VA -- Cross Keys:
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- Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
- XKEYS_050619_008.JPG: Confederate Gen. Richard S. Ewell had five artillery batteries with him at Cross Keys, most of which were posted on the hill in front of us. At the time, it was mostly devoid of trees. The Union attack came from behind us, moving toward that ridge.
Early on June 8, 1862, Union commander Gen. John C. Fremont viewed the field at Cross Keys and without proper reconnaissance assumed that Gen. Richard S. Ewell's left flank was the strong side of the Confederate line. Fremont ordered his artillery to soften Ewell's position. A duel ensued from 10 a.m. until noon, 20 Confederate guns against almost 50 Union cannons. Accurate Confederate fire caused a soldier from Ohio to remark that Stonewall Jackson himself must have paced off the range the day before.
As the duel ended, Fremont ordered Gens. Robert H. Milroy and Robert S. Schenck to demonstrate against the Confederate center (from where this picture was taken) and left to draw support troops away from Ewell's right. Meanwhile, three brigades of Gen. Louis Blenker's division were to advance against the Confederate right and crush it.
Blenker's men attacked prematurely and, after severe fighting and conflicting orders, were forced to retreat before Gen. Isaac R. Trimble's Confederates. Command problems in the brigades of Schenck and Milroy caused an early withdrawal of their flank. Fremont's chance for victory had passed.
Ewell as his men had done what Jackson had wanted, inflicting a severe blow that made Fremont even more timid than usual. The next morning, Ewell joined Jackson to defeat Gen. James Shields at the Battle of Port Republic.
During the Civil War, this battlefield contained some of the most productive farmland in the Shenandoah Valley and Virginia, as it does today. At the time of the battle, the fields were in stands of wheat, buckwheat, rye, corn, and clover.
Almost all of the farmers here were German Baptist Brethren, also called Dunkers or Dunkards because of their belief in adult baptism. Because they were pacifists who abhorred the taking of human life, many young Brethren men left the South of paid heavy exemption fees to avoid conscription into Confederate service. A few, however, left the church and joined the armies.
The Brethren were prodigious farmers, and the produce of their farms supplied Confederate forces in Virginia and other states. During the Battle of Cross Keys on June 8, 1862, they saw their fields trampled, livestock driven off, homes looted, and farm buildings damaged. Mill Creek Church was used as a hospital during the battle, and when the fighting ceased, local Dunker houses became hospitals too.
The violence of war returned on September 30, 1864. Union Gen. Philip Sheridan ordered this area burned out as a war measure, and close to fifty barns were put to the torch.
Today, as during the war, the majority of the area's farms are owned by members of the Church of the Brethren.
- XKEYS_050619_032.JPG: Following Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's victory at Winchester, Union troops pursued the Confederates south, "up" the Shenandoah Valley. While Gen. John C. Fremont advanced on the Valley Turnpike, another Union force, led by Gen. James Shields, pursued Jackson through the Page (Luray) Valley farther east.
Jackson took position at Port Republic, four miles east of here, to engage Shields, leaving Gen. Richard Ewell here at Cross Keys to hold back Fremont. Ewell posted his 5,000 men on a ridge overlooking Mill Creek, one mile to the east. The 15th Alabama infantry regiment remained here at Union Church to give timely warning of Fremont's approach.
Early on June 8, 1862, Fremont brushed aside the Alabamians. He posted 40 cannon in the fields here and began furiously shelling the Confederate position. Two hours later, Fremont attacked, blindly throwing Gen. Julius Stahel's brigade forward toward Ewell's right. The 8th New York was slaughtered by Gen. Isaac R. Trimble's Confederate brigade, which was sheltered behind a rail fence. Attacks against Ewell's center and left achieved no better success.
Fremont withdrew here to the Keezletown Road. Ewell slipped away, joining Jackson on the banks of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River at Port Republic. The last battle of the 1862 Valley Campaign was fought there June 9, 1862.
