Near Winchester in Frederick County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Order for Retreat
Photographed by Craig Swain, October 20, 2007
1. The Order for Retreat Marker
A Virtual Tour of the Battle of Kernstown by HMDb markers.
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Northern commander Colonel Nathan Kimball 1.5 miles away (over the hill on your right) on Prichard's Hill faced the threat of defeat. He decided to seize the initiative and order a second assault against the Southern artillery atop Sandy Ridge. At approximately 5:00 p.m., the first of these troops arrived, causing some of the Southern artillery to withdraw and threatening the Southern right flank behind the stone wall.
The troops behind the stone wall were now under Southern Brigadier General Richard B. Garnett's command. "Stonewall" Jackson was not near the front lines.
By 6:00 p.m., things were looking desperate to Garnett. His men were gathering ammunition from fallen comrades. He encouraged them to "aim low and pick your men." Now fighting in two directions, casualties mounting, ammunition nearly exhausted, darkness imminent, and no orders to the contrary from Jackson, Garnett made the decision to withdraw his troops from the stone wall just minutes before sunset.
Jackson was furious.
Within ten days Jackson ordered Garnett arrested and relieved of command for "neglect of duty on March 23 at Kernstown." In August, a court-martial convened but was interrupted by the war and never finished. Garnett died riding a horse in Pickett's Charge.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil
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Location. 39° 9.222′ N, 78° 12.911′ W. Marker is near Winchester, Virginia, in Frederick County. It can be reached from Jones Road (County Route 621), on the right when traveling north. Located at stop six of the walking tour of Rose Hill. See the link to the Museum of the Shenandoah for details about visiting Rose Hill. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1985 Jones Road, Winchester VA 22602, 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: The Advance of Tylers Brigade (about 400 feet away); Northern Victory, Southern Defeat (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named The Defense of the Stone Wall (about 700 feet away); Fight for the High Ground (approx. 0.2 miles away); The First Battle Of Kernstown (approx. Ό mile away); Rose Hill (approx. Ό mile away); War In The Backyard (approx. Ό mile away); How To See the Battlefield (approx. Ό mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.
Another marker is no longer nearby. The Defense of the Stone Wall (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker. On the left side of the marker is a large map showing the situation around sunset on the day of the
Photographed by Craig Swain, October 20, 2007
2. Walking Tour Stop Six for Rose Hill
The stone wall runs east-west behind the marker.
Regarding The Order for Retreat. This is one of seven battlefield interpretive markers at Rose Hill. See the related markers section below for a listing of the walking tour, or the Kernstown Battles Virtual Tour by Markers in the links section for a driving tour.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Also see . . .
1. Rose Hill Park. Museum of the Shenandoah website entry (Submitted on November 12, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Battle of First Kernstown Summary. The action around Rose Hill is discussed in phase three of this National Parks Service battle summary. (Submitted on November 12, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed by Craig Swain, October 20, 2007
3. Portions of the Reconstructed Stone Wall
Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,672 times since then and 21 times this year. Last updated on August 15, 2024, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 12, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
