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

The Battle of First Kernstown

Jackson Decides to Attack!

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. The Battle of First Kernstown Marker

Inscription.

The Battle of First Kernstown. Jackson Decides to Attack!. In early March, 1862, while Union Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks moved his three-division corps south towards Winchester, Maj. Gen. George McClellan made plans to attack Richmond from the Chesapeake Bay. Confederate General Joseph Johnston directed Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson to move his division to the northern Shenandoah Valley and "Keep so near Banks in the Valley that he will not reinforce McClellan, but not so near as to force Banks into a fight"., By the time Jackson arrived with his division at mid-day on Sunday, March 23, two of Banks' divisions had already left the valley to support McClellan, leaving Maj. Gen. James Shields' division to guard the approach to Washington. General Shields had been seriously wounded during a skirmish the previous day and had turned command over to Col. Nathan Kimball, who was the senior Brigade Commander., Jackson moved forward to the area where you are now standing to observe the Union forces on Pritchard's Hill, noting 16 Union artillery pieces on the hill and reasoning they had the range to shell his division. Rather than retreat, Jackson decided to attack the Union right flank. He directed Col. Samuel Fulkerson's Brigade, with Brig. Gen. Richard Garnett's Brigade in support, to turn the Union batteries on Pritchard’s Hill., “It is now Sunday and it pains me to fight on the Sabbath…, ...but my division is low on strength (3,000 infantry plus 700 cavalry and artillery)... , , ...and if I postpone fighting, Banks will add to his forces and the situation will be worse. , , Therefore, I will attack., Col. Fulkerson began his assault by marching his brigade in column along the tree line in front of you, aiming for the western slope of Pritchard's Hill. Gen. Garnett followed 300 yards behind with one regiment. The Union artillery fire proved to be too much for the Confederates, who, after coming within 600 yards of the batteries, turned west towards Sandy Ridge to seek the protection of the woods there., Even though it was Sunday, and less than six hours of daylight remained, Jackson decided to attack, basing his decision on the train of reasoning depicted in the thought bubbles above. , (captions) , Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks , Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson

In early March, 1862, while Union Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks moved his three-division corps south towards Winchester, Maj. Gen. George McClellan made plans to attack Richmond from the Chesapeake Bay. Confederate General Joseph Johnston directed Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson to move his division to the northern Shenandoah Valley and "Keep so near Banks in the Valley that he will not reinforce McClellan, but not so near as to force Banks into a fight".

By the time Jackson arrived with his division at mid-day on Sunday, March 23, two of Banks' divisions had already left the valley to support McClellan, leaving Maj. Gen. James Shields' division to guard the approach to Washington. General Shields had been seriously wounded during a skirmish the previous day and had turned command over to Col. Nathan Kimball, who was the senior Brigade Commander.

Jackson moved forward to the area where you are now standing to observe the Union forces on Pritchard's Hill, noting 16 Union artillery pieces on the hill and reasoning they had the range to shell his division. Rather than retreat, Jackson decided to attack the Union right flank. He directed Col. Samuel Fulkerson's Brigade, with Brig. Gen. Richard Garnett's Brigade in support, to turn the Union batteries on Pritchard’s Hill.

“It is now Sunday and it pains me to fight
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on the Sabbath…

...but my division is low on strength (3,000 infantry plus 700 cavalry and artillery)...

...and if I postpone fighting, Banks will add to his forces and the situation will be worse.

Therefore, I will attack.

Col. Fulkerson began his assault by marching his brigade in column along the tree line in front of you, aiming for the western slope of Pritchard's Hill. Gen. Garnett followed 300 yards behind with one regiment. The Union artillery fire proved to be too much for the Confederates, who, after coming within 600 yards of the batteries, turned west towards Sandy Ridge to seek the protection of the woods there.

Even though it was Sunday, and less than six hours of daylight remained, Jackson decided to attack, basing his decision on the train of reasoning depicted in the thought bubbles above.

(captions)
Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks
Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson

Erected by Kernstown Battlefield Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1862.

Location. 39° 8.248′ N, 78° 12.107′ W. Marker is in Winchester, Virginia, in Frederick County. It is in Kernstown. It is on Apple Valley Road 0.6 miles west of

The Battle of First Kernstown Marker (left) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. The Battle of First Kernstown Marker (left)

Valley Pike (U.S. 11), on the right when traveling east. The marker is located on a platform in front of Trex Railing Warehouse near the road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 331 Apple Valley Road, Winchester VA 22602, 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: The Battle of Second Kernstown (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Battle of First Kernstown (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Battle of First Kernstown (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of First Kernstown (approx. 0.3 miles away); The First Battle of Kernstown (approx. 0.3 miles away); 1790 Stone Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); In Memory of the Many Soldiers of the Revolution (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Second Battle of Kernstown (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Opequon Presbyterian Church (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . .
1. The First Battle of Kernstown. (Submitted on May 26, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Battle of Kernstown: Stonewall Jackson’s Only Defeat. (Submitted on May 26, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
3. The Battle of First Kernstown. (Submitted on May 26, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 144 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 26, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.