- XKEYS_050619_051.JPG: The Union line would have run along this ridge, back to the road in the distance. The Confederates were positioned behind us.
- XKEYS_050619_056.JPG: The view of toward the Confederates that the Union line would have had
- XKEYS_050619_080.JPG: Owen D. Graves Memorial
Cross Keys Battlefield Wayside
Owen D. Graves DDS 1942-2001
Family and friends dedicate this marker to the cherished memory of Dr. Owen D. Graves, a lifelong resident of the Shenandoah Valley. His many contributions helped preserve the Valley's Civil War history.
Dedicated August 2002.
- XKEYS_050619_092.JPG: Union cavalry were in the fields in front of you while the Confederate forces were behind you.
After repulsing the initial Union attack, Confederate Gen. Isaac R. Trimble's brigade heavily engaged two brigades of Union Gen. Louis Blenker's division near here on June 8, 1862.
During the afternoon fighting, Col. James A. Walker's demi-brigade consisting of the 13th and 25th Virginia infantry regiments reinforces Trimble. Walker marched his men along the Goods Mill Road on the Confederate right flank in an effort to move around the Union forces facing Trimble. Walker's first attempt to attack the Federal flank was disrupted when he marched into a forward movement by Trimble against Blenker.
Walker's second attempt placed his regiments at a post and rail fence facing three Federal regiments and a New York artillery battery on rising ground. The fence provided little cover in the face of canister fire. Walker's command suffered 47 casualties before withdrawing to the cover of some woods.
A short time later, the Federal attack ended when the senior Union artillery commander, on this part of the field a captain, feared for the safety of his guns and ordered them withdrawn over the objections of field-grade and general officers. The infantry regiments, lacking artillery support, were then forced to retreat.
On June 8, 1862, Confederate Gen. Isaac R. Trimble led part of the 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment through the then-swampy ravine toward the left of here to attack Union Gen. Louis Blenker's division. Trimble intended to move around the 54th New York Infantry Regiment on the rising ground beyond. He left the 21st Georgia Infantry, the 16th Mississippi Infantry, and the remaining portion of the 15th Alabama behind to make frontal assaults against the New Yorkers' position.
At about the same time, the 54th New York withdrew from its position when it lost its artillery support after a senior Union artillery officer ordered all the guns withdrawn. Trimble erroneously believed his maneuver had caused the Union force to retreat. Later, as night fell, Trimble pressed his superior, Gen. Richard S. Ewell, to continue the battle. Ewell denies Trimble's request and explained that the army had accomplished what Stonewall Jackson desired: to make Fremont timid about advancing on June 9.
Trimble rode to Port Republic to plead his case to Jackson for continued fighting. Jackson also denied his request. The Battle of Cross Keys was over.
Many immigrants fought for the North and the South during the Civil War. Their numbers were especially high in Gen. Louis Blenker's division of Gen. John C. Fremont's Union army at Cross Keys on June 8, 1862.
Two Germans (Gen. Henry Bohlen and Col. John Koltes) and one Hungarian (Gen. Julius Stahel) commanded Blenker's three brigades on this part of the field. Blenker and his lieutenants had been officers in European revolutions during the 1840s.
German, Swiss, Irish, English, Italians, Russians, Algerians, Sepoys, Turks, Frenchmen, Poles, Croats, Hungarians, and Chinese fought in Blenker's "melting pot" division. One of Fremont's staff officers, a Romanian, Capt. R. Nicolai Dunka, was killed delivering a message to the front here.
Most immigrants fought for their adopted country and lived here after the war. Others sought military experience as they could return to their native countries to fight in or command revolutionary armies.
