The Civil War Came Through Here
Strasburg was an important part of Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862. Here a Federal fort became Jackson's objective in
the spring of 1862. His famous flanking march maneuvered the Federals from this fort and finally brought them to bay at Winchester.
As a result of this action, Strasburg became the destination for the pursuing Federals as the place where they could cut off Jackson's
retreat. Jackson barely escaped the Federal "pincer movement" at Strasburg and separately defeated two Federal columns at the battles
of Cross Keys and Port Republic respectively.
A year earlier, Jackson had used Strasburg as the place where captured railroad equipment was placed on the rails of the Manassas Gap Railroad and sent south. Jackson captured extensive B & O Railroad engines, rolling stock, and equipment at Martinsburg, West Virginia and hauled it over land on the Valley Pike to Strasburg using horses.
Strasburg also figured heavily in Federal General Philip Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864. After defeating the Confederates under General Jubal Early at Winchester, Sheridan continued the pursuit to Strasburg. Here he established headquarters as his army probed the Confederate position two miles south of town at Fisher's Hill. On September 22, 1864, Sheridan's forces again defeated Early's Confederates at the Battle of Fisher's Hill.
Nearly one month following its success at Fishers Hill, Sheridan's army lay in camp at Cedar Creek, three miles north of Strasburg. Early's Confederates surprised the Federals there at dawn on October 19, 1864, and nearly won a stunning victory only to have their fortunes dashed by a Federal counterattack in the afternoon. The Federals finally ended the pursuit of the beleaguered Confederates at Strasburg.
Stonewall Jackson Museum
Strasburg is the ideal location for a tour of the many Civil War battlefields in the area. Only minutes away are the battlefields at Cedar Creek, Toms Brook, Fishers Hill and Hupp's Hill. Strasburg is within convenient driving distance to either Winchester or Front Royal (and the Skyline Drive). Both Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862 and Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaigns of 1864 are easily retraceable using Strasburg as a base of operations.
Civil War Artifact Preservation Association
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation
Virginia Civil War Trails
Museums/Shops
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Heirloom Emporium
110 North Massanutten Street Strasburg, VA 22657 Phone: 540-465-26271 |
Stonewall Jackson Museum
33229 Old Valley Pike Strasburg, VA 22657 Phone: 540-465-5884 |
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Strasburg Museum
440 East King Street Strasburg, VA 22657 Phone: 540-465-31756 |
Plantations/Battlefields
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Belle Grove Plantation
Exit 302 off Interstate 81 Phone: 540-869-2028 |
Cedar Creek Battlefield
Exit 302 off Interstate 81 Phone: 540-869-2064 |
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Fisher's Hill Battlefield
Exit 291 off Interstate 81 Phone: 540-459-6220 |
New Market Battlefield & Museum
Exit 264 off Interstate 81 Phone: 866-515-1864 Web Site |
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Toms Brook Battlefield
Exit 291 off Interstate 81 Phone: 540-459-6220 |