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. 38° 59.319′ N, 78° 25.064′ W. Marker is in Fishers Hill, Virginia, in Shenandoah County. Marker can 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 is at or near this postal address: 601 Battlefield Rd, Fishers Hill VA 22626, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Battle of Fisher’s Hill (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Fisher’s Hill (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Fisher’s Hill (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Fisher's Hill (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Fisher's Hill (about 800 feet away); a different marker also named Fisher’s Hill (about 800 feet away); a different marker also named Fisher’s Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ramseur's Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fishers Hill.
Also see . . .
1. Battle of Fisher’s Hill
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, September 13, 2015
2. Fisher’s Hill Marker
2. Fisher’s Hill. American Battlefield Trust website entry (Submitted on September 13, 2015.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 537 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 13, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
