Winchester, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Glen Burnie

Tides of Blue and Gray

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, December 17, 2025

1. Glen Burnie Marker

The marker has undergone slight revisions.

Inscription.

Glen Burnie. Tides of Blue and Gray. , This site, known as Glen Burnie, is the homestead of Col. James Wood, who founded Winchester on a portion of his land in 1744. Wood’s son, Robert, began the present house in 1793, but the estate was home to the Wood-Glass families from the 1730s to the 1990s., During the Civil War, Winchester changed hands many times, as Union and Confederate forces occupied, fought over, and won or lost possession of the town. Each side occupied Glen Burnie several times. Its proximity of the North Western Turnpike (now U.S. Rte. 50) between Winchester, Virginia, and Romney, West Virginia, and to good water from springs here, attracted the troops. In June 1861, Southern-minded Marylanders camped here and formed the First Maryland Infantry, Confederate States of America (CSA). They later fought the First Maryland Infantry, United States of America (USA), at the Battle of Front Royal on May 23, 1862., Tides of blue and gray swept across the hills and fields of Glen Burnie during all three major battles for Winchester in 1862, 1863, and 1864. Combat damage and occupation caused the farm’s agricultural productivity and value to decline as livestock, farm buildings, fences and timber were taken or destroyed. After the war, family members went west to begin new lives, homes, and fortunes, and eventually left Glen Burnie as a legacy to the Winchester community., (captions) , The newly formed First Maryland Infantry (CSA) plays "foot-ball" at Glen Burnie before evening parade, from Harper's Weekly, Aug. 21, 1861, Glen Burnie looked much this way when, on Christmas Eve, 1862, Cornelia McDonald living across the road, saw a regiment of Federal Cavalry ‘take possession of Mr. Wood’s yard and beautiful grounds, attracted no doubt by the grass which is still green in many places.” Courtesy Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society, One of three springs on the original James Wood homestead, this spring, located on the north side of Amherst Street, supplied water to Winchester since its beginning and to many a soldier, blue and gray. , Courtesy The Western Reserve Historical Society

This site, known as Glen Burnie, is the homestead of Col. James Wood, who founded Winchester on a portion of his land in 1744. Wood’s son, Robert, began the present house in 1793, but the estate was home to the Wood-Glass families from the 1730s to the 1990s.

During the Civil War, Winchester changed hands many times, as Union and Confederate forces occupied, fought over, and won or lost possession of the town. Each side occupied Glen Burnie several times. Its proximity of the North Western Turnpike (now U.S. Rte. 50) between Winchester, Virginia, and Romney, West Virginia, and to good water from springs here, attracted the troops. In June 1861, Southern-minded Marylanders camped here and formed the First Maryland Infantry, Confederate States of America (CSA). They later fought the First Maryland Infantry, United States of America (USA), at the Battle of Front Royal on May 23, 1862.

Tides of blue and gray swept across the hills and fields of Glen Burnie during all three major battles for Winchester in 1862, 1863, and 1864. Combat damage and occupation caused the farm’s agricultural productivity and value to decline

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as livestock, farm buildings, fences and timber were taken or destroyed. After the war, family members went west to begin new lives, homes, and fortunes, and eventually left Glen Burnie as a legacy to the Winchester community.

(captions)
The newly formed First Maryland Infantry (CSA) plays "foot-ball" at Glen Burnie before evening parade, from Harper's Weekly, Aug. 21, 1861

Glen Burnie looked much this way when, on Christmas Eve, 1862, Cornelia McDonald living across the road, saw a regiment of Federal Cavalry ‘take possession of Mr. Wood’s yard and beautiful grounds, attracted no doubt by the grass which is still green in many places.” Courtesy Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society

One of three springs on the original James Wood homestead, this spring, located on the north side of Amherst Street, supplied water to Winchester since its beginning and to many a soldier, blue and gray. — Courtesy The Western Reserve Historical Society

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails and Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers •

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 31, 2020

2. Glen Burnie Marker

War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list.

Location. 39° 11.207′ N, 78° 10.781′ W. Marker is in Winchester, Virginia. It can be reached from the intersection of Amherst Street (U.S. 50) and Whittier Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Located near the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 901 Amhurst Street, Winchester VA 22601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds 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 are within walking distance of this marker: Birthplace of James Wood, Junior (about 400 feet away, measured

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 31, 2020

3. Glen Burnie Marker

in a direct line); Home of Colonel James Wood, Sr. (about 400 feet away); Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd (approx. 0.4 miles away); A "Malicious Design" (approx. half a mile away); Daniel Morgan House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Catherine B. Conrad (approx. 0.6 miles away); Fair Mount (approx. 0.6 miles away); Little-Holiday House (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Glen Burnie (was about 700 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . .
1. Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (SVBF). (Submitted on November 13, 2019.)
2. Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. (Submitted on November 13, 2019.)

The First Maryland Regiment (CSA) Playing Foot-ball before Evening Parade. image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive

4. The First Maryland Regiment (CSA) Playing Foot-ball before Evening Parade.

Harper's Weekly, August 31, 1861.

The Spring House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 21, 2015

5. The Spring House

One of three springs on the original James Wood homestead, this spring located on the north side of Amherst Street, supplied water to Winchester since its beginning and to many a soldier, blue and gray.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 21, 2015

6. Glen Burnie

Credits. This page was last revised on December 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2019, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia. This page has been viewed 595 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 18, 2025, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on November 2, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 28, 2020, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.