- XKEYS_050917_15.JPG: We're looking out from the fence where Gen. Isaac R. Trimble's Confederate brigade occupied the line. On June 8, 1862, during the Battle of Cross Keys, there were 1,500 Confederates here, a masked position behind a split-rail fence in what was then a wood line in both directions. Shortly after noon, the 548-man-strong 8th New York Infantry on Gen. Julius Stahel's brigade marched toward Trimble, but the regiment's officers failed to put a skirmish line out front to locate the Southern position. Skirmishers of the 21st North Carolina Infantry scampered back to Trimble's line to give him the news. The New Yorkers advanced blindly through a clover field in a two-line formation and over the rise just in front of you. An Alabama soldier later recalled, "Poor fellows, they did not know what was in store for them."
As the Federals came within about 50 yards of here, the Confederates rose up and unleashed volley after volley into their ranks. The 8th New York suffered more than 250 casualties in the short span of about 15 minutes. One Confederate soldier wrote home that as he looked over the ground in front of him, he saw dead and wounded Federals "lying in the field as thick as black birds."
- XKEYS_050917_33.JPG: The red roofed building in the distance is the Widow Pence Farm. It was along the farm's boundary where Trimble's men shot up the New York regiment. The farm was purchased by Dr. Irvin E. and Nancy H. Hess who fixed it up into a wonderful place.
- Wikipedia Description: Battle of Cross Keys
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Battle of Cross Keys was fought on June 8, 1862, in Rockingham County, Virginia, as part of Confederate Army Major General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's campaign through the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War. Together, the battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic were the decisive victories in Jackson's Valley Campaign, forcing the Union armies to retreat and leaving Jackson free to reinforce Robert E. Lee for the Seven Days Battles outside Richmond, Virginia.
The hamlet of Port Republic lies on a neck of land between the North and South Rivers, which conjoin to form the South Fork Shenandoah River. On June 6–7, 1862, Jackson's army, numbering about 16,000, bivouacked north of Port Republic, Richard S. Ewell's division along the banks of Mill Creek near Goods Mill, and Charles S. Winder's division on the north bank of North River near the bridge. One regiment (15th Alabama) was left to block the roads at Union Church. Jackson's headquarters were in Madison Hall at Port Republic. The army trains were parked nearby.
Two Union columns converged on Jackson's position. The army of Maj. Gen. John C. Frémont, about 15,000 strong, moved south on the Valley Pike and reached the vicinity of Harrisonburg on June 6. The division of General James Shields, about 10,000 strong, advanced south from Front Royal in the Luray (Page) Valley, but was badly strung out because of the muddy Luray Road. At Port Republic, Jackson possessed the last intact bridge on the North River and the fords on the South River by which Frémont and Shields could unite. Jackson determined to check Frémont's advance at Mill Creek, while meeting Shields on the east bank of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. A Confederate signal station on Massanutten monitored Union progress.
Late in the day on June 7, Frémont's advance guard encountered Jackson's pickets near Cross Keys Tavern. A few shots were fired and the Union cavalry fell back onto their main body, which was approaching. Darkness prevented further developments.
Colonel Samuel Carroll, at the head of a regiment of cavalry, supported by a battery and a brigade of infantry, was sent ahead by Shields to secure the North River Bridge at Port Republic. Shortly after dawn (June 8), Carroll scattered the Confederate pickets, forded the South River, and dashed into Port Republic. Jackson and his staff raced down the main street from headquarters and across the bridge, narrowly eluding capture (two members of his staff were captured). Carroll deployed one gun aimed at the bridge and brought up another. Jackson directed the defense, ordering Captain William Poague's battery to unlimber on the north bank. Captain James McD. Carrington brought up a gun from the vicinity of Madison Hall to rake the Main St. The 37th Virginia Infantry charged across the bridge to drive the Union cavalry out of the town. Carroll retreated in confusion, losing his two guns, before his infantry could come within range. Three Confederate batteries unlimbered on the bluffs east of Port Republic on the north bank of the South Fork and fired on the retreating Federals. Carroll retired several miles north on the Luray Road. Jackson stationed William B. Taliaferro's brigade in Port Republic and positioned the Stonewall Brigade near Bogota with the artillery to prevent any further surprises.
