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

Tigers from the Woods

York's Brigade Holds the Confederate Center

— The Third Battle of Winchester (September 19, 1864) —

Tigers from the Woods Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jay Richardson, August 28, 2020

1. Tigers from the Woods Marker

Inscription.

Tigers from the Woods. York's Brigade Holds the Confederate Center. , Time: Early Afternoon , When Confederate Gen. John B. Gordon's division arrived on the battlefield just before the Federals launched their main attack, Gen. Zebulon York's small brigade of 650 Louisiana veterans, aka the Louisiana Tigers, was on the right of Gordon's line, along the eastern edge of the West Woods, in the area where you're standing today., When Confederate commander Gen. Jubal A. Early saw Union Gen Cuvier Grover's large 19th Corps division advancing into the Middle Field, Early personally directed the Pelican State soldiers to advance into the field and "meet them half way." York's men eagerly complied. Supported by Confederate artillery on a height west of modern I-81 (about 1,200 yards behind you), they engaged Col. Jacob Sharpe's U.S. brigade. Capt. William J. Seymour of Louisiana described the ensuing clash: "The beautiful and rare sight was presented of two opposing lines charging at the same time." The two sides traded volleys at short range, but Gen. William Terry's Virginians joined the fight on York's left and delivered a devastating fire into the attacking Federals while the Confederate artillery pounded the blue lines., Sharpe's brigade broke from right to left and began streaming back to the First Woods for shelter after suffering heavy losses. Most of the brigade had been shattered, but Lt. Col. Alfred Neafie's 156th New York rallied in the woods and rejoined the fight with the 6th Corps. The New Yorkers moved forward with its bald eagle mascot soaring overhead and assisted in forcing Gordon's division back. They engaged the Confederates and held their position until Rodes's counterattack forced the entire Union line back to the First Woods. By then, 111 of the New Yorkers had been killed or wounded in the Middle Field., This sign made possible through funds donated by the Millbrook High School Cross Country Team, (captions) , This image shows the original Louisiana Tigers in New Orleans in 1861. By 1864, the much-dwindled remnants of the original Tigers had been consolidated with other Louisiana troops, although the combined brigade was also called the Tigers., Gen. Zebulon York York was born in Maine, Col. Alfred Neafie Image courtesy Nicholas P. Piceno Collection

Time: Early Afternoon
When Confederate Gen. John B. Gordon's division arrived on the battlefield just before the Federals launched their main attack, Gen. Zebulon York's small brigade of 650 Louisiana veterans—aka the Louisiana Tigers—was on the right of Gordon's line, along the eastern edge of the West Woods, in the area where you're standing today.

When Confederate commander Gen. Jubal A. Early saw Union Gen Cuvier Grover's large 19th Corps division advancing into the Middle Field, Early personally directed the Pelican State soldiers to advance into the field and "meet them half way." York's men eagerly complied. Supported by Confederate artillery on a height west of modern I-81 (about 1,200 yards behind you), they engaged Col. Jacob Sharpe's U.S. brigade. Capt. William J. Seymour of Louisiana described the ensuing clash: "The beautiful and rare sight was presented of two opposing lines charging at the same time." The two sides traded volleys at short range, but Gen. William Terry's Virginians joined the fight on York's left and delivered a devastating fire into the attacking Federals while the Confederate artillery

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pounded the blue lines.

Sharpe's brigade broke from right to left and began streaming back to the First Woods for shelter after suffering heavy losses. Most of the brigade had been shattered, but Lt. Col. Alfred Neafie's 156th New York rallied in the woods and rejoined the fight with the 6th Corps. The New Yorkers moved forward with its bald eagle mascot soaring overhead and assisted in forcing Gordon's division back. They engaged the Confederates and held their position until Rodes's counterattack forced the entire Union line back to the First Woods. By then, 111 of the New Yorkers had been killed or wounded in the Middle Field.

This sign made possible through funds donated by the Millbrook High School Cross Country Team

(captions)
This image shows the original Louisiana Tigers in New Orleans in 1861. By 1864, the much-dwindled remnants of the original Tigers had been consolidated with other Louisiana troops, although the combined brigade was also called the Tigers.

Gen. Zebulon York York was born in Maine

Col. Alfred Neafie Image courtesy Nicholas P. Piceno Collection

Erected 2020 by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields

Tigers from the Woods Marker Along the West Woods Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jay Richardson, August 28, 2020

2. Tigers from the Woods Marker Along the West Woods Trail

Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is September 19, 1864.

Location. 39° 11.734′ N, 78° 7.927′ W. Marker is near Winchester, Virginia, in Frederick County. It can be reached from Redbud Road 0.9 miles east of Martinsburg Pike (U.S. 11), on the right when traveling east. Located along the West Woods Trail in the Third Winchester Battlefield Park. The trail can also be accessed from the south at 170 Getty Lane. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 541 Redbud Rd, 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

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least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Counterattack! (approx. 0.2 miles away); Major General Robert Emmett Rodes (approx. 0.2 miles away); Breaking the Deadlock (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bloody Repulse (approx. 0.3 miles away); Molineux's Stand (approx. 0.3 miles away); Union Breakthrough (approx. 0.4 miles away); Alabama (approx. 0.4 miles away); Maine (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Third Battle of Winchester (was about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . The Third Battle of Winchester. Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (Submitted on March 10, 2025.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2025, by Jay Richardson of Winchester, Virginia. This page has been viewed 348 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 7, 2025, by Jay Richardson of Winchester, Virginia. 2. submitted on March 8, 2025, by Jay Richardson of Winchester, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.