Second Kernstown

The Second Battle of Kernstown occurred within the Maryland Campaign of Confederate General Jubal Early, who had been sent by Robert E. Lee to threaten Washington, D.C. and take pressure off the Grant sieges of Richmond and Petersburg. Early had been having some success in that effort, although a stalled victory at Monocacy several weeks earlier had cost him victory on the outskirts of Washington at Fort Stevens. His effort continued in a series of smaller battles, including Rutherford's Farm north of Winchester and Cool Springs east along the Shenandoah River. By July 24, 1864, Early's forces, under Ramseur and Gordon, were south of Winchester.

General Crook, in command of the Union Army in occupation of Winchester, had been ignoring reports of troop movements, and even when confronted with additional information from his cavalry about a pending attack, thought the amount of troops were light. But they were just hidden in Barton's Woods. Crook was so convinced that it was just cavalry with a slight amount of infantry opposing him, he retreated from the field and went back to his headquarters in Winchester.

Photo above: Marker about the Second Kernstown Battle from atop Pritchard Hill.

General Crook left the commanders on the field, including an inexperienced Colonel Mulligan, plus upcoming President Rutherford B. Hayes, to abandon their heights on Pritchard Hill and attack in the farm fields below. By the time they realized that the south outmanned them in front and had effectively surrounded them on both sides, they had no other choice but to fight in retreat to the stone wall. Facing three divisions, Colonel Mulligan could not hold the position, and lost his life in the battle. The Union retreated up Pritchard Hill, through Winchester, and into West Virginia, leaving the town to be occupied, once again, by the Confederate Army.

Photo above: The low fields of the Pritchard Farm where Confederate troops attacked the Union after they had abandoned the heights.

Pritchard Farm

The Pritchard House had been built in 1854 by Samuel Rees Pritchard. By the time of Civil War, the land had been in the Pritchard family since 1756. They were successful farmers, wheelwrights, and shippers, and Samuel had a wife and three children, with no interest in the politics of war. He did not vote in the 1860 Presidential election or the election for the Secessionist Convention.

However, this did not stop war from plying a continuous path across their land. They hudded in the basement during the First Battle of Kernstown and nursed wounded soldiers afterwards. Union artillery remained through 1863, although the Second Battle of Winchester would rage elsewhere. On July 24, 1864, that artillery and thousands of Union troops remained, then climbed down Pritchard Hill behind the farmhouse to defeat with family in the cellar again. Confederates would control the home and town after the 1864 battle until Sheridan's campaign to burn the valley brought General Torbert and his cavalry to their doors to become his headquarters. By the end of the war, the Pritchard's were broke.

Photo above: Pritchard House with recently renovated porch. Cost of renovation $65,000.