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The site where General Jackson halted his Army and
finalized his plan of attack on the unsuspecting Federal
soldiers occupying the Town of Front Royal. The head of
Jackson’s Army (16,000 soldiers) was at Asbury Chapel, the
rear of his Army between Bentonville and Overall at
approximately 10 o’clock a.m.
This location is where General Jackson
discovered Rocky Lane. a road that led him one-fifth
of the way up into the Blue Ridge and intersected the
Gooney Manor Road.
A less direct thoroughfare into Front Royal than
continuing on the Luray Pike, this route would conceal the
strength of his Army and lead it away from the Federal
picket line. |
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Click here to view the
Asbury Chapel Sign |
BROTHER Against
BROTHER
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Asbury Chapel General Jackson ordered the 1st Maryland
Infantry, CSA to the front of the column to lead the
attack on the town of Front Royal. Defending the town were
troops from the 1st Maryland, USA. This would be the start
of the Battle of Front Royal. “Brother Against Brother”
would lead to the defeat of General Banks, Colonel Kenly,
and Union Forces within the Valley Campaign. |
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Colonel Bradley Tyler Johnson
First Maryland Regiment, CSA (Infantry) |
Colonel John Reese Kenly
First Maryland Regiment, USA (Infantry) |
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Events at Asbury Chapel
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Picture provided by
the members of the Asbury Chapel |
In the early morning
hours of Friday, May 23rd, 1862 the advance of
General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's Confederate
Army reached this exact location at Asbury Chapel.
With over 16,000 men, Jackson halted his army here
to ascertain a less direct route into the Town of
Front Royal. Jackson's Army stretched for twelve
miles south on the Luray-Front Royal Road, which in
1862 would have been on the western side of the
church. |
| Sitting on the fence in front
of the church was colonel Isaac N. King, a
leader of the church. He informed Jackson that
there was a man in his command, Lieutenant
Samuel J. Simpson, a native, who know the
country like a book. Promptly Simpson reported
to General Jackson and informed the General
there was an indirect route just south
of the church, today's Rocky Lane, that would
intersect the Gooney Manor Road, Which today
is Browntown Road. |
Picture provided by Warren Heritage Society
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With this information, Jackson finalized his plans
for battle. He sent Colonel Turner Ashby's Cavalry
to cross the river a t McCoy's Ford and head west to
Buckton Station on the Manassas Gap Railroad, to cut
the communications between Strasburg and Front
Royal. Jackson then ordered the remainder of his
army to detour to the right off of the Pike onto
Rocky Lane.
The Confederate First Maryland Infantry would lead
the assault into town and would be engaging the
First Maryland Federal Forces stationed there.
This would be the start of the Battle of "Brother
Against Brother". "Colonel Bradley Tyler Johnson was
ordered to advance his First Maryland to the head of
the long column of troops, which moved to the
roadside to let them pass amid such remarks as
"Give them hell, Maryland!".....Four
Valiant Years, pg 147 |
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Next Stop 2 Belle Boyd
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[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Departure- Visitor Center ] [ Stop 1 Asbury Chapel ] [ Stop 2 Belle Boyd ] [ Stop 3 Prospect Hill ] [ Stop 4 Court House ] [ Stop 5 Bel Air ] [ Stop 6 Rose Hill ] [ Stop 7 Richardson's Hill ] [ Stop 8 Bridges ] [ Stop 9 Guard Hill ] [ Stop 10 Fairview ] [ Buckton Station ] [ "Stonewall" Jackson ] [ John S. Mosby ] [ Hotchkiss Statements ] [ Capture of the Flag ] [ Riverside ]
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