Front Royal in Warren County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Richardson’s Hill
Kenly Makes His Stand
| — | Battle of Front Royal, May 23, 1862 | — |
Directly in front of you is the “commanding height” where Union Col. John H. Kenly made his last attempt to hold Front Royal. Atop Richardson’s Hill—this “cherty” ridge, as Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson called it—Kenly posted the two-gun section of Knap's Battery E, Pennsylvania Light Artillery. The two ten-pounder Parrott rifled cannons, commanded by Lt. Charles Atwell, pinned down the Confederates on the plain below while Kenly’s infantry gathered here to support the guns.
Kenly realized that the Union occupation of Front Royal was essential to protect the left flank of Gen. Nathaniel Banks’s main army at Strasburg. “I prepared to hold the position as long as possible,” Kenly later wrote, “for I was certain that if I did not check Jackson’s advance ... Banks was lost.” In a momentary stroke of good luck, two companies of the 5th New York Cavalry arrived from Strasburg to augment Kenly’s infantry.
Col. Bradley T. Johnson, commanding the Confederate attackers, soon countered Kenly’s deployment. While the 1st Maryland infantry (CSA) and Maj. Chatham Roberdeau Wheat’s battalion returned fire from behind the stone wall below Richardson’s Hill, the 6th Louisiana Infantry flanked the Union position to the west. In addition, Lt. Col. Thomas S. Flournoy's 6th Virginia Cavalry threatened the Federal
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Erected by 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 Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 23, 1862.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 38° 56.198′ N, 78° 11.679′ W. Marker was in Front Royal, Virginia, in Warren County. It was on North Royal Avenue north of West 14th Street (U.S. 340), on the left when traveling north. Three routes converge on North Royal Avenue on their way out of town: U.S. 340 north, Virginia 55 west, and U.S. 522 north. The three routes turn left onto West 14th Street, and North Royal Avenue continues straight ahead as a narrow residential street. The marker is just north of the intersection of Royal and 15th Street. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Front Royal VA 22630, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in the Shenandoah Valley. It was also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, 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, 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 2 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Richardson's Hill (a few steps from this marker); Race For The River (approx. 0.4 miles away); Rose Hill (approx. half a mile away); a different
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 29, 2006
2. Richardson’s Hill Marker
This is a previous iteration of the marker. the information is identical, although it does not have the Shenandoah At War logo.
Other markers no longer nearby. Execution of Mosby’s Rangers (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); The Bridges (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Guard Hill (was approx. 0.9 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Bel Air (was approx. 1.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Regarding Richardson’s Hill. This marker is one of several from a driving tour of the Front Royal Battlefield. The markers are listed in sequence on the Battle of Front Royal Virtual Tour by Markers link below.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced by another at this location.
Also see . . .
Photographed by Linda Walcroft, August 13, 2008
4. Richardson’s Hill in 2008
Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,080 times since then and 73 times this year. Last updated on May 9, 2025, by Mark P. Brock-Cancellieri of Baltimore, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on October 24, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on January 6, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on October 25, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on August 14, 2008, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
