Middletown in Frederick County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Battle Begins
The Thoburn Redoubt Trail
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 19, 2023
1. The Battle Begins Marker
The opening attack of the battle took place in these fields and woods around 5 a.m. on October 19, 1864. The surprise was complete and the Union troops were completely routed in the heavy fog and predawn darkness of early morning. Colonel Joseph Thoburn's attempts to rally his men failed, and he was later killed during the retreat through the streets of Middletown. The trail covers part of the ground where Thoburn's troops were positioned and then overrun by the Confederate assault.
(Captions):
Joseph Thoburn, 1825-1864, enlisted as a surgeon after the firing on Fort Sumter, in the 1st Virginia Infantry, a pro-Union regiment from near Wheeling, Virginia, now West Virginia.
This James E. Taylor sketch captures the death of Colonel Joseph Thoburn during the retreat that morning.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is October 19, 1864.
Location. 38° 59.933′ N, 78° 19.182′ W. Marker is in Middletown, Virginia, in Frederick County. It is on Bowman Mill Road (Virginia Route
this page online
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: Surprise Attack (here, next to this marker); Frederick County / Shenandoah County (approx. 0.6 miles away); Cedar Creek (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Cedar Creek (approx. 0.6 miles away); Fort Bowman (approx. 0.6 miles away); Samuel Kercheval (approx.
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 19, 2023
2. The Battle Begins Marker
Marker is on the right.
Regarding The Battle Begins. The Thoburn Redoubt Trail crosses land preserved by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. This 0.75-mile-long loop trail crosses through both open fields and wooded, gently rolling terrain.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2023, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 353 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 28, 2023, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.
