In its second year, SVBF's Membership Program grew to more than 630 members, raising over $30,000 for battlefield preservation. Our sincere thanks to our loyal SVBF members - and our hopes that you will support us again in 2014. Please consider joining or renewing today.
To renew your membership, or to join for the first time, you can join online by clicking here. For more information on membership levels and rewards, click here. If you have questions, call Donor Relations Manager Janice Hannah at 540-740-4545. |
Our new Carolina-style BBQ Sauce and SVBF-logo thermos headline the newest items on our online store. Show your pride in the Shenandoah Valley's rich history and support it's preservation at the same time. To browse our "Breadbasket" items, logo-branded merchandise, interpretive booklets, and more, go to ShopShenandoahAtWar.org. |
The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation is embarking on an ambitious project to restore and interpret the Third Winchester battlefield, and we need your help. The "Campaign for Third Winchester" is a fundraising effort to support the restoration, interpretation, and economic development of the 567-acre Third Winchester battlefield site. For more details on the SVBF's campaign to preserve Third Winchester, click here. To donate to the campaign to preserve Third Winchester, click here. For more information, call Janice Hannah at (540) 740-4545. |
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The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District
Modern visitors are able to view the Shenandoah Valley's landscape much as it was seen by soldiers and civilians during the region's important Civil War campaigns, mostly thanks to the agricultural economy that has thrived in the Valley since before the Civil War.
But this historic landscape is increasingly threatened.
In 1996 the United States Congress created the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District to protect this national resource and to ensure that future generations would be able to explore the Valley's Civil War story and more fully understand its impact on the American experience.
The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation serves as the non-profit manager of the National Historic District and works with partners to preserve the Shenandoah Valley's Civil War battlefields, coordinate the interpretation of the region's Civil War story, and promote the Valley as a visitor destination.
The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation is a nonprofit organization. To make a tax-deductible donation to our preservation efforts, please contact us at the address below or visit www.ShenandoahAtWar.org. |
 | | Confederate Private Samuel T. Cowley, 2nd Virginia Infantry |
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Interested in learning about the places you can go to experience the Valley's compelling Civil War story? The Shenandoah At War website includes information about Civil War-related sites throughout the Valley, as well as links to the tourism and visitor offices that can not only help you find those places - they can also tell you about the wealth of other attractions that the Valley has to offer. |
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation
Post Office Box 897
New Market, Virginia 22844
540-740-4545
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Sesquicentennial Conference: "The War Returns to the Valley, 1864" - SOLD OUT | |
 Virginia Museum of the Civil War,
New Market
(Saturday, March 8, 2014, 10am-5pm)
The Civil War returned to the Shenandoah Valley with a vengeance in the spring of 1864. On Saturday, March 8, 2014, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation will commemorate the 150th Anniversary of those events with the first of two 1864-2014 Sesquicentennial conferences, "May God Forgive Me for the Order": The War Returns to the Valley. Covering the period from May-July 1864, the conference will feature eminent Civil War historians Ted Alexander, Eric Campbell, Charles Knight, Jonathan Noyalas, and Scott Patchan. More information.
Please note: this program is sold out. For more information, email [email protected] or call 540-740-4545. |
"Civil War Humor": Cameron C. Nickels | |
 Shenandoah Valley Civil War Roundtable, Harrisonburg
(Monday, March 10, 2014, 7:30 pm)
Cameron C. Nickels, Professor Emeritus of English at James Madison University and author of Civil War Humor, will discuss how wartime humor was created, disseminated, and received by both sides during the war. Civil War Humor describes how Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis were portrayed as well as battles and life on the home front. The meeting is free and open to the public. Rockingham County Administration Center, 20 Gay Street. More information. |
Historic Debate: "The Causes of the American Civil War" | |
 Long Branch Plantation, Millwood
(Thursday, March 13, 2014, 6-9 pm)
Americans have long been passionate about debating, freedom of speech, and critical thought. Join Long Branch Plantation in honoring these age-old traditions by attending a historical debate about "The Causes of the American Civil War." This event will feature speakers Jonathan A. Noyalas and Dave Clarke and will be moderated by Long Branch Executive Director Nicholas Redding. Audience members will have a chance to participate and to submit questions to the moderator. Admission fee of $5 includes drinks and food. 830 Long Branch Lane. More information. |
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Newest Signature Tour: Highland County |
 The SVBF's newest Signature Tour takes you to Highland County for a one-day excursion highlighting the historic McDowell battlefield, the area's natural beauty, and the unique aspects of its rural communities. Stretch your legs climbing the same hill that Stonewall Jackson's troops defended in May 1862, learn how pure maple syrup is made, and get your picture taken in front of an inactive volcano. To learn more about the tour, click here. To see the entire list of available tours, click here. |
Turner Ashby Dinner and Ball | |
 Pano's Restaurant, Harrisonburg
(Saturday, March 15, 2014, 11am-3pm)
Dinner and ball includes silent auction and cake walk. Music by the Shenandoah Valley Minstrels. Tom and Lesley Mack of the Shenandoah Valley Civil War Era Dancers will guide you through period dancing. $25 per person. Period attire suggested but not required. 3190 S Main St. For more information, contact: Turner Ashby Chapter 162 United Daughters of the Confederacy President Linda Ridder at (540) 574-2641 or Vice President Ann Youell at (540) 438-9379. Deadline for reservations is March 10. |
"Women Soldiers in the Civil War" | |
 Long Branch Plantation, Millwood
(Thursday, March 20, 2014, 6-9 pm)
There are hundreds of documented cases of women who fought disguised as men during the Civil War. Speakers Dr. Audrey Scanlan-Teller and Tracey McIntire will discuss some of the more fascinating women and talk about what motivated them to fight alongside men. Admission fee of $5 includes drinks and food. 830 Long Branch Lane. More information. |
SVBF Crowdsourcing Campaign for Lee-Jackson |
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The SVBF is revitalizing the historic Lee-Jackson Building into a vibrant center featuring visitor, orientation, educational, and historic information - but we need your help. (Click here for more information.)
