms and corporate headquarters.

Most stated that attracting tourism is compatible with the

localities' overall economic goals. Two county planners

(Highland and Clarke counties) and a planner from the

City of Winchester, stated that tourism was the major

industry that they were working to develop.

All officials thought that the Valley could better

capitalize on its Civil War battlefields but were divided on how this could best be accomplished. Issues of adequate

signage and interpretive materials, public access versus

private ownership, and conflicts with existing zoning, and

other development plans were most often mentioned. All

felt that a cooperative effort to promote tourism throughout the region would be more successful than the uncoordinated efforts of individual jurisdictions. Finally, all respondents expressed a moderate to high interest in pursuing efforts to develop a regional promotional effort, but were divided on whether this effort could be coordi- nated by an existing group or agency, or whether some

new coordinating body should be developed.

The Potential for State

Assistance in Promoting Tourism

The State's Division of Tourism in Richmond is enthusiastic about the possibility of capitalizing on

Shenandoah Valley Civil War battlefields. Civil War

interest in Virginia has grown to the extent that it now

merits serious attention in the division's marketing plans

as well as research surveys. In 1990 the Division created a brochure, underwritten by the Mobil Corporation, to promote Civil War sites in Virginia during the PBS

presentation of the Ken Burns documentary "The Civil War." This effort broke all previous records for a single

promotion. The Division's London, England, office alone was inundated with 30,000 inquiries. Simultaneously, the

division filled 40,000 domestic inquiries in three months.

To handle this unprecedented response, an "800" tele- phone number was installed devoted strictly to the Civil War to handle the new influx of requests for information.

The number provides inquirers with current information

about State Civil War sites and Civil War-related events, such as reenactments. The Division recently established a community

planning office to aid localities in developing the initial phases of tourism. They expressed willingness to cooperate with counties and localities to develop a regional

approach to promoting battlefields and Civil War sites in the Valley. In terms of advertising and promotion, the Division can offer non-financial assistance in the form of

including the Valley in audio/video presentations, help in contacting travel writers, and inclusion in calendars and

information services. Financial grants might be available

in some areas for specific promotional projects.

Conclusion

It remains to be determined precisely how significantly

heritage tourism could contribute to the economy of the Valley or how more effective promotion of these sites could be structured to avoid undue intrusion on private

property owners. The statistics offered in this report,

however, are broadly suggestive of positive benefit of

heritage tourism to the Valley region, although they would

need to be followed by more targeted market research when and if designing a specific battlefield protection and

interpretation program in the Valley. The fact remains

that most county planners in the region have expressed

the desire to encourage heritage tourism and are currently

examining ways to increase the numbers of visitors to

their counties. With the continuing national interest in

Civil War history and associated sites, the Civil War in the Valley would likely prove to be one of its major attractions.

137

Part Six: Alternatives

Turkey Bams, Port Republic and Cross Keys by David W. Lowe

Civil War Sites In the Shenandoah Valley

ofVirginia

-*-

—gl3

Part Six

Alternatives to Preservation and Interpretation

Background

"Y"^ "w- 101-628, which mandated the study of

| W I Civil War sites and structures in the T 1 Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, calls *A> # m -*+ for the National Park Service to

"provide alternatives for the preservation and interpretation of such sites by Federal, State, and local governments,

or other public or private entities, as may be appropriate.

Such alternatives may include, but shall not be limited to, designation as units of the National Park System or as

affiliated areas. The study shall examine methods and

make recommendations to continue current land use

practices, such as agriculture, where feasible." The comparison which the National Park Service conducted, using the Jedediah Hotchkiss 1862 map of the

Valley and modern USGS maps of the same area, indicates

a remarkable level of overall integrity—the retention of

the physical and visual qualities of the natural and

manmade environment in the Valley present at the time

of the Civil War, due not only to the unique topography

of the region, but also to continued patterns of agricultural

use. Because few systematic efforts have been made to

preserve the Valley's battlefields, preservation of battlefield land to date, much of which was farmed at the time of the

war, has depended largely on the stewardship of private

landowners who have continued to farm the land. Many

of the property names present on the Hotchkiss map are

the names of family members still retaining ownership of

these farms today, most noticeably in the Upper Valley.

The Shenandoah Valley has a vibrant, contemporary

mixture of urban, agricultural, and forested landscape

which represents evolving uses of land by a growing

population. The landscape reflects this change in such

forms as Interstate 81, which has developed as the Valley's

major transportation corridor, and in the growth of

modern cities such as Harrisonburg and Winchester. This

is not a region that "time has forgotten," but rather one

which has retained elements of the past into a contemporary future. The study indicates that change in the

battlefield areas is intensified relative to change in other

parts of the Valley, due to the location of these battlefields along major transportation routes both in the nineteenth

century and the twentieth. There is greater change to the landscape where agricultural land has been converted to other uses, particularly in the Lower Valley, near Front Royal and Winchester. Most of the battlefields in this area have witnessed some residential, industrial, and commercial development. But many parcels of battlefield land

remaining retain a high degree of integrity

Despite the overall good integrity of major battlefields

in the Shenandoah Valley, some sites have deteriorated,

and preservation possibilities are constrained. Earlier, in Part Four, an analysis of the relative importance was given

for each battlefield based on historic significance, integrity,

threats, and risks to preservation.

Preservation Priorities

The listing of risks to preservation (Figure 19) leaves unanswered the public policy question of whether it is

better to focus preservation and protection efforts on sites nearly lost, or on sites where pristine landscape remains

well-preserved and the Civil War setting is evoked easily. There are important arguments to be made for either approach.

The low risk, good condition sites often lend themselves to a high degree of protection and preservation with

minimum costs and least disruption of local people while

resulting in retention of the highest quality historic sites. On the other hand, the high risk, poor condition sites generally would require higher costs and often more

139
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

difficult resolution of competing interests. However, these

sites represent historic events of great importance, and if action is not taken soon, there will not even be site fragments remaining to commemorate the former

existence of these battle locations, notwithstanding the fact that preservation opportunities may already be gone.

Similarly, there are good reasons to choose an inter- mediate category of risk as the primary focus — for example, sites that are in good-to-fair condition but under

moderate levels of threat, or sites that are in poor-to-fair condition experiencing yet greater levels of threat. The

rationale here is that sites in the intermediate risk categories represent problems that are manageable, while good

condition, low threat sites can wait longer, and lost or poor condition sites under' extreme threats may not be

worth the cost, The answer to which approach is preferable is not one

the National Park Service can provide as a result of

analysis. This is a policy choice that will depend to a large

degree on which combination of the preservation alternatives outlined below is chosen, and on what sort of public consensus exists for protecting Shenandoah Valley Civil War battlefields.

local government goals and objectives, current land use

patterns, and varied levels of threat to the battlefields are present. This suggests an approach that would consider

various combinations of the five alternatives. Such an approach could be implemented, based on need, owner

interest, and other concerns. Indeed, property owners and

preservation organizations, with input from local govern- ments and the travel and tourism industry, have begun to meet to explore preservation strategies that reflect this approach. Because historic preservation is most successful when

the local community is supportive and has participated in the identification and implementation of preservation

solutions. Selection of any of these alternatives should be

accomplished after opportunities for public information

and participation in the selection process have occurred. At this time, such consultation has not been extensive. The Valley Conservation Council, a non-profit conservation organization located in Staunton, Virginia, has

stressed the need for public information on these issues and the formulation of long-term strategies for ensuring

that private and local interests will be a major participant

in the future.

Alternatives

The following alternatives are presented in order of

increasing Federal involvement. Alternative I examines no

increased action, that is, the continuation of the status quo

in terms of existing preservation and interpretation

activities of battlefield sites. Alternative II examines the

possibility of mounting a local or regional effort, with or without assistance from the National Park Service, to preserve battlefield land for interpretation and tourism.

Alternative III examines the potential of developing these

sites as affiliated areas of the National Park System.

Alternative IV examines the possibility of acquiring one or more specific battlefields, for incorporation into the National Park System. Alternative V examines the

possibility of acquiring all fifteen battlefields for incorporation into the National Park System. Cost estimates for Alternatives I-V are presented in Figure 22, however,

potential acquisition costs for land have not been esti- mated in the analysis due to the complexity of ownership

and land use in the battlefields. Although the historic significance of the Valley calls

for a regional approach towards its preservation and

interpretation, it is clear that a variety of owner interests,

I. No Action, Continuation of Status Quo

An examination of current preservation and interpretive activities provides a base line for evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of other potential alternatives. Under this alternative, existing private and public

efforts to preserve battlefields would continue without

substantial changes. These programs include: Federal income tax deductions for donation of easements and

credits for substantial rehabilitations of income generating

certified historic structures; Federal and matching State funding through the Historic Preservation Fund, and

Land and Water Conservation Fund; donation of ease- ments through the State's open space and historic ease- ment program, and additional State programs designed to encourage the retention of agricultural and forest lands. This alternative may be more feasible in the Upper

Valley and, specifically, in areas where agriculture remains

a healthy industry. In Augusta County, several private

properly owners have indicated to NPS their desire to continue farming— a practice that is generally consistent with the historic character of the battlefields. Representatives of this county government also indicated their belief

that local zoning efforts, especially the use of agricultural140
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

forest districts, were sufficient to preserve battlefields from

incompatible land use development. The problem,

however, is that zoning is ephemeral, and in rural areas re- zoning at the request of the land owners occurs as a matter

of course. In addition, approximately 10 percent of core

battlefield land distributed throughout the Valley is owned

by non-profit organizations committed to its preservation.

Several Valley organizations and property owners have

stressed that Federal acquisition from private owners

unwilling to sell their property would undermine community support for preservation of Civil War batdefields in

the Valley. Although no additional expenditures of public

funds would occur under this alternative, the result would

be haphazard resource protection, interpretation, reduced

heritage tourism potential, and, notably, potential reliance

in the future on more costly preservation alternatives. Alternative I could be used selectively in conjunction

with the other alternatives presented in this study, so that enhanced preservation and interpretation efforts outlined

in Alternatives II, III, IV, and V could be focused on

critically threatened battlefields, and in areas where private

and local government support is present.

