Front Royal – Monuments and Markers – 1862 Valley Campaign
The Courthouse – Front Royal Street Fighting wayside marker is in downtown Front Royal, Virginia (see map below). The marker is next to the Capture of Front Royal J-8 Virginia historical marker
This is the fourth stop on the Virginia Civil War Trails tour of the Battle of Front Royal.
(see previous stop, Prospect Hill Cemetery • see next stop, Visitor Center)
From the wayside marker:
The Courthouse
Front Royal Street Fighting
Battle of Front Royal, May 23, 1862
As Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s army pushed its way into Front Royal, Col. Bradley T. Johnson’s 1st Maryland Infantry (CSA) confronted Col. John R. Kenly’s 1st Maryland Infantry (US). The street fighting grew especially hot here, between the Warren County Court House and the Confederate military hospital just across the street to the west.
Federal troops delivered “hot musketry fire” from the large windows of one of the two-story hospital buildings, threatening the Southern advance. Gen. Richard S. Ewell asked Johnson, “Colonel, can you take that building?” Johnson replied, “Yes, sir, in five- minutes.” His Marylanders, led by Capt. William H. Murray, charged and “the building was taken in half the time promised.” The tide of battle then flowed from the courthouse area north on Crescent Street toward Chester Street. House-to-house fighting ensued as the Federals retreated to Richardson’s Hill.
The Confederates were surprised to find themselves dodging enthusiastic civilians as well as bullets when sucessionist women ran into the streets to greet their liberators, waving their bonnets, cheering and screaming. One soldier wrote, “Indeed the ladies were perfectly regardless of danger, balls flying in every direction, but there they stood, pointing out where some Yankees had hidden and encouraging us in every way.” Soon many of these women would be caring for the wounded of both sides.
From the sidebar:
In June, 1861, the Confederate government established three military hospitals in Front Royal. Federal troops use the two-story barrack-style building for cover during the battle on May 23, 1862.
The present Warren County courthouse was built in 1835-36 on the site of the antebellum one, which was also occupied by the 1st Maryland Infantry, USA during the battle.
Warren County was named for Gen. Joseph Warren, from Massachusetts, who was killed during the battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. The county was formed in 1836 from parts of Frederick and Shenandoah Counties.
Capture of Front Royal J-8 Virginia historical marker
From the marker:
Capture of Front Royal
Stonewall Jackson, moving a-
gainst Banks, captured this
town from a Union force under
Colonel Kenly, May 23, 1862
Location of the markers
The Courthouse – Front Royal Street Fighting wayside marker is on the southeast corner of North Royal Avenue (U.S. 340) and Main Street. (38°55’04.3″N 78°11’35.0″W)