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

Union Breakthrough

"A withering fire of grape and canister"

— The Third Battle of Winchester (September 19, 1864) —

Union Breakthrough Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, December 17, 2025

1. Union Breakthrough Marker

Inscription.

Union Breakthrough. "A withering fire of grape and canister". , Time: LATE AFTERNOON, During the first Union attack, Gen. Cuvier Grover's Second Division of the 19th Corps advanced in a double line of battle from the First Woods some 800 yards to your left. The resulting action swept across the area in front of you., When Grover's division charged out of the First Woods and into the Middle Field, it encountered Confederate Gen. John B. Gordon's division advancing toward them through the Second Woods and engaged it in a stand-up fight. On the southern end of Grover's line, Col. Jacob Sharpe's brigade fell back before a furious counterattack by Confederate Gen. Zebulon York's Louisiana Brigade. However, near here, Union Gen. Henry Birge's brigade struck the unprepared left flank of Col. Edmund Atkinson's Georgia brigade, breaking Gordon's left flank. The Georgians and Gen. William Terry's Virginians withdrew in confusion through and beyond the Second Woods, closely pursued by Birge's troops., Unfortunately for the Federals, Birge's force fell into disorder as it pursued the southerners into the open ground beyond the woods - where Confederate artillery was waiting, "[The Confederates] commenced firing on us when we came into the open field, but we steadily advanced in good order without wavering or returning fire until within about 200 yards of them when the whole line started on a double quick and the rebs left on the run. Before this our men were falling very fast, but this move relieved us somewhat. The line advanced in splendid style until we reached the other end of the woods when they opened a withering fire of grape and canister from a masked battery in our front that staggered us somewhat." - Lt. Willie Root, 75th New York, Birge's brigade., (captions) , Thia sketch, which portrays Union Gen. Cuvier Grover's division advancing on the Second Woods, shows the intensity of the fighting that covered this ground. Library of Congress, Sgt. Marros M. Stehbian, 26th Massachusetts Infantry, Birge's Brigade. Stehbian wa wounded during the battle.

Time: LATE AFTERNOON

During the first Union attack, Gen. Cuvier Grover's Second Division of the 19th Corps advanced in a double line of battle from the First Woods some 800 yards to your left. The resulting action swept across the area in front of you.

When Grover's division charged out of the First Woods and into the Middle Field, it encountered Confederate Gen. John B. Gordon's division advancing toward them through the Second Woods and engaged it in a stand-up fight. On the southern end of Grover's line, Col. Jacob Sharpe's brigade fell back before a furious counterattack by Confederate Gen. Zebulon York's Louisiana Brigade. However, near here, Union Gen. Henry Birge's brigade struck the unprepared left flank of Col. Edmund Atkinson's Georgia brigade, breaking Gordon's left flank. The Georgians and Gen. William Terry's Virginians withdrew in confusion through and beyond the Second Woods, closely pursued by Birge's troops.

Unfortunately for the Federals, Birge's force fell into disorder as it pursued the southerners into the open ground beyond the woods - where Confederate artillery was waiting

"[The Confederates] commenced firing on us when we came into the open field, but we steadily advanced in good order without wavering or returning fire until within about 200 yards of

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

them when the whole line started on a double quick and the rebs left on the run. Before this our men were falling very fast, but this move relieved us somewhat. The line advanced in splendid style until we reached the other end of the woods when they opened a withering fire of grape and canister from a masked battery in our front that staggered us somewhat." - Lt. Willie Root, 75th New York, Birge's brigade.

(captions)
Thia sketch, which portrays Union Gen. Cuvier Grover's division advancing on the Second Woods, shows the intensity of the fighting that covered this ground. Library of Congress

Sgt. Marros M. Stehbian, 26th Massachusetts Infantry, Birge's Brigade. Stehbian wa wounded during the battle.

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 September 19, 1864.

Location. 39° 11.944′ N, 78° 7.633′ W. Marker is in Winchester, Virginia, in Frederick County. It can be reached from Redbud Road one mile south of Martinsburg Pike (U.S. 11), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 541 Redbud Rd, 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: Alabama (a few steps from this marker); The Cost of Battle (within shouting distance

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, December 17, 2025

2. Union Breakthrough Marker

of this marker); Ten Thousand Devils (about 500 feet away); A Perfect Sheet Of Lead (about 500 feet away); The Middle Field (about 600 feet away); Maine (about 600 feet away); Molineux's Stand (about 700 feet away); Bloody Repulse (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Third Battle of Winchester (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was about 600 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was about 700 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester

Union Gen. Cuvier Grover image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Brady - Smithsonian

3. Union Gen. Cuvier Grover

(was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Third Battle of Winchester (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Third Winchester Battlefield Park. Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (Submitted on December 19, 2025.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2025, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 115 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 19, 2025, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on December 19, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland.