| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Confederates Converge |
| | Confederate General Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North hinged on eliminating the Harpers Ferry garrison. To do so Lee devised Special Orders 191. He divided his force of 40,000 into four parts. Three columns marched from near Frederick, Maryland, 22 miles northeast of here, to seize the three mountains surrounding Harpers Ferry. The fourth moved north and west toward Hagerstown. Following victory at Harpers Ferry, Lee intended to reunite his army and continue the invasion into . . . — Map (db m7839) HM |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Assessing the Obstacle |
| | Never had "Stonewall" Jackson faced a stronger enemy position. Arriving here on Schoolhouse Ridge on the first day of the battle, Jackson scanned Bolivar Heights (the lower ridge in front of you) and saw a dangerous enemy - 7,000 Union infantry and dozens of cannon stretched across the ridge, ready for battle. He realized a frontal assault would be deadly. After securing Schoolhouse Ridge with his artillery and 14,000 infantry, Jackson labored to open communications with his officers on . . . — Map (db m7843) HM |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Destined for Antietam |
| | Text of the marker is arranged to illustrate the movements of the Confederate Army during the Antietam Campaign of 1862: September 10, 1862 from Frederick, Maryland Confederate commander Lee sends part of his army to capture Harpers Ferry, while he waits in Maryland to advance on Pennsylvania. Jackson September 13 Maryland Heights, MD Confederates force Union soldiers off Maryland Heights. September 13 Jackson arrives here on Schoolhouse Ridge, surrounding the Union . . . — Map (db m7865) HM |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Fake Attack - September 14th |
| | "Stonewall" Jackson understood the principle of military deception. On the second evening of the battle, he used deception here. To lure the Union attention away from the south end of Bolivar Heights, Jackson faked an attack against the north end of the heights in front of you. Using darkness to disguise the deceit, the Stonewall Division marched forward from near this location, creating a commotion that successfully distracted the Federals from Jackson's real advance, one mile to the south. . . . — Map (db m7866) HM |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Millville — Battle of Harpers Ferry |
| | Invasion rocked the United States during the second year of the American Civil War. In September 1862 Confederate General Robert E. Lee launched his army into Maryland - the North. Lee's first target became Harpers Ferry. He ordered "Stonewall" Jackson to make the attack. Here Jackson overcame the great obstacles, defeating the Union during a three-day battle and forcing the largest surrender of U.S. troops during the Civil War. His victory at Harpers Ferry enabled Lee to make his stand at . . . — Map (db m7924) HM |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Millville — Flag Talk |
| | Accurate communication was crucial to winning the Battle of Harpers Ferry. Rivers, mountains, and miles of distance separated Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson from his mountaintop commanders. With telegraph messaging impossible and courier service difficult, signal flags became the principle form of communication. Confederate signal men occupied positions on the heights, waving flags in patters to transmit coded messages. This laborious system took time and Jackson complained that "the . . . — Map (db m7925) HM |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Millville — Setting the Trap / Jackson Arrives |
| | (Upper Panel): Setting the Trap Confederate Major General "Stonewall" Jackson faced three enemies - the Union garrison at Harpers Ferry, its formidable position on Bolivar Heights, and time. On the second day of the battle, although pummeled by a Confederate bombardment, the Federals still stood firm. Jackson knew he had to force the issue. He devised a three-point plan. First, to "turn" the Union flank, he ordered Major General A.P. Hill to march 3,500 men and 20 cannon, under the . . . — Map (db m7926) HM |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Millville — Battle of Harpers Ferry / Jackson Arrives |
| | (Upper Panel): Battle of Harpers Ferry Invasion rocked the United States during the second year of the American Civil War. In September 1862 Confederate General Robert E. Lee launched his army into Maryland - the North. Lee's first target became Harpers Ferry. He ordered "Stonewall" Jackson to make the attack. Here Jackson overcame the great obstacles, defeating the Union during a three-day battle and forcing the largest surrender of U.S. troops during the Civil War. His victory at . . . — Map (db m7927) HM |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Millville — Setting the Trap |
| | Confederate Major General "Stonewall" Jackson faced three enemies - the Union garrison at Harpers Ferry, its formidable position on Bolivar Heights, and time. On the second day of the battle, although pummeled by a Confederate bombardment, the Federals still stood firm. Jackson knew he had to force the issue. He devised a three-point plan. First, to "turn" the Union flank, he ordered Major General A.P. Hill to march 3,500 men and 20 cannon, under the cover of night, to a position behind the . . . — Map (db m7929) HM |
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