The Historic Shepherdstown Battlefield Series
A Collection of Work From The Site Of The Last Battle Of The Pivotal Maryland Campaign
Representative Gallery
Shepherdstown Battlefield Pens ($50) and Letter Openers ($25) are Now Available - Shown are Boxelder Burl with Brass Inlay and spalted Silver Maple Burl. see "Unique Gifts Under $50" page for more information
About The Battle Of Shepherdstown
The 1862 Battle of Shepherdstown, also known as the Battle of Botelers Ford, was the final battle of the Maryland Campaign, which included the battles at South Mountain and Antietam. On the evening of September 18, 1862, following a days rest and improvised truce after the bloody Battle of Antietam, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia began withdrawing across the Potomac River to return to Virginia. Lee left behind a rear guard of two infantry brigades and 44 or 45 guns under his chief of artillery, Brig. Gen. William N. Pendleton, who until that day had never commanded troops in combat, to hold the crossing point, Boteler's Ford, about a mile east of Shepherdstown. To cover the retreat, the artillery pieces were placed on the south shore of the river (then the Virginia side) on the bluffs overlooking both the ford and a dam that was located about 1000 yards west of the ford. The bluffs and the guns straddled present day Trough Road. By mid-afternoon on the 19th, the retreat across the river was finished and Lee was considering another attack into Maryland via a ford near Williamsport. Meanwhile, the Union Army had commenced an artillery barrage from the north side of the river by 70 artillery pieces placed there. The waterless C&O Canal provided cover for Union sharpshooters, and by 5:30 in the afternoon the overwhelming advantage in firepower enabled Union infantry to begin crossing the dam, forcing the Confederate infantry to begin to retreat. General Pendleton, fearing all was lost, fled, and thus missed what became an effective retreat further south by his troops, who managed to remove all but four guns from the bluffs. Meanwhile, that night Pendleton erroneously reported to Lee that the Army of the Potomac had taken control of the south side of the river (they recrossed into Maryland) and all was lost east of Shepherdstown. Based on this report, Lee chose not to invade Maryland again and moved his Army of Northern Virginia further up the Shenandoah Valley to Winchester. "Stonewall" Jackson was ordered to dispatch A.P.Hill’s Light Division, back to the river to try to stop or slow the Union advance that never came; by dawn it was clear that the Bluffs overlooking Boteler’s Ford had gone undefended (and unattacked) the entire night following the initial action. On the morning of Sept. 20, Union soldiers were again on the south side of the river, where they were engaged by Hill's Light Division around 10:00am. Outnumbered nearly 2-to-1, the Union infantry fought at Engle Molers Road then retreated during a period of about four hours. One unit, the poorly commanded 118th Pennsylvania Volunteers, known as the "Corn Exchange" regiment, having never been in combat and carrying largely defective brand new Enfield rifles, did not get off of the bluffs in time and subsequently took roughly 40% (of 700 men) casualties. The total casualties for the battle (both sides) was about 677, but the Battle of Shepherdstown nonetheless loomed large as a critical moment because despite the fact that Union Commander General George B. McClellan was NOT aggressively pursuing the Confederates south (to President Lincoln's chagrin), General Lee had been led to believe the opposite was true, with the strategic consequence that Lee decided not to continue to press his Maryland Campaign.
Read about the Battle of Shepherdstown in Thomas A. McGrath's fine book, Shepherdstown: The Last Clash Of The Antietam Campaign, September 19-20, 1862, published in 2007 by Schroeder Publications (see front and back cover below).
Due to the yeoman efforts of conservation/preservation organizations and committed individuals, a portion of the Shepherdstown Battlefield has been set aside and protected from development. See below...
Read about the Battle of Shepherdstown in Thomas A. McGrath's fine book, Shepherdstown: The Last Clash Of The Antietam Campaign, September 19-20, 1862, published in 2007 by Schroeder Publications (see front and back cover below).
Due to the yeoman efforts of conservation/preservation organizations and committed individuals, a portion of the Shepherdstown Battlefield has been set aside and protected from development. See below...
2018 Update: "Witness" White Oak Falls On Battlefield Site
Something about this photograph of what was left standing of the old giant moved me...
