Race For The River

Race For The River. “Burn the Bridges!”. , Shots and shouts filled the air here on the afternoon of May 23, 1862. Union troops swarmed past this spot as they raced to cross a wagon bridge that spanned the river in front of you. Pursuing Confederates were hot on their heels. One Union officer fell dead almost at your feet., Flanked out of his position on Richardson's Hill, Union Col. John R. Kenly had hurried his command north to cross the bridges that spanned the forks of the Shenandoah River. Two bridges crossed the South Fork to the peninsula beyond, the wagon bridge here and a railroad bridge 400 yards to your right. Another span, the Pike Bridge, crossed the North Fork., Once Kenly's men were safely across, they packed hay onto the bridges and set it afire. But the wooden beams, soaked by recent rains, proved hard to set alight. Confederates from the 1st Maryland threw the blazing hay off the wagon bridge and crossed here, while 8th Louisiana soldiers under Gen. Richard Taylor stepped on the railroad ties to cross that bridge, although some fell into the river below., Hurrying across the Pike Bridge, Kenly ordered that span burned as well, and a section of the structure collapsed. But Confederate cavalrymen began fording the river, while others carried water in their hats and canteens to put out the fire. Kenly's time was running out., (sidebar) , Medal of Honor at Front Royal , Union Sgt. William Taylor received the Medal of Honor for helping to burn the Pike Bridge. His citation read, "he was painfully wounded while obeying an order to burn a bridge, but persevering in the attempt, he burned the bridge and prevented its use by the enemy."