Strasburg in Shenandoah County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Strasburg

How Strata Shaped Strategy: The Hupp's Hill Civil War/Karst Interpretive Walking Trail

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 31, 2020

1. Strasburg Marker

Inscription. 1862 The town of Strasburg is directly ahead, at the bottom of the southern (reverse) slope of Hupp's Hill. The image to the right is a wartime view from 1862. Today's prominent water tower sits atop Fort Hill, the site of Banks' Fort.

The streets that today radiate out from Bank's Fort were built along the trench lines that Union General N.P. Banks erected during April 1862 to guard against Confederate advances from the south. But after destroying a small Union force at Front Royal (23 May 1862), Stonewall Jackson barreled in on Banks' eastern flank. Banks and his 6,000 troops fled down the Valley Pike (north), with Jackson's men nipping at their heels. Banks made a stand at the Battle of 1st Winchester (25 May 1862), and was soundly thrashed by Jackson.

All told, Jackson's cat-and-mouse maneuvers during the 1862 Valley Campaign won five battles against three Federal armies between May 8 and June 9.

Note: For more on Banks' Fort, visit the Civil War Trails marker at the corner of Washington and Holliday Streets in Strasburg

The Shenandoah Valley Massanutten Mountain is a ridge that runs 50 miles from Strasburg

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in the northeast to Harrisonburg at the southwest end, effectively splitting the Shenandoah Valley in two. Luray Valley lies between Massanutten and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east. Little North Mountain defines the western edge of the Shenandoah Valley and the star of the Allegheny Range farther to the west.

The ridge that dominates the landscape south of Strasburg is Fisher's Hill, also known as "The Gibraltar of the Valley." At 750 feet above sea level, it is comparable in altitude to Hupp's Hill and thus constituted a formidable natural position that was also fortified against any military thrust from the north.

1864 Confederate General Jubal Early conducted a masterful military campaign during the summer of 1864, first repulsing a Union drive on Lynchburg, then rapidly moving down the Valley (northward), crossing the Potomac, and approaching the outskirts of Washington before being stopped by Union reinforcements. Early returned to the Valley, where he routed a small Union army at the Battle of 2nd Kernstown (24 July 1864). It would be the last Confederate victory in the Valley.

Union General Philip Sheridan, commander

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 31, 2020

2. Strasburg Marker

of the new Army of the Shenandoah, defeated Early's weakened Confederate force at 3rd Winchester (19 September), compelling Early's retreat to prepared positions on Fisher's Hill. On the night of 21 September, Union General George Crook, whom Early had beaten at 2nd Kernstown, marched his Federal VIII Corps to the food of Little North Mountain, using Hupp's Hill to screen his advance. Crook's sudden appearance the next day on Early's thin left flank dealt the Confederates a decisive blow at the Battle of Fisher's Hill (22 September 1864).

Note: For more on the Battle of Fisher's Hill, visit the Civil War Trails markers south of Strasburg off U.S. 11

Erected by Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation. (Marker Number CWK 9.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Features • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia, Strasburg, How Strata Shaped Strategy: The Hupp's Hill Civil War/Karst Interpretive Walking Trail series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1862.

Location. 39° 0.012′ N, 78° 20.997′ W. Marker is in Strasburg, Virginia, in Shenandoah County.

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It can be reached from Old Valley Pike (U.S. 11) 0.1 miles west of Signal Knob Drive, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 33231 Old Valley Pike, Strasburg VA 22657, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Shenandoah Valley.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in 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: Signal Knob (within shouting distance of this marker); A Natural Bombproof (within shouting distance of this marker); Hupp’s Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Trail Head (within shouting distance of this marker); Field Fortifications (within shouting distance of this marker); The Shenandoah Valley / Battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864 (within shouting distance of this marker); Hupp Cave (within shouting distance of this marker); Lower Cave (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Strasburg.

Regarding Strasburg. 1st sentence of 2nd paragraph refers to Bank's Fort. The possessive form should have been Banks', not Bank's, but had to be left as is to match the inscription.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 576 times since then and 41 times this year. Last updated on December 4, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 1, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.