Near Fishers Hill in Shenandoah County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Pegram's Division Collapses

"In the wildest disorder"

— The Battle of Fisher's Hill (September 22, 1864) —

Pegram's Division Collapses Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 12, 2024

1. Pegram's Division Collapses Marker

Inscription.

Pegram's Division Collapses. "In the wildest disorder". , As Grimes's position was being overwhelmed, Gen. Stephen Ramseur ordered Gen. Philip Cook's small brigade (which was positioned near here) to move to that flank, but as Cook's men pulled out of their trenches, they were routed by troops advancing from the north. Crook's and Ricketts's Federals swept east along the southern trench line as Union commander Gen. Philip Sheridan shouted, "Run boys, Run! Don't wait for them to form!", Confederate commander Gen. Jubal Early arrived on the high ground on the opposite side of present-day Interstate 81 in front of you and attempted to organize a defense. He sent orders to Gen. Gabriel Wharton to redeploy his division from the extreme Confederate right to the left. That would take time, however - time that Early no longer had., Gen. John Pegram, commander of the next division in line, tried to stem the Union assault by moving troops to his left. But as Capt. Samuel D. Buck of the 13th Virginia remembered, "the North Carolina brigade on our left concluded Gen. Pegram was trying to get [our brigade] out and leave them to be captured, and, without firing a shot, broke and ran over us, carrying us off the field without any organization." Early ordered the Virginians to "fire into" the fleeing men, but "No one obeyed the order.", The rest of Pegram's division soon gave way, under pressure not just from Crook and Ricketts, but also from Gen. George Getty's division to the north, which attacked Pegram's front. As the Federals advanced, Pegram's men "poured in one tremendous volley...then broke and fled in the wildest disorder.", The remaining Confederate divisions soon fell like dominoes from west to east, and retreated southwards in disarray., (Captions):, Gen. George W. Getty , Courtesy Library of Congress, Gen. John Pegram , Courtesy Library of Congress, Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur , Courtesy Portrait Collection, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Louis Round Wilson Special Collections Library, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

As Grimes's position was being overwhelmed, Gen. Stephen Ramseur ordered Gen. Philip Cook's small brigade (which was positioned near here) to move to that flank, but as Cook's men pulled out of their trenches, they were routed by troops advancing from the north. Crook's and Ricketts's Federals swept east along the southern trench line as Union commander Gen. Philip Sheridan shouted, "Run boys, Run! Don't wait for them to form!"

Confederate commander Gen. Jubal Early arrived on the high ground on the opposite side of present-day Interstate 81 in front of you and attempted to organize a defense. He sent orders to Gen. Gabriel Wharton to redeploy his division from the extreme Confederate right to the left. That would take time, however - time that Early no longer had.

Gen. John Pegram, commander of the next division in line, tried to stem the Union assault by moving troops to his left. But as Capt. Samuel D. Buck of the 13th Virginia remembered, "the North Carolina brigade on our left concluded Gen. Pegram was trying to get [our brigade] out and leave them to be captured, and, without firing a shot, broke and ran

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over us, carrying us off the field without any organization." Early ordered the Virginians to "fire into" the fleeing men, but "No one obeyed the order."

The rest of Pegram's division soon gave way, under pressure not just from Crook and Ricketts, but also from Gen. George Getty's division to the north, which attacked Pegram's front. As the Federals advanced, Pegram's men "poured in one tremendous volley...then broke and fled in the wildest disorder."

The remaining Confederate divisions soon fell like dominoes from west to east, and retreated southwards in disarray.

(Captions):

Gen. George W. Getty
Courtesy Library of Congress

Gen. John Pegram
Courtesy Library of Congress

Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur
Courtesy Portrait Collection, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Louis Round Wilson Special Collections Library, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Erected 2024 by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. 38° 59.253′ N, 78° 25.133′ W. Marker is near Fishers

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, May 6, 2026

2. Pegram's Division Collapses Marker

Hill, Virginia, in Shenandoah County. It can be reached from Battlefield Road (Virginia Route 601) 0.3 miles east of Tumbling Run Lane, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located on the one-mile Fisher's Hill Battlefield hiking trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1847 Battlefield Road, Strasburg VA 22657, 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 of this marker: A different marker also named Fisher’s Hill (about 500 feet away); The Coming Storm (about 500 feet away); The Fight for the "Bull Pens" (about 500 feet away); Crook's Flanking Movement

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 12, 2024

3. Pegram's Division Collapses Marker

(about 600 feet away); Confederate Left Disintegrates (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Fisher’s Hill (about 700 feet away); Eve of Battle (about 700 feet away); Crook's Attack (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fishers Hill.

Other markers no longer nearby. Fisher’s Hill (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Fisher's Hill (was about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Fisher’s Hill (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Fisher’s Hill (was about 600 feet away but has been permanently removed); Battle of Fisher’s Hill (was about 600 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Regarding Pegram's Division Collapses. Marker includes a map: Fisher's Hill: Pegram's Division Collapses, September 22, 1864.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced another at this location.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 190 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 8, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 2. submitted on May 6, 2026, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3. submitted on November 8, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.