This tree, located on privately owned land but part of the 510-acre area in the center of the battlefield designated by the National Park Service "Special Resource Study/Environmental Assessment" came down in 2018 during a wind storm, and the owners generously allowed me to harvest some of the wood for turnings. The tree had a circumference of 13' 7", or 163 inches at the height of a man's chest. Using commonly accepted means of estimating the age of White Oak specimens, it is reasonable to conclude that the tree could be 260 years old, that is, it could have started growing in 1758. Just for fun, in 1758 New York was still a British colony and, obviously, there was no American flag yet. Regardless of its precise age, it is a certainty that this tree was a mature specimen by the time the shooting started near Shepherdstown. Indeed, using the same age estimating tools it is not unreasonable to assume that the tree in 1862 could have had a circumference of 65 inches, or, put another way, it could have been on its way to two feet in diameter. That's plenty of temporary cover for a stressed combatant! You can bet I will be according the stock harvested from this former giant the respect it deserves and oh, yeah, I'll be keeping an eye (and ear) out for metal in the wood as I turn it...
Large Silver Maples Threatening Historic Ruins Are Removed, Along With Boxelders And Other Species
Silver Maples shown cut up in the photo below were among numerous trees felled to protect, among other parts of the site, the historic cement mill foundation and headrace wall pictured. Other species harvested at the Battlefield included Box Elder, Locust, Hackberry, Poplar and Red Oak. Despite the significant size of some of these specimens, it should be noted that none of these trees are old enough to be Civil War "witness trees," meaning that the occasional embedded bullet I've found in the wood of one large tree in particular at the site was fired by someone in the past 80 or so (in my rough estimation) years.
One really cool thing about harvesting wood at the Battlefield site was that there was no great hurry to get in and get out of the site. I have revisited the site often to cut more wood, in different seasons, and its a wonderful experience each time. The first shot below was taken on my phone in April, 2017. Part of the remains of the big Silver Maples can be seen through the Cement Mill window. Through the doorway is one of (or should I say "a couple of") the most epic trees I've seen in the County; massive twinned Sycamores with a Silver Maple conjoined in the middle. What an amazing partnership! The mostly rotted, burl-covered Boxelder at right was felled in early 2018, on a day when the river, swollen from recent heavy rains, was "talking" to me via debris crashing into tree limbs just above the water's edge.
"History Worth Fighting For": The Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association, Inc.
Formed in 2004 in response to proposed development of core parts of the site of the battlefield, the Citizens United to Save Faraway Farm LLC (CUSFF) eventually became the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association (SBPA), with the purpose of saving and preserving the remaining 282 acres of the battlefield site from any further development. Listed as an "At Risk" battlefield in a report of the Civil War Preservation Trust entitled "History Under Siege," the Battle of Shepherdstown site has been the subject of a long and arduous battle between those who would develop it and those wishing to preserve it as a vital historic site. The fight has been joined at various times by politicians, legislators, attorneys, historians and history-related groups, and citizen activists alike. You can read the 10+ year history at the SBPA site here. The SBPA Mission Statement is reproduced here:
"The Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc. (SBPA) is a non-profit organization, dedicated to preserving the site of the Civil War battle at Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The battle fought here on September 19 and 20, 1862, brought to an end the Army of Northern Virginia's Maryland Campaign and was a significant factor in General Robert E. Lee's decision to retreat farther into the Shenandoah Valley. The battle is of significant historical value to our nation and a valuable West Virginia Landmark. The Association intends for the site to be preserved as a park dedicated to educating the general public of its historical significance." source: SBPA webpage
In November, 2016, the most recent development in the effort to save the Shepherdstown Battlefield were recounted on SBPA's website as follows (See "UPDATE" below for the Latest in this Developming Story):
"On November 17, 2016, The Civil War Trust purchased 11 acres of land on the site of the 1862 Battle of Shepherdstown. The site is contiguous to previously purchased battlefield land. The 11 acres cost $360,000 with half of the funds coming from the American Battlefield Protection Program of the National Park Service. As has been done previously, the Civil War Trust intends to deed the property to the Jefferson County Historic Preservation Commission (JCHLC). Through the efforts of the JCHLC and the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc. (SBPA), approximately 118 acres of the site of the Battle of Shepherdstown have been saved. Conservation easements have been placed on 84 acres and 34 acres have been purchased. Approximately $1.75 million has been rasied to save the battlefield land." - source: SBPA Website
UPDATE:
This information was provided by the social media page of the WV Observer:"26 Acres at Shepherdstown Battlefield Protected Forever
With the aid of the Civil War Trust, the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission recently took title to 26 acres of battlefield land near Shepherdstown, West Virginia.A portion of the pro ject was funded by grants from the American Battlefield Protection Program through the National Park Service (NPS), and the balance through private donations to the Civil War Trust. T he Land Trust of the Eastern Panhandle will hold a conservation easement on the property. The preservation of this historically significant land is an ongoing collaboration between the Landmarks Commission and the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association. The Battle of Shepherdstown took place on September 19-20, 1862, in the aftermath of Antietam. General Lee’s army retreated into Virginia at Pack Horse Ford on the night of the 18th, leaving a rearguard on the bluffs surrounding the ford. Fitz John Porter and his Union troops arrived on the morning of the 19th. Artillery fired from both sides of the Potomac for two days. On the 20th, a reconnaissance in force crossed the river, and a bloody battle ensued in the cliffs and ravines around the Shepherdstown cement mill. The battle was a Confederate victory, but marked the end of Lee’s Maryland Campaign. This parcel is one of several tracts recently acquired for permanent protection and ultimate donation to the NPS."
