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

Union Counterattack

“After Them With Bayonets Fixed”

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

Union Counterattack Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jay Richardson, August 22, 2026

1. Union Counterattack Marker

Inscription.
Morning

As the Confederates fell back from the worm fence that ran across the field to your left front, the Federals along Lewistown Lane (modern-day Lynnwood Road) climbed over the fence rails and pursued. “We [ran] after them with bayonets fixed,” one Federal recalled, “and yelling as loud as we could.” Reaching the fence line, one Federal saw “a long line of dead, dying and wounded men.”

“We crawled up… on our bellies, rising to shoot, dropping again to load and advance. And every time we rose some comrades dropped to rise no more.” — Confederate Sgt. William F. Gordon, 31st Virginia

Fortunately for the southerners, additional Confederate reinforcements began to reach the field and met the Union attackers near Baugher Lane, about 1,500 yards to your left. (The line of trees you see in the distance is about 1,000 yards away.) The 52nd and 31st Virginia advanced through a “murderous hail of bullets [flying] through [the] wheat field” to meet the northerners head on. Confederate Lt. William Lyman recalled that “the 31st lay down in the ripening wheat and the sensation caused by the cutting of the minie balls through

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the ripe grain was novel and not altogether pleasant.” Another saw the physical path cut by the rounds passing through the wheat. “Each minnie [sic] ball seemed to cut its own swath, and the cannon balls a large one.” Among those killed was Maj. Joseph Chenoweth of the 31st Virginia, who was hit in the head and “fell without a groan, with his sword still in his grasp, pointed towards the enemy.”

Despite the battering, the reinforcements gave Winder the chance to slow the surging Federals and stabilize his line. He was helped by the support of Confederate artillery—and a new southern force that was about to erupt from the woods to your left.

(captions)
“Bayonet Charge” by Winslow Homer, Harper’s Weekly

Confederate Maj. Joseph Chenoweth was buried on the field, but after the war his burial site could not be found. His remains lie somewhere in the open fields to your front.

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Stop #12

Erected 2026 by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. (Marker Number Stop #12.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list:

Port Republic Battlefield image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jay Richardson, August 22, 2026

2. Port Republic Battlefield

Union Counterattack marker is on the right.

War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is June 9, 1862.

Location. 38° 18.013′ N, 78° 46.217′ W. Marker is in Port Republic, Virginia, in Rockingham County. It is on South East Side Highway (U.S. 340) south of Ore Bank Road, on the right when traveling north. This marker is located along the River Plains Walking Trail on the Port Republic Battlefield, accessible from the trailhead at Port Republic and Ore Bank roads. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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 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: Winder's Attack (here, next to this marker); Bottleneck at the Bridge

River Plains Walking Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jay Richardson, August 22, 2026

3. River Plains Walking Trail

(within shouting distance of this marker); Ewell's Flank Attack (within shouting distance of this marker); First Confederate Advance (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Historic Houses (about 700 feet away); Port Republic Battlefield / Visiting the Battlefields / The Battlefields Today (approx. 0.2 miles away); Explore. Learn. Remember. (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Road to Battle (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Republic.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2026, by Jay Richardson of Winchester, Virginia. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 27, 2026, by Jay Richardson of Winchester, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.