Near Millville in Jefferson County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Setting the Trap

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

Setting the Trap Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, April 6, 2008

1. Setting the Trap Marker

Inscription. Confederate Major General "Stonewall" Jackson faced three enemies - the Union garrison at Harpers Ferry, its formidable position on Bolivar Heights, and time. On the second day of the battle, although pummeled by a Confederate bombardment, the Federals still stood firm. Jackson knew he had to force the issue. He devised a three-point plan. First, to "turn" the Union flank, he ordered Major General A.P. Hill to march 3,500 men and 20 cannon, under the cover of night, to a position behind the Federal lines. Meanwhile, one mile to the north, Jackson staged a fake attack against Bolivar Heights to distract the Federals from Hill's maneuver. Finally, Jackson ordered that 10 cannon be moved from Schoolhouse Ridge across the Shenandoah River to a plateau on Loudoun Heights. By Monday morning, September 15, all was accomplished. The trap was set.

Erected by 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 month for this entry is March 1861.

Location. 39° 18.378′ N, 77° 46.938′ W. Marker is near Millville, West Virginia, in Jefferson County. Marker can be reached from Bloomery Road (County Road 27), on the right when traveling south. Located in the south section of the

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School House Ridge unit of the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park. The marker is along a walking trail just south of the William L. Wilson Freeway (US 340). The trail is best reached from the parking area on Bloomary Road (CR 27). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Millville WV 25432, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Battle of Harpers Ferry / Jackson Arrives (approx. 0.2 miles away); Setting the Trap / Jackson Arrives (approx. ¼ mile away); Battle of Harpers Ferry (approx. 0.7 miles away); Flag Talk (approx. 0.7 miles away); Keyes' Switch Engagement (approx. 0.8 miles away); Allstadt House (approx. 0.8 miles away); Sheridan Dug In (approx. one mile away); Gun Position #6 (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Millville.

More about this marker. The upper panel displays a three dimensional battle map detailing the troop positions on the night of September 14-15, 1862. The location of the marker is indicated by a "you are here" flag.

Regarding Setting the Trap. This marker is duplicated at other locations in the Harpers Ferry Historical Park.

Also see . . . 1862 Battle of Harpers Ferry. National Park Service summary of the battle. (Submitted on May 26, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Trail Wayside in the South Section of Schoolhouse Ridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, April 6, 2008

2. Trail Wayside in the South Section of Schoolhouse Ridge

The Trail up from the Parking Lot to the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, April 6, 2008

3. The Trail up from the Parking Lot to the Marker

Keye's Switch image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, May 17, 2008

4. Keye's Switch

To the south of the park grounds in Millville, the railroad line south out of Harpers Ferry makes a wide bend back to the north around School House Ridge. A.P. Hill's column passed through here in the flanking march around the Federal lines.

The marker obelisk, Number 25 of those erected by Sons of Confederate Veterans in Jefferson County, denotes the location of a skirmish on April 15, 1865 involving Col. Mosby's Confederate Rangers and a detachment of Federals.

South End of Bolivar Heights image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, April 6, 2008

5. South End of Bolivar Heights

Seen from School House Ridge. Jackson sent General A.P. Hill around the exposed south end of the heights to flank Federal Positions on the night of September 14-15, 1862.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,208 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 26, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.