Kernstown Battles

Around this site and a mile to the west, two major Civil War battles took place. At First Kernstown on March 23, 1862, Stonewall Jackson attacked what appeared to be a withdrawing Federal force led by Federal Brigadier General Shields. Desperate fighting along a stone wall west of here ended with the arrival of Federal reinforcements, and Jackson was forced to withdraw. This action opened Jackson’s famous Valley Campaign and succeeded in preventing the withdrawal of Federals from the Valley to reinforce an attack underway at Richmond. At Second Kernstown on July 23, 1864, Federal General George Crooke’s corps was camped to the north of here after pursuing Confederate General Jubal Early’s force from its raid on Washington, D.C. Early attacked Crooke’s forward positions around Prichard’s Hill and Hogue Run. The Federals withdrew in disorder after heavy fighting, and Early followed up with raids on Martinsburg, W.Va. and Chambersburg, Pa. This battle opened the final phases of the 1864 Valley Campaign.

Virginia · United States