The Battle Begins orientation marker

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

The Battle Begins orientation marker is at Stop Two of the Cedar Creek Battlefield auto tour. (see map below)

The Battle Begins orientation marker at Cedar Creek

Text from the marker

The opening attack of the battle took place in these fields and woods around 5 a.m. on October 19, 1864. The surprise was complete and the Union troops were completely routed in the heavy fog and predawn darkness of early morning. Colonel Joseph Thoburn’s attempts to rally his men failed, and he was later killed during the retreat through the streets of Middletown. The trail covers part of the ground where Thoburn’s troops were positioned and then overrun by the Confederate assault.

Caption for the inset photograph

Joseph Thoburn, 1825-1864, enlisted as a surgeon after the firing on Fort Sumter, in the 1st Virginia Infantry, a pro-Union regiment from near Wheeling, Virginia, now West Virginia.

Caption for the background drawing

This James E. Taylor sketch captures the death of Colonel Joseph Thoburn during the retreat that morning.

Enlargement of the map from the marker

Battle_Begins_map

Text from “Trail Regulations” on the marker

The Thoburn redoubt Trail crosses land preserved by the Shenendoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. This 0.75 mile-long-loop trail crosses through both open fields and wooded, gently rolling terrain.

Location of the marker

The Battle Begins orientation marker is at Stop Two on the battlefield auto tour, about 40 feet from the parking area.  (38° 59.933′ N, 78° 19.182′ W)