Fishers Hill in Shenandoah County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Fisher’s Hill
The Fight for the “Bull Pens”
| — | 1864 Valley Campaign | — |
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 13, 2015
1. Fisher’s Hill Marker
To strengthen Fisher’s Hill’s defenses, Confederate skirmishers from Confederate Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur’s division took up positions on the ridge in front of you and constructed “bull pens”— makeshift structures of fence rails covered with earth. At about 1 P.M. on September 22, 1864, to distract Gen. Jubal A. Early’s attention from Gen. George Crook’s flank march, Gen. Philip H. Sheridan ordered Gen. James B. Ricketts’s Third Division, VI Corps, to attack the bull pens.
Col. Joseph W. Keifer’s brigade spear- headed the assault and within an hour forced the Confederate skirmishers back to their main line behind you. Keifer wrote of the attack, “The enemy fought hard to hold possession of this ridge. … I continued by repeated charges to push the enemy along this ridge … until he was forced to abandon it, cross the Run, and take refuge within his works.”
After the Federals occupied the ridge, Ramseur sent troops through a ravine to your left to dislodge Keifer’s brigade. The plan failed.
(captions)
Union skirmishers advancing at Fisher’s Hill — Courtesy Library of Congress
Col. Joseph W. Keifer Courtesy Library of Congress
Gen. James B. Ricketts Courtesy Library of Congress
Erected by Virginia
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 22, 1864.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 38° 59.319′ N, 78° 25.064′ W. Marker was in Fishers Hill, Virginia, in Shenandoah County. It could be reached from Battlefield Road (Virginia Route 601) 0.3 miles east of Tumbling Run Lane, on the left when traveling west. Located along the 1-mile loop trail on the Ramseur's Hill - Fisher's Hill Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 601 Battlefield Rd, Fishers Hill VA 22626, United States of America.
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. It was also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 13, 2015
2. Fisher’s Hill Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: The Fight for the "Bull Pens" (here, next to this marker); Eve of Battle (about 300 feet away); Crook's Flanking Movement (about 500 feet away); Pegram's Division Collapses (about 500 feet away); Confederate Gibraltar (about 600 feet away); The Coming Storm (about 800 feet away); a different marker also named Fisher’s Hill (about 800 feet away); Confederate Left Disintegrates (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fishers Hill.
Other markers no longer nearby. Battle of Fisher’s Hill (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Fisher’s Hill (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Fisher’s Hill (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Fisher's Hill (was about 700 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Fisher's Hill (was about 800 feet away but has been permanently removed).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced by another near this location.
Also see . . .
1. Battle of Fisher’s Hill. Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District website entry (Submitted on September 13, 2015.)
2. Fisher’s Hill. American Battlefield Trust website entry (Submitted on September 13, 2015.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 761 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 13, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
