Battle of Falling Waters
Harper’s 5th Virginia Infantry
On the morning of July 2, 1861, Federal troops under Gen. Robert Patterson crossed the Potomac River from Maryland and marched toward Martinsburg. Confederate Col. Thomas J. Jackson’s command marched from Camp Stephens, four miles north of town, to block them. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had directed Jackson to determine whether the Federals were in force and to retire if they were. Outnumbered, Jackson fought a brief delaying action and then fell back toward Martinsburg. Patterson eventually occupied the city but was discharged at the end of the month for his slowness.
Jackson placed Col. Kenton Harper’s 5th Virginia Infantry astride the Valley Turnpike near here to meet the advancing Federals. Harper established his main battle line along Hammonds Mill Road but also sent three companies forward to occupy the Porterfield House and farm buildings. Although the 380 Confederates delayed the Northern advance, they were soon in danger of being surrounded, so Jackson ordered Harper to withdraw his unit.
The 5th Virginia Infantry was composed of several Shenandoah Valley militia units. One of them, designated Co. K, was first named the Continental Morgan Guards, after Revolutionary War Gen. Daniel Morgan. In the antebellum period, the unit adopted a uniform resembling that of Continental soldier. Instead of wearing gray, these Confederates fought at Falling Waters in blue coats, ruffled shirts, and tri-corner hats. The company soon adopted the regulation uniform pattern to identify itself more obviously as a Confederate unit.
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The youngest member of the 5th Virginia Infantry at Falling Waters was Charles W. “Little Charley” Turner, who had turned 15 years old less than a month before the battle. The Staunton Spectator reported that Turner “made one of the enemy bite the dust.” He then served briefly as Jackson’s orderly but soon entered the Virginia Military Institute. Turner fought in the Corp of Cadets at the Battle of New Market. He graduated in the class of 1867 and then moved to Montana and served as adjutant general.
Marker is at the intersection of Williamsport Pike (U.S. 11) and Hammonds Mill Road (County Route 901), on the right when traveling south on Williamsport Pike.
Courtesy hmdb.org
