On June 8, 1862, as the Battle of Cross Keys began, Confederate skirmishers from the 15th Alabama retreated through the cemetery, taking shelter behind tombstones as they fired and loaded. During his Valley Campaign, Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson, pursued south by Union armies led by Gen. John Fremont west of Massanutten Mountain and Gen. James Shields east of it, marched to nearby Port Republic to face Shields and left Gen. Richard Ewell to block Fremont at Cross Keys. Ewell placed his force on Mill Creek Ridge, while Fremont deployed his men roughly parallel to Keezletown Road. Just before noon, Fremont ordered a brigade to attack the Confederate right, but only the 8th New York actually assaulted and advanced into an ambush prepared by Confederate Gen. Isaac Trimble, whose brigade, including the 15th Alabama, poured a devastating fire into the Federals and drove the survivors into a panicked retreat. As Trimble pressed forward, additional Union attacks across the field made little progress, and Fremont withdrew, ending the battle. Jackson then fought and won the Valley Campaign's final battle at Port Republic the next day.