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

A Place of Refuge

"Lost everything but the clothes on their backs"

— The Long Road To Freedom —

A Place of Refuge Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike McKeown, June 14, 2025

1. A Place of Refuge Marker

Inscription.

A Place of Refuge. "Lost everything but the clothes on their backs". During his occupation of Winchester from January to June 1863, Union Gen. Robert H. Milroy worked fervently to enforce Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which went into effect on January 1, 1863. Thousands of slaves in the region were freed , but not all left the Valley. Some chose to stay and work for themselves or for the Federals, many as spies and informants., When the Confederate attacked Winchester during the Second Battle of Winchester (June 13-15, 1863), the African Americans who remained here in the city feared for their freedom and safety. Many fled to the Union fortifications, including Star Fort, seeking refuge and protection. Huddled here, they must have been terrified as cannon fire crashed around and into the fort during the thunderous artillery duel on the night of June 14., When Milroy decided to evacuate Winchester and attempt to break through to Harper's Ferry in the early morning hours of June 15, the African Americans here joined the troops fleeing north. But the way was blocked. The Confederates cut off Milroy's route near Stephenson's Depot, 3 miles behind you, and effectively destroyed Milroy's force, capturing thousands of Union soldiers and hundreds of African Americans. As one civilian wrote, "Many [blacks] were captured" , including those freed by the Emancipation Proclamation and those who had been born free , and were either returned to their owners, impressed into Confederate service, or jailed. "The[y] had took a good many negroes and we got a good many of them back," recalled Confederate Pvt. Henry H. Dedrick., Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early ordered the release of Robert Discon, a free black who had been captured during the evacuation and jailed. But once freed, Discon was kidnapped by William H. Corbin, a local carpenter, taken to Richmond, and sold into slavery., "They have lost everything but the clothes on their backs, and in the effort to get to the fort for protection, I wonder they had not been killed" , - Ann Cary Randolph Jones after the Second Battle of Winchester

During his occupation of Winchester from January to June 1863, Union Gen. Robert H. Milroy worked fervently to enforce Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which went into effect on January 1, 1863. Thousands of slaves in the region were freed — but not all left the Valley. Some chose to stay and work for themselves or for the Federals, many as spies and informants.

When the Confederate attacked Winchester during the Second Battle of Winchester (June 13-15, 1863), the African Americans who remained here in the city feared for their freedom and safety. Many fled to the Union fortifications, including Star Fort, seeking refuge and protection. Huddled here, they must have been terrified as cannon fire crashed around and into the fort during the thunderous artillery duel on the night of June 14.

When Milroy decided to evacuate Winchester and attempt to break through to Harper's Ferry in the early morning hours of June 15, the African Americans here joined the troops fleeing north. But the way was blocked. The Confederates cut off Milroy's route near Stephenson's Depot, 3 miles behind you, and effectively destroyed Milroy's force, capturing thousands of Union soldiers and hundreds of African Americans. As one civilian wrote, "Many [blacks] were captured" — including those freed by the Emancipation Proclamation

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and those who had been born free — and were either returned to their owners, impressed into Confederate service, or jailed. "The[y] had took a good many negroes and we got a good many of them back," recalled Confederate Pvt. Henry H. Dedrick.

Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early ordered the release of Robert Discon, a free black who had been captured during the evacuation and jailed. But once freed, Discon was kidnapped by William H. Corbin, a local carpenter, taken to Richmond, and sold into slavery.

"They have lost everything but the clothes on their backs, & in the effort to get to the fort for protection, I wonder they had not been killed"
- Ann Cary Randolph Jones after the Second Battle of Winchester

Erected by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is June 15, 1863.

Location. 39° 12.389′ N, 78° 9.779′ W. Marker is in Winchester, Virginia, in Frederick County. It can be reached from Fortress Drive 0.2 miles north of North Frederick Pike (U.S. 522), on the right when traveling north. Located at the Star Fort Civil War Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 503 Fortress Drive, 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 least 8 other markers are within walking distance

Photographed by Mike McKeown, June 14, 2025

2. A Place of Refuge Marker

marker at a distance

of this marker: The Retreat (within shouting distance of this marker); The Civilian's War (within shouting distance of this marker); Duel of the Forts (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Constructing Star Fort (about 400 feet away); Lord Fairfax (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Collier (approx. half a mile away); George Washington in Winchester (approx. half a mile away); 2nd Battle of Winchester / 3rd Battle of Winchester (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.

Other markers no longer nearby. Civil War Earthworks (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Second Battle of Winchester (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Second Battle of Winchester (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Third Battle of Winchester (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Constructing Star Fort (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Star Fort (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Long Road To Freedom Project. Shenandoah Valley

Photographed by Mike McKeown, June 14, 2025

3. A Place of Refuge Marker

Grounds of Star Fort

Battlefields Foundation (Submitted on June 15, 2025.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 126 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on September 25, 2025, by Mark P. Brock-Cancellieri of Baltimore, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 14, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.