Near Falling Waters in Berkeley County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

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Battle of Falling Waters

Jackson’s Coolness Under Fire

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 11, 2011

1. Battle of Falling Waters Marker

Inscription.

Battle of Falling Waters. Jackson’s Coolness Under Fire. , On the morning of July 2, 1861, Federal troops under Gen. Robert Patterson crossed the Potomac River from Maryland and marched south toward Martinsburg. Colonel Thomas J. Jackson sent his men north from their camp north of town to block them and to determine whether they approached in force, as General Joseph E. Johnston had directed him. Jackson was to retire if the Federal troops outnumbered his own. After he discovered that he was outnumbered, Jackson fought a brief delaying action near Falling Waters (near Hoke’s Run, another name for the engagement) and then fell back. He paused here to write a message to Johnston regarding the Union strength. Corporal William M. Brown later recalled what happened next.,

“Seating himself on a large, loose, round stone on the west side of the road, [Jackson] commenced to write. A shot from a Federal battery struck centrally, ten feet from the ground, a large white oak tree that stood in the fence corner close to Jackson and knocked a mass of bark, splinters and trash all over him and the paper on which he was writing. He brushed away the trash with the back of his hand, finished the dispatch without a sign that he knew anything unusual was going on, folded it, handed it to the courier and dismissed him courteously: ‘Carry this to General Johnston with my compliments, and see that you lose no time on the way.’”

, Jackson then said, “They have gotten our range. I suppose we had better retire.” Relieved, the troops near Jackson moved on., (captions) , Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, Winchester, Va., Nov. 1862 - Courtesy Library of Congress , Battle of Hoke’s Run, Harper’s Weekly, July 27, 1861 , Whitonia, the house of William Hill, stood about thirty yards from here on the western side of the road. One of the grand oak trees in the yard was struck by the Union shot and showered Jackson with debris. Built in 1785 to replace an earlier log dwelling, the house burned in 1997.

On the morning of July 2, 1861, Federal troops under Gen. Robert Patterson crossed the Potomac River from Maryland and marched south toward Martinsburg. Colonel Thomas J. Jackson sent his men north from their camp north of town to block them and to determine whether they approached in force, as General Joseph E. Johnston had directed him. Jackson was to retire if the Federal troops outnumbered his own. After he discovered that he was outnumbered, Jackson fought a brief delaying action near Falling Waters (near Hoke’s Run, another name for the engagement) and then fell back. He paused here to write a message to Johnston regarding the Union strength. Corporal William M. Brown later recalled what happened next.

“Seating himself on a large, loose, round stone on the west side of the road, [Jackson] commenced to write. A shot from a Federal battery struck centrally, ten feet from the ground, a large white oak tree that stood in the fence corner close to Jackson and knocked a mass of bark, splinters and trash all over him and the paper on which he was writing. He brushed away the trash with the back of his hand, finished
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the dispatch without a sign that he knew anything unusual was going on, folded it, handed it to the courier and dismissed him courteously: ‘Carry this to General Johnston with my compliments, and see that you lose no time on the way.’”

Jackson then said, “They have gotten our range. I suppose we had better retire.” Relieved, the troops near Jackson moved on.

(captions)
Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, Winchester, Va., Nov. 1862 - Courtesy Library of Congress
Battle of Hoke’s Run, Harper’s Weekly, July 27, 1861
Whitonia, the house of William Hill, stood about thirty yards from here on the western side of the road. One of the grand oak trees in the yard was struck by the Union shot and showered Jackson with debris. Built in 1785 to replace an earlier log dwelling, the house burned in 1997.

Erected by West Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 2, 1861.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 39° 32.233′ N, 77° 54.607′ W.

Marker on Williamsport Pike image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 11, 2011

2. Marker on Williamsport Pike

Marker was near Falling Waters, West Virginia, in Berkeley County. It was on Williamsport Pike (U.S. 11) 0.2 miles north of Beall Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 5006 Williamsport Pike, Martinsburg WV 25404, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in the Eastern Panhandle.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: General “Stonewall” Jackson (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Battle of Falling Waters (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Falling Waters (approx. half a mile away);

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, April 11, 2011

3. Battle of Falling Waters Marker

The marker is located on the Falling Waters Battlefield.

Skirmishers Pull Back (approx. 0.8 miles away); Advance to Battle (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Fighting Grows (approx. 0.9 miles away); Action at Stumpy's Hollow (approx. 0.9 miles away); Federals Cross the Potomac (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Falling Waters.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Battle of Falling Waters (was approx. 0.7 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. View series of markers relating to the Battle of Falling Waters.

Also see . . . Battle of Falling Waters - July 2, 1861. Falling Waters Battlefield Association website homepage (Submitted on April 11, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Photographed by Mike McKeown, September 2, 2024

4. Battle of Falling Waters Marker

CWT Marker missing

Credits. This page was last revised on January 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 11, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 3,227 times since then and 80 times this year. Last updated on September 2, 2024, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 11, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4. submitted on September 2, 2024, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.