As part of the effort to raise funds for the "Preserving the Legacy of Lee-Jackson" campaign, the SVBF has launched its first "crowdsourcing" effort through Razoo. To learn about  the campaign, click here. You can also see the video accompanying the campaign by clicking the link above.
Please support our effort by contributing today. Click here to donate. For more information, call Janice Hannah or Amy Proctor at 540-740-4545 or email [email protected] or [email protected]. |
Belle Grove Opening Day & Attic Graffiti Exhibit | |
 Belle Grove Plantation, Middletown
(Saturday, March 22, 2014)
Belle Grove Plantation begins its 2014 season on Saturday, March 22. The 1797 Manor House and grounds will be open for tours from 10am-4pm and then be open Sunday, 1-5 pm and Monday-Saturday, 10am-4pm.
On Saturday, March 22, Belle Grove will also debut a temporary exhibit, "The Writing Is on the Wall: Photographs of Belle Grove's Attic Graffiti," that will run through April 20. Admission is $5 for those 12 and older or free to Belle Grove or National Trust for Historic Preservation members or with the purchase of a Manor House tour ticket. More information. |
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 Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester
(Saturday, March 22, 2014, 2-3pm)
In remembrance of the 152nd Anniversary of the First Battle of Kernstown, Kenneth Postalwait, performer and author of Red Hawk: A Civil War Journal, and Lynn Routzahn, performer and guitarist, will combine music, song, history, and rhyme to bring light to the more personal side of Civil War heroes. 901 Amherst St. For cost and other details, click here. |
New Signature Sites Video: The Bushong House | |
 Our newest Signature Site video features the Bushong House, located in the New Market Battlefield at the Virginia Museum of the Civil War. Museum Supervisor of Historical Interpretation Stacey Nadeau and SVBF staff member Rob Aitcheson discuss the house's role during the battle, as well as plans for Battle of New Market Sesquicentennial programs coming this May. To watch the video, click here.
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National Park Service Ranger Programs at Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park | |
 Middletown
(March 23, 29, 30, 2014)
Free NPS Ranger-conducted programs. March programs include:
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove in a Box - A Park Overview: A 30 minute program on the history and settlement of the Valley, the Battle of Cedar Creek and the impact of the Civil War. Meet on Belle Grove's front lawn. March 23 (11:30am), 29 (11:30am), 30 (3 pm).
 Battle of Cedar Creek Tour: A two-hour car caravan guided tour which covers the Battle of Cedar Creek. Meet at the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation Headquarters. March 23 and 29 (2 pm).
"To Battlefield and Beyond" War Comes to the Shenandoah Valley: This 40 minute program examines the physical, economic and emotional impacts of many military campaigns and battles that occurred in the Valley. Meet at the Hupp's Hill Civil War Park. March 30 (3:30 pm).
