The Mountains, Men and Maneuvers wayside marker is south of Harpers Ferry on the Murphy Farm Trail in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. It is about 650 yards south of the trailhead on the Murphy Farm Trail. (39°18’27.3″N 77°45’46.6″W; map)
The marker is on the edge of the bluff overlooking the Shenandoah River. A shaded bench offers a perfect place to enjoy the view.
From the marker:
Mountains, Men and Maneuvers
Confederate Major General “Stonewall” Jackson could not see this view. His lower vantage on Schoolhouse Ridge, 1000 yards upriver, blocked his sight of this strategic position. Yet Jackson remembered this farm from his time as Confederate commander at Harpers Ferry during the first days of the war. He knew if he seized this ground he would threaten the rear of the Union army atop Bolivar Heights. Despite overwhelming odds, Jackson’s men secured the Chambers (Murphy) Farm and the plateau on Loudoun Heights, overcoming rivers, cliffs, ravines, poor roads, and narrow shorelines. They forced the surrender of Harpers Ferry. With cannon now in close firing range from these surprise positions, Jackson was ready to launch his final attack on the Union forces.
Captions from the map:
Crutchfield’s soldiers worked feverishly through the night following a road up the mountainside and dragging 10 cannon into position on Loudoun Height’s
Hill’s troops moved down the Shenandoah River and struggled with their 20 cannon until they reached the high ground of Chambers (Murphy) Farm.
(go to the main Murphy Farm page)
(go to the main Tour the Harpers Ferry Battlefield page)