19th Corps Trenches

"19th corps driven out..." drawing by Alfred Waud, 1864

Library of Congress

Quick Facts

Location:

Middletown, Virginia

Significance:

Part of Cedar Creek Battlefield

MANAGED BY:

Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation

Amenities

4 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Parking - Auto, Trailhead

In the days before the Battle of Cedar Creek, the US 19th Corps dug a series of trenches and earthworks to fortify the Federal position just south of Middletown, Virginia. The trenches started at the Valley Pike and extended for about a mile north. They included several redoubts— defensive works for artillery batteries— and one redan, or V-shaped work, which was constructed in front of the main line of trenches and intended to serve as an advance warning system. 

Confederate Surprise Attack

Though they expected an attack from the west or southwest, the Confederate surprise attack early in the morning of October 19, 1864 came from the southeast. The men of the 19th Corps could not hold their positions. As an officer of the 75th New York Infantry wrote,

“the regiment remained behind the works until all the troops on our left had fallen back, and as the enemy were charging over the works on our left and had already passed in our rear... orders were given for the regiment to do the same… falling back along the line of entrenchments to our right, as our retreat by the rear was already cut off…”

In the confusion, Federal soldiers turned around to defend themselves. A member of the 114th New York Infantry would remember that their position

“was now very critical. The enemy had gained possession of the road and, now that the Eighth Corps was hors de combat [knocked out of action], was turning his attention to us. Bullets began to reach us, but not from the front, and we saw plainly that if we were going to use this line of breastworks, which had cost us so much hard work, we must get upon the wrong side of them…”

Quickly overwhelmed, the Federals retreated toward Belle Grove Plantation. The 128th New York Infantry’s monument, at the south end of this trail, honors some of the men who defended these earthworks. 

Preservation

In the 1980s a developer purchased the property where the 19th Corps trenches are, planning to build houses. The developer found that they could not dig wells for water there. They sold the property to the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation (CCBF), who saved the 19th Corps trenches from destruction. Visitors can still see these earthen monuments to the soldiers here at Cedar Creek. 

19th Corps Trails

Remains of the 19th Corps' trenches, long, shallow depressions along the now-wooded bluff, still snake through the woods along Cedar Creek. Find the trenches along the 19th Corps Trails from either the 128th New York Monument or Belle Grove Plantation..