The Stonewall Jackson Inn ~ Bed and Breakfast

"A Night's Delight  ~ A Breakfast to Remember!"

The Situation
The Virginia Department of Transportation, the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County have published a route for a by-pass road around Harrisonburg, to help alleviate rush hour traffic and take pressure off of Interstate 81 in the area. In a recently released draft environmental impact statement for Interstate 81, VDOT has suggested that the loop road could actually be a beltway that would handle I-81 traffic and be designated as I-81. The eastern part of this beltway, which would actually traverse the core area of the Cross Keys Battlefield would be the relocated I-81 for the Harrisonburg area. For a map of the proposed beltway and its relationship to the Cross Keys Battlefield click on this link: Proposed Beltway.

Subsequent development that would result from the building of either the by-pass, beltway, or proposed relocation of I-81, would completely destroy the Cross Keys Battlefield, then spill over onto Port Republic. The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (SVBF) has purchased two properties at Cross Keys and is negotiating with several interested parties willing to either place conversation easements on their historical land or sell it outright, or scenic easements, to help mitigate damage to the Cross Keys battlefield and view shed. After making several recent land purchases in 2005 at the Third Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, and New Market Battlefields, the SVBF is in need of funds for down payments to close on the Cross Key properties. Money raised at this event will help directly initiate one of these land purchases.

Event Objectives
 

• A. To bring together 500+ preservation minded reenactors, military, civilian & sutler, who will bring donations to help save the Cross Keys/Port Republic Battlefields. All donation checks will be made out to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation.
• B. To seek a matching grant so that all monies collected can be at least doubled. It is hoped reenactor’s donations will total at least $40,000 and thus a matching grant could bring the amount to $80,000.
• C. To further enhance reenactor rapport with the SVBF, building a partnership so that future reenactor access to battlefield land they possess in the Valley is a viable option.
• D. To further enhance reenactor rapport with several local historical societies who are members of the Rockingham County cluster of the SVBF so that future mutual cooperative efforts are readily undertaken.
• E. To further educate the local residents of Rockingham County about their historical heritage during the time period of the War Between the States and the threat development now poses to that heritage.

Site
The starting point for the event will be the historic Widow Pence Farm, located on the Cross Keys Battlefield, 8 miles East of the City of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Interstate I-81. As this is a mobile event, the land used will be numerous and varied. It includes portions of both the Cross Keys and Port Republic Battlefields, the town of Port Republic, historic properties such as Madison Hall (Jackson’s headquarters), Lynwood (headquarters of Shield’s advance guard) and numerous roads that both Shield’s and Jackson’s commands marched over.

Battle Scenarios
At the Widow Pence Farm the scenario will be the “Slaughter of the Eighth New York.” This action will depict on the actual ground the movement of the 8th (Stahel’s First Brigade) up a hill where the 21st Georgia (Trimble’s Brigade) was waiting, hidden, and unleashed fire so heavy that over 220 men of the 8th fell within five minutes. The action will conclude with the men of Trimble’s pursuing the 8th as occurred in the original fight.

At the Port Republic Battlefield the scenario will be “Taylor Advances on the Coaling”. This action will take place in the original forest through which Taylor’s Brigade fought and advanced to the critical Federal artillery position (The Coaling) that was a key to the battle. (Note*** The Coaling itself has many modern intrusions, so will not be used). Through this woods Taylor advanced four separate times, three times only to be eventually repulsed by gallant counterattacks by Ohio Regiments, especially the Sixty-sixth. Only on the fourth assault and with reinforcement was Taylor finally successful.

Civilian Participation
Civilian Living History will take place at the Widow Pence Farm and in the town of Port Republic. This will greatly aid in the efforts to bring the local community into harmony with reenactors. Civilians will participate in various scenarios throughout the weekend, more details on those scenarios will be available as the event draws nearer and will be discussed through a civilian Yahoo Group. Civilians will also work as key event fundraisers.

Camps
Both Federal and Confederate camps for Friday night will be at the Widow Pence Farm and surrounding properties on the Cross Keys Battlefield. Federal camp for Saturday night will be along the Federal line of march at Lynwood. Confederate camp on Saturday night will be in the town of Port Republic, and at Madison Hall. All aforementioned camps will be strictly campaign and will include the vast majority of participants.

For those troops, Federal and Confederate, who have impressions that meet the authenticity guidelines but who like to camp static, using tentage, a site will be available near the town of Port Republic where you can camp. All amenities will be available. An extensive transportation system will be in place that will ferry you to the battles each day, your respective lines of march, etc., then back to your camp at night. At no time will the static camp be visible to the campaign line of march.

Timeline
Participants arrive Friday. Registration will be at the Cross Keys Ruritan Building, with parking across the road in fields owned by a SVBF member. Participants will be transported to their respective camps. Sutlers will be available starting Friday at the Widow Pence Farm. Saturday morning the scenario “Slaughter of the 8th New York” takes place on the Widow Pence farm. Federal force transported to the town of McGaheysville, begin 7 mile march (four + miles on dirt road) to Port Republic Battlefield. Confederates embark on 4 mile march to town of Port Republic. Saturday, late afternoon & evening, living history in town of Port Republic (Confederate and Civilians). Sunday morning Federal and Confederate forces complete marches to Port Republic Battlefield. For the Federal force this is a one mile march. For Confederate force this is 3 mile march on dirt road. Thus total line of march for the Federal column is 8 miles, Confederate column 7 miles. Sunday morning scenario at Port Republic, “Taylor Advances on the Coaling,” completed by 11:00 a.m... Participants then transported back to their vehicles.

Registration
The registration fee will be $20.00. Six dollars of that amount will be designated toward the ration issues. The other $14.00 will be used towards event expenses. Porta-johns will be needed at many locations at this event. Any left over fees, after expenses, will be donated to the SVBF.

The Team
We have constructed a very experienced team to organize this event. Bill Watson will be the Federal commander, Chris Anders the Confederate. They bring to the table experienced staffs.

From the Shenandoah Legion, Jeremy Hilliard, and the 10th Virginia have long had a vision to draw more attention to the battlefields of the Valley and are in charge of logistics. Terri Leamer of the 9th Virginia will be the Civilian Coordinator. Paul Lockhart of the Copperhead Mess will coordinate military registration. Traci Manning of the Pennsylvania College Guard will coordinate civilian registration. Chris Clarke of the 37th Virginia will be our webmaster, Chris has designed websites for the U.S. Army. These are but a few of the people playing key roles. The Shenandoah Legion will be bringing all the organizational resources of our battalion to bear.

Pridgeon’s Shenandoah Legion, formerly the Fifth Battalion, has a long history of sponsoring successful events. From seven preservation marches in the 1990s, which raised over $400,000 for the former Association For the Preservation of Civil War Sites, to Third Winchester (’99), Sailor’s Creek (’00), and five separate McDowell events, we have a proud history of bringing successful events to our community. We hope you will join us in our latest effort, and please bring funds to help save the Cross Keys battlefield.

-Dave Pridgeon