Cedar Creek • Tour the Battlefield • Battle Maps • The Armies
The Battle of Cedar Creek began in the meadows south of the Valley Pike. While the Union 8th Corps began to wake in their camps north of Bowman’s Mill Road the Confederates of Gordon’s Division forded the North Fork of the Shenandoah River just west of Long Meadow Farm and made their way up to what is now Water Plant Road. As Kershaw’s Confederate Division forded Cedar Creek at Bowman’s Mill Ford and struck the Union camps out of the dense early morning fog Gordon’s men attacked their other flank and rear. The Union 8th Corps stampeded north to the Valley Pike.
Cedar Creek Tour
From the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation Headquarters head south on U.S. Route 11 for 1 mile. Turn left onto Water Plant Road for 1 mile. Turn right onto Long Meadow Road for 0.1 mile. Turn right onto Bowman’s Mill Road for 1.4 mile. Note: Bowman’s Mill Road and Long Meadow Road are unpaved.
Stop 2 (8th Corps Camps) is marked by a Civil War Trails sign at a sharp left bend on Bowman’s Mill Road. The “Thoburn’s Refoubt: “Like chaff before the wind” wayside marker is on the northern side of the road here. Continue west on Bowman’s Mill Road. Turn right at the intersection with Long Meadow Road to stay on Bowman’s Mill Road and continue 0.6 mile.
Stop 3 is Bowman’s Mill Ford. Park on the right side of road just before the low water bridge which crosses Cedar Creek. Turn around and backtrack 0.1 mile back on Bowman’s Mill Road to the intersection with Long Meadow Road. Turn right onto Long Meadow Road for 1.6 miles. The confluence of Cedar Creek and the North Fork of the Shenandoah River is on the right about 1.2 miles along.
Stop 4 is Long Meadow Farm. Park on the right side of the road just beyond the driveway to allow other vehicles to pass. Long Meadow is privately owned and is not open to the public. Continue 0.9 mile along Long Meadow Road. Turn left onto Water Plant Road for 1.0 mile until you return to the Valley Pike, U.S. 11. Continue on the Belle Grove Area tour page.