Manassas in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Wisconsin Company
1st Regiment of Berdan's U.S. Sharpshooters
Photographed by Craig Swain, June 28, 2009
1. The Wisconsin Company Marker
The marker is known locally as the "Cedar Pole Monument."
1st Regiment of Berdan's
U.S. Sharpshooters
used many cartridges on this
spot, August 30, 1862. Losing
1 man killed and 8 wounded
position marked by Geo. E. Albee, a private of the company
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.
Location. 38° 49.175′ N, 77° 33.072′ W. Marker is in Manassas, Virginia, in Prince William County. It is on Featherbed Lane (County Route 622), on the right when traveling south. Located on the Deep Cut Trail, along the old railroad bed, in Manassas National Military Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Manassas VA 20109, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area, in Northern Virginia, and in the Piedmont. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, 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: On the Skirmish Line (here, next to this marker); Attack at Deep Cut (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry (approx. 0.2 miles away); Groveton Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Groveton Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fourth Brigade (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Rock Fight (approx. 0.2 miles away); 24th New York Infantry (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manassas.
Other markers no longer nearby. Deep Cut (was about 600 feet away but has been
this page online
Also see . . . George Emerson Albee. Albee later was commissioned and served in the Army after the war. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for actions at the Brazos River, Texas in October 1869. (Submitted on June 30, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Additional commentary.
1. History of this Marker
Jim Burgess of Manassas National Battlefield offers this brief history of the marker:
The sign in question, known locally as the "Cedar Pole Monument," was first erected by George E. Albee, a veteran of Co. G (Wisconsin Company), 1st U.S.S.S. who was wounded at Second Manassas, and a Medal of Honor recipient (Indian Wars service). The exact date for the original sign is not known but it was put in place during one of Albee's several visits to the battlefield after his retirement from the U.S. Army in 1878 and before his death in 1918. Albee reportedly boarded with the Dogan family during his visits. We speculate it may date to about 1890. The present marker, as John Hennessy has correctly pointed out, is a replacement fabricated by the NPS while what we believe to be the original
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 20, 2016
2. The Wisconsin Company Marker
The marker has been updated and is in better condition.
— Submitted July 6, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
Photographed by Craig Swain, June 28, 2009
3. The Wisconsin Company Marker
Photographed by Craig Swain, February 8, 2009
4. The Sharpshooter's Position - Confederate Point of View
Looking from atop the high ground north of the marker, along the unfinished railroad. The marker is the white "sign" just right of distant center, next to a lone tree in the field (not the closest tree to the right). The Sharpshooter's position was near a small brook running through the low ground.
Photographed by Craig Swain, February 15, 2009
5. Sharpshooters Advance
Looking from near Featherbead Lane toward the marker. The marker is the white "sign" just right of the tree in the field. Note the high ground beyond from which the photo above was taken. The Sharpshooters advanced up to the location of the sign, and fired on the Confederate lines on the high ground.
Photographed by Craig Swain, November 5, 2010
6. Wisconsin Company Marker
Stored in the archives of the park museum is an earlier edition of the Wisconsin Company marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,827 times since then and 11 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week September 27, 2009. Photos: 1. submitted on June 30, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on February 24, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 30, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6. submitted on December 20, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
