Near Manassas in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Death of Fletcher Webster

Photographed By Shane Oliver, April 30, 2016

1. Death of Fletcher Webster Marker

Inscription. Colonel Fletcher Webster fell mortally wounded near here, leading his regiment in support of the cannon on Chinn Ridge. The colonel, son of the famous orator and statesman Daniel Webster, commanded the 12th Massachusetts Infantry - a regiment he organized at the outbreak of the war in 1861. The unit was forever called the "Webster Regiment" after his death.

Shot through the right arm and chest, Webster lay helpless as the Union position collapsed and Confederates overran the guns. A member of the 8th Virginia Infantry stopped to offer water to the fallen colonel. Webster asked the enemy soldier to return his wallet to his family. The southern soldier survived the war and honored his request.

"If a fight comes off, it will be today or tomorrow & will be a most dreadful & decisive one. This may be my last letter, dear love, for I shall not spare myself..."
- Colonel Fletcher Webster in a letter to his wife, written on the morning of his death.

Erected by Manassas National Battlefield Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is August 30, 1862.

Location. 38° 48.616′ N, 77° 31.959′ W. Marker is near

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Manassas, Virginia, in Prince William County. Marker can be reached from Sudley Road (Virginia Route 234) half a mile south of Lee Highway (U.S. 29), on the right when traveling south. Marker is located near the Fletcher Webster and Texas Monuments along the Chinn Ridge Trail (Driving Tour Stop 10) 0.3 miles north of the parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6511 Sudley Rd, Manassas VA 20109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Death of Fletcher Webster (here, next to this marker); Third Brigade (a few steps from this marker); Texas (within shouting distance of this marker); Colonel Fletcher Webster (within shouting distance of this marker); Defending the Cannon (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Defending the Cannon (within shouting distance of this marker); Kemper's Brigade (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Second Brigade (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manassas.

More about this marker. This marker replaced an old marker at this location titled, "Death of Fletcher Webster"

Also see . . .
1. Manassas National Battlefield Park. National Park Servie (Submitted on May 13, 2016.)

2. Old Marker at this Location. This

Monument to Colonel Fletcher Webster image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Shane Oliver, April 30, 2016

2. Monument to Colonel Fletcher Webster

marker replaced an older one at this location also titled “Death of Fletcher Webster” (Submitted on May 13, 2016.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 12, 2016, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 450 times since then and 25 times this year. Last updated on April 21, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 12, 2016, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.