Battle of Cross Keys

June 8, 1862

General R.S. Ewell with 8,000 soldiers of General Stonewall Jackson's army repulsed a Federal attacking column of 10,500 under General John C. Frémont. After initial success the Federals were checked by the fire of Confederate artillery. Attacks by ...

Battle of Cross Keys

Walker’s Flank Attack

After repulsing the initial Union attack, Confederate Gen. Isaac R. Trimble’s brigade heavily engaged two brigades of Union Gen. Louis Blenker’s division near here on June 8, 1862.

During the afternoon fighting, Col. James A. Walker’s demi-brigade consisting of ...

Battle of Cross Keys

Trimble’s Ravine

On June 8, 1862, Confederate Gen. Isaac R, Trimble led part of the 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment through the then-swampy ravine in front of you to attack Union Gen. Louis Blenker’s division. Trimble intended to move around the 54th ...

Battle of Cross Keys

Immigrant Soldiers

Many immigrants fought for the North and the South during the Civil War. Their numbers were especially high in Gen. Louis Blenker’s division of Gen. John C. Fremont’s union army at Cross Keys on June 8, 1862.

Two Germans (Gen. ...

Battle of Cross Keys

Slaughter of the 8th New York Infantry

On June 8, 1862, during the Battle of Cross keys, Gen. Isaac R. Trimble’s Confederate brigade of a little more than 1,500 men occupied this line, a masked position behind a split-rail fence in ...

The Battle of Cross Keys

“It was not in men to stand such fire as that.”

Following Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson’s victory at Winchester, Union troops pursued the Confederates south, “up” the Shenandoah Valley. While Gen. John C. Fremont advanced on the Valley Turnpike, another ...