Battle of First Kernstown

Battle of First Kernstown. Fulkerson/Garnett Assault. , (Preface): , It is March 23, 1862 approximately 2:30 PM, You are standing about 600 yards from the Union batteries on Pritchard's Hill., (Main Text): , When the 37th Virginia, the lead regiment of Colonel Fulkerson's brigade, had marched to this point, the 33rd Virginia of General Garnett's brigade began to emerge from Barton's Woods. Garnett's mission was to support Colonel Fulkerson, but because General Jackson had sent these orders through an aide, Lt. George Junkin, General Garnett did not fully understand how he was to support Colonel Fulkerson, for he was never told what Fulkerson's orders were., Because of this confusion, and by Garnett's own admission that he spent too much time observing the Union movements and directing the 33rd Virginia, he neglected to issue orders to his remaining three regiments (the 2nd, 4th, and 27th Virginia) to move in behind the 33rd as it advanced in support of Fulkerson's brigade., At this point in the assault, the Union gunners on Pritchard's Hill, from their commanding position, continued their effective fire on the advancing Confederates., Lt. Robinson's battery added solid shot and exploding shell fire to the already ferocious Union artillery fire coming from Pritchard's Hill, demonstrating the value of Lt. Col. Daum's decision to direct this move. In an attempt to reduce the artillery threat to his brigade, Colonel Fulkerson issued orders to turn obliquely to the left., However, the following factors came into play that negated this effort:, . To the north of where you are now standing, the three branches of Hoge Run crossing the route of advance, all running strong due to the excessive rain and snow over the winter of 1861-2, made this ground marshy and difficult to traverse., . This move, intended to move the brigade to the shelter of a wooded area to the west, presented a larger target to the Union gunners, and his men began to fall in greater numbers., When you are ready, move north to the paved lane just west of the large white barn and stop at Marker Post 3D to read a detailed story of the Pettus and Eubank cousins who took part in this assault. Then proceed to Marker Post 3E, located beyond the barn at the curve in the paved lane to complete this story.