Tour of Second Winchester Battlefield (McCann Property)

Guided Tour of the McCann Property at Second Winchester led by historian Scott Mingus
(Saturday, September 25, 2021, 2:30pm)

The first-ever opportunity to tour the McCann Property, which was at the heart of the climactic action during the Second Battle of Winchester (fought on June 13-15, 1863). The tour will be led by Scott Mingus, co-author (with Eric Wittenberg) of The Second Battle of Winchester: The Confederate Victory that Opened the Door to Washington.

The tour is free, but space is limited, and pre-registration is required.

More info and registration:
www.shenandoahatwar.org/tour-of-mccann-property-second-winchester-battlefield

“Star Fort: Its Past, Present, and Future”

A talk presented by Jack Owens, Resource Management Associate with the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.

This talk will discuss the history of the earthwork, events and individuals involving the fort, the fortifications post war history, other Winchester earthworks, the preservation of the Star Fort and the future of the Fort. Jack is a student at Lord Fairfax Community College and plans to transfer to Shenandoah University to study History. A rising star within the SVBF, Jack has been instrumental in the development and interpretation of Star Fort. Residing nearby, he has become uniquely knowledgeable about the fascinating history of the fort.

Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum, Winchester, Virginia
20 N. Loudoun Street on the downtown walking mall in Winchester. Free. For more information, call 540-740-4545 or email info@svbf.net.

History at Sunset

Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park presents a series of special “History at Sunset” programs. These ranger-conducted presentations cover a variety of subjects and provide visitors an opportunity to see sites normally not open, or widely accessible, to the general public.

Explore and learn about some of the “hidden gems” of the park and the Shenandoah Valley. Each program is free and lasts between 90 minutes to two hours.

“Sabers & Surprise:” Col. William Payne’s Confederate cavalry at the Battle of Cedar Creek
Friday, July 15, 2022 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Meet at the NPS Visitor Center, 7712 Main Street, Middletown, Virginia.

Leading the Confederate attack across the Shenandoah River on 19 October 1864, Col. William Payne’s cavalry battalion silenced Federal pickets and drove toward Belle Grove Plantation. Join Ranger Rick Ashbacker to follow Payne’s advance to six locations and discover why Payne was only partially successful.

History at Sunset

History at Sunset: Flank to Flank, Hiking in the Footsteps of Soldiers While Exploring the Terrain of the Third Winchester Battlefield

Besides being excellent places to experience history, many Civil War battlefields are also great places for hiking. With more than five miles of well-maintained trail over rolling terrain and through woodlots, the Third Winchester battlefield is one of the best. Join Ranger Rick Ashbacker to not only hike most of the battlefield, but also discuss key events, locations, and natural features on the site of the largest battle in the Shenandoah Valley.

Presented by Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park.

Meet at the parking lot for the Third Winchester Visitor Center (541 Redbud Road, Winchester, VA 22603). This activity is recommended primarily for visitors who are comfortable hiking at least 3-4 miles at a moderate pace.

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation Conference

The Forgotten Valley: Overlooked Civil War Stories in the Shenandoah Valley

The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation’s 2019 Valley Conference will focus on fascinating but overlooked stories that deserve more attention, from lesser-known stories of the famous to moving accounts of everyday people caught up in the four years of fury. The conference will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2019, at the George Washington Hotel in Winchester, and will features speakers Eric Buckland, Gary L. Ecelbarger, Dennis Frye, Catherine Mägi, Scott C. Patchan, Keven M. Walker, and Eric J. Wittenberg.

For more information and registration, call: 540-740-4545. Pre-registration is required.

8am: Check-In Desk Opens
9am – Dennis Frye and Catherine Mägi – Confluence: Harpers Ferry as Destiny
10am – Gary L. Ecelbarger – Stonewalling Jackson: The Unheralded Counter Campaign of Winter 1862
11am – Eric J. Wittenberg – The Battle of Wapping Heights: Lost Opportunity, July 23, 1863
Noon: Lunch (On your own)
1:00 pm – Scott C. Patchan – Germans in the Valley: Col. Augustus Moor and the 28th Ohio Volunteer Infantry at Piedmont
2:00 pm: Eric Buckland – Mosby’s Rangers: Playing Outside of the Box
3:00 pm: Keven M. Walker – “We shall never be the same”: The Soldiers Who Gave Their Last Full Measure and the Ones They Left Behind

Cost: $30 per person; $27 for SVBF Members

Civil War Historical Impressions

The Civil War Historical Impressions, Inc. will be joining us for the weekend. CWHI is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. They are a group of Civil War Educators, Living Historians and Reenactors committed to teaching through lectures, encampments, school events and battle scenarios to name a few. Come meet “Stonewall” Jackson and Dr. McGuire, among others. Kid friendly and free. For more information on the CWHI, please call Harry Sonntag at (267) 760-5716.

Spirits of the Valley

Frederick County Parks and Recreation and the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley invite you to experience Spirits of the Valley, an evening of food, wine, and history.

The evening will feature a walking tour of the historic and haunted Rose Hill Park trail, a complimentary glass of wine, and a Southern-inspired meal provided at Valerie Hill Vineyard and Winery by Village Square Restaurant.

The evening’s battlefield walk will feature encounters with living history interpreters who will share events from the 1860s. This is a one-of-a-kind experience you won’t want to miss!

Cost:$50 per person (21+ only)
Price includes trail tour, a glass of wine, and dinner. Any additional food/beverage purchases must be made on your own at the winery. Vegetarian meal available upon request. Alcohol is not permitted at Rose Hill Park.

Please arrive at the Winery at 5:30 p.m. for check in–Tour time is 6 p.m; Dinner time is 7:30 p.m.. Winery will close at 10 p.m. sharp.

National Park Service Star Gazing Party

Photo: Viewing through a Shenandoah Astronomical Society Member Telescope (NPS/Buddy Secor)

Join the National Park Service with the Shenandoah Astronomical Society for 3 FREE Star Parties

As part of the National Park Service’s “Find Your Park” campaign, these programs encourage visitors to explore Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park in a variety of ways and to discover the night sky in a quiet and peaceful setting.

April 13th at 7:30 p.m.
August 10th at 8:00 p.m. (Perseid Meteor Shower)
October 26th at 6:00 p.m.

Each program will include a short introduction by a park ranger, followed by an astronomical related program given by a member of the SAS. Visitors are welcomed to bring their own telescopes, or use the ones that will be provided by the Shenandoah Astronomical Society.

The star parties will be held at the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation Thoburn Redoubt tract.

Directions to the site:

1. Just south of Middletown, from U.S. Route 11, turn left onto Water Plant Road. Proceed 1 mile to the intersection with Long Meadow Road.
2. Turn right onto Long Meadow Road. Proceed 0.1 mile.
3. Turn right onto Bowman’s Mill Road. Proceed 1.4 miles to Thoburn Redoubt.
4. The Thoburn Tract is marked by a Civil War Trails sign and some Waysides. Turn right into the property.