Al Mackey
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 14, 2019
- Messages
- 596
- Reaction score
- 533
Today I attended the 155th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of Cool Spring, which was the largest and bloodiest battle fought in Clarke County, Virginia. In an attempt to flank the rebel position, General Horatio G. Wright and General George Crook sent Colonel Joseph Thoburn's division, along with a brigade of infantry under Col. Daniel Frost and a regimental-size force of dismounted cavalry under Col. Samuel Young, to cross the Shenandoah River at Island Ford. They ran into some confederate pickets and easily overwhelmed them, capturing 12 of the pickets. Warned of the United States forces approaching, confederate general Jubal A. Early sent two divisions, one under Gen. Gabriel Warton and the other under Gen. Robert Rodes, to attack. Warton's division attacked Thoburn's division, which had crossed the Shenandoah and set up on the western bank. Rodes' division attacked Thoburn's right flank. Crook and Wright, seeing the two divisions approaching, discussed Thoburn's situation. Crook wanted to withdraw Thoburn back across the Shenandoah, but Wright vetoed that option and promised to send Rickett's division to support. When Ricketts arrived, though, he refused to cross the Shenandoah to go to Thoburn's support. Thoburn displayed coolness under fire, and though outnumbered and in a desperate situation was able to adjust his lines and move troops to meet the threat. Although this was tactically a confederate victory, Thoburn was able to hold off multiple attacks and withdraw his men across the river after nightfall.
The battlefield on the eastern side of the Shenandoah is owned by Shenandoah University, and their McCormick Civil War Institute has established an excellent walking trail with an 8-page self-guided tour. We started the day with a walking tour led by Professor Jonathan Noyalas, the Director of the McCormick Civil War Institute. Then in the afternoon we repaired to the lodge located on campus and were treated to a presentation on soldier dreams during the Civil War by Professor Jonathan White of Christopher Newport University and a presentation on the 1864 Valley Campaign by Professor Jennifer Murray of Oklahoma State University. It was a great time.
The battlefield on the eastern side of the Shenandoah is owned by Shenandoah University, and their McCormick Civil War Institute has established an excellent walking trail with an 8-page self-guided tour. We started the day with a walking tour led by Professor Jonathan Noyalas, the Director of the McCormick Civil War Institute. Then in the afternoon we repaired to the lodge located on campus and were treated to a presentation on soldier dreams during the Civil War by Professor Jonathan White of Christopher Newport University and a presentation on the 1864 Valley Campaign by Professor Jennifer Murray of Oklahoma State University. It was a great time.