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

The Executions of George Summers and Isaac Koontz

"We must soon leave this world"

— Civil War New Market —

The Executions of George Summers and Isaac Koontz Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 11, 2024

1. The Executions of George Summers and Isaac Koontz Marker

Inscription.

The Executions of George Summers and Isaac Koontz. "We must soon leave this world". , The monument in front of you was erected in 1909 to the memory of Confederates Capt. George Summers and Sgt. Isaac Newton Koontz. On June 27, 1865, the 22-year-old Summers and 20-year-old Koontz were executed at this site, without trial, for a crime for which they had previously been forgiven., Summers and Koontz had been members of the Massanutten Rangers (of the 7th Virginia Cavalry). On May 22, the two men, along with Pvt. Jacob D. Koontz (Isaac's brother) and Pvt. Andrew J. Kite, were traveling north on the Valley Turnpike, reportedly to take the oath of allegiance to the Union, but near Narrow Passage they came upon six straggling Union cavalrymen and seized the Federals' horses at gunpoint., The men returned home, but fearing retribution and at the behest of Summers' father - they brought the horses and other property back to the camp of the 192nd Ohio, just north of here on Rude's Hill. The unit's commander, Union Col. Francis Butterfield, agreed that the men "should not be molested or disturbed.", But a month later, the temporary commander of the 192nd, Lt. Col. Cyrus Hussey, ordered the arrest and execution of the "men who been guilty of attacking U.S. troops and stealing horses." On the morning of June 27, Union cavalry arrested Capt. Summers and Sgt. Koontz and brought them back to this side of Massanutten Mountain. (Jacob Koontz and Andrew Kite escaped.), The men asked to go to the Union camp to plead their case, but upon reaching this spot they were told they could go no further. At 7:30 pm, as the sun set, the men were forced to their knees, tied to a stake, and shot., In a farewell letter to his family, Summers wrote, "We must soon leave this world to try the realities of an unknown one." Koontz wrote to his fiancée, Emma Shuler: "They are now ready to shoot me. Oh, Emma, dearest in the world to me, how can I leave you but I must.", (Captions):, Confederate Captain George Summers , Image courtesy Linda Flowers., George Summers, Sr. was left bereft at the death of his son. , Image courtesy Robert H. Moore II., This marker was made possible through the generosity of Summers and Koontz Camp #450, SCV, and Capt. Jack Adams Camp #1951, SCV.

The monument in front of you was erected in 1909 to the memory of Confederates Capt. George Summers and Sgt. Isaac Newton Koontz. On June 27, 1865, the 22-year-old Summers and 20-year-old Koontz were executed at this site, without trial, for a crime for which they had previously been forgiven.

Summers and Koontz had been members of the Massanutten Rangers (of the 7th Virginia Cavalry). On May 22, the two men, along with Pvt. Jacob D. Koontz (Isaac's brother) and Pvt. Andrew J. Kite, were traveling north on the Valley Turnpike, reportedly to take the oath of allegiance to the Union, but near Narrow Passage they came upon six straggling Union cavalrymen and seized the Federals' horses at gunpoint.

The men returned home, but fearing retribution and at the behest of Summers' father - they brought the horses and other property back to the camp of the 192nd Ohio, just north of here on Rude's Hill. The unit's commander, Union Col. Francis Butterfield, agreed that the men "should not be molested or disturbed."

But a month later, the temporary commander of the 192nd, Lt. Col. Cyrus Hussey, ordered the arrest and execution of the "men who been guilty of attacking U.S. troops and stealing horses." On the morning of June 27, Union cavalry arrested Capt. Summers and Sgt. Koontz and brought them back to this side

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of Massanutten Mountain. (Jacob Koontz and Andrew Kite escaped.)

The men asked to go to the Union camp to plead their case, but upon reaching this spot they were told they could go no further. At 7:30 pm, as the sun set, the men were forced to their knees, tied to a stake, and shot.

In a farewell letter to his family, Summers wrote, "We must soon leave this world to try the realities of an unknown one." Koontz wrote to his fiancée, Emma Shuler: "They are now ready to shoot me. Oh, Emma, dearest in the world to me, how can I leave you but I must."

(Captions):

Confederate Captain George Summers
Image courtesy Linda Flowers.

George Summers, Sr. was left bereft at the death of his son.
Image courtesy Robert H. Moore II.

This marker was made possible through the generosity of Summers & Koontz Camp #450, SCV, & Capt. Jack Adams Camp #1951, SCV.

Erected 2024 by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is May 22, 1909.

Location. 38° 41.574′ N, 78° 38.999′ W. Marker is near New Market, Virginia, in Shenandoah County. It is on Old Valley Pike (U.S. 11) 0.2 miles south of Smith Creek Road, on the right when

Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 11, 2024

2. The Executions of George Summers and Isaac Koontz Marker

traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4610 Old Valley Pike, 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: DuPont and the Union Retreat (here, next to this marker); The Summers & Koontz Executions (a few steps from this marker); Post-Appomattox Tragedy (a few steps from this marker); The Post-Appomattox Tragedy Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Summers & Koontz Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of Noah Richard Proctor (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cavalry Engagement (approx. 0.7 miles away); Rude’s Hill (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Market.

Another marker is no longer nearby. DuPont at Rude’s Hill (was a few steps from this marker but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).

Summers and Koontz Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 11, 2024

3. Summers and Koontz Monument

Monument to the memory of Confederates Capt. George Summers and Sgt. Isaac Newton Koontz.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 975 times since then and 140 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 29, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.