In January, 2017, I attended a workshop for landowners interested in learning about opportunities for protecting Civil War battlefields which focused in part specifically on the Shepherdstown Battlefield. Part of a series of such presentations titled "Jefferson County's Civil War Battlefields: Opportunities & Challenges For Preservation," the workshop was sponsored by The Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board, The Land Trust of the Eastern Panhandle, and the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission (see below), and featured, along with practical guidance for landowners, an excellent summary of the events of 1862 by Historian Dr. Thomas Clemens, who made the persuasive case that the Battle of Shepherdstown was a pivotal moment in the Maryland Campaign, and thus the War itself. As a Battlefield Guide Tom has been giving tours of Antietam National Battlefield (and other regional battlefields) for over 15 years. He has published extensively about the Civil War. Learn more about Tom, his expertise, and battlefield guiding here.
"The Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc. (SBPA) is a non-profit organization, dedicated to preserving the site of the Civil War battle at Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The battle fought here on September 19 and 20, 1862, brought to an end the Army of Northern Virginia's Maryland Campaign and was a significant factor in General Robert E. Lee's decision to retreat farther into the Shenandoah Valley. The battle is of significant historical value to our nation and a valuable West Virginia Landmark. The Association intends for the site to be preserved as a park dedicated to educating the general public of its historical significance." source: SBPA webpage
In November, 2016, the most recent development in the effort to save the Shepherdstown Battlefield were recounted on SBPA's website as follows (See "UPDATE" below for the Latest in this Developming Story):
"On November 17, 2016, The Civil War Trust purchased 11 acres of land on the site of the 1862 Battle of Shepherdstown. The site is contiguous to previously purchased battlefield land. The 11 acres cost $360,000 with half of the funds coming from the American Battlefield Protection Program of the National Park Service. As has been done previously, the Civil War Trust intends to deed the property to the Jefferson County Historic Preservation Commission (JCHLC). Through the efforts of the JCHLC and the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association Inc. (SBPA), approximately 118 acres of the site of the Battle of Shepherdstown have been saved. Conservation easements have been placed on 84 acres and 34 acres have been purchased. Approximately $1.75 million has been rasied to save the battlefield land." - source: SBPA Website
UPDATE:
This information was provided by the social media page of the WV Observer:"26 Acres at Shepherdstown Battlefield Protected Forever
With the aid of the Civil War Trust, the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission recently took title to 26 acres of battlefield land near Shepherdstown, West Virginia.A portion of the pro ject was funded by grants from the American Battlefield Protection Program through the National Park Service (NPS), and the balance through private donations to the Civil War Trust. T he Land Trust of the Eastern Panhandle will hold a conservation easement on the property. The preservation of this historically significant land is an ongoing collaboration between the Landmarks Commission and the Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association. The Battle of Shepherdstown took place on September 19-20, 1862, in the aftermath of Antietam. General Lee’s army retreated into Virginia at Pack Horse Ford on the night of the 18th, leaving a rearguard on the bluffs surrounding the ford. Fitz John Porter and his Union troops arrived on the morning of the 19th. Artillery fired from both sides of the Potomac for two days. On the 20th, a reconnaissance in force crossed the river, and a bloody battle ensued in the cliffs and ravines around the Shepherdstown cement mill. The battle was a Confederate victory, but marked the end of Lee’s Maryland Campaign. This parcel is one of several tracts recently acquired for permanent protection and ultimate donation to the NPS."
In January, 2017, I attended a workshop for landowners interested in learning about opportunities for protecting Civil War battlefields which focused in part specifically on the Shepherdstown Battlefield. Part of a series of such presentations titled "Jefferson County's Civil War Battlefields: Opportunities & Challenges For Preservation," the workshop was sponsored by The Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board, The Land Trust of the Eastern Panhandle, and the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission (see below), and featured, along with practical guidance for landowners, an excellent summary of the events of 1862 by Historian Dr. Thomas Clemens, who made the persuasive case that the Battle of Shepherdstown was a pivotal moment in the Maryland Campaign, and thus the War itself. As a Battlefield Guide Tom has been giving tours of Antietam National Battlefield (and other regional battlefields) for over 15 years. He has published extensively about the Civil War. Learn more about Tom, his expertise, and battlefield guiding here.
