Virginia
Valley & Mountains

The Route 340 Corridor:
South of Front Royal

The following sites are marked by Civil War Trails interpretation unless otherwise noted:

Yager's Mill, Trails sign on US 340 0.5 miles north of Luray near the Route intersection – In September 1864 Union cavalry attempted to move south on the east side of Massanutten Mountain while the main body of Federal troops advanced to Fisher's Hill on the Valley pike to the west. Union Gen. Philip Sheridan wanted to cut off any retreat by defeated Confederates. The advance in this area was stalled by Confederates Sept. 22 and the Southern withdrawal from Fisher's Hill was not disrupted.

White House Bridge, Trails sign on Route 211 about 3 miles west of Luray – Stonewall Jackson's cavalry chief, Turner Ashby, burned a bridge here June 2, 1862, to delay Federal pursuit. The battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic were fought a week later.

New Market Gap, Trails sign on Route 211 in National Forest parking lot, 4 miles west of White House Bridge site – Near here on Nov. 23, 1862, Jackson announced that his Army of the Valley had become the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia and soon would join Robert E. Lee's troops on east of the Blue Ridge.

Pass Run Church, Trails sign about 5 miles east of Luray just off Route 211 on Route 674 (access from Route 211 West) – Confederate units camped here following the retreat from Gettysburg.

The Chapman-Ruffner House, Trails sign just east of US 340, north part of Luray – This 1739 house was home to the colorful "Fighting Chapmans," who served with John S. Mosby's Rangers during the war.

Catherine Furnace, Trails sign located just west of US 340 on Route 613 north of Shenandoah – Remains here of a once-busy iron furnace, one of three operating in the area during the war. Wagons transported pig iron, produced here, to Richmond's Tredegar Iron Works. The furnace here produced solid cannon shot.

Shenandoah Iron Works, Trails sign located just west of US 340 in Shenandoah – Iron furnace here consumed an acre of wood per day in peak use as it produced the raw materials for Confederate guns. Although thousands of soldiers, Union and Confederate, marched past this site, the furnace was never destroyed.

Willow Grove Mill, Trails sign on Business Route 340 a mile south of Luray – The mill here and several other buildings in the area were burned in early October 1864 by Union troopers. The action was part of "The Burning" of the Valley ordered by Union Gen. Philip Sheridan.

Grave's Chapel, Trails sign just off Business Route 340 on Route 611 between the towns of Stanley and Shenandoah – In late November 1862, Jackson led 32,000 troops across the South Fork of the Shenandoah River en route to Fisher's Gap and the Army of Northern Virginia. This would be the last time Jackson would see the Valley. He died following the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863.

Red Bridge and Somerville Heights, Trails signs 6.7 miles east of US 340 on Route 650 at boat landing – In late April 1862, Jackson ordered the bridges burned here to keep Federal troops at bay while he planned the next phase of his campaign. Only one bridge was burned, leading to a rift between Jackson and his cavalry chief Turner Ashby. In early May, while Jackson feinted east, Union soldiers stumbled into Confederate infantry here, which resulted in a brief but bloody battle.

Shields Advance and Retreat, Trails sign off US 340 just south of the town of Shenandoah – Union Gen. James Shields crossed Naked Creek here June 7, 1862, in pursuit of Jackson's army, then camped at Port Republic. After losing to Jackson two days later, Shields' men halted here during the retreat.

Jackson's Headquarters, Elkton (Conrad's Store during the war), Trails sign one block east of US 340 on Rockingham Avenue – Stonewall Jackson made this home his headquarters April 19-20, 1862, while planning his spring campaign. The house was built in 1827. Jackson's sparse living quarters were on the first floor. House open Memorial Day–Labor Day on Sunday 1–5 pm. Donations welcome. 540-298-1717.

Port Republic/Cross Keys Battlefields – A significant section of the Port Republic battlefield "The Coaling" is preserved just off U.S. 340 north of Route 659. For more on these battlefields, see "Up the Valley."

Battle of Piedmont, Trails sign on Route 608 north of New Hope – Sharp fighting north of here June 5, 1864, cleared the road to Staunton, Lexington and Lynchburg for new Union Valley commander David Hunter. Confederate Gen. William "Grumble" Jones, fighting his outnumbered and ultimately defeated troops, was killed here.

Plumb House, Waynesboro – See Route 250 Corridor.