Near Winchester in Frederick County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Third Battle of Winchester
The Confederates Reform
"Unless this force were driven back, the day was lost."
General Jubal A. Early, C.S.A.
Standing here about noon during the battle, you would have seen Union troops under Gen. Henry Birge pursuing Gen. Clement Evans' Georgians from right to left. The Confederates took shelter behind a rocky ledge and began to regroup. "The position was most critical," remembered Confederate commander Jubal Early, "for it was apparent that unless this force were driven back, the day was lost."
For now, all that stood in the way of a Union victory was a battery of guns under Confederate Lt. Col. Carter Braxton, partially hidden behind a haystack. A soldier of the 26th Massachusetts recalled that as his comrades "came in line with that innocent looking haystack, some pieces of artillery masked behind it opened at short range with canister upon our line which they completely enfiladed."
The Union troops slowed to a halt and Gen. Cullen A. Battle's Alabama Brigade arrived from your left and sent them flying in retreat. Three more brigades of Gen. Rodes' Division and all three brigades of Gen. Gordon's Division, under Gens. Alfred Terry, Zebulon York, and Clement Evans (whose brigade had just been reformed), joined the counterattack. Not only had the Confederates stopped the Union advance, they launched an all-out attack of their own.
Erected by Civil War Preservation Trust.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.
Location. Marker has been reported permanently removed. It was located near 39° 11.986′ N, 78° 7.964′ W. Marker was near Winchester, Virginia, in Frederick County. Marker could be reached from Redbud Road (County Route 661), on the right when traveling east. Located at the Confederates Reform Wayside, along the Battle Trail, inside the CWPT Third Winchester Battlefield site. This wayside is about a hundred yards southeast of I-81, without direct access to the highway. The closest trailhead to this marker is along Redbud Road. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Winchester VA 22603, United States of America.
We have been informed that this sign or monument is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Breaking the Deadlock (within shouting distance of this marker); Bloody Repulse (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Major General Robert Emmett Rodes (approx. 0.2 miles away); Counterattack! (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hackwood And Patton (approx. 0.3 miles away); Alabama (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Cost of Battle (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fury On The Fence Line (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.
More about this marker. On the left side of the marker is a copy of a map captioned, In 1883 a group of Civil War veterans gathered at Winchester and camped on the hill in front of you. They doubtless visited the "rocky ledge" behind which Evans' men took cover (destroyed by the construction of I-81) and noted the set of stumps which marked the former Second Woods. On the right is a map displaying the tactical situation between 11:40 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on September 19, 1864.
Also see . . . Summary of the Battle of Third Winchester. National Parks Service website entry (Submitted on October 27, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2007. This page has been viewed 1,500 times since then and 37 times this year. Last updated on November 2, 2020. Photos: 1. submitted on October 27, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on March 13, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 27, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.