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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Cross Keys in Rockingham County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic) |
Battle of Cross Keys
Immigrant Soldiers
— 1862 Valley Campaign —
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By Robert H. Moore, II, January 30, 2009 | |
| | | 1. Battle of Cross Keys Marker | | |
Inscription. Many immigrants fought for the North and the South during the Civil War. Their numbers were especially high in Gen. Louis Blenker’s division of Gen. John C. Fremont’s union army at Cross Keys on June 8, 1862.
Two Germans (Gen. Henry Bohlen and Col. John Koltes) and one Hungarian (Gen. Julius Stahel) commanded Blenker’s three brigades on this part of the field. Blenker and his lieutenants had been officers in European revolutions during the 1840s.
German, Swiss, Irish, English, Italians, Russians, Algerians, Sepoys, Turks, Frenchmen, Poles, Croats, Hungarians, and Chinese fought with Blenker’s “melting pot” division. One of Fremont’s staff officers, a Romanian, Capt. R. Nicolai Dunka, was killed delivering a message to the front here.
Most immigrants fought for their adopted country and lived here after the war. Others sought military experience so they could return to their native countries to fight in or command revolutionary armies.
Erected 2003 by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation & Virginia Civil War Trails.
Marker series. This marker is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails marker series.
Location. 38° 21.197′ N, 78° 49.019′ W. Marker is | | | | 
By Robert H. Moore, II, January 30, 2009 | |
| | | 2. Battle of Cross Keys Marker | | |
in Cross Keys, Virginia, in Rockingham County. Marker can be reached from Goods Mill Road (Route 708), on the right when traveling south. Click for map. This is one of three markers found at this site (Goods Mill Interpretive Area/Owen D. Graves Memorial Cross Keys Battlefield Wayside). Marker is in this post office area: Port Republic VA 24471, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. A different marker also named Battle of Cross Keys (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Battle of Cross Keys (about 400 feet away, in a direct line); a different marker also named Battle of Cross Keys (approx. half a mile away); Cross Keys Battlefield (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Cross Keys (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Cross Keys (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Cross Keys (approx. 0.6 miles away); Mill Creek Church (approx. 1.1 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Cross Keys.
More about this marker. On the left is a portrait of Gen. Julius Stahel, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism on another Shenandoah Valley battlefield two years after the Battle of Cross Keys. In the center right is a photograph of members of the 39th New York. The 39th New York Infantry (Garibaldi Guards) had members from all over the world. They fought near here during the Battle of Cross Keys. |
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By Robert H. Moore, II, January 26, 2009 | |
| | | 3. Grave of Capt. Nicolae Dunka, Staunton National Cemetery | | Capt. Dunka's body was removed after the war from a nearby grave to the National Cemetery at Staunton, Virginia. | | |
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By Robert H. Moore, II, January 30, 2009 | |
| | | 4. Marker showing map of trail to the different markers at the interpretive site | | |
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By Robert H. Moore, II, January 30, 2009 | |
| | | 5. Owen D. Graves Monument Boulder | | This is found at the site of the first marker on this trail. | | |
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Credits. This page originally submitted on February 17, 2009, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,530 times since then. Last updated on February 19, 2009, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 17, 2009, by Robert H. Moore, II of Winchester, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
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