Front Royal Virginia

[pmuskett]

Spent yesterday touring Front Royal, Virginia. We went to Wapping's Heights battlefield. A little disappointed it was not better preserved for such an important action of the Civil War.

From there we went to our favorite used bookstore in Front Royal. (Royal Oak) Then we went to Prospect Cemetery. Can't figure out for the life of me, why we had never been to this cemetery as often as we go to Front Royal. (I suspect is it is near the bookstore, and we never made it out in time.) Here are some shots from the cemetery.

Then the highlight of the trip for me was seeing Shari light up when she saw Lucy Buck's grave. She loved reading her diary. (And all the others she has read)

And the last one.

We then went to the Visitors Center where I asked a question about Wappings Heights battlefield. I wanted a better map. They couldn't provide. But, I should have gone to the Confederate Museum there. They had an okay one.
Overall, a great day. We are planning to go back and finish walking the cemetery and maybe some other battlefield sites near there.

 

[lelliott19]

Awesome pictures! Thanks for sharing them! It looks like you and Shari had a great day! I really like Front Royal too.

You might enjoy a look at this thread where we were trying to figure out how to map the Manassas Gap fight. Your input would certainly be appreciated in the thread. Theres some good info in the thread including an account from Asst. Surgeon, Absalom CC Thompson, 3rd Ga., dated July 29, 1863 as published in The Central Georgian. (Sandersville, Ga.), August 12, 1863, page 2.

Crowd Sourcing Map: Wright's Brigade at Manassas Gap July 23, 1863 | Gettysburg

Does anyone know of a detailed map of the Battle of Manassas Gap? This is one I found at Visit Fauquier County and altered according to information from the OR - but I have no idea who was in command of French's 3rd Division? @rpkennedy @Andy Cardinal @22ndGa @infomanpa @Tom Elmore do any of you...

civilwartalk.com

If you are looking for other battlefield sites near there, go check out the location of Wofford vs. Custer's Front Royal/Crooked Run/Guard Hill fight of August 16, 1864. It's mostly a golf course now, and most people have never even heard of it. But it marks the first time during the history of the rebellion that cavalry defeated infantry - at least in the eastern theater. If you get down there to the creek, you can kind of get the sense of Wofford's guys being surprised and overrun by Custer's men, the cannon firing, and even the terror of being trapped in that predicament. Custer's cavalry was armed with Spencers and nearly took out Wofford's entire brigade. Many men were wounded and drowned in Crooked Run trying to escape. Wofford was badly wounded when his horse was shot from under him and he never returned to his brigade (although he did serve in GA.) During the fray, Wofford's guys were either ordered to, or performed spontaneously, the rally by fours drill, but it didn't do any good. Here's an old thread that mentions it.

Say What Saturday: Battle of Guard Hill (Front Royal VA) August 16, 1864 First Victory of Cavalry Over Infantry in the East | Eastern Theater

Most people have never even heard of the battle of Guard Hill (aka Battle of Crooked Run) which occurred August 16, 1864 in the Shenandoah Valley near Front Royal, Virginia. According to James Harvey Kidd, it was an occasion that clearly illustrated George Armstrong Custer's military intuition...

civilwartalk.com

 

[pmuskett]

Awesome pictures! Thanks for sharing them! It looks like you and Shari had a great day! I really like Front Royal too.

You might enjoy a look at this thread where we were trying to figure out how to map the Manassas Gap fight. Your input would certainly be appreciated in the thread.

Crowd Sourcing Map: Wright's Brigade at Manassas Gap July 23, 1863 | Gettysburg

Does anyone know of a detailed map of the Battle of Manassas Gap? This is one I found at Visit Fauquier County and altered according to information from the OR - but I have no idea who was in command of French's 3rd Division? @rpkennedy @Andy Cardinal @22ndGa @infomanpa @Tom Elmore do any of you...

