Sign at Thoburn's Redoubt

Near Middletown, VA

The first time I visited the site of Thoburn's fortifications was on a Civil War tour in 2009. At that time there was no sign and I would not have guessed this was a battlefield. A Civil War Trails marker was installed in 2013.

See all my Thoburn's Redoubt posts.

Battle of Cedar Creek

Thoburn's Redoubt: "Like chaff before the wind" 

1864 Valley Campaign

At about 4 A.M. on October 19, 1864, the Battle of Cedar Creek began when Confederate General William H. Payne's cavalry struck the 5th New York Heavy Artillery pickets to your left near Bowman's Mill Ford. The sound of small arms fire roared into Union General Joseph Thoburn's division camps in the area where you are standing. Thoburn's men, the guardians of the Army of the Shenandoah's left flank,  rose from their slumber and rushed into the earthworks that they had spent the previous week constructing.

The sign continues with the story of how these Federal soldiers were unable to hold their position against the onslaught, but "in the afternoon the tide of battle turned in the Federals' favor."

Sharing with Signs, Signs and Good Fences

The View from Thoburn's Position

When we first arrived at this site on Cedar Creek Battlefield, the sun was shining but it soon disappeared behind clouds. A cold wind chilled us.  The living history exhibit was in the woods where the old trenches still exist. Back in 1864 those trees had been cleared and log walls helped enclose the redoubt [defined as a small usually temporary enclosed defensive work.]

View from the Trenches, Thoburn's Redoubt

It seemed a little odd to look out from a living history site and see the sign for Burger King but that's what is there on the edge of Strasburg. In between is a steep ravine and Cedar Creek.

On the Pasture with Signal Knob in the Background

In 1864 Confederate officers looked out from Signal Knob and evaluated the Federal encampments around Cedar Creek. They could see the strong position of the redoubt but also saw weakness on this side where the slope was not as steep and defenses not as extensive.

2009 Posts:

• View from Thoburn's Camp
• Tour at Thoburn's Earthworks

Civil War Field Trip Noyalas-Style

The most exciting parts of Saturday's field trip were visiting places I've never seen before because they were not open to the public. Professor Noyalas had obtained permission for our group to tour there: Thoburn's redoubt position (now pasture-land along Bowman's Mill Road). The 8th Vermont Monument (on a hill behind a private home) The Stickley Farm (Residence and farm along US 11 southbound at Cedar Creek)

We also went to Belle Grove, Meadow Brook, the end point of Sheridan's ride, Ramseur's position at Miller's Mill, Cemetery Hill, and we followed the trail at the 128th New York monument.

Above: Jonathan Noyalas lectures at Thoburn's Final Position

I enjoyed the field trip. Noyalas is very knowledgeable about Cedar Creek Battlefield and just had a book published called The Battle of Cedar Creek: Victory from the Jaws of Defeat.

Other Posts about this Cedar Creek Tour:

• Monument 8th Vermont and Fellow Students
• View from Thoburn's Camp and Earthworks
• Trouble at the Trenches
• Belle Grove and 128th New York Monument
• Meadow Brook
• Cemetery Overlooking Middletown
• Sheridan's Ride
• Lone Confederate Grave
• Stickley House and Old Mills

Related Links:

• Self-Guided Tour, Cedar Creek by J. Whitehorne
• Press Release: SVBF Protects Additional Land on the Cedar Creek Battlefield, 2007
• Cedar Creek (on Johns Military History

In the Distance: Thoburn's Position

In November, I posted pictures of views from Thoburn's Redoubt, a hill on Cedar Creek Battlefield. One was a view from the trenches looking toward Strasburg. Here we have the opposing view, looking out from Hupp's Hill near Strasburg toward Thoburn's Redoubt, which is on the hill across the valley cut by Cedar Creek. 

I took these picture from a restaurant parking lot near the interstate.

A View from Thoburn’s Redoubt

Cedar Creek Battlefield, VA

Our extra hot weather finally ended yesterday, so today was a good day to go on a short tour. It’s been a while since I’ve done one of the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove tours, and I wanted to go to this one because there was some fresh information that was not known when I went before.

The boy in the orange shirt asked the ranger some good questions and had already learned facts about the battle from looking at exhibits earlier. He said he was a history nerd.

I have posted pictures of this site in previous years. Signage has been improved and eventually parking will be improved. This historical park is still being developed.

The battle of Cedar Creek began here in the pre-dawn hours of October 19, 1864, when General Thoburn’s division was attacked.

Posts about Thoburn’s Redoubt.

Tour at Thoburn's Earthworks

The Federal entrenchments still exist but are hard to discern among the trees and natural slope near Cedar Creek.

  Previous Post introducing this tour

Later: Living History at Thoburn's Redoubt

Living History at Thoburn's Redoubt

These re-enactors were out in the cold on Saturday at the site of Thoburn's Redoubt. We had a little trouble finding them at first, although I knew approximately where the site was along Bowman's Mill Road. Few onlookers were there; perhaps because it was Thanksgiving weekend and the day was windy. Cedar Creek Battlefield had a few events going on and I chose this one because I've only been to that particular site once before even though it's not far from Strasburg.

These hardy men are part of the 10th Virginia, a unit I've run into before because they are very active participants in history events in the Shenandoah Valley.

Link: Shenandoah At War 

You might also like: Cedar Creek Tour with Prof. Noyalas
and on my CWFT pages: Valley Campaign of 1864

Previous Posts about Cedar Creek

I've been posting photos of last month's reenactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek. I've written about Cedar Creek Battlefield before. It's less than an hour from my home and it's in a lovely area. Last year I shared photos of a class and field trip taught by Jonathan Noyalas of Lord Fairfax Community College (see list of posts below) and several years ago I posted pictures of another field trip to Cedar Creek, that one organized and led by Professor Poland of NVCC.

• Overview of 2009 Trip: Tour with Jonathan Noyalas
• Monument 8th Vermont and Fellow Students
• View from Thoburn's Camp and Earthworks
• Trouble at the Trenches
• Belle Grove and 128th New York Monument
• Meadow Brook
• Cemetery Overlooking Middletown
• Sheridan's Ride
• Lone Confederate Grave
• Stickley House and Old Mills

View from Thoburn's Camp

Seen from Hill above Bowman's Ford, Cedar Creek

Looking toward Massanutten Mountain

Site of the first attack at Cedar Creek Battlefield, October 1864

See Wikipedia Story about Cedar Creek