Cross Keys in Rockingham County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Port Republic Battlefield
Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 29, 2026
1. Port Republic Battlefield Marker
The fighting in and around the battery was hand to hand Twas claw for claw.
Confederate Gen. Richard Taylor
Commander of the Louisiana Brigade
The Battle of Port Republic (June 9, 1862)
As the battle began, Tylers Federals were in a strong defensive position, stretching along Lewiston Lane (modern-day Lynnwood Road), and anchored on The Coaling, the high ground that commanded the battlefield and was topped by Union artillery. The first Confederate assaults were repulsed with heavy casualties, as Union artillery fire from the Coaling tore into their ranks. It was clear that victory depended on whoever controlled the Coaling.
Jackson turned to the Louisiana Brigade, the shock troops of his army. After a ferocious series of charges and countercharges, during which both sides took and retook possession of the heights, additional reinforcements allowed the southern troops to hold the high ground for good. Those reinforcements also bolstered the Confederate attacks across the river plain, and the stubborn Federal defenders were finally driven from the field in disarray.
The Union forces withdrew north,
this page online
June 9, 1862
Union Commander - Gen. Erastus Tyler
Confederate Commander - Gen. Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson
Forces Engaged
3,500 Union - 6,000 Confederate
Estimated Casualties
1,002 Union - 816 Confederate
Result
Confederate victory
Today the Cross Keys and Port Republic battlefields retain much of the agricultural appearance they had during the battles fought here in June of 1862. While the City of Harrisonburg has continued to expand toward these sites and development pressures have mounted, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation and its partners have worked to preserve over 1,500 acres across both locations. The Battlefields Foundation and its Members continue the work to preserve these battlefields, open additional park space, expand interpretation and enhance the visitor experience.
You, too, can help preserve and interpret the battlefields of the Shenandoah Valley.
Become a Member today!
(Captions):
The struggle for the Coaling.
Port Republic, 1862.
Artwork: www.keithrocco.com
Gen. Erastus Tyler
Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.
Erected 2026
Photographed by Bradley Owen, August 29, 2026
2. Port Republic Battlefield Marker
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.
Location. 38° 20.567′ N, 78° 49.378′ W. Marker is in Cross Keys, Virginia, in Rockingham County. It is on Trimble Road (Virginia Route 757) just east of Port Republic Road ( Route 253), on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7061 Trimble Road, 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: Visiting the Battlefields (here, next to this marker); Cross Keys Battlefield (here, next to this marker); Trimble Moves North (within shouting distance of this marker); Mill Creek Church and Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Cross Keys Battlefield (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Visiting the Battlefields (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Battlefields Today (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Slaughter of the 8th New York (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cross Keys.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 4, 2026, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 5, 2026, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.
