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

Second Battle of Winchester

Outmaneuvered

— Gettysburg Campaign —

Second Battle of Winchester Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike McKeown, October 14, 2024

1. Second Battle of Winchester Marker

Inscription.

Second Battle of Winchester. Outmaneuvered. Late in the afternoon of June 14, 1863, the 57th North Carolina Infantry charged from behind you and swept by in line of battle. The regiment formed the left Confederate flank in the attack on the fortified Union camp called West Fort, about a mile ahead of you on the high ground. It was the early days of the Gettysburg Campaign, and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was marching down Shenandoah Valley to invade the North. Gen. Richard S. Ewell's corps led the march, and the day before had approached Winchester to attack the Federal fortifications and clear the way. Union Gen. Robert H. Milroy had posted 7,000 soldiers and artillery in Star Fort, Fort Milroy, and West Fort to defend the city., Ewell ordered Gen. Jubal A. Early to attack West Fort. Early opened fire with artillery ahead of you. Then the Louisiana Brigade, with the 57th North Carolina here on its left, charged across the fields. After brief hand-to-hand fighting, most of the Federals fled to the other forts but many were captured. That night, Milroy realized that he could not hold Winchester and ordered a withdrawal along the Valley Turnpike to Martinsburg. Anticipating this move, Ewell ordered other forces to Stephenson's Depot to cut off Milroy's retreat. The next morning, disaster struck the Federals as almost all of Milroy's command was captured along with much of the supply trains. It was a crushing defeat for Milroy and a major victory for Ewell, and it cleared the way for Lee's invasion., (caption) Gen. Richard S. Ewell . Gen. Robert H. Milroy Courtesy Library of Congress, (sidebar) , John H.M. Kerr, one of the thousands who fought here on June 14, 1863, was a native of Caswell Co., N.C. He was 18 when he enlisted on July 7, 1862, in Salisbury. He joined Co. H, 57th North Carolina Infantry, as a sergeant and was promoted to lieutenant on Dec. 19, 1862, after the Battle of Fredericksburg. He took part in the action here and then soon afterward, at the Battle of Stephenson's Depot a few miles away on July 20, 1863, he was that in the left leg and captured. His leg was amputated and he was imprisoned until he was exchanged early in March 1865 and transported to a Richmond hospital and that furloughed home later that month. He died in 1924., (caption) Lt. John H.M. Kerr Courtesy N.C. Office of Archives and History

Late in the afternoon of June 14, 1863, the 57th North Carolina Infantry charged from behind you and swept by in line of battle. The regiment formed the left Confederate flank in the attack on the fortified Union camp called West Fort, about a mile ahead of you on the high ground. It was the early days of the Gettysburg Campaign, and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was marching down Shenandoah Valley to invade the North. Gen. Richard S. Ewell's corps led the march, and the day before had approached Winchester to attack the Federal fortifications and clear the way. Union Gen. Robert H. Milroy had posted 7,000 soldiers and artillery in Star Fort, Fort Milroy, and West Fort to defend the city.

Ewell ordered Gen. Jubal A. Early to attack West Fort. Early opened fire with artillery ahead of you. Then the Louisiana Brigade, with the 57th North Carolina here on its left, charged across the fields. After brief hand-to-hand fighting, most of the Federals fled to the other forts but many were captured. That night, Milroy realized that he could not hold Winchester and ordered a withdrawal along the Valley Turnpike to Martinsburg. Anticipating this move, Ewell ordered other forces to Stephenson's Depot to cut off Milroy's retreat. The next morning, disaster struck the Federals as almost all of Milroy's command

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was captured along with much of the supply trains. It was a crushing defeat for Milroy and a major victory for Ewell, and it cleared the way for Lee's invasion.

(caption) Gen. Richard S. Ewell • Gen. Robert H. Milroy Courtesy Library of Congress

(sidebar)
John H.M. Kerr, one of the thousands who fought here on June 14, 1863, was a native of Caswell Co., N.C. He was 18 when he enlisted on July 7, 1862, in Salisbury. He joined Co. H, 57th North Carolina Infantry, as a sergeant and was promoted to lieutenant on Dec. 19, 1862, after the Battle of Fredericksburg. He took part in the action here and then soon afterward, at the Battle of Stephenson's Depot a few miles away on July 20, 1863, he was that in the left leg and captured. His leg was amputated and he was imprisoned until he was exchanged early in March 1865 and transported to a Richmond hospital and that furloughed home later that month. He died in 1924.

(caption) Lt. John H.M. Kerr Courtesy N.C. Office of Archives & History

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 June 14, 1863.

Location.

Photographed by Mike McKeown, October 14, 2024

2. Second Battle of Winchester Marker

marker from further away

39° 12.897′ N, 78° 11.494′ W. Marker is in Winchester, Virginia, in Frederick County. It is at the intersection of North Frederick Pike and Indian Hollow Road, on the left when traveling north on North Frederick Pike. Located south of the Virginia Farm Market parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1881 N Frederick Pike, 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lord Fairfax (approx. 1.4 miles away); Duel of the Forts (approx. 1.6 miles away); a different marker also named Constructing Star Fort (approx. 1.6 miles away); The Retreat (approx. 1.6 miles away); The Civilian's War (approx. 1.6 miles away); A Place of Refuge (approx. 1.6 miles away); a different marker also named Second Battle of Winchester (approx. 2 miles away); Glen Burnie (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.

Other markers no longer nearby. Second Battle of Winchester (has been replaced with this marker); Star Fort (was approx. 1.6 miles away but has been permanently removed); Constructing Star Fort (was approx. 1.6 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Third Battle of Winchester (was approx. 1.6 miles away but has been permanently removed); a different

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marker also named Second Battle of Winchester (was approx. 1.6 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Civil War Earthworks (was approx. 1.6 miles away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Second Battle of Winchester (was approx. 1.6 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old CWT Marker At This Location also titled "Second Battle of Winchester".

Also see . . .
1. Second Battle of Winchester. Wikipedia (Submitted on October 14, 2024.)

2. The Second Battle of Winchester. Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (SVBF) (Submitted on October 14, 2024.)

3. Second Winchester. American Battlefield Trust (ABT) (Submitted on October 14, 2024.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2024, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 409 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 14, 2024, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.