Near Winchester in Frederick County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Duel of the Forts

"We had to work our guns on our knees"

— The Second Battle of Winchester (June 13-15, 1863) —

Duel of the Forts Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 12, 2024

1. Duel of the Forts Marker

Inscription.

Duel of the Forts. "We had to work our guns on our knees". , After initial fighting south of Winchester on June 13, 1863, Union commander Gen. Robert H. Milroy concentrated his forces in the triangle formed by Fort Milroy, West Fort, and Star Fort. On the evening of June 14, Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early's infantry captured West Fort, about a mile to your front. When Early's artillery followed, the Baltimore Light Artillery here in Star Fort opened fire, knocking one southern cannon on its side and hitting a caisson that "blew up with a terrific crash.", When the remaining Confederate guns reached West Fort, they engaged in an artillery duel with the Union cannon here and in Fort Milroy. "The guns in Star Fort greeted them with shell after shell planted among them with astonishing precision," recalled a Union soldier., The Confederate gunners replied in kind. "There was not an instant when there were not five or six shells bursting over our heads or crashing against [the] parapet," Union Pvt. Frederick Wild described the experience here in Star Fort. "We had to work our guns on our knees," a Union officer wrote, "the shell[s] killing our horses and wounding our men.", One of the Union artillerymen had his leg torn off by a shell, and Pvt. Wild recalled a horse that "had a piece torn out of his throat as wide as your hand...Every time he exhaled, a spurt of blood came out with the air. He appeared to know that he was going to die...He was trembling as if cold.", Around 10:00 p.m., the last of the firing died out. "An ominous silence reigned," recalled a Union cavalryman, "while the heads and hearts of our boys were busied with thoughts of the morrow.", (Captions):, Artillery pieces and limbers in Star Fort. , Lewis Neill Barton Collection, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA, Union Lt. Peter Leary, commander of a two-gun section, "stripped off his coat, and took a hand in loading and firing a cannon in his shirt sleeves." , Image from Memoirs and History of Captain Frederick W. Alexander's Baltimore Light Artillery

After initial fighting south of Winchester on June 13, 1863, Union commander Gen. Robert H. Milroy concentrated his forces in the triangle formed by Fort Milroy, West Fort, and Star Fort. On the evening of June 14, Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early's infantry captured West Fort, about a mile to your front. When Early's artillery followed, the Baltimore Light Artillery here in Star Fort opened fire, knocking one southern cannon on its side and hitting a caisson that "blew up with a terrific crash."

When the remaining Confederate guns reached West Fort, they engaged in an artillery duel with the Union cannon here and in Fort Milroy. "The guns in Star Fort greeted them with shell after shell planted among them with astonishing precision," recalled a Union soldier.

The Confederate gunners replied in kind. "There was not an instant when there were not five or six shells bursting over our heads or crashing against [the] parapet," Union Pvt. Frederick Wild described the experience here in Star Fort. "We had to work our guns on our knees," a Union officer wrote, "the shell[s] killing our horses and wounding our men."

One of the Union artillerymen had his leg torn off by a shell, and Pvt. Wild recalled a horse that "had a piece torn out of his throat as wide as your hand...Every time he exhaled, a spurt of

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blood came out with the air. He appeared to know that he was going to die...He was trembling as if cold."

Around 10:00 p.m., the last of the firing died out. "An ominous silence reigned," recalled a Union cavalryman, "while the heads and hearts of our boys were busied with thoughts of the morrow."

(Captions):

Artillery pieces and limbers in Star Fort.
Lewis Neill Barton Collection, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA

Union Lt. Peter Leary, commander of a two-gun section, "stripped off his coat, and took a hand in loading and firing a cannon in his shirt sleeves."
Image from Memoirs and History of Captain Frederick W. Alexander's Baltimore Light Artillery

Erected 2024 by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is June 13, 1863.

Location. 39° 12.383′ N, 78° 9.851′ W. Marker is near Winchester, Virginia, in Frederick County. It can be reached from Fortress Drive 0.2 miles north of North Frederick Pike (U.S. 522), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 508 Fortress Drive, Winchester VA 22603, 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

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 12, 2024

2. Duel of the Forts Marker

of this marker: A different marker also named Constructing Star Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); The Retreat (within shouting distance of this marker); The Civilian's War (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Place of Refuge (about 300 feet away); Lord Fairfax (approx. ¼ mile away); Fort Collier (approx. 0.6 miles away); George Washington in Winchester (approx. 0.6 miles away); 2nd Battle of Winchester / 3rd Battle of Winchester (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.

Other markers no longer nearby. Third Battle of Winchester (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Second Battle of Winchester (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Constructing Star Fort (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Star Fort (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Civil War Earthworks (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Second Battle of Winchester (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Related marker. Click here for

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another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced another at this location.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 338 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 13, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.