II. Enhanced Public Funding and Technical

Assistance to State and Local Governments and

Private Owners For Battlefield Preservation

and Interpretation

Alternative II includes increased preservation and

interpretation for battlefield sites that would require

Federal, State, and local action through a variety of

assistance methods short of acquisition in fee. Perhaps more so in this alternative than in the others is the need

for focus and coordination on three interdependent areas: preservation, interpretation, and promotion. Preservation of the sites is of primary importance, for without adequate

protection, the historic battlefield resources will continue

to slip away and their potential value for interpretation

and visitation gradually will be lost. In order to increase

visitation and public appreciation of these sites, it is necessary first to improve the infrastructure and materials

available to interpret events for visitors. These three areas

will be examined in turn.

i. Preservation. The pace of resource degradation in the Valley and the loss of agricultural acreage over the last two decades, especially in the northern part, reveals that continued dependence on the coincidence of interests between private landowners and public interest in historic

preservation is no longer an adequate mechanism for ensuring protection of battlefield land. Lands that are currently protected, either by ownership, easements, or

zoning, do not represent a large amount ( 10 percent) of

core historical areas in the fifteen battlefields. Continuing

degradation and loss of Civil War battlefield resources is expected to occur, particularly in the lower Valley, and

areas immediately adjacent to interstate highways, where

land use is shifting away from agriculture. Unlike the

situation in Augusta County, local officials in Frederick

and Clarke Counties, and the City of Winchester, have

noted that reliance on local zoning will not be effective in protecting battlefield lands in their jurisdictions. The use of these resources for interpretation and tourism will diminish with time. Both market (economic) and nonmarket (personal benefit/enjoyment) benefits will decline. Preservation methods under this alternative would

need to focus on increasing the effectiveness of private

methods of protection and developing methods that provide for public and private cooperation. To meet with

success in the VaDey, methods would need to be consistent with other community goals and be sufficiently flexible to

assist a variety of specific needs. The types of activities that would be needed are presented in Figure 20. Many parts

of battlefields—especially in the middle and upper

Valley—are on privately owned agricultural land whose

owners wish to continue that way of life. A program could

be initiated—perhaps through the Historic Preservation

Fund—whereby long-term (say 10-15holding years)

battlefield protection contracts are entered into between a

willing property owner and an appropriate governmental

or non-profit entity. These contracts (modeled after the Countryside Stewardship program in England) would pay

an owner an appropriate, market-derived stipend in return for the owner agreeing to maintain, restore, or enhance some battlefield amenity: clear or keep cleared a

field that was open at the time of the battle, maintain a viewshed, provide limited access to some location,

maintain a series of rail fences or other infrastructure such

as a footpath or footbridge, an interpretive wayside or

kiosk on or adjacent to their land, and so on. In this way,

not only do owners retain their land and landuse, but they

participate in and take responsibility for some part of the

battlefield's preservation and presentability to the public

while putting their participation on a business basis. Tenyear contracts between the government and landowners

target specific areas and allow flexible guidelines to reflect individual owner and community needs.

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Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

PUBLIC INFORMATION

Goals

Disseminate information on: this report, Civil War History in the Valley, future planning efforts Activities Public meetings, workshops, conferences

Exhibits, lectures, educational materials D Public service announcements

Videos

Brochures, pamphlets, other printed materials

PRESERVATION PLANNING

Goals

Find compatible land uses for battlefields and adjacent lands

Preserve battlefield features and Civil War buildings and structures Products

Land use studies Condition assessments on earthworks and structures

Feasibility and adaptive use studies Design guidelines for compatible new construction

Acquisition and development grants

INTERPRETATION

Goals

Develop methods for enhancing visitor experience at multiple sites Respect private property rights and ongoing land use activities Products

Driving and walking tours Marker systems

Guidebooks

Docent and guide training

D Visitor centers Living history exhibits and festivals

PROMOTION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Goal

Identify and encourage economic development that is compatible with preservation

Activities Cost benefit studies Marketing research Improved econometric models

Develop effective tourism strategies

Figure 20. Preservation and Interpretation Activities for Battlefields in the Shenandoah Valley

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Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Public support for such largely site maintenance or

restoration technical assistance actions could come either through increased appropriations to existing joint Federal and State grant programs—the Historic Preservation

Fund and the Land and Water Conservation Fund, or through new law to provide increased preservation and

interpretation activities. Legislation may also be necessary

to limit or remove liability from landowners who allow

public access to battlefields. Similar law already exists in Virginia to protect landowners who allow fox hunting on

their property and perhaps this approach can be adapted

to historic site visitation. Since economic considerations typically provide the

basis for most decisions that result in changing land use and loss of battlefield land, the development of financial

incentives to private owners to preserve battlefield lands may need to be considered. Strategies could include tax

incentives to owners of battlefield land that do not

subdivide property for new construction. Since local governments derive significant revenues through property

taxes, Federal and State financial incentives to local governments that develop zoning and other land use ordinances compatible with battlefield preservation could

also be considered. Modifications to estate taxes as in the proposed "Open Space Preservation Act" (HR2149,

HR5469, S2957) is another key approach that would make

retention of undeveloped or agricultural uses feasible for many owners.

Regulatory methods, such as zoning or historic preservation ordinances, require less funding than grant

and financial incentive programs but may pose significant

difficulties in gaining widespread public support at the

local level. In rural areas, as in much of the Shenandoah

Valley, zoning and land use controls are typically less

restrictive than in urban areas, and consequently, are less

likely to be effective for preserving historic battlefields. Therefore, it may not be realistic to expect the Commonwealth of Virginia and the local governments in the Valley

to enact land use ordinances that would favor preservation

of battlefields over the capability of private owners to develop property to its highest and best use. However,

technical and financial assistance from State and Federal

sources to local governments in return for enactment of

compatible land use ordinances may be appropriate in some cases. State and local government financing

methods such as a tax on tourism-related services, in which the tax revenues are applied to the purchase of

development rights or to fund other preservation and

interpretation activities that are directly related to heritage

tourism, may be a more viable State and local contribution to Federally-funded activities. At a minimum, it is desirable for all local governments

in the Valley to follow the example of Augusta County and

incorporate detailed information on the location, signifi- cance, and condition of historic sites in their local comprehensive plan. The ability, through this means, to alert any potential developer — public or private —to the

existence of important historic sites is one of the most

feasible and valuable ways to avoid unmanageable future

conflicts.

ii. Interpretation. Battlefields are not without their own economic attractions. An estimated several thousand

people visit these battlefields each year despite the lack of

interpretive facilities, signage, and public access. This

small but steady visitation by military historians, history

buffs, genealogists, and Civil War enthusiasts will continue

indefinitely providing that the historic resources remain in good condition. If these resources are degraded and

diverted to other uses, visitation will stop. On the other

hand, there is evidence that enhancing facilities, signage,

and public access, devising useful interpretive materials,

and preparing a unified marketing strategy for the Valley's

Civil War resources, would increase the drawing power of

these sites and thus provide a stronger economic incentive

for preserving and interpreting battlefield land. Many local jurisdictions, county and city, expressed a

great interest in promoting the tourism potential of Civil War sites in the Valley, particularly in light of a national resurgence of interest in the Civil War, spurred by

commemorative reenactments, the PBS series "The Civil War," and related developments. Most counties in the Valley see tourism as an increasingly important potential source of revenue. It is not clear, however, what form

Civil War heritage tourism in the Valley would take,

considering the current level of restricted access to many

of these sites and the understandable concerns of land- owners to maintain their security and privacy. Nor is it apparent to what extent local property owners, businesses,

and governments wish to control the use of historic properties toward such ends. In order to enhance the interpretation of the role of

the Shenandoah Valley in the Civil War, an effort could be

mounted, perhaps assisted by the National Park Service, to develop a preliminary interpretive plan for the region. To

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Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

focus and coordinate interpretive activities over the next

five years, a clearinghouse could be established to enhance

the public appreciation of Shenandoah Valley Civil War

sites. This clearinghouse could prepare and disseminate

interpretive materials and generally encourage interpretive

and commemorative activities at Civil War sites in the

region. The clearinghouse could provide technical

assistance to support State and local interpretive efforts, and monitor the progress of such efforts.

iii. Promotion. State and local governments, chambers of commerce, private property owners, and representatives of the Valley tourism industry could work together

to incorporate Civil War sites into regional and county

economic development plans to develop heritage tourism.

A specific economic benefits analysis could be conducted

to generate concrete data regarding the market potential

for the sites as tourist attractions. A plan could be

developed to coordinate regionwide the activities of visitor

centers, museums, and other facilities, and encourage bus

tours, weekend packages, and other options to enhance

the visitation of Civil War sites, along with other attrac- tions in the Valley. A schedule of Civil War related events could be developed and publicized to stimulate wider

interest in the Valley sites, leading to enhanced local community participation in and increased visitation of

commemorative and recreational events.

Implementation of Alternative II

The potential complexity of Alternative II suggests

regional coordination would be necessary. Several options

could be considered:

1.A new agency or board composed of representatives

from local government, property owners, local preservation groups, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources could be formed to develop priorities and

implement preservation and interpretation activities.

2. A new agency or board composed of representatives

of existing planning or government organizations, tourism

and business groups, and preservation organizations could

be formed to examine the economic effects of preservation

and interpretation activities.

3. A regional office of a State agency such as the

Virginia Department of Historic Resources could be

established in the Valley. This State organization, with

expertise in preservation planning, administering Federal and State grant programs, and easements, could implement many technical assistance activities.

4.An existing regional organization such as a regional

planning authority or an interested private organization

could take a lead role in coordinating preservation and

interpretation of battlefield sites. Implementing Alternative II may be appropriate in areas where public information, additional planning, and

enhanced funding for technical assistance have been

identified as necessary first steps in preserving and inter- preting battlefields. The National Park Service found little regional coordination in sharing planning data, although

various Federal, local, and regional agencies, and James Madison University, expressed willingness to coordinate

data collection efforts. Alternative II will require a multi- year commitment for technical assistance and funding to develop a public consensus, set priorities for preservation

and interpretation efforts, and implement the activities. Recognition that such planning is necessary is evident in the comments from various local governments on preservation

and interpretation needs. Representatives of several Valley

preservation organizations, and counties such as Rockingham, Clarke, and Shenandoah, stated in their written comments on the draft study that a variety of

methods, requiring Federal expertise and financial assis- tance, would be needed to implement immediate and long term solutions. Reliance on local government efforts through zoning and other local regulatory methods was not viewed as sufficient, or appropriate, in light of the national

significance of these properties.

Implementation of Alternative II could occur in conjunction with Alternatives I, III, and IV. Strategies in Alternative II would work best where private and local cooperative efforts are determined by the local government

as preferred solutions, as pre-planning prior to any Congressional implementation of Alternatives III and IV, or to reinforce preservation and interpretation of areas sur- rounding a unit of the National Park System.