civilwartalk.com

If you are looking for other battlefield sites near there, go check out the location of Wofford vs. Custer's Front Royal/Crooked Run/Guard Hill fight of August 16, 1864. It's mostly a golf course now, and most people have never even heard of it. But it marks the first time during the history of the rebellion that cavalry defeated infantry - at least in the eastern theater. If you get down there to the creek, you can kind of get the sense of Wofford's guys being surprised and overrun by Custer's men, the cannon firing, and even the terror of being trapped in that predicament. Custer's cavalry was armed with Spencers and nearly took out Wofford's entire brigade. Many men were wounded and drowned in Crooked Run trying to escape. Wofford was badly wounded when his horse was shot from under him and he never returned to his brigade (although he did serve in GA.) During the fray, Wofford's guys were either ordered to, or performed spontaneously, the rally by fours drill, but it didn't do any good. Here's an old thread that mentions it.

Say What Saturday: Battle of Guard Hill (Front Royal VA) August 16, 1864 First Victory of Cavalry Over Infantry in the East | Eastern Theater

Most people have never even heard of the battle of Guard Hill (aka Battle of Crooked Run) which occurred August 16, 1864 in the Shenandoah Valley near Front Royal, Virginia. According to James Harvey Kidd, it was an occasion that clearly illustrated George Armstrong Custer's military intuition...

civilwartalk.com

Here are the maps I was given.

 

[JOHN42768]

Thanks for posting info and photos

 

[Elliot Crumblemuffin]

Spent yesterday touring Front Royal, Virginia. We went to Wapping's Heights battlefield. A little disappointed it was not better preserved for such an important action of the Civil War.View attachment 448255

From there we went to our favorite used bookstore in Front Royal. (Royal Oak) Then we went to Prospect Cemetery. Can't figure out for the life of me, why we had never been to this cemetery as often as we go to Front Royal. (I suspect is it is near the bookstore, and we never made it out in time.) Here are some shots from the cemetery.

View attachment 448260View attachment 448261
View attachment 448256
View attachment 448257
Then the highlight of the trip for me was seeing Shari light up when she saw Lucy Buck's grave. She loved reading her diary. (And all the others she has read)
View attachment 448258
And the last one. View attachment 448259
We then went to the Visitors Center where I asked a question about Wappings Heights battlefield. I wanted a better map. They couldn't provide. But, I should have gone to the Confederate Museum there. They had an okay one.
Overall, a great day. We are planning to go back and finish walking the cemetery and maybe some other battlefield sites near there.

What a fantastic picture tour!! It sounds like you guys had a really nice day out there. I LOVE that region of Virginia it truly is beautiful....AND the weather is always less humid then the area of Virginia where we live . Thanks for sharing

 

[BronxYankee]

Great pics. I found out on a Civil War page I follow on Instagram that there is a Stonewall Brigade Museum in Verona, VA. Never knew that. Whenever I go back to NOVA for work I'll have to take the trip there to check it out.

 

[gjpratt]

Very well done travelogue. Thank you for posting.

 

[Jamieva]

Spent yesterday touring Front Royal, Virginia. We went to Wapping's Heights battlefield. A little disappointed it was not better preserved for such an important action of the Civil War.View attachment 448255

From there we went to our favorite used bookstore in Front Royal. (Royal Oak) Then we went to Prospect Cemetery. Can't figure out for the life of me, why we had never been to this cemetery as often as we go to Front Royal. (I suspect is it is near the bookstore, and we never made it out in time.) Here are some shots from the cemetery.

View attachment 448260View attachment 448261
View attachment 448256
View attachment 448257
Then the highlight of the trip for me was seeing Shari light up when she saw Lucy Buck's grave. She loved reading her diary. (And all the others she has read)
View attachment 448258
And the last one. View attachment 448259
We then went to the Visitors Center where I asked a question about Wappings Heights battlefield. I wanted a better map. They couldn't provide. But, I should have gone to the Confederate Museum there. They had an okay one.
Overall, a great day. We are planning to go back and finish walking the cemetery and maybe some other battlefield sites near there.

So at wappimg heights all there is to see is the cwt marker?

 

[pmuskett]

So at wappimg heights all there is to see is the cwt marker?

Yup. I was very disappointed in that. Lots of private homes around the area. Even the UDC lady at the Confederate Museum was not very happy about that too.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

May of 2021

* Tour Stop - 1