Near Winchester in Frederick County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Third Battle of Winchester
A Gathering of Future Leaders
— 1864 Valley Campaign —
The Third Battle of Winchester, fought here on September 19, 1864, was a proving ground for several men on both sides who shaped post-war America. They included two future presidents, two senators, a state governor, and several military leaders.
Statesmen
Col. Rutherford B. Hayes, who commanded a Federal VIII Corps brigade, was president from 1877 to 1881.
Capt. William McKinley, who led a VIII Corps infantry company, was president from 1897 to 1901, when he was assassinated.
Gen. John B. Gordon, who commanded a Confederate division, later became a senator from Georgia from 1891 to 1897.
Capt. Henry A. DuPont, who commanded a U.S. artillery brigade, later served as a senator from Delaware; he was also awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Battle of Cedar Creek.
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, who led the Confederate cavalry and was wounded at Winchester, was governor of Virginia from 1895 to 1889 and commanded a U.S. Army corps during the Spanish-American War in 1898.
Frontier Officers
U.S. Gens. Philip H. Sheridan, George Crook, Ronald S. Mackenzie, Marcus A. Reno, and George A. Custer later had
leading roles in the West during the Indian Wars.
Military Theorist
Gen. Emory Upton, a Federal division commander, was a celebrated military theorist who wrote books including The Military Policy of the United States (1904), which is still influential.
Prophet of the Lost Cause
Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early became a leading proponent of the Lost Cause philosophy that dominated the South for decades.
Philippine Expidition
Gen. Wesley Merritt, a Federal cavalry division commander, led the First Philippine Expedition in 1898 during the Spanish-American War.
Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #25 William McKinley, and the Virginia Civil War Trails series lists.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 39° 12.619′ N, 78° 7.638′ W. Marker was near Winchester, Virginia, in Frederick County. Marker was on Redbud Road (County Route 661), on the right when traveling east. Located inside the north parking lot for the Civil War Preservation Trust's Third Winchester Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Winchester VA 22603, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

By Craig Swain, August 25, 2007
3. Civil War Preservation Trust Sign
Over three hundred acres extending from near I-81 to the east are currently set aside for preservation. The site is easily accessed by way of a 4.5 mile walking/biking trail. The site encompasses the site of the Federal attacks across Redbud Run in the middle portion of the battle.
More about this marker. The marker displays portraits of Hayes, McKinley, Gordon, DuPont, Lee, Sheridan, Custer, Upton, Early, and Merritt across the bottom of the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2007. This page has been viewed 1,828 times since then. Last updated on August 20, 2020, by Jay Richardson of Martinsburg, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 21, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on August 20, 2020, by Jay Richardson of Martinsburg, West Virginia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.