Should Alternative II be implemented, Congress may

wish to ask the National Park Service, or some other

appropriate party or organization, to report at a later time on the progress of preservation efforts in the Valley. Such a report would reassess those battlefields that have received

technical assistance and update information on the desirability for the incorporation of any or all of the Shenandoah

Valley Civil War battlefields or related sites as units or

affiliated areas of the National Park System. Such a report

would also assess the level of resources and funding needed

to ensure that NPS standards for affiliated areas would be

met.

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Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

III. Creation of One or More

Affiliated Areas of the National

Park System

Affiliated area status is a mechanism for recognition of

nationally significant areas managed by others consistent with standards that apply to the National Park System.

These areas are sometimes eligible for receiving technical and financial assistance, but this assistance is limited to carrying out a cooperative management agreement with

the National Park Service. In 1990, the National Park

Service submitted to Congress, pursuant to P.L. 100-336, a report on criteria for affiliated areas of the National Park

System. In this present report, the NPS criteria recom- mended for such areas (national significance, suitability,

and feasibility, are being applied for purposes of analyzing

Shenandoah Valley sites. A property proposed for acquisition as an affiliated area of the National Park

System should meet the same criteria for significance that

are applied to a potential national park unit (see Figure

21). The criteria for suitability and feasibility, however,

are different for affiliated area status, and are outlined in the discussion below.

When applying the criteria for national significance the study shows that the Shenandoah Valley represents a unique geographic and historic resource; that it possesses tremendous scenic beauty and exceptional potential for interpreting aspects of the Civil War that are currently not

represented in the park system; that opportunities for recreation are already aptly demonstrated by the Valley's

active tourism industry, by activities in Shenandoah

National Park, and by canoeing and fishing in the region's

rivers and streams; and that many portions of the Valley

retain a high degree of historic, rural, and scenic integrity.

While it is clear that the Shenandoah Valley region,

with its significant battlefield areas, needs special recognition and technical assistance beyond what is currently

available, there is no existing mechanism for ensuring a cooperative arrangement between landowners and the National Park Service that would assure long-term

protection of the resources. In the absence of such an

arrangement, the other requirements applicable to National Park System units—contributions from other

sources, and the continuation of standards for maintenance, operations, and financial accountability—cannot

be applied. This is not to say that some arrangement

would not be possible in the future as a follow up to the

technical assistance activities described under Alternative II. There is currently no regional agency which serves to coordinate planning between the State level and local jurisdictions or to facilitate activities in support of the

preservation and interpretation of Civil War sites in the

Valley. Local planning officials were asked about the need

for such an entity at a meeting held in August 1991, and

those present agreed that it was essential. Some favored

enhanced responsibilities given to an existing agency, such

as the two planning districts which serve the Valley—the Lord Fairfax Planning District and the Central Shenandoah

Planning District. Others suggested the possibility of

establishing a regional office of the Virginia Department of

Historic Resources in the Valley to coordinate a regional

effort. Others felt that no existing agency could adequately

meet these added responsibilities. All agreed, however, that some mechanism needs to be created, if possible with

Federal assistance, to implement the process. Written

comments on the draft report also reflected these concerns. However, representatives of Warren County, where Cedar

Creek battlefield is located, did not provide comments on

the draft report, or participate in the August 1991 NPS / local government meeting on preservation alternatives. (Although the Lord Fairfax Planning Commission,

representing Warren County, among others, has participated regularly in the preparation of this report and in recent preservation efforts. Warren county has participated

in these regional planning efforts.) The controversial

related lands study for Shenandoah National Park,

occuring simultaneously with this report, may have

resulted in misunderstandings that the two reports were the same. The controversy surrounding the related lands study

for the park may influence the nature of comments

received from the public and private citizens on this report,

and for preservation efforts in the Valley for this sites. The Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites and other locally based preservation groups, such as the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation and the Shenandoah

Valley Civil War Foundation, have expressed interest in exploring a cooperative arrangement with the National

Park Service for incorporating their landholdings as parks or as affiliated areas. Without the demonstrated support of

local governments and residents, however, leading to a more widespread, community-based planning and

preservation effort, such arrangements alone would be

inadequate and premature, considering the size and

significance of the resources.

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Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

I. National Significance (NPS and Affiliated Area)

1. It is an outstanding example of a particular type of resource.

2. It possesses exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the natural or cultural themes of our

Nation's heritage.

3. It offers superlative opportunities for recreation, for public use and enjoyment, or for scientific study.

4. It retains a high degree of integrity as a true, accurate, and relatively unspoiled example of the resource.

Ha. Suitability and Feasibility (Affiliated Areas Only)

5. It must need some special recognition or technical assistance beyond what is available through existing

NPS programs in order to ensure its preservation and interpretation to the public, and

6. It must be demonstrated that a cooperative arrangement with the National Park Service and contributions from other sources will be adequate to assure long-term protection of the resources, and

7. It must be demonstrated that a continued standard of maintenance, operations, public service, and

financial accountability consistent with requirements applicable to National Park System units will occur.

lib. Suitability and Feasibility (NPS units only)

8. It represents a natural or cultural theme, or type of recreational resource that is not already adequately

represented in the National Park System, or is not comparably represented and protected for public enjoyment by another land-managing entity.

9. It must be of sufficient size and appropriate configuration to ensure long-term protection of the resources and to accommodate public use.

10. It must have potential for efficient administration at a reasonable cost. Important feasibility factors include land ownership, acquisition costs, access, threats to the resource, and staff or development require- ments.

Figure 21. Criteria for Parklands

Properties proposed for incorporation into the National Park System or Affiliated Area

Status must meet the Criteria for National Significance, Suitability, and Feasibility.

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Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Alternative IV. Acquisition of

Selected Battlefields for a Unit

of the National Park System

with SatelliteAreas

Consideration could be given to creating a park unit of one or more selected battlefield sites. These battlefields would become regional focal points for preserving and

interpreting other non- Federally owned battlefields at the

local level through strategies discussed in Alternative II.

National Significance

The battlefields identified in this study collectively appear to meet criteria for national significance. The

study shows that the Shenandoah Valley represents a unique geographic and historic resource; that it possesses tremendous scenic beauty and exceptional potential for interpreting aspects of the Civil War that are currently not

represented in the National Park System; that opportunities for recreation are already aptly demonstrated by the

Valley's active tourism industry, by activities in Shenandoah National Park, and by canoeing and fishing

in the region's rivers and streams; and that many portions

of the Valley retain a high degree of historic, rural, and

scenic integrity. Careful consideration is needed under this alternative

to select battlefields that ensure adequate representation of

the Shenandoah Valley Civil War period. Selection of one

or more sites from each of the major campaigns; selection of two sites, one from the lower Valley and one from the upper Valley, are two approaches. This alternative does

not eliminate Federal commitment to implement pro- grams and activities beyond acquisition and park operating expenses. In fact, such activities would be necessary in order to meet criterion 3 for national significance. The

ability to provide "superlative opportunities for recreation,

public use and enjoyment, or for scientific study," as the

criterion states, would be diminished as the number of

battlefields preserved, either through NPS acquisition, as

recipients of Federal funding, or through coordinated

non-Federal means are decreased.

Suitability and Feasibility

The strategic role of the Shenandoah Valley as a region

during the Civil War, Stonewall Jackson's 1862 Campaign

and the Early- Sheridan 1864 campaigns, are not currently

represented in the National Park System. Less than 4% of

the land area of battlefield sites in the Valley are under

long-term protected ownership. This appears to meet

criterion 5 for suitability.

Sufficient size and appropriate configuration are

difficult to evaluate at this time since specific sites have not been selected. However, the risk priorities can be used as a guide to making these selections. Additional guidance can

be given in evaluating acquisition strategies. It is commonly recognized that less land is needed to interpret

battlefields, thus satisfying the public use criterion, than to preserve the battlefields. The criteria, however, require both. Acquisition of limited acreage under this alternative

for interpretive purposes is not sufficient to ensure long- term protection of the battlefields identified in this study. At the very least, acquisition of selected sites must be

performed in conjunction with long term protection

strategies that address preservation of all battlefield core

areas in order to meet criterion 3. Criteria 9 and 10, which

address feasibility, speak directly to these issues. Is it

feasible to administer selected battlefield sites, which

represent a portion of the nationally significant battlefield resources in the Valley, with long-term preservation less secure for the remaining sites? While technical assistance

is an integral part of this alternative, ownership, and

community sentiment changes over time. Administration

of a park unit of limited battlefield land, without adequate

long term community and owner support, may result in Federal expenditures to protect a fragment of land that does not adequately represent or protect the resource. This would most probably occur if an adequate program

of technical assistance does not take place. In summary, this alternative provides a less costly

approach than full acquisition of all battlefield sites, but it

carries inherent risks that should be anticipated in any

authorization. This approach would require less direct Federal involvement in managing the areas and would

allow flexibility in approaches to other sites. To be

successful in maintaining the regional "picture" of the war, this approach would have to include a Federal commitment beyond the acquisition and operation of the park unit. In addition, specific commitment from local jurisdictions to work with the National Park Service in

prioritizing preservation would also be necessary, as stated

in Alternative II. The advantage of Alternative IV would be its provision

for protection in perpetuity for some battlefield land in areas where it is consistent with local community goals

147
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

and where property owners are supportive. This strategy

appears to have support from the City of Winchester,

Frederick and Highland counties, and several of the

organizations that commented on the draft report. Other

counties, such as Rockingham and Shenandoah, have

suggested that NPS acquisition of properties in core areas may be appropriate in conjunction with other forms of.

technical and financial assistance outlined in Alternative

II. However, these counties pointed out that further

analysis of public sentiment and of the economic benefits

of preservation was needed.

The disadvantages in this alternative would be the

potential for preservation concentration on a limited amount of battlefield land and the potential neglect of the

others. This may be true especially if the site has a large

core area itself, such as Cedar Creek. Without an adequate

technical assistance component for the remaining battlefields, it is possible that designation of one or two sites as

parks could create a hierarchy which would stimulate

competition rather than cooperation among sites in the

region. Since the authorization and implementation

process can take years, creation of a park unit may not

occur in time to save critically threatened battlefield lands

unless interim protection alternatives also take place.