For more information, including complete program schedules, see the park website here or call (540) 869-3051. |
Bridgewater College Civil War Institute: "The 1864 Valley Campaign" | |
 Bridgewater College, Bridgewater
(Saturday, March 29, 2014, 9am-4pm)
Speakers include Dr. Joseph Whitehorne ("Overview of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864"), Dr. Jason Phillips ("Confederate Invincibility and the Campaigns of 1864"), Jeffry D. Wert ("Jubal Early and the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign"), and Dr. Clarence Geier ("An Archeological Look at the 1864 Valley Campaign"). Free. For more information, click here. |
"A Spy for the Union": Corey Recko | |
 Handley Library, Winchester
(Wednesday, April 16, 2014, 7pm)
Program presented by Corey Recko, author of A Spy for the Union: The Life and Execution of Timothy Webster. Union spy Webster traveled to Richmond many times during the war and worked with General George B. McClellan when his troops were stationed near Winchester. He was betrayed and became the first spy to be executed in the Civil War. Recko will sign and sell books after his presentation. 100 W Piccadilly St. More information. |
Lincoln Symposium: "The Lincoln Deception" | |
 Bridgewater College, Bridgewater
(Monday, April 21, 2014, 7:30-9pm)
This year's Lincoln Symposium, presented by the Lincoln Society of Virginia, will feature author David O. Stewart talking about his book, The Lincoln Deception, his first novel, an historical mystery about the John Wilkes Booth Conspiracy. Bloomberg View called it the best historical novel of the year, while Publishers Weekly called it an "impressive debut novel." Free. 402 E. College St. Boitnott Room in Rebecca Hall. More information. |
Sesquicentennial Conference: "The 1864 Shenandoah Campaign and the Burning"
August 2, 2014 (Registration Opens March 10) | |
 Lord Fairfax Community College, Middletown
(Sat., August 2, 2014, 10am-5pm)
From May-July 1864, Confederate forces in the Shenandoah Valley had continued to make the region a "Valley of humiliation" for the Union, climaxing in Gen. Jubal Early's advance to the gates of Washington and the burning of Chambersburg. Confederate successes threatened to upset the entire Federal war effort - and to ruin Abraham Lincoln's chances for reelection.
 Frustrated Federal leaders, determined to end rebel control of the region, reinforced and unified Federal troops in the Valley under a new commander: Gen. Philip H. Sheridan. From August-October 1864, the war in the Valley reached a crescendo, with levels of combat, casualties, destruction, and heartbreak not seen before, including titanic battles such as Third Winchester and Cedar Creek and the systematic destruction of the Valley's agriculture in the Burning - when "the world was set on fire."
 On Saturday, August 2, 2014, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation will look back at those pivotal events with its second 1864-2014 Sesquicentennial conference, "Is the World Being Set on Fire?": The 1864 Shenandoah Campaign and the Burning. Covering the period from August-October 1864, the conference will feature eminent Civil War historians Jonathan Berkey, Eric Campbell, Jonathan Noyalas, Scott Patchan, Nancy Sorrells, and Jeffry Wert.
The conference will be held at Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown, Virginia. The cost to attend will be $20 per person. Registration opens Monday, March 10. For more information, click here, call 540-740-4545, or email [email protected]. To register after March 10, visit www.ShopShenandoahAtWar.org. |
| 150 Years Ago...A Sesquicentennial Look Back |
 March 2, 1864
Battle of Walkerton (Virginia). On February 28, Union Gen. Judson Kilpatrick had left his encampment at Stevensburg with 4,000 picked men to raid Richmond. Col. Ulric Dahlgren, son of Rear Adm. John Dahlgren, commands an advance force of 500 men. While the main body under Kilpatrick rides along the Virginia Central Railroad tearing up track, Dahlgren rides south to the James River, hoping to cross over, penetrate Richmond's defenses from the rear, and release Union prisoners at Belle Isle. Kilpatrick reaches the outskirts of Richmond on March 1 and skirmishes before the city's defenses, waiting for Dahlgren to rejoin the main column. Dahlgren, however, is delayed, and Kilpatrick is forced to withdraw with Confederate cavalry in pursuit. Hampton attacks Kilpatrick near Old Church on the 2nd, but the Federals find refuge with elements of Butler's command at New Kent Court House. In the meantime, Dahlgren's men, unable to penetrate Richmond's defenses, try to escape pursuit by riding north of the city. Dahlgren's command becomes separated, and on March 2 his detachment of about 100 men is ambushed by a detachment of the 9th Virginia Cavalry and Home Guards in King and Queen County near Walkerton. Dahlgren is killed and most of his men captured. Papers found on Dahlgren's body that order him to burn Richmond and assassinate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet cause a political furor. Southerners accuse the North of initiating "a war of extermination." Union Gen. George G. Meade, Kilpatrick, and Abraham Lincoln all disavowed any knowledge of the Dahlgren Papers.
March 4, 1864
The United State Senate confirms Andrew Johnson as Federal Military Governor of Tennessee.
March 5, 1864
The Confederate government orders every vessel to give on half of its freight capacity to government shipments. This is an effort to cut down on private profit from blockade-running and to aid the government in obtaining badly needed supplies.
 March 9, 1864
Ulysses S. Grant is commissioned as Lieutenant General, a position previously held only by George Washington and Winfield Scott.
