Near Bolivar in Jefferson County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Sheridan Dug In
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
March 1, 2008
1. Sheridan Dug In Marker
Inscription.
Sheridan Dug In. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. In August 1864 Harpers Ferry was again a Union stronghold. Union General Philip Sheridan and his men built this redoubt, the earthwork in front of you, as fortification against the Confederates. Sheridan’s objective was to stop the Confederates from skirting undetected along the Shenandoah River (below you) into Harpers Ferry. They had done so on three previous campaigns, Maryland (1862), Gettysburg (1863), and Washington (1864). The ravine to your right separated the redoubt from the rest of Sheridan’s earthworks, which included five other redoubts connected to a two-mile-long trench that stretched from the Shenandoah River to the Potomac River north of here. Each redoubt held as many as six cannon. This fort was never attacked.
In August 1864 Harpers Ferry was again a Union stronghold. Union General Philip Sheridan and his men built this redoubt—the earthwork in front of you—as fortification against the Confederates. Sheridan’s objective was to stop the Confederates from skirting undetected along the Shenandoah River (below you) into Harpers Ferry. They had done so on three previous campaigns—Maryland (1862), Gettysburg (1863), and Washington (1864). The ravine to your right separated the redoubt from the rest of Sheridan’s earthworks, which included five other redoubts connected to a two-mile-long trench that stretched from the Shenandoah River to the Potomac River north of here. Each redoubt held as many as six cannon. This fort was never attacked.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.
Location. 39° 18.472′ N, 77° 45.865′ W. Marker is near Bolivar, West Virginia, in Jefferson County. Marker can be reached from Shoreline Drive. Located on the Murphy Farm trail in the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Harpers Ferry WV 25425, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this
More about this marker. The backgound of this marker is a photograph captioned, "Armies commonly built redoubts—like this one photographed at Fair Oaks, near Richmond, Virginia—when they expected to be in fixed positions for a time. Sandbags, logs, and gabions—wicker baskets filled with earth—strengthened earthworks. The redoubts had sloped fronts to break an enemy’s assault. These small earthen structures often withstood the pounding of artillery more effectively than fortifications made of bricks and mortar."
March 1, 2008
2. Sheridan Dug In Marker
Earthwork overlooking the Shenandoah River
March 1, 2008
3. Another view of the earthwork
Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2008. This page has been viewed 1,221 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on March 2, 2008. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
