Rienzi Knoll

"Sheridan's Ride," c. 1886 chromolithograph by Thure de Thulstrup

Library of Congress

Quick Facts

Location:

Middletown, Virginia

Significance:

Part of Cedar Creek Battlefield

OPEN TO PUBLIC:

No

MANAGED BY:

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation

Amenities

2 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Parking - Auto

Sheridan returned from Washington to the Shenandoah Valley the day before, on October 18. He spent the night in Winchester, 15 miles north. On the morning of the battle, the sound of distant artillery alerted him to trouble. He began the famous "Sheridan's Ride" back to his army, arriving near this place around 10:30 a.m. The sign of Sheridan riding the length of his disorganized battle lines rallied his men. Sheridan then began preparing his counterattack for later in the afternoon. 

Dinges Farm

In 1831, David Dinges, Sr. arrived in Middletown, Virginia, purchased this property, which for nearly a century remained in the family. The last of the Dinges family, Mrs. Frances Dinges, died in 1930. The farm is also called “Ripple,” because of the gentle waters of Meadow Brook, which pass through the farm. This early 1800s structure retains much of its architectural integrity after restoration in the 1980s.

Preservation

Both the house and the barn are witness buildings from the Battle of Cedar Creek. This 64½ acre property is in the core of the battlefield but not within the park boundary. Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation leases the house and the farmland, to keep the land productive and to raise funds for the property’s maintenance. 

• Stop 8: Rienzi Knoll

  
  

  Sheridan returned from from Winchester at around 10:30 a.m. near this spot. The sight of their general rallied the Federal troops. Sheridan prepared a counterattack.

  Credit / Author:

  NPS

  Date created:

  01/01/2021

  Audio Transcript

  We are now at stop #8 on the self-guided auto tour-Sheridan’s Arrival. We are along Kline’s Mill Road on the north end of the battlefield. Looking south, downstream along Meadow Brook. This is the same Meadow Brook that runs straight down through the middle of the battlefield before flowing into Cedar Creek. And we have seen it at different points on the battlefield. It was in this area where General Sheridan would arrive back from Winchester and would greet his retreating and rallying army. As we have talked about previously, Sheridan was not here when the battle began. He had spent the previous night in Winchester, having no idea that his army would come under attack on the morning of the 19th of October. He gets up that morning having no idea that his army has been attacked and defeated. Starts riding back to his army, hearing the distance thunder of artillery, thinking maybe it is a skirmish, or a reconnaissance by his forces. Only to be told that his army is under attack, is retreating, as he rides south along the Valley Pike. The Valley Pike would be off to your east, or to your left. You are looking south downstream along Meadow Brook. He soon is greeted by retreating Union soldiers from the battlefield, having come over 10 miles, spreading rumors of defeat and disaster. They start to cheer Sheridan, realizing he is coming back to the battlefield. In typical Sheridan fashion, he tells them stop cheering me, if you love your country follow me back to the battlefield. And many do, they turn and follow him. This begins what would become as Sheridan start to pick up his pace and ride back to the battlefield - Sheridan’s Ride. He will ride over 10 miles up the Valley Pike, which is now Route 11 today, US Route 11. Rallying more and more soldiers along the way, and finally where Kline’s Mill Road greets or intersects with Route 11 today, the Valley Pike back then, he will greet his rallying Union army north of Middletown. He later left a vivid account of the first sight that greeted him upon seeing his shattered army, north of Middletown that morning. He wrote, “There burst upon our view an appalling spectacle of panic. I stared down upon our stricken army, hundreds of slightly wounded men, throngs of others not hurt but utterly demoralized and baggage wagons by the score all pressing to the rear in hopeless confusion. Telling only too plainly that a disaster had occurred at the front.” His officers greeted him. They were now rallying his army south of Kline’s Mill road in the fields you have been passing by. One of his officers told him I think we are in good enough shape to retreat back to Winchester, his main base of operations. Of course Sheridan did not want to hear anything of retreating. Once his forces were in good enough shape he was going to immediately counterattack. This battle could not go down as a Union defeat here in the Shenandoah Valley he realized so close to the upcoming Presidential election in early November. One of his staff officers suggested, “Show yourself to your men General, let them know you are back on the battlefield.” And that is exactly what Sheridan would do. He would start riding along his rallying lines and the effect was instantaneous, his demoralized men instantly rallied to his presence. One of his men later talked about this, writing, “The men sprang to their feet and cheered only as men under such circumstances can. Hope and confidence returned and abound. No longer did we merely hope that the worst was over. That we could hold our ground till night, or worse to make an orderly retreat to Winchester. Now all burned to avenge and attack the enemy, to drive him back, retrieve our honor, and sleep in our old campground that night. And every man knew that Sheridan would do it.” The attack wouldn’t start immediately however, it would take several hours to straighten his lines and make final adjustments, but eventually the Union counterattack would begin that afternoon at 4:00 and that attack we will discuss at the final stop on our tour, stop 9.