Cedar Creek • Tour the Battlefield • Battle Maps • The Armies
Stop Five of the Cedar Creek battlefield auto tour is the monument and wayside marker to the 128th New York Infantry Regiment. It is on the northwest side of the Valley Pike (U.S. 11) south of Middletown, Virginia. (see map below)
From here a self-guided walking trail follows the trenches constructed by the 19th Corps. Permission to visit the 19th Corps trenches walking trail can be obtained from the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation Headquarters (540) 869-2064.
Monument to the 128th New York Infantry Regiment on the Cedar Creek battlefield
About the 128th New York Infantry
The 128th New York was part of the Third Brigade of the Second Division of the 19th Army Corps. The regiment had 310 men at the battle, of whom 105 were killed or wounded.
This regiment held the left flank of the 19th Corps line. The Confederate attack which had overrun the 8th Corps south of the Valley Pike struck the 19th Corps’ left and rear here. At the same time a second Confederate force struck their front. After an hour of confused fighting the Union lines were overrun and retreated toward Belle Grove.
Monument to the 128th New York Infantry
The monument was dedicated on October 15, 1907. The granite is rough hewn on three sides. The carved relief on the front face includes a knapsack, crossed rifles, canteen and sword around the regiment’s designation. Above them is the symbol of the Union 19th Army Corps. The inscription is on a panel on the two-tiered base.
Detail from the Monument
Text from the monument
128th Regt. N.Y.S.V.I.
In memory of
the men of this regiment
who lost their lives at the Battle
of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864
Erected by
their comrades and friends
dedicated in 1907
Wayside Marker to the 128th New York Infantry
The 128th New York Infantry Regiment wayside marker is next to the monument to the 128th New York.
Text from the marker:
128th New York Volunteer Regiment
Dedicated on 15 October 1907, this monument is adjacent to the original Valley Pike right of way. It marks the eastern limit of the XIX U.S. Corps positions occupied on 19 October 1864 and is at the approximate point where U.S. Generals Horatio G. Wright and William H. Emory conferred at the opening of the Confederate assault. The 128th New York, from Dutchess and Columbia Counties, lost nearly half its strength at the Battle of Cedar Creek. Its veterans placed the monument here as a memorial to all combatants, North and South.
Donated to the People of the United States
in loving memory of our daughter,
Amy Miller,
by Mr. And Mrs. Herbert C. Miller, Jr., of Pennsylvania
Blue and Gray Education Society and Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation.
From the captions to the inset photos:
Major General Horatio G. Wright, VI U.S. Corps, and Acting Commander of the Union Army of the Shenandoah
Brigadier General William H. Emory,
XIX U.S. Corps
From the caption to the painting:
General and Staff on Reconnaissance,
painting by Andre Chastain
From the caption to the map:
The Battle of Cedar Creek
Troop movements from 5 A.M. to 10 A.M.
Location of the monument and marker to the 128th New York Infantry Regiment
The monument and wayside marker to the 128th New York Infantry Regiment and the parking area for the 19th Corps trenches walking trail is on the northwest side of the Valley Pike (U.S. 11) southwest of Middletown, Virginia. They are about 0.6 miles southwest of Belle Grove Road and 0.5 mile east of the bridge across Cedar Creek. (39°00’31.8″N 78°18’35.6″W)
See more on the history of the 128th New York Infantry Regiment in the Civil War.