Cedar Creek • Tour the Battlefield • Battle Maps • Battle Facts • The Armies
The Union Trenches wayside marker is one of several on an interpretive walking trail that heads north from the Valley Pike (U.S. 11) at the monument to the 128th New York. (39°00’45.1″N 78°18’39.8″W; see map below)
Union Trenches
The main portion of the XIX U.S. Corps earthworks began here and extended one mile westward. Colonel Daniel Macaulay’s 3rd Brigade, a part of Brigadier General Cuvier Grover’s 2nd Division, occupied them with the 128th New York and 38th Massachusetts Regiments. The 176th and 156th New York Regiments left these trenches to form a line parallel to the Valley Pike north of this point to halt the Confederate attack. C.S. Major General Joseph B. Kershaw’s main attack, coming from the southeast, hit this part of the federal line.
Donated to the People of the United States
by
Joyce and Jack Keller
of Hilton Head, South Carolina
Erected by Blue and Gray Education Society and Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation.
Union trenches on the Cedar Creek battlefield
View of the remains of trenches used by the 19th Corps at Cedar Creek. The view looks out into the inside of a V-shaped section of trench. The ground drops off to Cedar Creek beyond the trench. At the time of the battle the trees were cleared from the slopes to give a good field of fire. Unfortunately for the 19th Corps, the Confederates attacked from the flank.