Perhaps most importantly, the absence of adequate

technical assistance and specific funding to secure preservation of non-Federally owned battlefield lands may

ultimately place the Federal government in a position of

advocating local preservation goals without the ability to

influence public policy decisions. Without sufficient

support beyond the funds necessary for the management

of the park unit, Federal advocacy of preservation and

interpretation outside the park boundaries maybe viewed

as contrary to the local community goals, or as inappropriate intervention into private and local government

decision making.

AlternativeV: Acquisition of

Fifteen Battlefields as a Unit of

the National Park System

National Significance

As stated previously, the battlefields identified in the

study collectively appear to meet criteria for national

significance. The study shows that the Shenandoah Valley

represents a unique geographic and historic resource; that

it possesses tremendous scenic beauty and exceptional

potential for interpreting aspects of the Civil War that are

currently not represented in the National Park System;

that opportunities for recreation are already aptly demonstrated by the Valley's active tourism industry, by activities

in Shenandoah National Park, and by canoeing and

fishing in the region's rivers and streams; and that many

portions of the Valley retain a high degree of historic,

rural, and scenic integrity.

Suitability

As stated in the previous alternative, the strategic role

of the Shenandoah Valley as a region during the Civil War,

Stonewall Jackson's 1862 Campaign, and the EarlySheridan 1864 campaigns, are not currently represented in

the National Park System. The Shenandoah National Park

provides natural and recreational opportunities but is not

an effective or appropriate resource for systematically

interpreting the events of the Civil War, even though

many of the important Blue Ridge gaps that shaped so much of the fighting in this region are within its boundaries, including Chester, Thornton, Fishers, Browns, and

Swift Run gaps. Currently, only the battlefields of New Market and

Cedar Creek offer public access and some degree of

interpretation for portions of these sites. New Market

Battlefield Park, owned by the Virginia Military Institute,

offers interpretation of the war and battle at its Hall of

Valor museum. The privately owned New Market

Battlefield Military Museum, located on a portion of the

battlefield, exhibits Civil War memorabilia. Belle Grove

(at Cedar Creek) is a National Trust for Historic Preservation property, with adjacent holdings by a private, nonprofit organization, the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation. The Association for the Preservation of Civil War

Sites (APCWS), a private, non-profit preservation

organization, owns property at and allows public access to

portions of the McDowell, Fisher's Hill, and Port Republic

battlefields. Another non-profit, the Lee-Jackson Foundation, owns property at McDowell and Cross Keys. A

Winchester-based Civil War re-enactment group owns

acreage that allows public access to Star Fort. Due to the

budgets of these organizations, the size of land holdings

and the amount of interpretation offered on-site are

limited. Although the Holy Cross Abbey preserves much

of the Cool Spring battlefield and allows some visitation,

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Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

preservation of this site is due more to coincidence of

intent than to acquisition for preservation purposes.

Similarly, many private holdings, especially for agricultural use, currently preserve battlefield land through

coincidence of purpose, but these coincidences can change

unless steps are taken to reinforce current land use. When

compared with the number, size, and significance of the

Civil War sites in the Shenandoah Valley, these holdings

by private groups are insufficient in themselves to preserve any of the fifteen battlefields. In summary, it appears

criterion 1 for national significance has been met, the

battlefields are suitable for acquisition, based on their

historic significance, lack of representation in the system,

and lack of other protection strategies or opportunities for public benefit already in place.

Feasibility

The protection of the Shenandoah Valley region, its geographic, topographic and economic features which

were historically important in the conduct of the Civil War, is a large task. Decision making with regard to development and change in the Valley remains in the hands of State and local governments. Planning decisions

made at this level have already affected change not only in the region as a whole, but on the battlefield lands themselves. Urban development has destroyed portions of

battlefields in Winchester, Frederick County, and Front

Royal, in particular.

Is it feasible, however, to consider the creation of a unit of the National Park System, composed of

discontiguous sites, from the battlefield areas alone? First, major road developments initiated by the Federal govern- ment, such as Interstates 81 and 66, have already bisected and in a measure degraded many battlefield areas. The

study shows that First Winchester and Front Royal have

had major integrity losses. Of the remaining battlefields, four have been decidedly altered, mostly by urban

development. This leaves nine battlefields with a range of

fair to good integrity. This means that the total resource

has already experienced impact and is likely to continue to do so unless preservation solutions are sufficiently

comprehensive.

Second, the nature of land ownership in the region is complex. The total number of owners on the fifteen

battlefields may reach several hundred. Some rural

battlefield areas are owned by more than 30 parties, with a range of uses. Publicly- owned areas, as parks or facilities

such as sewage treatment plants, are present. Some

owners and elected officials of Augusta County have

expressed objection to the creation of a national park.

Creating a unit of the National Park System through fee simple acquisition and/or purchase of easements on this much land with this many land owners would be complex, controversial, and long-term.

Third, acquisition costs for the battlefield areas, which

are large cultural landscapes, would be high. While fee acquisition might not be necessary in every case, since many of the battlefields can be appreciated through a

driving tour with some minimal access, easements or other preservation measures would be necessary in order

to ensure continued compatible use at sites with high

integrity. Without these easements, the integrity losses experienced now in the Winchester and Front Royal areas would be repeated in time over much of the Valley.

Fourth, the management structure for interpretation,

preservation, and administration of a battlefield park of

discontiguous areas could not be as efficient as a single,

contiguous unit, due to the distance between areas and the number of local governments. This model would be even more complex, given the much greater distance and lack of a protected unifying resource (such as a river, canal or

other land-based resource) over the length of the region.

Finally, the size of Federal holdings in the region and

State should be considered. The Shenandoah National

Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, and George Washington

National Forest encompass many thousands of acres along

both sides of the Valley. While these land holdings offer many benefits to local residents in terms of watershed and

viewshed protection, recreational opportunities, and

tourist attractions, there may be strong local resistance against further expansion of significantly large Federal holdings in some areas of the region. Acquiring parcels of

high integrity of all of the Valley's battlefields could

conceivably add 10,000 - 30,000 acres of battlefield land to the Federal holdings in the State. In summary, it appears this alternative does not meet

feasibility criteria based on the size, configuration,

complexity and diversity of ownership and community

sentiments, and costs necessary to acquire and administer

a park of this size and discontiguous configuration.

Cost Estimates for Preservation Alternatives

National Park Service policy generally is not to provide

cost estimates for alternatives that do not meet all criteria

149
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

for inclusion in the National Park System, or where

insufficient information precludes making firm assess- ments. Nevertheless, in response to comments on the

draft report, rough cost estimates of non-acquisition

activities associated with the alternatives are offerred; there were insufficient study funds available to estimate acquisi- tion costs for each alternative. Although the more feasible alternatives presented in

this study stress cooperation between Federal and nonFederal entities, information gathered during this study, in particular comments from local governments and

organizations in the Valley, strongly indicates that Federal monies will represent the major funding source for each of

the alternatives. State and local in-kind services, local

legislation, and private cooperative efforts represent a more realistic, non-Federal contribution than funding. Cost estimates presented in this study, which are

exclusive of acquisition costs, are for purposes of generally

comparing the alternatives, they are not meant to be firm

predictions of the costs of implementing the alternatives. Technical assistance activities appear in Alternatives II,

III and IV. Costs for these activities may not differ

significantly between these alternatives. Costs for Alternative III may feasibly be less than Alternative II because

affiliated area status assumes a level of protection has

already been achieved. Alternatives IV and V represent

the most expensive long term preservation alternatives because planning and operating expenses of NPS units represent a Federal expense not required in Alternatives IIII.

Conclusion

Clearly, Alternative I (no action) consigns many of

these important sites to eventual oblivion—"a death of a thousand cuts"—an alternative that seems to be unacceptable to most individuals who commented on this report. The four remaining alternatives presented in this report

suggest that a wide range of preservation and interpretation solutions may be possible at various locations in the

Valley, while also allowing individual owners and local governments the option not to participate.

Despite the obstacles outlined in Alternatives IV and

V, creation of a National Park unit at all or selected

battlefields has significant supporters. Highland and

Frederick counties, the City of Winchester, and several national and regional organizations have encouraged a

Federal role in the Valley beyond technical assistance and

funding. In some cases, acquisition of core battlefields at

all or selected sites was identified as the preferred solution;

in others, the suggested NPS role appears to be construction of a visitor's center at one or more locations in the

Valley. Many of these organizations and local govern- ments were not dissuaded by the potentially difficult management of a park composed of several discontiguous

sites, or NPS analysis that the national significance of the

Valley battlefields as a whole would require substantial land acquisition, rather than identification of "representative" sites or limited land parcels. Examples of NPS park

units similar to these proposed models were identified,

such as Richmond National Battlefield Park. There appears to be significant interest in striving for new park models, or adoption of management techniques

similar to the NPS participation in the Lakawanna

Heritage Valley Plan in Pennsylvania. After review of this

report, the National Park System Advisory Board sup- ported Federal, regional, and local coordination, specifically recommending that the Service play a role in planning and interpretation within a Partnership Park or National Heritage Corridor framework. Overall, the need

to develop innovative and flexible solutions to protection

and management was stressed by many who commented

on the study report. They stressed using the combined

advantages of the private and public sectors, in particular,

approaches (modeled after the Countryside Stewardship

program in England) that involve property owners in a

contractual relationship to be responsible for maintaining some historic resource amenity on their land. Such

approaches could be tested as an economical alternative to

a local, State, or Federal park unit.

In the end, new solutions must respect the integrity of

the National Park System by only creating units that are of

the highest resource quality, rather than fragments or

resources that lack sufficient integrity, national signifi- cance, and interpretive potential. The National Park

Service, however, can be an effective partner with the

State, local, and private sectors in collaborating on

practical solutions to protecting and presenting to the American people the crucial elements of their history that occurred at fifteen battlefields in the Shenandoah Valley of

Virginia.

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Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Alternative I Alternative II Alternative III Alternative IV Alternative V

No Action Enhanced Affiliated Area NPS Unit-Selected NPS Unit-All Sites Continuation of Technical Status Sites Status Quo Assistance

TOTAL COSTS TOTAL COSTS TOTAL COSTS TOTAL COSTS

$350,000 $300,000-$500,000 $1.4 Million *$5.4 million

PLUS PLUS PLUS PLUS

Acquisition Costs Acquisition Costs Acquisition Costs Acquisition Costs (Non-NPS) (Non-NPS)

Operating Operating

Expenses Expenses

$100,000 $100,000

Per Annum Per Annum

5-10 Years 5-10 Years

Technical Planning

Assistance Expenses

Funding $200,000-

$250,000 $400,000

Per Annum Per Annum

5-10 Years 5-10 Years

Technical Assistance

(Non-NPS battlefields) $250,000 Per Annum

5-10 years

First Year NPS

Operating Expenses

$350,000

Planning Expenses

(GMP, Brochure, etc. $888,500

Visitors Contact &

Administrative

Facility 2,000 square

feet

$1 Million

* Projected operating expenses will increase as acreage also increases.

