Cross Keys in Rockingham County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The 15th Alabama Falls Back

"Zip! Zip! Zip! Came Their Bullets"

— The Battle of Cross Keys (June 8, 1862) —

The 15th Alabama Falls Back Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jay Richardson, June 14, 2025

1. The 15th Alabama Falls Back Marker

Inscription.

The 15th Alabama Falls Back. "Zip! Zip! Zip! Came Their Bullets". , Early Morning , On the morning of June 8, 1862, members of the 15th Alabama scrambled up the slope in front of you, chased by Union troops and harried by Union fire., The Alabamians began the morning a mile to your front around Union Church, where they met the initial Union advance, and, by forcing the Federals to deploy, gave Confederate Gen. Richard S. Ewell precious time to align and prepare his troops on this ridgeline., After the initial contact, the Alabamians waited at the church cemetery "for the Yankees to come within reach." But just as the northerners approached, the 15th's commander, Col. James Cantey, spied other Union troops marching around their right flank and suddenly ordered his men to pull back "double quick, march!", The regiment raced cross country towards this ridgeline, under fire, in a chaotic, mile-long retreat. "The Yanks could take deliberate aim while we were fleeing," Pvt. Ben Culpepper remembered. "I felt like the frogs in the pond when the boys were rocking them. It was fun for the boys, but death to the frogs.", "The Yankees... began to fire into our rear..." Pvt. William McClendon recalled. "Zip! Zip! Zip! came their bullets. Whap! and down went Bill Toney of Co. K, mortally wounded or dead." Two others were killed and others seriously wounded., As the exhausted men reached the low ground at the base of this height, Confederate Capt. Alfred Courtney's artillery battery unlimbered on the ridgeline to your right, near Port Republic Road, and fired on the pursuing Federals, "belch[ing] out her iron missiles, suddenly like a clap of thunder." One grateful Confederate shouted at the Federals, "Now damn you, I guess you will stop!", The Federals broke off their pursuit and the Alabamians clambered up the slope, many likely taking the path in front of you. But their day was long from over. Soon they would be sent east, where they would take part in the pivotal action of the battle., (captions) , Confederate Sgt. Thomas Mills, 15th Alabama. , James Cantey after his later promotion to general. Courtesy Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Early Morning
On the morning of June 8, 1862, members of the 15th Alabama scrambled up the slope in front of you, chased by Union troops and harried by Union fire.

The Alabamians began the morning a mile to your front around Union Church, where they met the initial Union advance, and, by forcing the Federals to deploy, gave Confederate Gen. Richard S. Ewell precious time to align and prepare his troops on this ridgeline.

After the initial contact, the Alabamians waited at the church cemetery "for the Yankees to come within reach." But just as the northerners approached, the 15th's commander, Col. James Cantey, spied other Union troops marching around their right flank and suddenly ordered his men to pull back "double quick, march!"

The regiment raced cross country towards this ridgeline, under fire, in a chaotic, mile-long retreat. "The Yanks could take deliberate aim while we were fleeing," Pvt. Ben Culpepper remembered. "I felt like the frogs in the pond when the boys were rocking them. It was fun for the boys, but death to the frogs."

"The Yankees... began to fire into our rear..." Pvt. William McClendon

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recalled. "Zip! Zip! Zip! came their bullets. Whap! and down went Bill Toney of Co. K, mortally wounded or dead." Two others were killed and others seriously wounded.

As the exhausted men reached the low ground at the base of this height, Confederate Capt. Alfred Courtney's artillery battery unlimbered on the ridgeline to your right, near Port Republic Road, and fired on the pursuing Federals, "belch[ing] out her iron missiles, suddenly like a clap of thunder." One grateful Confederate shouted at the Federals, "Now damn you, I guess you will stop!"

The Federals broke off their pursuit and the Alabamians clambered up the slope, many likely taking the path in front of you. But their day was long from over. Soon they would be sent east, where they would take part in the pivotal action of the battle.

(captions)
Confederate Sgt. Thomas Mills, 15th Alabama.
James Cantey after his later promotion to general. Courtesy Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Erected 2025 by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is June 8, 1862.

Location. 38° 20.746′ N,

Artillery Ridge Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jay Richardson, June 14, 2025

2. Artillery Ridge Trail

78° 50.151′ W. Marker is in Cross Keys, Virginia, in Rockingham County. It can be reached from Bowtie Drive north of Artillery Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4232 Bowtie Drive, Port Republic VA 24471, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in 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: Maryland at Cross Keys (within shouting distance of this marker); To the Talbot Boys (within shouting distance of this marker); Milroy's Attack (within shouting distance of this marker); Schenck's Advance (within shouting distance of this marker); The Guns of Mill Creek Ridge

Cross Keys Battlefield image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jay Richardson, June 14, 2025

3. Cross Keys Battlefield

(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Slaughter of the 8th New York (approx. 0.6 miles away); Cross Keys Battlefield (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lying in Wait (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cross Keys.

Other markers no longer nearby. Battle of Cross Keys (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Battle of Cross Keys (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing); a different marker also named Battle of Cross Keys (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing); a different marker also named Battle of Cross Keys (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing); a different marker also named Battle of Cross Keys (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. The battlefield entrance in 300 ft north of the parking lot located on Bowtie Drive.

Also see . . . Cross Keys Battlefield. Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (Submitted on June 19, 2025.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2025, by Jay Richardson of Winchester, Virginia. This page has been viewed 173 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 17, 2025, by Jay Richardson of Winchester, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.