New Market in Shenandoah County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Historic River Road

The Link to the Shenandoah River

— Civil War New Market —

The Historic River Road Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jay Richardson, February 28, 2025

1. The Historic River Road Marker

Inscription.

The Historic River Road. The Link to the Shenandoah River. You are standing in the road trace of the historic River Road, a battlefield feature that was carved into the landscape over decades of heavily laden wagons taking grain to mills on the Shenandoah River., The Road ran for almost 1¼ miles, beginning at the Valley Turnpike in the center of New Market, passing over Manor's Hill in front of you, and then descending to the crossing of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. The road was sometimes called the Church Road because its starting point in town was adjacent to St. Matthew's Church., During the Battle of New Market, the River Road was the first defensive line for Union troops, and was later manned by the Confederates., Following the Civil War, the River Road connected the town of New Market, and the Valley Turnpike, to the railroad. When the Orange, Alexandria and Manassas Gap Railroad was extended from Mt. Jackson to Harrisonburg in 1868, the railroad tracks ran a mile west of New Market, on the other side of the Shenandoah River. The railroad was forced to detour because 10 years earlier New Market had refused to allow the line to be built through town, reportedly fearing that the trains would upset livestock. When a railroad depot was established near the river crossing in 1869, the River Road connected New Market and the Valley Turnpike to the Depot., Unfortunately, when Interstate 81 was constructed in the early 1960s, it cut right through River Road in front of you, and the road ceased being functional. Today, sections of the road trace, including this one, are protected by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District, forever preserving a vital part of the social and military history of New Market., (captions) , Wagons such as this traveled this road. Image courtesy Montana Historical Society and Archives., You can see the River Road, here called Church Road, on a portion of the map of the battlefield that was created by VMI Cadet Benjamin Colonna fifty years after the battle.

You are standing in the road trace of the historic River Road, a battlefield feature that was carved into the landscape over decades of heavily laden wagons taking grain to mills on the Shenandoah River.

The Road ran for almost 1¼ miles, beginning at the Valley Turnpike in the center of New Market, passing over Manor's Hill in front of you, and then descending to the crossing of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. The road was sometimes called the Church Road because its starting point in town was adjacent to St. Matthew's Church.

During the Battle of New Market, the River Road was the first defensive line for Union troops, and was later manned by the Confederates.

Following the Civil War, the River Road connected the town of New Market—and the Valley Turnpike—to the railroad. When the Orange, Alexandria and Manassas Gap Railroad was extended from Mt. Jackson to Harrisonburg in 1868, the railroad tracks ran a mile west of New Market, on the other side of the Shenandoah River. The railroad was forced to detour because 10 years earlier New Market had refused to allow the line to be built through town, reportedly fearing that the trains would upset livestock. When a railroad depot was established near the river crossing in 1869, the River Road connected New Market and the Valley Turnpike to the Depot.

Unfortunately,

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when Interstate 81 was constructed in the early 1960s, it cut right through River Road in front of you, and the road ceased being functional. Today, sections of the road trace, including this one, are protected by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District, forever preserving a vital part of the social and military history of New Market.

(captions)
Wagons such as this traveled this road. Image courtesy Montana Historical Society and Archives.

You can see the River Road, here called Church Road, on a portion of the map of the battlefield that was created by VMI Cadet Benjamin Colonna fifty years after the battle.

Erected 2024 by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles • War, US Civil.

Location. 38° 39.123′ N, 78° 40.365′ W. Marker is in New Market, Virginia, in Shenandoah County. It can be reached from Breckinridge Lane 0.1 miles west of Lee Highway (U.S. 11). The marker is at the end of Breckinridge Lane past the cemetery and at the end of the historic road trace. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 179 Breckinridge Ln, New Market VA 22844, 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

Photographed by Jay Richardson, February 28, 2025

2. The Historic River Road Marker

markers are within walking distance of this marker: Action on the River Road (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Church Cemetery (about 500 feet away); May 15, 1864 (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named May 15, 1864 (about 500 feet away); The Attack on Manor's Hill (about 500 feet away); The Night Before the Battle (about 600 feet away); Confederate Memorial (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named May 15, 1864 (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Market.

Photographed by Jay Richardson, February 28, 2025

3. The Historic River Road Marker

Marker at the end of the historic River Road trace.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2025, by Jay Richardson of Winchester, Virginia. This page has been viewed 248 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 7, 2025, by Jay Richardson of Winchester, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on March 8, 2025, by Jay Richardson of Winchester, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.