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

The Retreat

"We had been ordered to move out of the fort quietly"

— The Second Battle of Winchester (June 13-15, 1863) —

The Retreat Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark P Brock-Cancellieri, August 17, 2025

1. The Retreat Marker

Inscription.

The Retreat. "We had been ordered to move out of the fort quietly". , 1 Story / 1 Thousand Voices, At day's end on June 14, 1863, the Federals still held Star Fort and Fort Milroy, but they were low on food and artillery ammunition, and scouts reported that the Confederates were moving heavy guns to higher ground, where they would be able to pound the forts when the sun rose. "The position of the Yankees was utterly hopeless now," a Confederate artilleryman recalled, "for in the morning we could have torn them to pieces with our artillery.", Realizing his position "could not be successfully defended...against such an army as surrounded me," Union Gen. Robert H. Milroy decided to attempt to cut his way through to Harper's Ferry, 25 miles away. The Federal soldiers were ordered to spike and abandon their artillery, destroy any remaining ammunition, leave their wagons, and retreat northward on the Martinsburg Pike., Union Pvt. Frederick Wild was sound asleep here in Star Fort, near where you stand, when he was awakened and informed "that we had been ordered to move out of the fort quietly." At 1:00 a.m., the Union troops positioned here began heading toward the pike, 0.7 miles in front of you., With thousands of soldiers and non-combatants attempting to retreat, the road became crowded. "The jam of horses and mules [was] so great," recalled Pvt. Wild, "that I was compelled to take my feet out of the stirrups and kneel or squat on the saddle for a time for fear my leg might be broke.", Unfortunately for the Federals, Confederate commander Gen. Richard Ewell suspected that Milroy would try to break out, and ordered Gen. Allegheny Johnson's division to cut them off. At sunrise on June 15, Johnson's division intercepted the Federals at Stephenson's Depot and captured half of them - including Pvt. Wild., (captions) , Pvt. Richard Bassford, Baltimore Light Artillery, was captured during the retreat. - Courtesy Jonathan A. Noyalas Collection, Frederick W. Wild, c. 1912. From Memoirs and History of Captain Frederick W. Alexander's Baltimore Light Artillery

1 Story / 1 Thousand Voices

At day's end on June 14, 1863, the Federals still held Star Fort and Fort Milroy, but they were low on food and artillery ammunition, and scouts reported that the Confederates were moving heavy guns to higher ground, where they would be able to pound the forts when the sun rose. "The position of the Yankees was utterly hopeless now," a Confederate artilleryman recalled, "for in the morning we could have torn them to pieces with our artillery."

Realizing his position "could not be successfully defended...against such an army as surrounded me," Union Gen. Robert H. Milroy decided to attempt to cut his way through to Harper's Ferry, 25 miles away. The Federal soldiers were ordered to spike and abandon their artillery, destroy any remaining ammunition, leave their wagons, and retreat northward on the Martinsburg Pike.

Union Pvt. Frederick Wild was sound asleep here in Star Fort, near where you stand, when he was awakened and informed "that we had been ordered to move out of the fort quietly." At 1:00 a.m., the Union troops positioned here began heading toward the pike, 0.7 miles in front of you.

With thousands of soldiers and non-combatants attempting to retreat, the road became crowded. "The jam of horses and mules [was] so great," recalled Pvt. Wild, "that I was

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compelled to take my feet out of the stirrups and kneel or squat on the saddle for a time for fear my leg might be broke."

Unfortunately for the Federals, Confederate commander Gen. Richard Ewell suspected that Milroy would try to break out, and ordered Gen. Allegheny Johnson's division to cut them off. At sunrise on June 15, Johnson's division intercepted the Federals at Stephenson's Depot and captured half of them - including Pvt. Wild.

(captions)
Pvt. Richard Bassford, Baltimore Light Artillery, was captured during the retreat. - Courtesy Jonathan A. Noyalas Collection

Frederick W. Wild, c. 1912. From Memoirs and History of Captain Frederick W. Alexander's Baltimore Light Artillery

Erected 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 14, 1863.

Location. 39° 12.371′ N, 78° 9.818′ W. Marker is near Winchester, Virginia, in Frederick County. It can be reached from Fortress Drive 0.1 miles north of North Frederick Pike (U.S. 522), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 522 Fortress Dr, 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 of this marker: The Civilian's War (within shouting distance of this marker); Duel of the Forts

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(within shouting distance of this marker); A Place of Refuge (within shouting distance of this marker); Constructing Star Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); Lord Fairfax (approx. ¼ mile away); Fort Collier (approx. 0.6 miles away); George Washington in Winchester (approx. 0.6 miles 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 a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Second Battle of Winchester (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Second Battle of Winchester (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Third Battle of Winchester (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Constructing Star Fort (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Star Fort (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2025, by Mark P. Brock-Cancellieri of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 51 times since then and 25 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on October 6, 2025, by Mark P. Brock-Cancellieri of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker in context. • Can you help?