First Year NPS

Operating Expenses

$350,000

Planning Expenses

(GMP, Brochure, etc. $888,500

Visitors Contact &

Administrative

Facility

13,000 square feet

$4.25 Million

Figure 22. Federal Cost Estimates for Alternatives II-V

151

Civil War Sites In the Shenandoah Valley

ofVirginia

Appendix A

Sources

Allan, William. History of the Campaign of Gen. T. J. Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley of

Virginia. 1880. Reprint. Dayton, OH: Morningside,

1987.

Beach, William H. The First New York (Lincoln)

Cavalry. New York: Lincoln Cavalry Association,

1902.

Bean, W. G. Stonewall's Man: Sandie Pendleton. University of North Carolina Press, 1959.

Beck, Brandon H. and Charles S. Grunder. The Second

Battle of Winchester, June 12-15, 1863. Lynchburg: H.

E. Howard, 1989.

Beck, Brandon H. and Charles S. Grunder. Three Battles of Winchester: A History and Guided Tour. Berryville,

VA: Country Publishers, 1988.

Beers, Henry Putney. The Confederacy: A Guide to the Archives of the Government of the Confederate States ofAmerica. Washington: National Archives and

Records Administration, 1986.

Bellard, Alfred. Gone for a Soldier: The Civil War

Memoirs ofAlfred Bellard. Edited by David Herbert

Donald. Boston: Little, Brown, 1975.

Blackford, Charles M. Campaign and Battle of

Lynchburg, Va. Lynchburg: J. P. Bell, 1901.

Boatner, Mark M., III. The Civil War Dictionary. New

York: David McKay, 1959.

Brice, Marshall Moore. Conquest ofa Valley. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1965.

Buell, Augustus. The Cannoneer: Recollections of Service

in the Army of the Potomac. Washington: National

Tribune, 1890.

Carpenter, George N. History of the 8th Regiment

Vermont Volunteers, 1861-1865. Boston: Deland 8c Barta, 1886.

Clark, Walter, ed. Histories of the Several Regiments and

Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War

1861-1865. 1901. Reprint. Wendell NC: Broadfoot,

1982.

Cooling, B. F. Jubal Early's Raid on Washington 1864. Baltimore: Nautical and Aviation Publishing, 1989.

Couper, William. One Hundred Years at V.M.I. Richmond: Garrett and Massie, 1939.

Crook, George. General George Crook: His Autobiography. Edited by M. F. Schmitt. Norman: University of

Oklahoma Press, 1960.

Dabney, R. L. Life and Campaigns ofLt. General T. J. (Stonewall) Jackson. New York, 1866.

Davis, William C. Battle ofNew Market. Baton Rouge:

Louisiana State University Press, 1975.

DeForest, John W. A Volunteer's Adventures: A Union

Captain's Record of the Civil War. Edited by J. H.

Croushore. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1946.

153
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Dickert, D. A. History ofKershaw's Brigade. 1899. Reprint. Dayton, OH: Morningside, 1976.

DuPont, Henry A. The Campaign of 1864 in the Valley

of Virginia and the Expedition to Lynchburg. New

York: National Americana Society, 1925.

Early, Jubal A. Jubal Early's Memoirs: Autobiographical

Sketch and Narrative of the War Between the States. 1894. Reprint. Baltimore: Nautical and Aviation

Publishing, 1989.

Eby, Cecil D., Jr. Porte Crayon: The Life ofDavid Hunter

Strother. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina

Press, 1960.

Henderson, G. F. R. Stonewall Jackson and the American

Civil War. 1898. Reprint. New York: David McKav,

1961.

Horst, Samuel. Mennonites in the Confederacy: A Study

in Civil War Pacifism. Scottdale PA: Herald PRess,

1967.

Hotchkiss, Jedediah. Make Me a Map of the Valley: The

Civil War Journal of Stonewall Jackson s Topographer.

Dallas: Southern Methodist University Press, 1973.

Humphreys, A. A. Gettysburg to the Rapidan: The Army

of the Potomac, July 1863 to April 1864. New York:

Charles Scribner's Sons, 1883.

Emerson, Edward W. Life and Letters of Charles Russell Lowell. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, 1907.

Flinn, Frank M. Campaigning with Banks in Louisiana

1863-64 and with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley

int 1864-65. Boston: W.B. Clarke, 1889.

Freeman, Douglas Southall. Lee's Lieutenants: A Study

in Command. 1942. Reprint. New York: Charles

Scribner's Sons, 1970.

Gallagher, Gary W., ed. Struggle for the Shenandoah:

Essays on the 1864 Valley Campaign. Kent, OH: Kent

State University Press, 1991.

Gallagher, Gary W. Stephen Dodson Ramseur: Lee's Gallant General. Chapel Hill: University of North

Carolina Press, 1985.

Gilmor, Harry. Four Years in the Saddle. New York:

Harper 8c Brothers, 1866.

Gordon, John B. Reminiscences of the Civil War. New

York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1905.

Greeley, A. W., and James W. Cheney, eds. Military

Literature in the War Department Library Relating

Chiefly to the Participation of the Individual States in the War for the Union: Subject Catalogue No. Six. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1899.

Hale, Laura Virginia. Four Valiant Years in the Lower

Shenandoah Valley, 1861-1865. Front Royal, VA:

Hathaway Publishing, 1968.

Johnson, Robert Underwood, and Clarence Clough

Buel, eds. Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.

Edition. New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1956.

Kellogg, Sanford C. The Shenandoah Valley and Virginia, 1861-1865: A War Study. New York: Neale

Publishing, 1903.

Kennedy, Frances H., ed. The Civil War Battlefield Guide. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1990.

Keyes, C. M. The Military History of the 123rd Regiment

Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Sandusky: Register Steam

Press, 1874.

Kidd, James H. Personal Recollections ofa Cavalryman

with Custer's Michigan Cavalry Brigade in the Civil War. 1908. Reprint. Ionia MI: Sentinel, 1983.

Lang, Theodore F. Loyal West Virginia from 1861 to 1865. Baltimore: Deutsch, 1895.

Lewis, Thomas A. The Shenandoah in Flames: The

Valley Campaign of 1864. Alexandria: Time-Life

Books, 1987.

Lewis, Thomas A. The Guns of Cedar Creek. New York:

Harper and Row, 1988.

Lincoln, William S. Life with the 34th Massachusetts

Infantry in the War of the Rebellion. Worcester: Noyes, Snow, 1879.

Livermore, Thomas L. Numbers and Losses in the Civil War in America: 1861-1865. Bloomington: Indiana

University Press, 1957.

154
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Lord, Francis A. They Fought for the Union: A Complete

Reference Work on the Federal Fighting Man. New

York: Bonanza, 1960.

Lossing, Benson J. A History of the Civil War: Illustrated with Reproductions of the Brady War Photogaphs.

Yonkers, NY: Tomkins Art and Portfolio, 1922.

Lynch, Charles H. The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of

Charles H. Lynch, 18th Connecticut Volunteers. Hartford, CT: Private printing, 1915.

McDonald, William N. A History of the Laurel Brigade:

The Ashby Cavalry of the Army ofNorthern Virginia

and Chew's Battery. Baltimore: Kate S. McDonald,

1907.

Meaney, Peter J. The Civil War Engagement at Cool

Spring, July 18, 1864. Privately printed. 1980.

Military Historical Society of Massachusetts. Papers of

the Military Historical Society ofMassachusetts, Vol. 6: The Shenandoah Campaigns of 1862 and 1864 and the Appomattox Campaigns of 1865. Boston: MHSH,

1907.

Nichols, G. W. A Soldier's Story ofHis Regiment (61st

Georgia) and Incidentally of the Lawton-GordonEvans Brigade, Army ofNorthern Virginia. Reprint.

Kennesaw GA: Continental Book, 1961.

Norris, J. E., ed. History of the Lower Shenandoah Valley

Counties ofFrederick, Berkeley, Jefferson, and Clarke. 1890. Reprint. Berryville VA: Virginia Book, 1972.

Norton, Chauncey S. The Red Neck Ties, or History of

the 15th New York Volunteer Cavalry. Ithaca, NY:

Journal Book, 1891

Opie, John N. A Rebel Cavalryman with Lee, Stuart, and

Jackson. Chicago: W. B. Conkey, 1899.

Pond, George E. The Shenandoah Valley in 1864. 1883. Reprint. Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot, 1989.

Rawling, C. J. History of the First Regiment (West)

Virginia Infantry. Philadephia: Lippincott, 1887.

Reader, Frank S. History of the Fifth West Virginia

Cavalry and ofBattery G, First West Virginia Light

Artillery. New Brighton, PA: Daily News, 1890.

Miller, Francis T., ed. The Photographic History of the

Civil War. New York: Yoseloff, 1911.

Sheridan, Phillip H. Personal Memoirs. New York:

Charles L. Webster, 1888.

Mosby, John S. The Memoirs of Col. John S. Mosby.

Edited by Charles Wells Russell. Millwood NY:

Kraus, 1981.

Munden, Kenneth W., and Henry Putney Beers. The

Union: A Guide to Federal Archives Relating to the

Civil War. Washington: National Archives and

Records Administration, 1986.

National Archives. A Guide to Civil War Maps in the National Archives. Washington: National Archives,

1986.

National Archives. Military Operations of the Civil War:

An Index-Guide to the Official Records. Compiled by

Dallas Irvine et al. Washington: National Archives,

1968-1972.

Newcomer, C. A. Cole's Cavalry; or Three Years in the Saddle in the Shenandoah Valley. Baltimore: Cushing,

1895.

Stackpole, Edward J. Sheridan in the Shenandoah: Jubal

Early's Nemesis. New York: Bonanza, 1961.

Starr, Stephen Z. The Union Cavalry in the Civil War,

Vol. 2: The War in the East from Gettysburg to Appomattox. Baton Rouge: Lousiana State University

Press, 1981.

Stephenson, Richard W., comp. Civil War Maps: An

Annotated List ofMaps and Atlases in the Library of

Congress. Second Edition. Washington: Library of

Congress, 1989.

