Falling Waters in Berkeley County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

The Manassas Campaign

"Remain in front of the enemy"

— The Battle of Hoke's Run (July 2, 1861) —

The Manassas Campaign Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike McKeown, June 20, 2026

1. The Manassas Campaign Marker

Inscription.

The Manassas Campaign. "Remain in front of the enemy". The first pitched Civil War battle in the Shenandoah Valley, the Battle of Hoke's Run, took place here on July 2, 1861, when Confederate troops under Col. Thomas J. Jackson (the future "Stonewall") attempted to block the advance of a Union force commanded by Gen. Robert Patterson., After Confederates fired on Fort Sumter on April 12-13, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln called out the militia, issuing a proclamation calling up 75,000 men for three months. In Pennsylvania, Governor Andrew J. Curtin activated the state militia, creating the Department of Pennsylvania, and placed Gen. Robert Patterson, the commander of the militia, in charge., In June, Patterson moved his south army to the Potomac River at Williamsport, Maryland, a short distance northeast of Falling Waters. Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston, in command of a Confederate army around Winchester, sent Col. Jackson (and his First Brigade) north of Martinsburg to keep an eye on Patterson, with orders to delay any Union advance., Meanwhile, to the southeast, a major fight was brewing in northern Virginia. A Confederate army under Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard was deployed along Bull Run creek, just 20 miles from a Union army under Union Gen Irwin McDowell at Washington, D.C. McDowell was under growing pressure to advance into Virginia and attack Beauregard., Patterson was ordered to keep Johnston penned up in the Valley and prevent him from reinforcing Beauregard. On July 2, Patterson acted, crossing the river into Virginia, where Confederate cavalry under Col. Jeb Stuart watched and waited., Patterson's force consisted largely of troops who had been called up for only 90 days and were poorly trained and equipped., (captions) , 69-year-old Gen. Robert Patterson was a veteran of the War of 18 12 and had served as second in command under Gen. Winfield Scott during the Mexican War. Courtesy Library of Congress, 39-year-old Virginia Military Institute Professor Thomas J. Jackson was little known at the beginning of the Civil War. He would not remain so for long. Courtesy Library of Congress, At the time of the battle, Berkeley County and this area were part of Virginia. It became part of the new state of West Virginia in 1863.

The first pitched Civil War battle in the Shenandoah Valley, the Battle of Hoke's Run, took place here on July 2, 1861, when Confederate troops under Col. Thomas J. Jackson (the future "Stonewall") attempted to block the advance of a Union force commanded by Gen. Robert Patterson.

After Confederates fired on Fort Sumter on April 12-13, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln called out the militia—issuing a proclamation calling up 75,000 men for three months. In Pennsylvania, Governor Andrew J. Curtin activated the state militia, creating the Department of Pennsylvania, and placed Gen. Robert Patterson, the commander of the militia, in charge.

In June, Patterson moved his south army to the Potomac River at Williamsport, Maryland, a short distance northeast of Falling Waters. Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston, in command of a Confederate army around Winchester, sent Col. Jackson (and his First Brigade) north of Martinsburg to keep an eye on Patterson, with orders to delay any Union advance.

Meanwhile, to the southeast, a major fight was brewing in northern Virginia. A Confederate army under Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard was deployed along Bull Run creek, just 20 miles from a Union army under Union Gen Irwin McDowell at Washington, D.C. McDowell was under growing pressure to advance into Virginia and attack Beauregard.

Patterson

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was ordered to keep Johnston penned up in the Valley and prevent him from reinforcing Beauregard. On July 2, Patterson acted, crossing the river into Virginia—where Confederate cavalry under Col. Jeb Stuart watched and waited.

Patterson's force consisted largely of troops who had been called up for only 90 days and were poorly trained and equipped.

(captions)
69-year-old Gen. Robert Patterson was a veteran of the War of 1812 and had served as second in command under Gen. Winfield Scott during the Mexican War. Courtesy Library of Congress

39-year-old Virginia Military Institute Professor Thomas J. Jackson was little known at the beginning of the Civil War. He would not remain so for long. Courtesy Library of Congress

At the time of the battle, Berkeley County and this area were part of Virginia. It became part of the new state of West Virginia in 1863.

Erected 2026 by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, Falling Waters Battlefield Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is July 2, 1861.

Location. 39° 32.853′ N, 77° 55.194′ W. Marker is in Falling Waters, West Virginia, in Berkeley County. It can be reached from Saint Andrews Drive 0.2 miles south

Photographed by Mike McKeown, June 20, 2026

2. The Manassas Campaign Marker

of Hammonds Mill Road (West Virginia Route 901), on the left when traveling south. Along at the hiking trail at the Springs Mills Community Park/Falling Waters battlefield park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Falling Waters WV 25419, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Eastern Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. 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

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Protecting History and Nature (within shouting distance of this marker); Confederate Artillery (within shouting distance of this marker); Federals Cross the Potomac (within shouting distance of this marker); Action at Stumpy's Hollow (within shouting distance of this marker); Advance to Battle (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Skirmishers Pull Back (about 400 feet away); The Fighting Grows (about 400 feet away); Stumpy's Hollow (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Falling Waters.

Also see . . .
1. Bull Run (Manassas) Campaign (Wikipedia). (Submitted on June 20, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland.)
2. Falling Waters Battlefield Association. (Submitted on June 20, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 20, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.