Near Winchester in Frederick County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

REMOVED

SEE LOCATION SECTION

Second Battle of Winchester

"A scene ... I shall never forget"

— Gettysburg Campaign —

Second Battle of Winchester Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, January 21, 2017

1. Second Battle of Winchester Marker

Inscription. While Union artillery from Star Fort dueled with Confederate gunners in West Fort on June 14, 1863, Winchester's civilians fretted for their safety. Some wondered if Union Gen. Robert H. Milroy would destroy Winchester by either burning or bombarding it. The threat seemed credible. The Federal gunners who manned the fortifications, including this one, used the town for target practice, firing wooden rounds with no regard for civilian safety. Staunch Confederate supported Mary Greenhow Lee, whose house shook "from the concussion" of the Union artillery firing from Star Fort, wondered if Milroy would make good on this threat "to burn us up."

Although concerned for her safety and that of the town, Lee and other civilians could not resist climbing onto rooftops to view the exchange of fire between Star Fort and West Fort. Lee wrote, "It was a magnificent sight ... [and] presented a scene and aroused feelings I shall never forget." Another civilian resident, Cornelia McDonald, noted, "All the while the batteries thundered, the booming of the cannon, the screaming of the shells (who that has ever heard that scream can ever forget it?)." Fortunately for the civilians, the town survived the battle. Winchester's pro-Confederate population reveled in Gen. Richard S. Ewell's success and the scene of corralled Union prisoners of war,

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including some held here at Star Fort, after the Second Battle of Winchester. The euphoria, however, was short lived. Several weeks later the Army of Northern Virginia suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg.

(captions)
(left photo) Mary Greenhow Lee

(middle photo) Cornelia McDonald

(right photo) Star Fort with captured Union cannons All images courtesy Handley Regional Library

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 14, 1863.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 39° 12.36′ N, 78° 9.798′ W. Marker was near Winchester, Virginia, in Frederick County. It could be reached from Fortress Drive 0.1 miles north of North Frederick Pike (U.S. 522), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 206 Sentinel Drive, Winchester VA 22603, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

May 17, 2014

2. Second Battle of Winchester Marker

are within walking distance of this location: The Civilian's War (a few steps from this marker); The Retreat (within shouting distance of this marker); A Place of Refuge (within shouting distance of this marker); Duel of the Forts (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Constructing Star Fort (about 300 feet away); Lord Fairfax (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Collier (approx. half a mile away); George Washington in Winchester (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.

Other markers no longer nearby. Civil War Earthworks (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Second Battle of Winchester (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Third Battle of Winchester (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Constructing Star Fort (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Star Fort (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 21, 2017, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 784 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 21, 2017, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. 2. submitted on January 23, 2017. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.