Stevens, George T. Three Years in the Sixth Corps: A

Concise Narrative ofEvents in the Army of the Potomac. Albany: S.R. Gray, 1866.

Strother, David Hunter. A Virginia Yankee in the Civil War: The Diaries ofDavid Hunter Strother. Edited by

Cecil D. Eby, Jr. Chapel Hill: University of North

Carolina Press, 1961.

155
Civil War Sites in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

Swinton, William. Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac. 1866. Reprint. Secaucus, NJ: Blue and Gray

Press, 1!

Tanner, Robert G. Stonewall in the Valley: Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign,

Spring 1862. Garden City: Doubleday, 1976.

Taylor, James E. With Sheridan Up the Shenandoah

Valley 1864: Leaves from a Special Artists Sketch Book

and Diary. Cleveland, OH: Western Reserve Historical Society, 1989.

Thomas, Henry W. History of the Doles-Cook Brigade,

Army ofNorthern Virginia. 1903. Reprint. Dayton

OH: Morningside, 1981'.

Turner, Edward Raymond. The New Market Campaign,

May 1864. Richmond: Whittet and Shepperson,

1912.

Tyler, Mason Whiting (37th Mass). Recollections of the

Civil War: With Many Original Diary Entries and

Letters... New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1912.

U.S. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A

Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and

Confederate Armies. Washington, DC: 1880-1901.

U.S. War Department. Atlas to Accompany the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 4 vols. 1891-1895. Reprint [1 vol.]. New York: Fairfax Press, 1983.

Vandiver, Frank E. Jubal's Raid: General Early's Famous

Attak on Washington in 1864. New York: McGrawHill, 1960.

Walker, Aldace F. The Vermont Brigade in the Shenandoah Valley, 1864. Burlington: Fress Press Association, 1869.

Walker, Gary C. Yankee Soldiers in Virginia Valleys: Hunter's Raid. Roanoke: A & W Enterprise, 1989.

Walker, William C. History of the 18th Regiment of

Connecticut Volunteers. Norwich, CT: Private

Printing, 1885.

Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union

Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1964.

Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959.

Wayland, John W. A History ofRockingham County,

Virginia. Dayton VA: Ruebush-Elkins, 1912.

Wayland, John W. A History of Shenandoah County,

Virginia. Strasburg: Shenandoah Publishing, 1927.

Wayland, John W. Stonewall Jackson's Way: Route,

Method, Achievement. 1956. Reprint. Dayton, OH:

Morningside, 1984.

Wayland, John W. Twenty-five Chapters on the Shenandoah Valley: To Which is Appended a Concise

History of the Civil War in the Valley. Strasburg, VA:

Shenandoah Publishing House, 1957.

Welcher, Frank J. The Union Army 1861-1865: Organization and Operations; Vol. 1, The Eastern Theater. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1989.

Wert, Jeffry D. Mosby's Rangers. New York: Simon and

Schuster, 1990.

Wert, Jeffry D. From Winchester to Cedar Creek: The

Shenandoah Campaign of 1864. New York: Touchstone, 1987.

Whitehorne, Joseph W. A. The Battle ofNew Market:

Self-Guided Tour. Washington: Center of Military

History, United States Army, 1988.

Whitehorne, Joseph W. A. The Battle of Cedar Creek: Self-Guided Tour. Strasburg, VA: Wayside Museum

of American History and Arts, 1987.

Wildes, Thomas F. Record of the 1 16th Regiment Ohio

Infantry Volunteers. Sandusky: I. F. Mack, 1884.

Williams, T. Harry. Hayes of the Twenty-Third: The

Civil War Volunteer Officer. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1965.

Worsham, John H. One ofJackson's Foot Cavalry. New

York: Neale, 1912. Reprint. Time-Life Books, 1982.

Wust, Klaus. The Virginia Germans. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1969.

156
Civil War Sites In the Shenandoah Valley

of Virginia

Appendix B

Sample Survey Forms

157
SHENANDOAH VALLEY STUDY

BATTLEFIELD SUMMARY SHEET (Version Four)

BATTLEFIELD: FRONT ROYAL Number of Phases: 6

Campaign: Jackson's Valley Campaign

Date of Battle: 23 May 1862 (Friday; first light 3:30 a.m., last light 8:20 p.m.)

County: Warren VA

General Location: Front Royal, Guard Hill, Cedarville, US 340/522

USGS Quadrant(s): Bentonville, Front Royal, Strasburg

Principal Commanders: [c] Maj. Gen. T. J. Jackson, Brig. Gen. Richard Taylor, Col.

Turner Ashby, Col. Flournoy; [u] Col. J.R. Kenly

Forces Engaged: [c] Jackson's command consisted of his and Ewell's divisions of infantry

and three regiments of cavalry, about 16,500, and 11 batteries of 48 guns; only about 3,000

were actively engaged at Front Royal; [u] Augmented regiment under Col. J. R. Kenly,

about 1 ,000 and two guns.

Casualties: [c] 50 k/w/m; [u] 904 (32k/122w/750 captured).

Summary of Battle Phases:

Phase of Battle 1 2 3 4 5 6

Attached Sheet ti

Unit of Maneuver 4 2 2 1 2 2

(1-4)

Intensity of 2 2 3/4 5 3 5

Engagement (1-8)

Level of Casualties 2 2 2 3 2 5

(1-5)

Current Land Use RF HD HD RF RF F/W

(Use abbreviations) F/N R R F/W F/W CA

F/W HD HD CA CA H/V

CA C C H/V H/V IP H/V SR cs O

SR IS

Landscape Similar 4 1 1 4 2 3

to CW Era? (1-5)

Level of Threat 2 4 4 1 4 2

(1-4)

Interpreted From? PR PR PR PR PR PR

PR, PL, PPO PL

158
1. Importance/Significance of Battle (in context of campaign/war): Maj. Gen. T. J. Jackson's decisive victory over a small Union force at Front Royal on 23 May 1862, forced

the main Union Army at Strasburg under Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Banks into abrupt retreat. Jackson deceived Banks into believing that the Confederate army was in the main Valley near

Harrisonburg; instead he had marched swiftly north to New Market and crossed Massanutten

via New Market Gap to Luray. The advance to Front Royal placed Jackson in position to move directly on Winchester in the rear of the Union army. On 24 May, Banks retreated

down the Valley Pike to Winchester, harassed by CS cavalry and artillery at Middletown and

Newtown (Stephens City), setting the stage for the battle of First Winchester the following

day.

The battle of Front Royal demonstrated Jackson's use of Valley topography and

mobility to unite his own forces while dividing those of his enemies. At a minimal cost, he

forced the withdrawal of a large Union army by striking at its flank and threatening its rear. The confusion engendered by the by Jackson's appearance at Front Royal and the hasty

Union retreat to Winchester contributed materially to the defeat of Banks' army at First

Winchester on 25 May. Jackson used his cavalry to good advantage at Front Royal, to severe US communications east and west, and to strike the final blow at Cedarville.

2. Description of Existing Battlefield Condition: Most terrain features associated with this

battle have been overwhelmed by residential growth focused on the town of Front Royal. At

the time of the battle Front Royal was a small village of several streets clustered around the

courthouse. Troops maneuvered among the buildings and on open ground east of the village.

Camp (Richards') Hill, site of Kenly's defense, is densely residential (Warren Park

subdivision). CS infantry deployed in "open meadows" currently in the heart of town. The

vicinity of Guard Hill has been significantly recontoured by ongoing highway construction

and by extensive quarrying along the river. The current "gap" in Guard Hill for US 340/522

is largely a modern cut. Large industrial structures, including the DuPont Automotive plant,

have been constructed in the vicinity of Cedarville on ground maneuvered over in the closing

phase of the battle. The county airport (Inland Port) is fueling industrial development in this area. In spite of these losses, several features, primarily architectural, remain by which the

flow of the battle may be interpreted. The hamlet of Spangler's Crossroads (Limeton) and the

road to McCoy's Ford enables an understanding of CS cavalry movements. The roads from

McCoy's Ford to Buckton Depot pass through a scenic rural countryside. The site of

Buckton Depot (and a depot building, vintage uncertain), site of Ashby's skirmish, can be

located. Asbury Chapel marks the site where the CS infantry diverged from Luray Road to reach Gooney Manor Road. Prospect Hill Cemetery maintains open ground where CS left flank first deployed and where artillery was positioned. The South and North Fork bridge

sites can be reliably located. Riverside Farm (c. 1850) at Riverton preserves about 150 acres of open farmland and .a segment of the original line of the Front Royal-Winchester turnpike.

The old Guard House stands on the hill to the west of the new road cut. The Robert and

Jacob McKay houses Gate 1700s) and the old store (c. 1860) at Cedarville provide some

sense of historic character in spite of encroaching residential development and a trailer court. The Thomas McKay house where US forces surrendered stands one mile north of Cedarville

159
(currently an antique store). In a general sense, the Front Royal old town could be

considered a contributing resource. The hamlet of Riverton dates primarily from the 1880s.

Loss of integrity is most obvious when attempting to understand maneuvers in and

around Camp {Richards') Hill. It is difficult to find a vantage point to understand the terrain

advantage of the US position there. Prospect Hill Cemetery provides perhaps the only

vantage point for understanding the lay of the ground from the Confederate viewpoint. Open

ground east of Happy Creek allows some understanding of CS flanking maneuvers although

access is difficult. The massive reshaping of Guard Hill and heavy construction north to 1-66

is the most obvious loss. This impacts ground fought over during the engagement of Guard

Hill in August 1864.

3. Perception of Threats to Battlefield: In terms of terrain, battlefield ground within the

city limits of Front Royal has been lost. The Riverton Corporation controls access to Guard

Hill along the river. Heavy quarrying is occurring on the northern and eastern slopes and

land adjacent to the river. Highway widening has increased the size of the Guard Hill gap

and is reshaping the ground. Riverside Farm is under a great deal of pressure to develop; it

is the last area of open farmland at Riverton. The flood plain of the North Fork is farmed.

Residential development in outlying areas is spotty and may or may not threaten surviving

structures and open ground. The area north of Cedarville and east of US 340 is an expanding

industrial park, encroaching on the US surrender area.

