The Five Rounds into the Darkness wayside marker is west of Harpers Ferry in the valley between Bolivar Heights and Schoolhouse Ridge. The marker is on the east side of Bakerton Road about 0.85 mile north of U.S. 340 and about 185 yards north of the parking area. (39°19’35.7″N 77°45’55.9″W; map) It is at the base of the trail that leads up Bolivar Heights to the Confederate Perspective wayside marker, which also connects with Whitman Avenue.
Looking west across Bakerton Road at the Confederate positions on North Schoolhouse Ridge. The Union skirmish line in the valley at the foot of Bolivar Heights was exposed and nerve-wracking, especially for troops who had been in the field for only two weeks.
Text from the marker:
Five Rounds into the Darkness
The 115th New York Regiment, young and inexperienced, formed a skirmish line here. When gunfire erupted on their left during the night, the men of the 115th must have felt the rush of adrenaline through their veins. Danger was headed in their direction. There was no time to think. For all they knew, a full scale attack had begun and they were protected only by the darkness.
“Sharp musketry began on our extreme left; it came rapidly toward us and soon we to were blazing away. We fired five rounds into the darkness. When the firing ceased and no body seemed to know what was the matter it was said that Reble Cavalry had attempted to pass between us and a hill beyond. This was out second Sunday in the field and we easily reached the conclusion that there was no sabbath laid down in Army regulations.”
Sergeant Nicholas J. DeGraff,
Company D, 115th New York Regiment
See more on the history of the 115th New York Infantry Regiment in the Civil War
(go to the main Union Skimish Line page)
go to the main Tour the Harpers Ferry Battlefield page)