Rutherford's Farm

In addition to the action of July 20, 1864, known as the Battle of Rutherford’s Farm, two other significant events occurred on or near John Rutherford’s property. On June 14-15, 1863, during the Gettysburg Campaign, Union Gen. Robert H. Milroy’s army evacuated Winchester and fled north after Confederate Gen. Richard S. Ewell’s corps, the vanguard of Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, captured one of Milroy’s fortifications around Winchester. Milroy’s 7,000 men slipped away in the night and marched by here on the turnpike, but Confederate Gen. Edward “Allegheny” Johnson pursued them, caught up near Stephenson’s Depot two miles north, and captured about half of them in a humiliating Federal defeat. On September 19, 1864, during the Third Battle of Winchester, Union Gen. Philip H. Sheridan’s army fought Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early’s army as Sheridan sent Gen. Wesley Merritt’s cavalry division to Stephenson’s Depot to join Union Gen. William W. Averell’s cavalry before heading south toward Winchester. Just north of here, those cavalrymen attacked Confederate Gen. Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry and Gen. Gabriel C. Wharton’s infantry, driving them back through this area, while Gen. George A. Custer led one of Merritt’s brigades down the Winchester and Potomac Railroad line and the turnpike through Carter’s and Rutherford’s farms; the battle ended with Early’s army fleeing south of Winchester to Fisher’s Hill.

Virginia · United States