4. Describe physical remains on battlefield, e.g., structures, road beds, stone fences,

entrenchments, monuments erected by veterans, other monuments, etc.: Structures:

Asbury Chapel, Buckton Depot (vintage uncertain), Prospect Hill Cemetery, Courthouse,

Belle Boyd Cottage, Rose Hill, Camp Hill mansion (post war?), Rose Hill, Riverside Farm,

Jacob and Robert McKay houses in Cedarville, Thomas McKay house. Remains of bridge

abutments can be seen at North and South Fork bridge sites. Line of old Front RoyalWinchester pike passes Riverside Farm at Riverton. Monuments to Mosby's men and to the

Warren Rifles are in Prospect Hill Cemetery. Historic marker and Confederate monument at courthouse.

5. Were dead buried on battlefield? Is there evidence that bodies were reinterred after

the war? Is there evidence (anecdotal or other) that burials remain on battlefield? The

number of deaths was low. Confederate dead were removed to cemeteries or returned to their

homes after the battle. Disposition of Union dead uncertain. Fatalities from the engagement

of Guard Hill (August 16, 1864) were higher (an estimated 40-60), and these bodies were

almost certainly "buried on the field, north of Guard Hill or near Cedarville. Disposition of

remains afterwards is uncertain.

6. Discussion of current zoning and land use options (position of local planning experts

and county officials toward preservation or compatible land use): Core areas of the

battlefield in and around Front Royal have been built upon or are otherwise zoned

commercial, industrial, or residential.

160
7. Preservation options suggested by or discussed with local landowners or other

individuals: There appears to be little emphasis on preserving ground associated with the

battle of Front Royal or engagement of Guard Hill. Most consider the battlefield lost.

Attachments: _X_Maps _X_Photos _X_Bibliography _X_Additional Materials

Date Surveyed: 5-3-1991

Surveyed By: D. W. Lowe

Sources

Allan, William. History of the Campaign of Gen. T. J. Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah

Valley of Virginia. 1880. Reprint. Dayton, OH: Morningside, 1987. Good overview of

campaign, no map.

Dabney, R. L. Life and Campaigns ofLt. General T. J. (Stonewall) Jackson. New York,

1866. A generally glorified description of battle and campaign.

Hale, Laura Virginia. Four Valiant Years in the Lower Shenandoah Valley, 1861-1865. Front

Royal, VA: Hathaway Publishing, 1968. Extensive discussion of battle related to local

features, pp. 145-152, with photos.

Henderson, G. F. R. Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War. 1898. Reprint. New

York: David McKay, 1961. Good description of action related to campaign strategy.

Hotchkiss, Jedediah. Make Me a Map of the Valley: The Civil War Journal of Stonewall

Jackson's Topographer. Dallas: Southern Methodist University Press, 1973. Troop

movements. Inventory of captured Union stores.

Taylor, James E. With Sheridan Up the Shenandoah Valley 1864: Leaves from a Special

Artists Sketch Book and Diary. Cleveland, OH: Western Reserve Historical Society, 1989.

Illustrations of Cedarville and vicinity, pp. 103, 558.

Maps: Atlas 5:5, "Sketch of Lt. Col. Parham of 29PA." not in scale. Hotchkiss map of

"Shenandoah, Page, Warren Counties," Archives G188, shows roads, fords, general

features, some residences of vicinity south of Front Royal. "Historic Sites of Warren

County," Warren County Bicentennial Commission. Shows general positions of twenty

historic structures in the county.

161
SHENANDOAH VALLEY STUDY

BATTLE PHASE SHEET (Version Four)

BATTLEFIELD: FRONT ROYAL PHASE #: 1

Date of Phase: 23 May 1862

Approximate Time/ Duration: Morning

Phase of Battle: Jackson's Advance on Front Royal

Troops Involved:

Confederate: X Cavalry X Artillery X Infantry

Union: Cavalry Artillery Infantry

Level of Maneuver:

(1) Regiments (200-500)

(2) Brigades (500-2000)

(3) Divisions (2000-6000)

X (4) Corps (More than 6000)

Intensity of Engagement:

(1) Maneuver Only (Bivouac, Marching, Shifting for position)

X (2) Skirmishing (Sporadic firing)

(3) Battle Lines Advanced (Volleys exchanged, stand-off firing)

(4) Artillery Duel (Battery and counterbattery fire)

(5) Determined Assault (Battle lines close, colors advanced)

(6) Repeated Attacks (Attack repulsed and renewed, counterattacks)

(7) Lines Intermingled (Attack pierces defense, some hand-to-hand)

(8) Intensive close quarters fighting (Sustained Hand-to-Hand)

Level of Casualties per numbers involved (approximate):

(1) None (0%)

X (2) Few (1-2%)

(3) Light (5%)

(4) Moderate (10%)

(5) Heavy (More than 15%)

Brief Description of Phase: On May 21, the US army under Brig. Gen.. Nathaniel Banks,

numbering about 9,000 men, was concentrated in the vicinity of Strasburg with two

companies of infantry at Buckton Depot. Col. J. R. Kenly commanded 1000 men and 2 guns

at Front Royal. CS cavalry under Col. Turner Ashby confronted Banks near Strasburg, but

during the night withdrew to join the main army which had crossed the Massanutten via New

Market Gap to reach Luray.

On May 22, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson's Army of the Valley (about 16,500 men)

advanced along the muddy Luray Road to within ten miles of Front Royal. Jackson's

headquarters were at Cedar Point. Col. Thomas Munford's cavalry regiment was sent east to

162
close off Manassas Gap and cut communication between Front Royal and Washington.

On the morning of 23 May, the vanguard of Jackson's army reached Spangler's

crossroads (present day Limeton). Here the CS cavalry under Cols. Ashby and Flournoy

diverged wesMo cross the South Fork Shenandoah at McCoy's Ford. The infantry continued

to Asbury Chapel and right onto a cross road to reach Gooney Manor Road. Following the

road, they approached Front Royal from the south, bypassing Federal pickets stationed on the

Luray Road one mile south of the courthouse. After minor skirmishing the Federals

withdrew.

Location of Events: Limeton, intersection of rt. 670 and US 340. Rt. 670 west, left on Point

Road leads to McCoy's Ford. US 340, 2.5 miles north to Asbury Chapel. East on rt. 607 to

rt. 649 (Gooney Manor Road). North to vicinity of intersection with US 340.

Current Land Usage (check all that apply):

X Riverfront (RF)

X Forest/Natural (F/N)

X Fields/Woodlots (F/W)

X Conventional Agriculture (CA)

Intensive/Commercial Agriculture (ICA)

X Hamlet/Village (H/V) Limeton

X Strip Residential (SR)

High Density Residential (HDR)

Commercial Strip (CS)

High Density Commercial (HDC)

Industrial Sites (IS)

Industrial Park (IP)

Other (O) Explain:

Similarity of landscape to Civil War period:

(1) Changed Beyond Recognition (Parcel developed, land recontoured)

(2) Decidedly Altered (Changes predominate, loss of essential features)

(3) Somewhat Altered (Some changes, some essential features intact)

X (4) Similar (Retains all essential features)

(5) Very Similar (Largely unchanged)

If similar, How? Describe features/elements that contribute to interpretation of battle

phase: McCoy's Ford may still be located but the access road has been gated. Asbury

Chapel remains. Old road from Asbury Chapel to Gooney Manor Road (rt.607) is gravel and

retains much historic character. Several old houses near intersection of 607 and 649.

Shenandoah National Park preserves landscape east of rt. 649. Path taken by Ashby over

Massanutten is uncertain.

If altered, How? Describe features/elements that intrude or detract from interpretation

of battle phase: Residential density increases as one approaches Front Royal. Housing

163
development near intersection of rts. 649 and US 340.

Assess the level of threats to ground associated with this phase:

(1) Low (Little developmental/industrial activity in vicinity)

X (2) Moderate (Strong activity in vicinity)

(3) High (Ground immediately threatened)

(4) Lost (Irreversible changes)

Battle phase can be interpreted from:

X Public Roads (PR)

X Private Lanes (PL) Road to McCoy's Ford

Private Property Only (PPO)

Notes and Additional Information: The old Luray Road continued along the river from

Riverside to Front Royal and entered the town from the southwest on Luray Avenue. Belle

Boyd's role in providing information to Stonewall Jackson is considered a romantic story

with only a minimal basis in fact. On 30 May, Union forces reentered the town, recaptured

many supplies, and arrested the famous Confederate "spy."

164
SHENANDOAH VALLEY STUDY

BATTLE PHASE SHEET (Version Four)

BATTLEFIELD: FRONT ROYAL PHASE #: 2

Date of Phase: 23 May 1862

Approximate Time/ Duration: Noon until about 1400 hours

Phase of Battle: CS Deployment/ US Skirmishers Driven Back

Troops Involved:

Confederate: Cavalry X Artillery X Infantry

Union: X Cavalry X Artillery X Infantry

Level of Maneuver:

(1) Regiments (200-500)

X (2) Brigades (500-2000)

(3) Divisions (2000-6000)

(4) Corps (More than 6000)

Intensity of Engagement:

(1) Maneuver Only (Bivouac, Marching, Shifting for position)

X (2) Skirmishing (Sporadic firing)

(3) Battle Lines Advanced (Volleys exchanged, stand-off firing)

(4) Artillery Duel (Battery and counterbattery fire)

(5) Determined Assault (Battle lines close, colors advanced)

(6) Repeated Attacks (Attack repulsed and renewed, counterattacks)

(7) Lines Intermingled (Attack pierces defense, some hand-to-hand)

(8) Intensive close quarters fighting (Sustained Hand-to-Hand)

Level of Casualties per numbers involved (approximate):

(1) None (0%)

X (2) Few (1-2%)

(3) Light (5%)

(4) Moderate (10%)

(5) Heavy (More than 15%)

Brief Description of Phase: Jackson's leading brigade, Taylor's deployed on Prospect Hill

and along the ridge to the east. The 1st Maryland and Wheaton's battalion were thrown out

in advance, entering the town and clearing it of US skirmishers. Col. J. R. Kenly, in

command of US forces, withdrew his force to Camp (Richards') Hill supported by a section

of artillery. The US line extended in an arc from the South Fork to Happy Creek, defending

the South Fork bridge. Kenly 's artillery opened fire and slowed the CS advance. Kenly's headquarters were in the Vannort House.

165
Location of Events: Prospect Hill Cemetery (Prospect Street) and Steele Street parallel CS

deployment. North on US 340 past courthouse, through town. Where US 340 veers sharply

to the left, the old turnpike continued north along Royal Avenue to the river. Area is occupied by Warren Park subdivision.

