Port Republic in Rockingham County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

First Attack on the Coaling

"A Venomous Whistle"

— The Battle of Port Republic (June 9, 1862) —

First Attack on the Coaling Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 21, 2025

1. First Attack on the Coaling Marker

Inscription.

First Attack on the Coaling. "A Venomous Whistle". , Early Morning, The strength and importance of the Coaling became clear as soon as the battle began. When the first Confederates under Gen. Charles Winder arrived on the battlefield, 1 1/4 miles to your right front, Winder's cannon fired on Union skirmishers - and the guns on the Coaling "promptly replied," roaring out from the height above you to shell the southern guns and Winder's foot soldiers. One Confederate described the shot and shell "tearing by us with a venomous whistle.", Confederate commander Gen. Stonewall Jackson ordered Winder to send a regiment through the woods to capture the Union guns. Winder added a second regiment, dispatching the 2nd Virginia and 4th Virginia, along with supporting cannon. The Federals on the Coaling saw the movement, but the Confederates disappeared into the trees, screening them from cannon fire. The dense woods made for slow going as the southerners "climbed back and forth over ridges and through the tangled brush." The Confederate cannon had to turn back., The 2nd Virginia finally reached a bluff of high ground in front of you, from where they could see the Union gunners on the Coaling. The 2nd's commander, Col. James W. Allen, ordered his men "to take deliberate aim and fire at the gunners," hoping to surprise the artillerymen. But "two chance shots" revealed their position - likely fired by members of the 4th Virginia, who arrived belatedly on their right. The 2nd fired a volley that drove off the gunners, but Union infantry - members of the 66th Ohio - hurried to the hilltop to your left and opened fire, allowing the cannoneers to return and unleash their own fire. "[The Union cannon] poured in volley after volley of grape on us in such quick succession as to throw my men into confusion," Col. Allen recalled. With the 4th Virginia also taking canister fire, Allen pulled the two regiments back and reported to Jackson his "inability to carry the battery without assistance." It would require a stronger effort to seize the height., (Captions):, Confederate Col. James W. Allen, commander of the 2nd Virginia. A gradate of VMI, Allen was killed at the Battle of Gaines Mill on June 27, 1962. , Courtesy VMI Museum Archives., Union Sgt. Charles E. Butts, 66th Ohio. Butts was wounded and captured during the fighting at the Coaling. , L. M. Strayer Collection, Dayton.

Early Morning

The strength and importance of the Coaling became clear as soon as the battle began. When the first Confederates under Gen. Charles Winder arrived on the battlefield, 1 1/4 miles to your right front, Winder's cannon fired on Union skirmishers - and the guns on the Coaling "promptly replied," roaring out from the height above you to shell the southern guns and Winder's foot soldiers. One Confederate described the shot and shell "tearing by us with a venomous whistle."

Confederate commander Gen. Stonewall Jackson ordered Winder to send a regiment through the woods to capture the Union guns. Winder added a second regiment, dispatching the 2nd Virginia and 4th Virginia, along with supporting cannon. The Federals on the Coaling saw the movement, but the Confederates disappeared into the trees, screening them from cannon fire. The dense woods made for slow going as the southerners "climbed back and forth over ridges and through the tangled brush." The Confederate cannon had to turn back.

The 2nd Virginia finally reached a bluff of high ground in front of you, from where they could see the Union gunners on the Coaling. The 2nd's commander, Col. James W. Allen, ordered his men "to take deliberate aim and fire at the gunners," hoping to surprise the artillerymen. But "two

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chance shots" revealed their position - likely fired by members of the 4th Virginia, who arrived belatedly on their right. The 2nd fired a volley that drove off the gunners, but Union infantry - members of the 66th Ohio - hurried to the hilltop to your left and opened fire, allowing the cannoneers to return and unleash their own fire. "[The Union cannon] poured in volley after volley of grape on us in such quick succession as to throw my men into confusion," Col. Allen recalled. With the 4th Virginia also taking canister fire, Allen pulled the two regiments back and reported to Jackson his "inability to carry the battery without assistance." It would require a stronger effort to seize the height.

(Captions):

Confederate Col. James W. Allen, commander of the 2nd Virginia. A gradate of VMI, Allen was killed at the Battle of Gaines Mill on June 27, 1962.
Courtesy VMI Museum Archives.

Union Sgt. Charles E. Butts, 66th Ohio. Butts was wounded and captured during the fighting at the Coaling.
L. M. Strayer Collection, Dayton.

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 27, 1962.

Location. 38° 18.089′ N, 78° 46.022′

Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 21, 2025

2. First Attack on the Coaling Marker

W. Marker is in Port Republic, Virginia, in Rockingham County. It is at the intersection of Ore Bank Road and Mapleton Lane, on the left when traveling south on Ore Bank Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7085 Ore Bank Road, 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 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 Tigers Attack (here, next to this marker); The Louisianans Advance (here, next to this marker); Port Republic Battlefield (a few steps from this marker); The Coaling (a few steps from this marker); The Union Counterattack (within shouting distance of this marker); The Union Retreat (within shouting distance of this marker); Missing Church Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); The Coaling Falls (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Republic.

Other markers no longer nearby. Port Republic (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Port Republic (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

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 July 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 127 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 28, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.