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

Signal Knob During the Civil War

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 19, 2023

1. Signal Knob During the Civil War Marker

Inscription.

Signal Knob During the Civil War. . , Went to the end of three Top Mountain and examined the position of the enemy around Belle Grove with reference to an attack. I made a map of the position and General Gordon and myself fixed upon a plan of attack to suggest to General Early. , Jed Hotchkiss, Journal, October 17, 1864, On October 17, General Jubal Early sent John Gordon, Jed Hotchkiss, and others to Signal Knob in order to survey the Union positions along Cedar Creek. Upon reaching the top, they met an "inspiring panorama," including a perfect view of the Union army below. Early knew that his smaller force had to know exactly where the Union weak points were, if they were to have any hope of success. Gordon devised a bold plan of crossing Cedar Creek and the North Fork in order to attack the Union positions from the side rather than head on. Early approved the plan and when the attack began on the morning of October 19, it worked brilliantly. By 10:30 a.m. the Union army was routed north of Middletown. This plan would not have been possible if not for the strategic significance of Signal Knob., (Captions):, General John Gordon surveys the Union positions. Behind him Jedediah Hotchkiss (who drew the map at right), sketches a map and takes notes. The signalman, at the rear, uses flags to relay information to headquarters. , Sketch by James E. Taylor, an artist for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 1864, Rising 1,500 feet above the Valley floor and marking the northern end of Massanutten Mountain is Signal Knob. Used by both sides as a signal station throughout the war, this peak was crucial to the Confederate success in the Valley during the 1864 Valley campaign., Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park is located between Strasburg and Middletown. This National Park is a partnership park managed and operated by the National Park Service and five legislated partners (Belle Grove, Inc., Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation, National Trust, Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, and Shenandoah County). For more information see: , www.nps.gov/cebe, During the Civil War signal corps flags held in different positions and at different heights could relay all the letters of the alphabet. Using telescopes to read the flags, messages could be relayed over a number of miles.

Went to the end of three Top Mountain and examined the position of the enemy around Belle Grove with reference to an attack. I made a map of the position and General Gordon and myself fixed upon a plan of attack to suggest to General Early.
Jed Hotchkiss, Journal, October 17, 1864

On October 17, General Jubal Early sent John Gordon, Jed Hotchkiss, and others to Signal Knob in order to survey the Union positions along Cedar Creek. Upon reaching the top, they met an "inspiring panorama," including a perfect view of the Union army below. Early knew that his smaller force had to know exactly where the Union weak points were, if they were to have any hope of success. Gordon devised a bold plan of crossing Cedar Creek and the North Fork in order to attack the Union positions from the side rather than head on. Early approved the plan and when the attack began on the morning of October 19, it worked brilliantly. By 10:30 a.m. the Union army was routed north of Middletown. This plan would not have been possible if not for the strategic significance of Signal Knob.

(Captions):

General John Gordon surveys the Union positions. Behind him Jedediah Hotchkiss (who drew the map at right), sketches a map and takes notes. The signalman, at the rear, uses flags to relay information

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to headquarters.
Sketch by James E. Taylor, an artist for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 1864

Rising 1,500 feet above the Valley floor and marking the northern end of Massanutten Mountain is Signal Knob. Used by both sides as a signal station throughout the war, this peak was crucial to the Confederate success in the Valley during the 1864 Valley campaign.

Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park is located between Strasburg and Middletown. This National Park is a partnership park managed and operated by the National Park Service and five legislated partners (Belle Grove, Inc., Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation, National Trust, Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, and Shenandoah County). For more information see:
www.nps.gov/cebe

During the Civil War signal corps flags held in different positions and at different heights could relay all the letters of the alphabet. Using telescopes to read the flags, messages could be relayed over a number of miles.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Features • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is October 17, 1864.

Location. 39° 0.594′

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 19, 2023

2. Signal Knob During the Civil War Marker

N, 78° 18.206′ W. Marker is in Middletown, Virginia, in Frederick County. It can be reached from Valley Pike (U.S. 11) 0.4 miles north of Water Plant Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located on the Thomas Brigade Loop Trail portion of the Morning Attack Trails. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8693 Valley Pike, Middletown VA 22645, 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: Cedar Creek (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Stand of the Eighth Vermont (about 300 feet away); Slowing the Advance (about 800 feet away); The Shenandoah Valley / Battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Eve of Battle (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Eve of Battle (approx. ¼ mile away); Battle of Cedar Creek (approx. ¼ mile away); 128th New York Volunteer Regiment (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Middletown.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Shenandoah At War (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed).

John Gordon surveys the Union positions. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Civil War Talk

3. John Gordon surveys the Union positions.

Behind him Jedediah Hotchkiss (who drew the map at right), sketches a map and takes notes. The signalman, at the rear, uses flags to relay information to headquarters. Sketch by James E. Taylor, an artist for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 1864

Sketch of the Battle of Belle Grove or Cedar Creek image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

4. Sketch of the Battle of Belle Grove or Cedar Creek

Wednesday October 19th 1864 by Jed. Hotchkiss Top. Eng. A.V.D.

Wigwag flags, wigwag torches and kerosene canteen, and a signal rocket image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Wikipedia

5. Wigwag flags, wigwag torches and kerosene canteen, and a signal rocket

During the Civil War signal corps flags held in different positions and at different heights could relay all the letters of the alphabet. Using telescopes to read the flags, messages could be relayed over a number of miles.
Photo by Pablo Jimenez-Reyes, United States Army Historical Collection

Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2023, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 401 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 22, 2023, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 18, 2024, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.