Near Winchester in Frederick County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Defense of the Stone Wall

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 15, 2021

1. The Defense of the Stone Wall Marker

Inscription.

The Defense of the Stone Wall. . , The stone wall here was originally between waist and shoulder-high. It was a farm fence, made of stones picked up from the farm fields full of lime stone outcroppings common to the Shenandoah Valley. The wall ran east-west to the top of a long hill on your right called Sandy Ridge., In the late afternoon of March 23, 1862, the first Southern regiment to arrive at this stone wall encountered advancing Northern troops. The sound of musketry brought other Southern units to the scene. Before long, several brigades gathered behind the length of the stone wall., These included most of the "Stonewall" brigade, formed and trained by Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson. These regiments were currently under the command of Brigadier General Richard B. Garnett. There were eventually about 1,700 men at the wall, standing several rows deep., For about an hour the Southern defenders held the Northern forces at bay. The noise of this static fight increased in volume and caused Jackson to comment a few days after the battle, "I do not recollect having ever heard such a roar of musketry.", (Sidebar), The real fight now commenced. So Sharp was it and so deadly that it was not the sound of one or more bullets flying, but the rushing mighty wind of leaden hail as it howled past you. I was informed by the men who had been at Manassas that the latter was not to be compared with it., Robert Lemmon, who had fought at the stone wall with the 21st Virginia regiment, to an unknown addressee, April 3, 1862, Lemmon Papers, Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore., (Photo Captions), Southern troops fought from behind the stone farm wall, seen in this post-war image (about 1885). The wall was largely removed in the first half of the twentieth century. - Courtesy Massachusetts Commandery Military Order of the Loyal Legion and the U.S. Army Military Institute., This detail of an 1863 map by Jedediah Hotchkiss shows the location of the Glass farm (Rose Hill) and a portion of the stone wall. - Courtesy Hotchkiss Map Collection, Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress, Fifteen-year-old Private George Burwell of the 2nd Virginia Infantry fought at the eastern end of the stone wall and was captured by Northern forces near the end of the day. - Courtesy Clarke County Historical Association

The stone wall here was originally between waist and shoulder-high. It was a farm fence, made of stones picked up from the farm fields full of lime stone outcroppings common to the Shenandoah Valley. The wall ran east-west to the top of a long hill on your right called Sandy Ridge.

In the late afternoon of March 23, 1862, the first Southern regiment to arrive at this stone wall encountered advancing Northern troops. The sound of musketry brought other Southern units to the scene. Before long, several brigades gathered behind the length of the stone wall.

These included most of the "Stonewall" brigade, formed and trained by Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson. These regiments were currently under the command of Brigadier General Richard B. Garnett. There were eventually about 1,700 men at the wall, standing several rows deep.

For about an hour the Southern defenders held the Northern forces at bay. The noise of this static fight increased in volume and caused Jackson to comment a few days after the battle, "I do not recollect having ever heard such a roar of musketry."

(Sidebar)

The real fight now commenced. So Sharp was it and so deadly that it was not the sound of one or more bullets flying, but the rushing mighty wind of leaden hail as it howled past you. I was
Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online
informed by the men who had been at Manassas that the latter was not to be compared with it.

Robert Lemmon, who had fought at the stone wall with the 21st Virginia regiment, to an unknown addressee, April 3, 1862, Lemmon Papers, Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore.

(Photo Captions)

Southern troops fought from behind the stone farm wall, seen in this post-war image (about 1885). The wall was largely removed in the first half of the twentieth century. - Courtesy Massachusetts Commandery Military Order of the Loyal Legion and the U.S. Army Military Institute.

This detail of an 1863 map by Jedediah Hotchkiss shows the location of the Glass farm (Rose Hill) and a portion of the stone wall. - Courtesy Hotchkiss Map Collection, Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress

Fifteen-year-old Private George Burwell of the 2nd Virginia Infantry fought at the eastern end of the stone wall and was captured by Northern forces near the end of the day. - Courtesy Clarke County Historical Association

Erected by Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV).

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is March 23, 1862.

Location. 39° 9.106′ N, 78° 12.953′ W. Marker is near

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 15, 2021

2. The Defense of the Stone Wall Marker

Reconstructed stone wall is in front of the marker.

Winchester, Virginia, in Frederick County. Marker can be reached from Jones Road (Virginia Route 621) 0.6 miles south of Cedar Creek Grade (Virginia Route 622), on the right when traveling north. Marker is located on a short spur off the main walking trail at Rose Hill Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1871 Jones Road, Winchester VA 22602, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Northern Victory, Southern Defeat (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fight for the High Ground (about 600 feet away); The Order for Retreat (about 700 feet away); How To See the Battlefield (approx. 0.2 miles away); War In The Backyard (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Advance of Tyler’s Brigade (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rose Hill (approx. ¼ mile away); The First Battle Of Kernstown (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winchester.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location also titled "The Defense of the Stone Wall".

Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 15, 2021

3. The Defense of the Stone Wall Marker

Closeup of the battle map on the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 238 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 3, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.