Middletown in Frederick County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Fatal Halt
10:30 am
Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 19, 2023
1. The Fatal Halt Marker
By late morning, about 14,000 Confederates had pushed approximately 32,000 Union soldiers out of their positions and sent them in full retreat through Middletown and almost one mile north of the village. General John Gordon and his commanding officer, General Jubal Early, met to assess the situation. Gordon urged continuing the pursuit. Early believed that the battle had been won. Some of his troops, he argued, had been on the move for over 12 hours and needed rest and food, and he worried about facing the formidable Union cavalry. Early decided to halt here. It was a decision that would haunt both men - and military historians - for years to come.
The concentration was stopped; the blow was not delivered.... We halted, we hesitated, we dallied.
General John Gordon
(Caption):
General John Gordon (left) vehemently urges Jubal Early to continue purusing the retreating Union army.
Sketch by James E. Taylor, an artist for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 1864
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 year for this entry is 1864.
Location. 39° 2.303′ N, 78°
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Union Counterattack 4:00 p.m. (approx. ¼ mile away); Battle of Cedar Creek (approx. ¼ mile away); Middletown (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Shenandoah Valley / Battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864 (approx. half a mile away); Engagement Of Middletown (approx. 0.6 miles away); Colonel Charles Russell Lowell (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Stone Fort (approx. 0.7 miles away); Middletown Virginia (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Middletown.
Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 19, 2023
2. The Fatal Halt Marker
The wartime Miller House is in the background.
Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 19, 2023
3. The Wartime Miller House
Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 19, 2023
4. The Wartime Miller Mill
Now in ruins.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2023, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 66 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 3, 2023, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.
