Fredericksburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Heights at Smith Run

May 4, 1863

Photographed by Kevin W., August 30, 2014

1. The Heights at Smith Run Marker

Inscription. From May 1-3, 1863 Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson fought a powerful federal army to a standstill at Chancellorsville, while Major General Jubal A. Early's division confronted the Union 6th Corps at Fredericksburg. On May 4th, following battles fought at Fredericksburg and Salem Church the day before, Early used Brigadier General William Smith's Brigade to probe the Federal line near the Plank Road. He found it strongly held and so began careful preparations for another attack. At 6:00 P.M., Early launched his other brigades against the Union force. Brigadier Generals Robert F. Hoke, Harry T. Hays, and John B. Gordon led their men forward against the Federals positioned on the ridge traversed by modern day Cowan Boulevard. This first line collapsed under the pressure and the Confederates pressed on, across Smith Run. Colonel Lewis A. Grant's Vermont Brigade held the ridge west of the creek and the severe fighting continued. The soldiers of Vermont counterattacked, but as the sun went down, they were outflanked by Gordon's Brigade, which had worked it's way north to Fall Hill. The Federals pulled back to a new

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line of defense along present day Fall Hill Avenue, which they held that night while the Union Sixth Corps retreated across the Rappahannock River at Banks Ford.

This memorial is dedicated in memory of the 846 Confederate soldiers from Major General Early's Division who were killed and wounded in the defense of Fredericksburg at Smith Run, May 4, 1863.

List of killed and wounded as reported by Surg. L. Guild, C.S. Army Medical Director (Campaign of Chancellorsville)

Smith's Brigade
[Photograph of] Brig. Gen. William Smith
13th Virginia 36
49th Virginia 10
52nd Virginia 12
58th Virginia 28

Hoke's Brigade
[Photograph of] Brig. Gen. Robert F Hoke
Brig. Gen. R. Hoke wounded 1
6th North Carolina 29
21st North Carolina 78
54th North Carolina 41
57th North Carolina 70
1st North Carolina Battalion 11

Hay's Brgade>
[Photograph of] Brig. Gen. Harry T Hays
5th Louisiana 53
6th Louisiana 81
7th Louisiana 80
8th Louisiana 83
9th Louisiana 72

Gordon's Brigade
[Photograph of] Brig. Gen. John B. Gordon
Captain J. Mitchell, AAG., wounded 1
13th Georgia 30
26th Georgia 24
31st Georgia 23
38th Georgia 20
60th Georgia 35
61st

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 12, 2026

2. The Heights at Smith Run Marker

Georgia 28

Erected 2014 by Sons of Confederate Veterans’ Matthew Fontaine Maury Camp 1722.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1859.

Location. 38° 18.354′ N, 77° 29.799′ W. Memorial is in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It is at the intersection of Cowan Boulevard and the Smith Run Walking Trail on Cowan Boulevard. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Fredericksburg VA 22401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

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: The Vermont Brigade Counterattacks (here, next to this marker); Tactical Terrain

Photographed by Kevin W., August 30, 2014

3. The Heights at Smith Run Marker

The bridge here is the Cowan Boulevard entrance to Smith Run Trail.

(approx. ¾ mile away); The Mannahoac Indigenous Tribe (approx. 0.8 miles away); Freedom, A Work in Progress / Fredericksburg, Virginia (approx. 0.9 miles away); Fredericksburg in a Flash / Byway to Highway (approx. 0.9 miles away); Fredericksburg, Virginia / Area Museums (approx. 0.9 miles away); A Family Affair: The Washingtons / Visitors-in-Chief (approx. 0.9 miles away); Fall Hill Road (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Other markers no longer nearby. Historic Kenmore and George Washington's Ferry Farm (was approx. 0.9 miles away but has been permanently removed); George Washington: Soldier and Virginia Planter (was approx. 0.9 miles away but has been permanently removed); George Washington: Surveyor and Family Man (was approx. 0.9 miles away but has been permanently removed); George Washington: Statesman and Public Servant (was approx. 0.9 miles away but has been permanently removed).

More about this memorial. At the top of the marker are photographs of Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, General Robert E. Lee and the commander of Early's Division Second Corps,

The Heights at Smith Run image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 12, 2026

4. The Heights at Smith Run

This view shows the western slope of Smith Run, beneath the heights. The stream itself is out of view to the right. After the Confederates broke the first Federal line on the eastern side of the stream near where Hugh Mercer Elementary now stands, some of the shattered Federal forces retreated across the stream and up to the heights to the left, where the Vermont Brigade under Col. Lewis A. Grant held a second line. The Federals held that elevated position while the Confederates attacked up this slope - then counterattacked and drove them back to the stream, capturing hundreds of Confederates as they went. The 2nd Vermont fought in this particular area.

Major General Jubal A. Early.

The $3,000 granite memorial and bronze plaque, sponsored by the Maury Camp, weigh about 3,300 pounds total. It was approved by the Fredericksburg City Council in March 2014.

Also see . . . Central Virginia Battlefields Trust - Smith Run. This link tells the story of the site's preservation. (Submitted on October 20, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.)

Cowan Boulevard image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 12, 2026

5. Cowan Boulevard

The extent of the heights can start to be understood by looking at how much slope elevates up away from the modern roadway at immediate left. This is taken from the bench by the marker's location. Cowan Boulevard was not present during the fighting; it is a completely modern addition to the landscape.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2014, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,526 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 30, 2014, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 2. submitted on October 20, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on August 30, 2014, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 4, 5. submitted on October 20, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia.