Imboden's Spring

Imboden's Spring. Historic Water Source. , In the woods in front of you lies Imboden's Spring. The spring was likely named after Confederate Gen. John D. Imboden, who was given command of the Valley District in late July 1863. According to the 1914 Benjamin Colonna map of the New Market battlefield, Imboden and his men camped here in 1863-1864. During the Civil War, the spring provided a water source for both Union and Confederate troops who camped in the area., Long before the war, the spring was almost certainly used by Native Americans who traveled through here. In fact, the deep ravine in which the spring lies is called Indian Hollow. The historic springhead is of uncertain age, but could easily date to the 19th-century, and likely earlier. The spring played an important role in providing water for livestock and people., At some point in its use, a 20-foot square spring house was constructed over the springhead. The spring house kept dirt, leaves, and other debris out of the water, and was used as a natural refrigerator to preserve food. The foundation of the walls of the springhouse was made of cut limestone, although the walls were likely mostly made of wood. The soil to one side was elevated as an earthen berm to create a ramp, apparently to allow a wagon or cart access to a second story in the structure., A rock outcrop to the west of the spring may have been quarried to provide the limestone used in constructing the foundation of the springhouse., Much of the information on this marker comes from a cultural resource assessment of the site, commissioned by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District and written by Kimberly Tinkham, Joseph W. A. Whitehorne, and Clarence Geier., (Captions):, Confederate Gen. John Imboden. It is thought that the spring was named after Imboden, who camped here in 1863 and 1864. , Image courtesy Library of Congress., A section of the 1914 Colonna map that shows the location of Imboden's Spring and Imboden's 1863-1864 camp. The camp is #26 on the map. The spring is the small circle above and to the right of the camp.