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
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: Union Counterattack 4:00 p.m. (approx. Ό mile away); Battle of Cedar Creek (approx. Ό 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. Ύ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Middletown.
Additional commentary.
1. Miller House in the 1980s
I grew up at Miller House in the 80s. The property was well-kept at that time, with many flower gardens and a white split rail fence that separated the yard from the road. The large wooden barn and the smaller brick house were still standing then. I caught my bus to school right at the end of the driveway.
We built a white octagonal gazebo where the new driveway on the backside
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 19, 2023
2. The Fatal Halt Marker
The wartime Miller House is in the background.
The property has a lot of history, and I heard many credible ghost stories, but never saw anything myself. I hope it's restored to its former glory.
— Submitted August 22, 2024, by David Walker of Fairview Park, Ohio.
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.
Photographed by Linda Walcroft, 1997
5. The house that is now in ruins as seen in 1997.
This house was decrepit in 1997 and later collapsed. A woman who lived in the larger house next-door, which is now called the Miller House, said that this house was not a mill but a residence. The mill itself was long gone. Her house had the same entrance porch, but was larger than this one, which only had two front windows on each floor.
There is a painting by John Chumley, American realist, of this house when it was still standing. It appeared that there was a bricked-over window above the front door.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2023, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 777 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 3, 2023, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 5. submitted on January 23, 2025, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia.
