Near Berryville in Clarke County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Berryville Wagon Train Raid

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 8, 2007

1. Berryville Wagon Train Raid Marker

Inscription.
Just after dawn on 13 Aug. 1864, Col. John Singleton Mosby and 300 of his 43rd Battalion Partisan Rangers attacked the rear section of Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan’s 600-vehicle wagon train here. The train, headed for Winchester, carried supplies for Sheridan’s cavalry. Mosby surprised and routed the Federals as they rested, cooked breakfast, and hitched their horses. Mosby’s men, losing only one killed and one mortally wounded, captured 200 beef cattle, 500–600 horses, 100 wagons, and 200 soldiers. The raid ended by 6:30 a.m. Berryville’s citizens including many small boys, helped burn the wagons after liberating their contents.

Erected 1997 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number J-1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 13, 1864.

Location. 39° 10.102′ N, 77° 58.402′ W. Marker is near Berryville, Virginia, in Clarke County. Marker is on Lord Fairfax Highway (U.S. 340) 0.1 miles south of Davis Lane, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Berryville VA 22611, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles

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of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lee's Bivouac, Gettysburg Campaign (a few steps from this marker); Buck Marsh Fight (approx. 0.3 miles away); Buck Marsh Baptist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); James Ireland (approx. 1.2 miles away); Berryville (approx. 1.2 miles away); Traveler Was Tethered on This Spot (approx. 1.2 miles away); Harry F. Byrd Sr. (approx. 1.2 miles away); Clarke County Courthouse (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berryville.

More about this marker. This marker replaced a previous J-1, titled “A Raid of Mosby’s.” with the caption, “Here Mosby attacked Sheridan’s supply train, August 13, 1864, capturing 600 horses and mules and 200 prisoners.”

Also see . . . "Fire In The Valley" Berryville Wagon Train Raid, August 13, 1864. Civil War Talk website entry (Submitted on July 30, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Markers J1 and J14 on Highway 340 North of Berryville image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 8, 2007

2. Markers J1 and J14 on Highway 340 North of Berryville

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 21, 2021

3. Berryville Wagon Train Raid Marker

Green Hill Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 8, 2007

4. Green Hill Cemetery

From the high ground in the cemetery, Mosby's single howitzer fired upon Federal wagons, starting the fight. John Russell, one of Mosby's rangers, is buried in this cemetery.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 19, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 5,386 times since then and 97 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 19, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on May 22, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on July 19, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.