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Originally Posted by Raellus
Are there any Civil War battlefields/memorials there in the Valley? If so, what are they like?
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None of this is particularly cohesive or in order, so, with that caveat here's my ramblings after being awake for two days:
There's New Market Battlefield, which is a state park run by VMI (Virginia Military Institute). They have a rather old museum building plus original structures. Battlefield is bisected by Interstate 81. Great walking. Don't go in the dead of winter unless you're fine with that. Also nearby is the
Summers-Koontz Memorial to two Confederate soldiers executed after the end of the war for robbing Union cavalrymen of their horses.
Port Republic and Cross Keys battlefields are in a fair state of preservation. There's a UDC marker for Cross Keys sort of in the middle of the battlefield, plus a map and some older markers at the Cross Keys Ruritan Hall/Cross Keys Church (off of Keezletown Road). Port Republic has had several markers at the site of the main Union defensive positions at 'The Coaling' off of US 340 since the early 1900s. The main marker was destroyed by an 18-wheeler circa 2008. Most of it was private land until the Civil War Trust started purchasing it after 2000. They've put up a lot of great new markers and trails you can find on their website.
There's a marker in Harrisonburg on what is now James Madison University athletic fields where the Confederate cavalry general Turner Ashby was killed. Harrisonburg also has a small Confederate cemetery near the Muhlenberg Lutheran Church close to Downtown Harrisonburg. There's a small museum downtown on the Valley Turnpike that talks about its use during the war. There's also a marker to McNeill's Rangers, a Confederate partisan ranger outfit from the area in front of the library.
There are a variety of markers for engagements, skirmishes, etc. related to Sheridan's Raid, Hunter's Raid, the New Market Campaign, 1862 Valley, and 1864 Valley campaigns. The iron State Historical Commission markers mostly date to the 1930s. Newer ones installed by the Civil War Trust are all mid-90s or later. Winchester's markers went up in the 1990s as did Front Royal's. There are driving tours available. The actual battlefield foundations are pretty new.
McDowell is very well preserved, as is Fort Johnson on top of Shenandoah Mountain if you take US 250 out that way. Keep on 250 and head into West Virginia for the Battle of Greenbrier River, Battle of Camp Allegheny, Cheat Summit Fort, Battle of Rich Mountain, and Battle of Laurel Hill (almost all 1861, though Cheat Summit stayed in use).
Fort Mulligan, the march of Fremont's men to Cross Keys, and the raids on Moorefield are all out US 33 west from Harrisonburg. This was forgotten guerilla country. Lot of Unionists and Confederates fighting it out over old grudges. This is where my ancestors hail from in the region.
Cheat Summit Fort and Fort Johnson are great examples of hand-tool built earthworks fortifications, the sort of think a settlement or unit without earth moving equipment could manage to defend a fixed position. Some pretty serious works.
Right where I-81 and I-66 meet almost is Cedar Creek Battlefield. Interesting, and understaffed, they've got some great new trails around the morning attacks. Grounds are open all the time and it's super accessible. If you see Ranger Horn, tell him Nate said hello.
Harpers Ferry is right at the lower (North) end of the Valley. Great sight. Lewis and Clark right up through John Brown and the Civil War. One of two (with Springfield) government arms factories before the Civil War. There are at least four engagements there during the war plus skirmishes. A large quartermaster depot in Sheridan's time. Go see why New American screwed up putting all their men on Bolivar Heights like Col. Dixon Miles did in 1862.
Waynesboro's battlefield is almost completely destroyed by development. You can sort of follow the course of battle. Most of Jackson's surviving men are wiped out or captured here in '65.
If you go over Massanutten Mountain into the Page Valley there are some interesting markers related to the development of Jackson's Valley Campaign in 1862 and how his maneuvers managed to succeed.
Tom's Brook is basically just a gas station but there's a marker there about a major cavalry engagement there. Fisher's Hill was basically destroyed by the Interstate, I don't know of any markers there.
The Civil War Trail guides are your best bet for a cohesive tour. If you want to see everything it'll take a couple days, but the driving is fairly quick and easy. You could do Port Republic and Cross Keys up the Valley to Front Royal, Winchester, and Harpers Ferry (all of these are out of chronological order), then come back down to Cedar Creek, Tom's Brook, New Market, (Edinburgh Mill is kind of a neat stop, so is the CCC Museum/FS visitor center there), Harrisonburg, Waynesboro, Lexington (VMI/Hunter's Raid, they have a pretty good antique arms collection). Then go out to do McDowell and the WV sites if it suits your fancy.
Antietam (1862) and Monocacy (1864) are also extremely close the lower valley in Virginia and geologically are part of the Great Valley.