New Market in Shenandoah County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Attack on Manor's Hill

"A cold chill runs down our backs."

— The Battle of New Market (May 15, 1864) —

The Attack on Manor's Hill Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, May 31, 2024

1. The Attack on Manor's Hill Marker

Inscription.

The Attack on Manor's Hill. "A cold chill runs down our backs.". , Time: Morning , You are standing on the western portion of the Union line at the beginning of the Battle of New Market. The 123rd Ohio Infantry and the 18th Connecticut Infantry were positioned here. The cannon of the 1st West Virginia Light Artillery Regiment, Battery G, commanded by Capt. Chatham T. Ewing, were behind them., The battery, formerly known as the Plummer Guards, was formed in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1861, and offered their services to the Unionist government that had been formed in Wheeling, VA. When Confederate Gen. John C. Breckinridge arrived on the field that morning, he placed artillery on Shirley's Hill, the height in the distance, and opened fire. Federal guns, including Ewing's cannon, replied in kind. For two hours the opposing Cannoneers traded fire., At 11am, with the Federals showing no sign of attacking, Breckinridge ordered his infantry to advance. "Our battalion... was ordered to drive in the enemy's skirmishers," remembered Maj. Peter Otey, commander of the 30th Virginia Battalion, "Thus bringing on the fight." Otey and his men advanced down the slope of Shirley's Hill towards the valley between the two hills. The Federals sent their own skirmishers forward, but as one Connecticut soldier said, "we found them too thick and had to fall back.", Breckinridge's main force followed, descending the slope of Shirley's Hill. Most hurried, but the young VMI Corps of Cadets marched in parade ground fashion, exposing them to artillery fire that wounded five cadets., After a pause at the base of this hill, Breckinridge ordered his troops forward on a wide front that outflanked the Union line. The Confederates advanced up the slopes towards you, using their rifle butts to knock the rails off a fence that stood in their way. Watching their approach, a Union artilleryman recalled that, "A cold chill runs down our backs.", But when the Confederates reached this rise, they encountered little resistance. The only significant fighting was in this area, where the 18th Connecticut briefly clashed with the 51st Virginia. Upon arriving on the field, Union Gen. Franz Sigel had already begun to abandon this position and withdraw his troops north, behind you., (Captions):, This image was taken from Shirley's Hill, the hill you see in the distance, looking back at Manor's Hill, the hill you're standing on. , Image courtesy John and Georga Bracken., Battery G, 1st West Virginia Light Artillery, commanded by Capt. Chatham T. Ewing. , Image courtesy West Virginia and Regional History Center, This marker was made possible through the generosity of John and Georga Bracken

Time: Morning
You are standing on the western portion of the Union line at the beginning of the Battle of New Market. The 123rd Ohio Infantry and the 18th Connecticut Infantry were positioned here. The cannon of the 1st West Virginia Light Artillery Regiment, Battery G, commanded by Capt. Chatham T. Ewing, were behind them.

The battery, formerly known as the Plummer Guards, was formed in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1861, and offered their services to the Unionist government that had been formed in Wheeling, VA. When Confederate Gen. John C. Breckinridge arrived on the field that morning, he placed artillery on Shirley's Hill, the height in the distance, and opened fire. Federal guns, including Ewing's cannon, replied in kind. For two hours the opposing Cannoneers traded fire.

At 11am, with the Federals showing no sign of attacking, Breckinridge ordered his infantry to advance. "Our battalion... was ordered to drive in the enemy's skirmishers," remembered Maj. Peter Otey, commander of the 30th Virginia Battalion, "Thus bringing on the fight." Otey and his men advanced down the slope of Shirley's Hill towards the valley between the two hills. The Federals sent their own skirmishers forward, but as one Connecticut soldier said, "we found them too thick and had to fall back."

Breckinridge's main

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force followed, descending the slope of Shirley's Hill. Most hurried, but the young VMI Corps of Cadets marched in parade ground fashion, exposing them to artillery fire that wounded five cadets.

After a pause at the base of this hill, Breckinridge ordered his troops forward on a wide front that outflanked the Union line. The Confederates advanced up the slopes towards you, using their rifle butts to knock the rails off a fence that stood in their way. Watching their approach, a Union artilleryman recalled that, "A cold chill runs down our backs."

But when the Confederates reached this rise, they encountered little resistance. The only significant fighting was in this area, where the 18th Connecticut briefly clashed with the 51st Virginia. Upon arriving on the field, Union Gen. Franz Sigel had already begun to abandon this position and withdraw his troops north, behind you.

(Captions):

This image was taken from Shirley's Hill, the hill you see in the distance, looking back at Manor's Hill, the hill you're standing on.
Image courtesy John and Georga Bracken.

Battery G, 1st West Virginia Light Artillery, commanded by Capt. Chatham T. Ewing.
Image courtesy West Virginia & Regional History Center

This marker was made possible through the generosity of John and Georga Bracken

Erected

Photographed by Bradley Owen, May 31, 2024

2. The Attack on Manor's Hill Marker

2024 by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.

Location. 38° 39.176′ N, 78° 40.456′ W. Marker is in New Market, Virginia, in Shenandoah County. It is on George Collins Parkway (Virginia Route 305) 0.4 miles north of West Old Cross Road ( Route 211), on the left when traveling north. Marker is located on the grounds of the New Market Battlefield Military Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9500 George Collins Parkway, New Market VA 22844, 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: May 15, 1864 (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named May 15, 1864 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Night Before the Battle (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named May 15, 1864 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Confederates on Manor's Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named May 15, 1864 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named May 15, 1864 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named May 15, 1864 (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Market.

Regarding The Attack on Manor's Hill.

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Marker includes a map: The Battle Begins, Late morning, May 15, 1864.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 327 times since then and 31 times this year. Last updated on June 12, 2024, by Bob Arrington of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.