Front Royal in Warren County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Rose Hill
Combat in the Front Yard
— Battle of Front Royal May 23, 1862 —
Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's Maryland and Louisiana troops had steadily pushed Col. John R. Kenly's 1st Maryland Infantry (US) north, despite occasionally fierce street fighting, until they reached this point. The Confederates halted abruptly when Union artillery and infantry on Richardson's Hill opened fire.
Col. Bradley T. Johnson quickly reorganized his battle line, posting the 1st Maryland Infantry (CSA) on the right and Maj. Chatham Roberdeau Wheat's battalion on the left. As the Confederates entered this meadow, they saw a stone wall running from east to west near the foot of Richardson's Hill. They flattened themselves behind it while Union shells raked the open ground in front.
The cannon balls arced over Rose Hill, the home of the widow Richardson and her three daughters directly ahead of you. According to young Sue Richardson's diary, the cannon fire so frightened her mother that she became ill: "We carried her to the cellar. Our yard was full of our soldiers. Major Wheat gave orders from the yard.... We all worked hard that night feeding hundreds of soldiers."
The Southern artillery, positioned on the Randolph Macon Academy ridge west of Front Royal, was too far away to neutralize the Union guns. For the moment, the Confederate advance had stopped.
Erected by Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list.
Location. 38° 55.822′ N, 78° 11.554′ W. Marker is in Front Royal, Virginia, in Warren County. Marker is at the intersection of North Commonwealth Avenue (U.S. 522) and Warren Avenue, on the right when traveling west on North Commonwealth Avenue. Located at the west side entrance to Lions Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Front Royal VA 22630, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Richardson’s Hill (approx. 0.4 miles away); Brother Against Brother (approx. half a mile away); Battle of Front Royal (approx. half a mile away); Bel Air (approx. ¾ mile away); The Great Seal of the Confederacy (approx. ¾ mile away); Erin Dinner Bell (approx. ¾ mile away); The Bridges (approx. 0.8 miles away); Williams Chapel (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Front Royal.
More about this marker. On the left the marker has pictures of "Rose Hill today and during the war." On the right side is a map showing the Battle of Front Royal with tour stops linked to the time line of the battle. A tactical map illustrates the maneuvers described in the text. A portrait of Roberdeau Wheat is between the maps.
Regarding Rose Hill. This marker is one of several from a driving tour of the Front Royal Battlefield. The markers are listed in sequence on the Battle of Front Royal Virtual Tour by Markers link below.
Also see . . .
1. Battle of Front Royal. National Park Service summary of the battle covers the action described on the marker in phase two of the battle. (Submitted on October 14, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Rose Hill. Virginia Department of Historic Resources website entry (Submitted on October 14, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
3. Battle of Front Royal Virtual Tour by HMDb Markers. (Submitted on November 18, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Additional commentary.
1. Architectural note
The design of the front and back of the house appears to be the same. The architectural description on the National Register is "Greek Revival, Federal" and the architect is unknown.
— Submitted March 9, 2008, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,781 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 14, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5, 6. submitted on March 9, 2008, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia.