Harpers Ferry Civil War Round Table

06/07/2026

162 Years Ago Today... The Battle of Piedmont

After replacing Gen. Franz Sigel in command of Union forces in the Shenandoah Valley, Gen. David Hunter renewed the Union offensive. On June 5, Hunter engaged the Confederate army under Gen. William Jones north of Piedmont.

After severe fighting, a flanking movement made by Union Col. Joseph Thoburn’s brigade turned Jones’s right flank. While trying to stem the retreat of his soldiers, Jones was killed. The retreat became a rout. More than 1,000 Confederates, including 60 officers, were captured.

Hunter occupied Staunton on June 6 and, after a pause to await the arrival of Brig. Gen. George Crook’s column, began to advance on Lynchburg.

06/07/2026

164 Years Ago Today... The Battle of Harrisonburg (Good's Farm)

On June 6, the vanguard of Union Gen. John Frémont’s force reached Harrisonburg. Confederate Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson’s rear guard, led by Gen. Turner Ashby, engaged Federal cavalry.

At about 7 p.m., Union forces – including the famed Pennsylvania Bucktails – appeared not in the road as expected, but in a concealed position near Ashby’s force. When Ashby’s horse was shot from under him, he rolled off the mount, regained his footing, and ordered his men to stop shooting and use the bayonet, shouting, “Charge, men! For God’s sake charge!” A bullet pierced Ashby’s side and passed through his chest, killing him instantly, while his men cleared the Federals from the wood line.

06/07/2026

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06/01/2026

06/01/2026

Please join the Harpers Ferry Civil War Round Table and the Harpers Ferry Park Association for a guided tour of historic graves of the Zion Episcopal Churchyard, at 6:00 pm, Wednesday, June 17th, 2026.

The Church is located at 301 E. Congress Street, Charles Town, WV. Street parking is available in the neighborhood, and we will meet at the S. Mildred Street entrance to the churchyard.

Since 1816, Zion Church has been a center of worship and the final resting place of area residents. Over 70 tombstones among the 1,000 graves bear the name Washington. Many of the interred have connections with American wars, including soldiers and civilians of the Civil War era. We will make our way to the graves of some of these individuals and hear their stories from HFPA-Certified Guides and members of the Round Table.

This tour is open to the public, but you must reserve your space by contacting Paige Troiano-Rodgers at [email protected] or 240-370-9173. We will carry on in light rain (bring an umbrella), but you will receive an email notification if there is a weather postponement. Although walking distances are minimal, you must be prepared for uneven terrain, brick sidewalks, and standing for the duration of the tour. There is no dinner associated with this program, and there will be no restroom access.

06/01/2026