Meanwhile, Frémont, with Cluseret's brigade in the lead, renewed his advance from the vicinity of Harrisonburg. After driving away the Confederate skirmishers, Gustave P. Cluseret reached and deployed his right flank along the Keezletown Road near Union Church. One by one, the Union brigades came into line: Robert C. Schenck on Cluseret's right, Robert H. Milroy on his left, and Julius H. Stahel on the far left, his left flank near Congers Creek. William H. C. Bohlen's and John A. Koltes's brigades were held in reserve near the center of the line. A regiment of Union cavalry moved south on the road to secure the right flank. Batteries were brought to the front.
Ewell deployed his infantry division behind Mill Creek, Isaac R. Trimble's brigade on the right across the Port Republic Road, Arnold Elzey's in the center along the high bluffs. Ewell concentrated his artillery (4 batteries) at the center of the line. As Union troops deployed along Keezletown Road, Trimble advanced his brigade a quarter of a mile to Victory Hill and deployed Courtenay's (Latimer's) battery on a hill to his left supported by the 21st North Carolina Infantry. The 15th Alabama, which had been skirmishing near Union Church, rejoined the brigade. Trimble held his regiments out of sight behind the crest of the hill.
Frémont determined to advance his battle line with the evident intention of enveloping the Confederate position, assumed to be behind Mill Creek. This maneuver required an elaborate right wheel. Stahel's brigade on the far left had the farthest distance to cover and advanced first. Milroy moved forward on Stahel's right and rear. Union batteries were advanced with infantry lines south of Keezletown Road and engaged Confederate batteries. Stahel appeared oblivious to Trimble's advanced position. His battle line passed down into the valley, crossed the run, and began climbing Victory Hill. At a distance of "sixty paces", Trimble's infantry stood up and delivered a devastating volley. Stahel's brigade recoiled in confusion with heavy casualties. The Union brigade regrouped on the height opposite Victory Hill but made no effort to renew their assault.
Stahel did not renew his attack but brought up a battery (Buell's) to support his position. Trimble moved the 15th Alabama by the right flank and up a ravine to get on the battery's left. In the meantime, Ewell sent two regiments (13th and 25th Virginia) along the ridge to Trimble's right, attracting a severe fire from the Union battery. With a shout, the 15th Alabama emerged from their ravine and began to climb the hill toward the battery, precipitating a melee. Trimble advanced his other two regiments (16th Mississippi on the left and 21st Georgia on the right) from their position on Victory Hill, forcing back the Union line. The Union battery limbered hastily and withdrew, saving its guns. A Union regiment counterattacked briefly, striking the left flank of the 16th Mississippi, but was forced back in desperate fighting.
Trimble continued advancing up the ravine on the Confederate right, outflanking successive Union positions. In the meantime, Milroy advanced on Stahel's right, supported by artillery. Milroy's line came within rifle-musket range of the Confederate center behind Mill Creek and opened fire. Union batteries continued to engage Confederate batteries in an artillery duel. Bohlen advanced on the far Union left to stiffen Stahel's crumbling defense. Milroy's left flank was endangered by Stahel's retreat, and Frémont ordered him to withdraw. Jackson brought Taylor's brigade forward to support Ewell if needed, but Taylor remained in reserve on the Port Republic Road near the Dunker Church.
Seemingly paralyzed by the decimation of Stahel's brigade on his left, Frémont was unable to mount a coordinated attack. He ordered Schenck's brigade forward to find the Confederate left flank south of Union Church. Ewell reinforced his left with elements of Elzey's brigade. Severe firing erupted along the line but quickly died down. Confederate brigadiers Elzey and George H. Steuart were wounded in this exchange. Frémont withdrew his force to Keezletown Road, placing his artillery on the heights to his rear (Oak Ridge). Artillery firing continued. At dusk, Trimble pushed his battle line forward to within a quarter mile of the Union position, anticipating a night assault. Confederate accounts describe the Union soldiers going into camp, lighting fires, and making coffee. Ewell ordered Trimble to withdraw without making the attack.
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