Current Land Usage (check all that apply):

Riverfront (RF)

Forest/Natural (F/N)

Fields/Woodlots (F/W)

Conventional Agriculture (CA)

Intensive/Commercial Agriculture (ICA)

Hamlet/Village (H/V)

Strip Residential (SR)

X High Density Residential (HDR)

Commercial Strip (CS)

X High Density Commercial (HDC)

Industrial Sites (IS)

Industrial Park (IP)

Other (O) Explain:

Similarity of landscape to Civil War period:

X (1) Changed Beyond Recognition (Parcel developed, land recontoured)

(2) Decidedly Altered (Changes predominate, loss of essential features)

(3) Somewhat Altered (Some changes, some essential features intact)

(4) Similar (Retains all essential features)

(5) Very Similar (Largely unchanged)

If similar, How? Describe features/elements that contribute to interpretation of battle

phase: Prospect Hill Cemetery is last open ground in area of CS deployment. Courthouse,

Old Town Front Royal, civil war monuments on Prospect Hill and at courthouse. Belle Boyd

House.

If altered, How? Describe features/elements that intrude or detract from interpretation

of battle phase: The town of Front Royal has grown immensely since the time of the Civil

War, filling the basin between the mountain and the river. Extensive commercial

development along US 340.

Assess the level of threats to ground associated with this phase:

(1) Low (Little developmental/industrial activity in vicinity)

(2) Moderate (Strong activity in vicinity)

(3) High (Ground immediately threatened)

X (4) Lost (Irreversible changes)

Battle phase can be interpreted from:

166
X Public Roads (PR)

Private Lanes (PL)

Private Property Only (PPO)

Notes and Additional Information: Monuments to Mosby's men and the Warren Rifles with

soldiers' graves in Prospect Hill Cemetery. Historic marker and monument at the courthouse.

10

167
©

SHENANDOAH VALLEY STUDY

FEATURES TO BE MAPPED

Battlefield frSnei2JS l/il-LNo. Feature to be Mapped USGS Quadrant Grid# Source Code

Rj 1 V*tL«Y P«K-g" TbM's B^jPOkr. J3 M

FH2 \ <C3 '» =C

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£•*«.«_* 'SHU. J4 i,4f S- 3-

FHh X3 ',2,4,5- 3-

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F*W Fuajt tf-<u-S JI I &

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Puis TcA»^A»r h+osc HZ. i/* £~

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SOURCES NOTES

1.

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= £>LD

168
SHENANDOAH VALLEY STUDY

FEATURES TO BE MAPPED

i

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Battlefield FisH-E/2.'5 tfiLU

No. Feature to be Mapped USGS Quadrant Grid# Source Code

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Fui\ ?LAT&?fZ.A\. TtZ&&& Hz. hi *>&*'

friZZ toWhLL **£££* ^TAcT\or»J <£«r «*

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F«2>4- 'bite.or ctiodcu /ScA-oo I X4 T d^.

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£*2L VAOttHJ yaePtn^rH J3 1.4 \)/W6#**

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SOURCES NOTES

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10.

11.

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169

Civil War Sites In the Shenandoah Valley

of Virginia

Appendix C

GIS Map Database

171
GIS Map Database

Map Layer

1 Description

natl. register augusta.nr Theme: National Register Property Boundaries for districts, buildings,

structures, objects, and sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Original Source: National Register nomination forms prepared by various

Federal, state, local, and private entities.

Source Date: date entered on the National Register of Historic Places

Original Scale: 1:24000

Original Resolution: 12 sq. meters

Original Coordinate System: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System

Provided by: National Register Information System, NPS, Interagency Resources Division.

Input method: Manually digitized from USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle maps

using GRASS digit program.

clarke. nr

frederick.nr

highland.nr

page.nr

rockingham.nr

Shenandoah. nr

warren. nr

Winchester,nr

staunton.nr

waynesboro. nr

harrisonburg.nr

landuse.73 Theme: Land use/land cover data showing types of urban or built-up land,

agricultural land, rangeland, forest land, water, wetland, barren land, tundra,

and perennial snow or ice.

Original Source: Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System

(GIRAS), USGS

Source Date: 1970-1973

Original Scale: 1:250,000

Original Resolution: 90 sq. meters

Original Coordinate System: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System

Provided by: Commonwealth of Virginia, Council on the Environment

Input method: ARC/Info export Optional-dlg ASCII data files on diskettes were imported into GRASS using import, to. vect

Notes: Additional editing was required to remove quadrangle boundary lines and relabel polygons

172
Map Layer Description

hotchkiss. roads Themes: 1862 Map of the Valley. This historic map contains data on the Shenandoah Valley's historic road network, buildings classified by function: church, school, mill, etc., historic railroads, and historic place names

including cultural and natural features.

Original Source: 1862 Map of the Valley produced by Jedediah Hotchkiss for CSA Gen. Thomas J. Jackson

Source Date: 1862

hotchkiss. buildings

Original Scale: 1:99,400

Original Projection: Rectangular projection system

Original Meridian: degree longitude at Old Naval Observatory

Original Coordinate System: Latitude and Longitude

Provided by: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division

hotchkiss. railroads

Input method: Original map [get precise dimensions cm] was photographed

as 8 X 10 inches negatives in three sections. Photo-negatives were enlarged

300 percent and printed on clear stable mylar. Map separates were made for roads, buildings, railroads, and place names. Alignments between USGS

1:100,000 primary and secondary roads and roads appearing on the Hotchkiss

map allowed the placement of known coordinate points onto the historic map.

The map separates were then manually digitized using the coordinate points as

registration points in the GRASS digit program.

hotchkiss. names

Notes: The digitized Hotchkiss maps for roads, buildings, railroads, and

places names were checked against their modern counterparts. The historic map features are generally 250 meters off.

Assistance provided by the USGS, Eastern Mapping Center, Cartometrics

Unit 3, especially Dr. John Snyder.

173
Map Layer Description

roads roads, primary Theme: Primary, secondary, and connector road data coded by route number.

Original Source: Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System

(GIRAS), USGS

Source Date: 1990

Original Scale: 1:100,000

Original Resolution:

Original Coordinate System: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System

Provided by: James Madison University, Microcomputing Resource Center

Input method: ARC/Info export dlg-optional ASCII data files on diskettes were imported into GRASS using import. to. vect

roads, secondary

roads. connector

valley, counties Theme: County boundaries

Original Source: Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System

(GIRAS), USGS

Source Date: 1990

Original Scale: 1:24,000

Original Resolution: 12 sq. meters

Original Coordinate System: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System

Provided by: James Madison University, Microcomputing Resource Center

Input method: ARC/Info export dlg-optional ASCII data files on diskettes were imported into GRASS using import. to. vect

174
Map Layer Description

mc mc.area Themes: Boundaries for each battlefield" s study area and core. The study

area for each battlefield is that area which encompasses all of the battlefields areal features: staging areas, engagement areas, skirmish areas, holding action

areas, bivouac areas, and troop reserve areas; sites: command posts, signal

stations, hospitals, event sites (e.g. place where a general was mortally

wounded), observation posts, markers, and monuments; movements:

approaches to battlefield, retreats or withdrawals from the battlefield, flanking

movements, attack movements, and pursuit movements; and positions: picket

lines, skirmish lines, battle lines, regroup positions, artillery positions,

entrenched troop positions, and unentrenched troop positions. The above

features are included within a battlefield whenever they are involved in a

hostile action with an opposing force or whenever they are involved in an

action or reaction generated by an opposing force in immediate proximity to each other.

The core area for each battlefield is that area which encompasses all of the

critical phases defined for the battle. Battles have been divided into phases

reflecting the progress of the battle. Phases cover the convergence and

deployment of opposing forces, the development and execution of the battle, and the disengagement and withdrawal of these forces. The core area of the

battlefield encompass those phases that had tactical importance to the battle, constituted the most intense fighting during the battle, or involved decisive

moments or turning points of the battle.

Original Source: Composite of information including primary and secondary

documentation: military maps, diaries, Official Records,

and fields surveys of each battlefield conducted in 1991.

Source Date: various: 1861-1991

Original Scale: 1:24,000

Original Resolution: 12 sq. meters

Original Coordinate System: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System

Provided by: Research staff of the NPS, IRD, American Battlefield Protection Program.

c.core

cc cc.area

cc.core

fh fh.area

fh.core

cs cs.area

cs.core

op op. area

op.core

fr fr.area

fir. core

tb tb.area

tb.core w2 w2.area

w2.core

wl wl.area

wl.core

1 kl kl.area

' kl.core

k2 k2.area

k2.core

nm nm.area

nm.core

Input method: Composite information gleaned from the above sources were

projected onto USGS 7.5 minute Topographic Quadrangle Maps using the types of features defined above. Field survey related these features to existing

terrain and current land use to determine their condition and location. Study

area and core boundaries were drawn encompassing the appropriate features and phases. The boundary generally followed the nearest road or stream. Study area and core boundaries were then manually digitized from USGS 7.5 minute quadrangles using GRASS digit.

Pi pi. area

pi. core

ck ck.area

' ck.core

pr pr.area

pr.core

175
Map Layer Description

tributaries Theme: Tributaries including rivers and streams expect those areas covered

by water bodies.

Original Source: Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System

(GIRAS), USGS

Source Date: 1990

Original Scale: 1:100,000

Original Resolution:

Original Coordinate System: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System

Provided by: James Madison University, Microcomputing Resource Center

Input method: ARC/Info export dlg-optional ASCII data files on diskettes were imported into GRASS using import. to. vect

Note: Tributary data is organized by USGS 30 X 30 Minute Quadrangles.

water,bodies Theme: Water bodies including reservoirs, streams, rivers, lakes, ponds,

impoundment, marshes, wetlands etc.

Original Source: Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System

(GIRAS), USGS

Source Date: 1990

Original Scale: 1:100,000

Original Resolution: sq. meters

Original Coordinate System: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System

Provided by: James Madison University, Microcomputing Resource Center

Input method: ARC/Info export dlg-optional ASCII data files on diskettes were imported into GRASS using import.to.vect.

176
Map Layer Description

elevation Theme: Digital Elevation Model (DEM) are digital records of terrain elevations for ground positions at regularly spaced horizontal intervals.

Original Source: Defense Mapping Agency

Source Date: 1990

Original Scale: 1:250,000

Original Resolution: 90 sq. meters

Original Coordinate System: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) System

Provided by: Earth Resources Information Center, USGS

Input method: Data imported from 9 track magnetic tape into GRASS using

MdmaUSGSread, Mrot90, and Mimport.U

177