Near Berryville in Clarke County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Berryville Wagon Train Raid

By Craig Swain, July 8, 2007

1. Berryville Wagon Train Raid Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Just after dawn on 13 Aug. 1864, Col. John Singleton Mosby and 300 of his 43rd Battalion Partisan Rangers attacked the rear section of Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan’s 600-vehicle wagon train here. The train, headed for Winchester, carried supplies for Sheridan’s cavalry. Mosby surprised and routed the Federals as they rested, cooked breakfast, and hitched their horses. Mosby’s men, losing only one killed and one mortally wounded, captured 200 beef cattle, 500–600 horses, 100 wagons, and 200 soldiers. The raid ended by 6:30 a.m. Berryville’s citizens including many small boys, helped burn the wagons after liberating their contents.

Erected 1997 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number J-1.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is August 13, 1864.

Location. 39° 10.304′ N, 77° 58.384′ W. Marker is near Berryville, Virginia, in Clarke County. Marker is on Lord Fairfax Highway (U.S. 340), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Berryville VA 22611, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles

Markers J1 and J14 on Highway 340 North of Berryville image. Click for full size.

By Craig Swain, July 8, 2007

2. Markers J1 and J14 on Highway 340 North of Berryville

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of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lee’s Bivouac (here, next to this marker); Buck Marsh Fight (approx. half a mile away); Buck Marsh Baptist Church (approx. half a mile away); Long Marsh Run Rural Historic District (approx. 1.3 miles away); Harry F. Byrd Sr. (approx. 1.3 miles away); Berryville (approx. 1.4 miles away); James Ireland (approx. 1.4 miles away); Traveler Was Tethered on This Spot (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berryville.

More about this marker. This marker replaced a previous J-1, titled “A Raid of Mosby’s.” with the caption, “Here Mosby attacked Sheridan’s supply train, August 13, 1864, capturing 600 horses and mules and 200 prisoners.”

Also see . . . A Federal Report on the Battle. Written by the commander of the 144th Ohio Volunteers. (Submitted on July 19, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Green Hill Cemetery image. Click for full size.

By Craig Swain, July 8, 2007

3. Green Hill Cemetery

From the high ground in the cemetery, Mosby's single howitzer fired upon Federal wagons, starting the fight. John Russell, one of Mosby's rangers, is buried in this cemetery.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 19, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,545 times since then and 83 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 19, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.