March 10, 1864
Ulysses S. Grant is given the official authority to take command of the Armies of the United States. In the meantime, Grant is visiting with Gen. George G. Meade, the command of the Army of the Potomac, working out their relationship, which will involve Grant keeping his Headquarters in the field with Meade and his army.
March 10, 1864
Union Gen. Franz Sigel takes command of the Federal Department of West Virginia.
March 12, 1864
The Red River Campaign begins, as Union Gen. Nathaniel Banks, his army, and his gunboats start up the Red River into the heart of Louisiana.
 March 14, 1864
Battle of Fort DeRussy (Louisiana). The Union launches a multi-purpose expedition into Rebel Gen. E. Kirby Smith's Trans-Mississippi Department, headquartered in Shreveport, Louisiana, in early 1864. Union Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks and Rear Adm. David D. Porter jointly command the combined force. Porter's fleet and Gen. A.J. Smith's XVI and XVII Army Corps detachments of the Army of the Tennessee set out on March 12, 1864, up the Red River, the most direct route to Shreveport. Banks with the XIII and XIX Army Corps advances by way of Berwick Bay and Bayou Teche. After removing various obstructions that the Rebels have placed in the river, the major impediment to the Union expedition is the formidable Fort DeRussy, an earthen fortification with a partly iron-plated battery designed to resist the fire of Union ironclads that might come up river. Union Gen. A.J. Smith's command had embarked on transports at Vicksburg and then disembarked at Simsport, on the 12th, about thirty miles from Fort DeRussy. Smith sends out some troops on the morning of the 13th to determine if any enemy is in their path. This force disperses and chases an enemy brigade, after which, Smith sets his men in motion up the Fort DeRussy road. They do not proceed far before night. Early the next morning, the 14th, they continue the march, discovering that a Confederate division threatens their advance. Always mindful of this threat, Smith has to place part of his command in a position to intercept these Rebel forces if they attack. Upon arriving at the fort, the enemy garrison of 350 men opens fire. Smith decides to use Mower's division, XVI Army Corps, to take the fort and sets about positioning it for the attack. Around 6:30 pm, Smith orders a charge on the fort and about twenty minutes later, Mower's men scale the parapet, causing the enemy to surrender. Fort DeRussy, which some had said was impregnable, has fallen, and the Red River to Alexandria is open.
March 18, 1864
Union Gen. William T. Sherman officially takes command of the Military Division of the Mississippi, putting him in charge of all Union troops in the western theater.
March 18, 1864
At the closing of the Sanitary Commission Fair in Washington D.C., President Abraham Lincoln praises the Commission for its service to the wounded since its inception in 1861. During that time the Commission has been responsible for coordinating volunteer efforts, raised over 25 million dollars, and provided supplies and worked alongside doctors and nurses among other acts of service. Lincoln closes the fair by stating "If all that has been said by orators and poets since the creation of the world in praise of women applied to the women of America, it would not do them justice for their conduct during this war."
March 19, 1864
A brief article in Harper's Weekly states that U.S. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton has been dispatched by President Lincoln to prison camps to administer an oath of allegiance to any willing Confederate prisoner.
March 21, 1864
President Abraham Lincoln approves an act of Congress enabling the territories of Nevada and Colorado to become states.
 March 25, 1864
Battle of Paducah (Kentucky). In March 1864, Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest sets out from Columbus, Mississippi, with a force of less than 3,000 men on a multipurpose expedition (recruit, reoutfit, disperse Yankees, etc.) into West Tennessee and Kentucky. Forrest arrives in Paducah on March 25 and quickly occupies the town. The Union garrison of 650 men under the command of Col. Stephen G. Hicks retires to Fort Anderson, in the town's west end. Hicks has support from two gunboats on the Ohio River and refuses to surrender, while shelling the area with his artillery. Most of Forrest's command destroys unwanted supplies, loads what they want, and rounds up horses and mules. A small segment of Forrest's command assaults Fort Anderson and is repulsed, suffering heavy casualties. Soon afterwards, Forrest's men withdraw. In reporting the raid on the town, many newspapers state that Forrest has not found more than a hundred fine horses hidden during the raid. As a result, one of Forrest's subordinate officers will lead a force back into Paducah in mid-April and seize the infamous horses. Although this is a Confederate victory, other than the destruction of supplies and capture of animals, no lasting results occur. It does, however, warn the Federals that Forrest, or someone like him, can strike anywhere at any time.
For more "150 Years Ago Today" stories, be sure to check the home page at www.ShenandoahAtWar.org, which features a new entry each day.
[Sources: the Library of Congress (loc.gov); CWSAC Battle Summaries (American Battlefield Protection Program); Wikipedia; BlueAndGrayTrail.com; The Civil War Day By Day (E. B. Long with Barbara Long), Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1971; EncyclopediaVirginia.org.] |
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