During the Civil war Kernstown was a separate village a few miles south of Winchester on the Valley Pike. It was the scene of two Civil War battles that, though small, had large strategic results.
The First Battle of Kernstown on March 23, 1862 was the opening battle of “Stonewall” Jackson’s famous Valley Campaign. It was also his first independent battle – and his only tactical defeat. But in spite of losing the battle, he accomplished his strategic goal of forcing the Federals to divert from the main attack on Richmond several times the number of men he had in his army.
The Second Battle of Kernstown in July of 1864 was an easy victory for Confederate General Jubal Early. But it convinced Union General Grant to place General Sheridan in command of an overwhelming force in the Shenandoah that by winter destroyed Early’s army and eliminated the Shenandoah Valley as the major supply source in the east for the Confederacy.
Over time, four historical markers were placed a short distance from the Valley Pike near the historical Opequon Church and Cemetery overlooking the fields were the battles were fought. Along with the First Battle of Kernstown marker a short distance away on the Pike itself, for years these were the only signs commemorating the battlefields. From left to right in photo above:
Battle of Kernstown Circle Tour (set of 2 markers)
Kernstown Battles historical marker
Battle of Kernstown A9 Virginia historical marker
As development around Winchester threatened the battlefields, two important tracks of land were preserved and now host interpretive trails that also help tell the story of the Kernstown battlefields:
Location
Take the Valley Pike (U.S. 11) south from downtown Winchester or north from Virginia Route 37 (the Winchester bypass) to Opequon Church Lane, which is 150 feet south of Shawnee Drive and 0.4 mile north of Apple Valley Road. Opequon Church Lane heads west 0.2 mile and ends in a turnaround next to the signs, as well as a historic graveyard that holds both Civil War and Revolutionary War veterans. (39°08’24.2″N 78°11’40.6″W)