Stop Three – Bowman’s Mill Ford

Cedar Creek • Tour the Battlefield • Battle Maps • The Armies

Bowman’s Mill Ford is Stop Three on the battlefield auto tour. Before dawn on the morning of October 19, 1864 the 2,500 Confederates of Major General Joseph B. Kershaw’s Division waded across Cedar Creek here. They overran the Union pickets posted at the ford, then formed line of battle and advanced uphill through the dense fog toward the camps of the Union 8th Corps.

(above) A present-day low water bridge crosses Cedar Creek at Bowman’s Mill Ford, where Kershaw’s Division crossed in the foggy pre-dawn before attacking the 8th Corps camp.

bowman's Ford on the Cedar Creek battlefield (above and below) The ford of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River crossed by Gordon’s division as it swung north to flank the camps of the Union 8th Corps.bowman's Ford on the Cedar Creek battlefield

Map and directions to Stop Three – Bowman’s Ford

To reach Bowman’s Ford from Stop Two, follow Bowman’s Mill Road 1.3 miles to the low water bridge over Cedar Creek. There’s a pretty good place to park on the other side of Cedar Creek. (38°59’27.8″N 78°19’40.7″W)