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

Duval's Attack

"Hurry up boys, they need help up there"

— The Third Battle of Winchester (September 19, 1864) —

The THird Battle of Winchester (September 19, 1964) Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, July 23, 2022

1. The THird Battle of Winchester (September 19, 1964) Marker

Inscription.

Duval's Attack. "Hurry up boys, they need help up there". Time: Mid-Afternoon , By mid-afternoon, this area was swarming with Union troops preparing to attack across Red Bud Run, which les less than 200 yards down the slope in front of you., By that time, the battle had reached a stalemate, and Union Gen. Philip H. Sheridan ordered Gen. George Crook's Army of West Virginia into the fight., "I dispaired of the sucess of the attack." - Union Capt. John W. DeForest, As Crook's Mountaineers moved to the front, Lt. Elmer Husted of the 23rd Ohio described the scene: "Men wounded in almost every possible shape being carried off in every possible way, some on stretchers, some in blankets, some leaning on the arm of a comrade, covered with blood, minus an arm or hand.” Many of the wounded encouraged Crook's men. "Hurry up boys, they need help up there, they are giving our boys hell.", Arriving at the front, Crook left Col. Joseph Thoburn's division south of Red Bud Run, then personally took Col. Isaac Duval's division to this side (the north side)., They moved across the Huntsberry Farm to your left, chased away the last Confederates there, and reached the area around you about 3 pm., As Thoburn joined the attack south of the stream, Duval's men elicited "a mighty battle yell” and attacked the Confederate left. On the south bank, Confederate Gen. John B. Gordon responded quickly, shifting troops to meet the attack and opening fire. Union Capt. John W. DeForest described the Confederate resistance:, "...there arose...the most terrific, continuous wail of musketry I ever heard...an uninterrupted explosion without a single break or tremor...I despaired of the success of the attack, for it did not seem to me possible that any troops could endure such a fire.", Despite Gordon's efforts, Crook's attack broke the Confederate left and proved to be the beginning of the end for Confederate fortunes at the Third Battle of Winchester., (captions) , Capt. William McKinley, 23rd Ohio, one of two future presidents (along with Col. Rutherford B. Hayes) who served in Duval's division. Gen. Crook sent McKinley to Col. Joseph Thoburn with orders to attack in conjunction with Duval., Col. Isaac Duval

Time: Mid-Afternoon
By mid-afternoon, this area was swarming with Union troops preparing to attack across Red Bud Run, which les less than 200 yards down the slope in front of you.

By that time, the battle had reached a stalemate, and Union Gen. Philip H. Sheridan ordered Gen. George Crook's Army of West Virginia into the fight.

"I dispaired of the sucess of the attack." - Union Capt. John W. DeForest

As Crook's Mountaineers moved to the front, Lt. Elmer Husted of the 23rd Ohio described the scene: "Men wounded in almost every possible shape being carried off in every possible way, some on stretchers, some in blankets, some leaning on the arm of a comrade, covered with blood, minus an arm or hand.” Many of the wounded encouraged Crook's men. "Hurry up boys, they need help up there, they are giving our boys hell."

Arriving at the front, Crook left Col. Joseph Thoburn's division south of Red Bud Run, then personally took Col. Isaac Duval's division to this side (the north side).

They moved across the Huntsberry Farm to your left, chased away the last Confederates there, and reached the area around you about 3 pm.

As Thoburn joined the attack south of the stream, Duval's men elicited "a mighty battle yell” and attacked the Confederate left.

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On the south bank, Confederate Gen. John B. Gordon responded quickly, shifting troops to meet the attack and opening fire. Union Capt. John W. DeForest described the Confederate resistance:

"...there arose...the most terrific, continuous wail of musketry I ever heard...an uninterrupted explosion without a single break or tremor...I despaired of the success of the attack, for it did not seem to me possible that any troops could endure such a fire."

Despite Gordon's efforts, Crook's attack broke the Confederate left and proved to be the beginning of the end for Confederate fortunes at the Third Battle of Winchester.

(captions)
Capt. William McKinley, 23rd Ohio, one of two future presidents (along with Col. Rutherford B. Hayes) who served in Duval's division. Gen. Crook sent McKinley to Col. Joseph Thoburn with orders to attack in conjunction with Duval.

Col. Isaac Duval

Erected by Millbrook High School Cross Country Team.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is September 19, 1864.

Location. 39° 12.245′ N, 78° 7.529′ W. Marker is in Winchester, Virginia, in Frederick County. It can be reached from Redbud Road (Virginia Route 661) 0.9 miles east of Martinsburg Pike (U.S. 11)

Photographed by Craig Doda, July 23, 2022

2. The Third Battle of Winchester (September 19, 1964) Marker

, on the right when traveling east. Located 0.5 miles south of the parking lot on the Third Battle of Winchester Trail north of Redbud Run. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 541 Redbud Rd, Winchester VA 22603, 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 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: Ohio (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Stuck In The Mud (about 400 feet away); In Memory of Gilcin F. Meadors III (about 600 feet away); A Murderous Fire (about 800 feet away); The Huntsberry Farm (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hackwood And Patton (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Life In Bondage (approx. 0.2 miles away); Southern Sharpshooters (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Third Battle of Winchester (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Third Battle of Winchester (was about 600 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was about 700 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Third Battle of Winchester (was about

Duval's Attack Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, December 17, 2025

3. Duval's Attack Marker

800 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . The Third Battle of Winchester. Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (Submitted on August 18, 2022.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 371 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 18, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3. submitted on December 18, 2025, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.