Manassas: A Battlefield Guide

Second Manassas Campaign Excursion

28 55 234 28 95 95 66 66 66 15 15 15 15 211 522 17 17 17 29 29 50 50 29 E F G H A B C D GAINESVILLE HAYMARKET MANASSAS CENTREVILLE REMINGTON CULPEPER ORANGE JEFFERSONTON AMISSVILLE BRANDY STATION VERDIERSVILLE BEALETON CATLETT FREDERICKSBURG FALMOUTH WARRENTON SULPHUR SPRINGS THE PLAINS MARSHALL BRISTOW NPS Visitor Center Waterloo Bridge S U D L E Y R OAD Cedar Mountain Clark’s Mountain B u l l R u n M o u n t a i n s Rapidan River R a p p a h annock River R a p p a h a n nock River Kelly’s Ford Bu l l R u n Occoquan River CATLETT ROAD F R E E M A N ’ S F O R D R O A D LINTON HALL ROAD JOHN MARSHALL HIGHWAY H I G H W A Y J A M E S M A D I S O N MAR S H R O A D L E E HIGHWAY NOKESVI L L E ROAD BRIST O W R O A D W ELLINGTON R O AD Z A C H A R Y T A Y L O R H I G H W A Y OPAL ROA D Second Manassas Campaign Excursion 0 10 miles SECOND MANASSAS CAMPAIGN EXCURSION This excursion will take you to sites that figured prominently in the operations of August 1862 that in a few short weeks carried the war from the banks of the Rapidan River to the banks of Bull Run. It will give you a good sense of the amount of ground these operations covered and the command decisions and events that shaped them. Because it involves travel over a number of back roads, it is recommended that you read this section, as well as the Road to Second Manassas chapter that 159 Second Manassas Campaign Excursion appears along with the core tour, before you head out on this excursion in order to develop a fair understanding of what this will involve in terms of time and effort and to get a general understanding of what happened before you visit the specific sites. Directions Exit the parking lot of the Henry Hill Visitor Center and turn right onto sudley road (va 234). Proceed 0.4 mile to the traffic light and turn left onto lee highway (U.S. 29). Travel 15 miles to where lee highway becomes the eastern bypass. En route it has become U.S. 29/U.S. 15; at the eastern bypass it also picks up U.S. 17. Proceed 3 miles until eastern bypass (U.S. 29/15/17) becomes james madison highway. Continue on james madison highway for 23 miles until you reach the point where U.S. 29 and U.S. 15 split south of Culpeper. U.S. 29 becomes james monroe highway, while U.S. 15 continues as james madison highway. Take the exit to james madison highway (U.S. 15), and at the top of the ramp turn left toward Orange, then proceed 4.3 miles to general winder road (va 657). Turn right onto general winder road and drive 0.1 mile. You will see a small parking area on the right side of the road where winder road makes a sharp bend to the left. Pull over here and park your vehicle. Walk over to the historical marker “Cedar Mountain: Jackson Draws His Sword.” Stop here and face north and east down the historic trace of the Culpeper Road bordered by the fence line. STOP A Cedar Mountain Jackson Challenges Pope, July 13–August 9, 1862 Orientation In 1862 the section of General Winder Road you just drove on was known as Crittenden’s Lane and extended south and east (to your right) from where you parked your vehicle to a point on the other side of modern James Madison Highway (Route 15). Culpeper is about 6 miles in front of you. Route 15 crosses the Rapidan River at Madison Mills, which is a little over 9 miles behind you. The fence line marks the location of the Orange-Culpeper Turnpike in 1862, as does General Winder Road behind you. The turnpike in 1862 connected with Crittenden Lane here at what was known as “the Gate.” What Happened On July 13 Gen. Robert E. Lee directed Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson to take two divisions to...