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 the 13th and 25th Virginia infantry regiments reinforced Trimble. Walker marched his men along the Goods Mill Road on the Confederate rifght flank in an effort to move around the union forces facing Trimble. Walker’s first attempt to attack the Federal flank was disrupted when he marched into a forward movement by Trimble against Blenker.
Walker’s second attempt placed his regiments at a post and rail fence facing three Federal regiments and a New York artillery battery on rising ground. The fense provided little cover in the face of canister fire. Walker’s commander suffered 47 casualties before withdrawing to the cover of some woods.
A short time later, the Federal attack ended when the senior Union artillery commander, on this part of the field a captain, feared for the safety of his guns and ordered them withdrawn over the objections of a field-grade and general officers. The infantry regiments, lacking artillery support, were then forced to retreat.
Caption: Col. James A. Walker ended the war as a brigadier general commanding the famous Stonewall Brigade.
Marker can be reached from Goods Mill Road (County Route 708), on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