Two Rivers Turnings is proud to be a partner of the SBPA. To learn more and see how you can help SBPA visit the website here
Other Partner Organizations Working To Protect Jefferson County Farmland and Battlefields
The organizations listed and linked to below all play some role in the effort to protect the rural historic character of Jefferson County, each specializing in particular aspects of land conservation even as they work together to achieve mutual goals. If the preservation of the unique quality of life here in Jefferson County that stems from its natural beauty, historic character, and agricultural tradition is something you care about, by all means check out the work these partnering organizations do at the local governmental, private non-profit, and federal government levels. Just click on the logo or name of each organization. Also, check out the SBPA "Links" page
here for a detailed list of "Civil War Links."
UPDATE: in 2018 the Civil War Trust and the Revolutionary War Trust together became the American Battlefield Trust, with the mission stated as follows (from the ABT Facebook page:
"The American Battlefield Trust seeks to preserve our nation’s hallowed battlegrounds and educate the public about what happened there and why it matters today. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memorial to the brave soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.
The new nonprofit umbrella organization builds upon a 30-year record of exemplary work done by the Civil War Trust and its predecessor organizations. The Civil War Trust and Revolutionary War Trust (which began in 2014 as Campaign 1776) are the two divisions beneath the American Battlefield Trust banner, focused on preserving the battlefields and perpetuating the memory of those formative conflicts in U.S. history.
The formation of the American Battlefield Trust is the latest step in the evolution of the modern battlefield preservation movement, which began in the mid-1980s in response to the loss of important historic sites to spreading commercial and residential development. The new entity is a direct descendant, through a series of mergers and name changes, of the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites, founded by a group of professional historians and preservation advocates in 1987.
The organization is best known for its high-profile battlefield preservation efforts, including protection of the historic epicenter of the Antietam battlefield, the site of George Washington’s famous charge at Princeton, the Slaughter Pen Farm at Fredericksburg, and Robert E. Lee’s battlefield headquarters at Gettysburg. In addition, as the Civil War Trust, it engaged in grassroots campaigns to prevent development at Chancellorsville and the Wilderness in Virginia; Franklin, Tennessee; and Morris Island, South Carolina (site of the famous charge portrayed in the movie Glory).
“Over those years and under a variety of names, we have saved nearly 50,000 acres of battlefield land throughout the United States, while earning accolades for being one of the most efficient and effective nonprofits in the nation,” Trust President James Lighthizer said. “Now, as the American Battlefield Trust, we will continue that tradition of preservation leadership.”
here for a detailed list of "Civil War Links."
UPDATE: in 2018 the Civil War Trust and the Revolutionary War Trust together became the American Battlefield Trust, with the mission stated as follows (from the ABT Facebook page:
"The American Battlefield Trust seeks to preserve our nation’s hallowed battlegrounds and educate the public about what happened there and why it matters today. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memorial to the brave soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.
The new nonprofit umbrella organization builds upon a 30-year record of exemplary work done by the Civil War Trust and its predecessor organizations. The Civil War Trust and Revolutionary War Trust (which began in 2014 as Campaign 1776) are the two divisions beneath the American Battlefield Trust banner, focused on preserving the battlefields and perpetuating the memory of those formative conflicts in U.S. history.
The formation of the American Battlefield Trust is the latest step in the evolution of the modern battlefield preservation movement, which began in the mid-1980s in response to the loss of important historic sites to spreading commercial and residential development. The new entity is a direct descendant, through a series of mergers and name changes, of the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites, founded by a group of professional historians and preservation advocates in 1987.
The organization is best known for its high-profile battlefield preservation efforts, including protection of the historic epicenter of the Antietam battlefield, the site of George Washington’s famous charge at Princeton, the Slaughter Pen Farm at Fredericksburg, and Robert E. Lee’s battlefield headquarters at Gettysburg. In addition, as the Civil War Trust, it engaged in grassroots campaigns to prevent development at Chancellorsville and the Wilderness in Virginia; Franklin, Tennessee; and Morris Island, South Carolina (site of the famous charge portrayed in the movie Glory).
“Over those years and under a variety of names, we have saved nearly 50,000 acres of battlefield land throughout the United States, while earning accolades for being one of the most efficient and effective nonprofits in the nation,” Trust President James Lighthizer said. “Now, as the American Battlefield Trust, we will continue that tradition of preservation leadership.”