Civil War in North Berkeley County-
Battle of Falling Waters
July 2, 1861
Belle Boyd House- Berkeley County Historical Society and Archives
A gem in the heart of Berkeley County! The Belle Boyd House has several rooms of displays- something for everyone! Rooms include: Toys, Martinsburg's past, Black History, Civil War, WWII, Other Wars, Lincoln, Corning (clothes and accessories of the past) and more. Groups welcome, including children. Free but donations welcome.
2008.03.20 Press Release- Falling Waters Battlefield Association (FWBA)
Falling Waters Battlefield placed on Endangered List
The Civil War Preservation Trust has placed the site of the July 2, 1861 Battle of Falling Waters, also known as Hoke's Run, on its annual list of threatened battlefields. Released last week, the report "History Under Siege: A Guide to America's Most Endangered Civil War Battlefields" includes Falling Waters for the first time.
The first Civil War engagement in the Shenandoah Valley was fought north of Martinsburg along present day Route 11. Substantially outnumbered the Confederates retreated, but the intensity of their resistance led the Union forces to over estimate their strength. In the weeks following the battle the Union commander, hesitant to attack what he believed was a much larger force, allowed the Southern troops to slip away and re-enforce the Confederate forces near Manassas. Although Falling Waters is considered a Union success, it contributed to the major Confederate victory at Bull Run less than three weeks later.
At Falling Waters the Southern troops were led by "Stonewall" Jackson, before he had earned that nickname. A granite monument commemorating his presence under fire was erected on the battlefield. The Union forces included George Thomas, who later gained fame as the "Rock of Chickamauga". Also in this fight Confederate cavalry under J.E.B. Stuart were able to surprise and capture almost an entire company of Pennsylvania Infantry.
Still standing today on the center of the battlefield is the Crockett-Porterfield House built by the grandfather of the Alamo's Davy Crockett. Last year the Falling Waters Battlefield Association made three separate attempts to purchase and preserve this house, but each of the offers were rejected. Saving the house and surrounding land is still the FWBA's primary goal.
FWBA president Gary Gimbel observed, "Unfortunately being included on the list is somewhat of a dubious honor. We are excited that the Falling Waters Battlefield will receive this much needed attention, but we wished the site was already protected."
The CWPT has protected more than 25,000 acres at more than 90 sites in 18 sites. With about 65,000 members, CWPT is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States. In partnership with several national and local preservation groups, CWPT has been working to save historic properties at endangered sites identified in previous editions of "History Under Siege".
2008.03.28 Press Release- WV Division of Tourism
Civil War Trails program now in West Virginia
The West Virginia Division of Tourism is partnering with Civil War Trails Inc. (www.civilwartrails.org) to implement a statewide Civil War signage/tourism marketing project using the same brand of interpretive signs commonly found along highways in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Tennessee. The Division of Tourism is paying for the purchase and installation of the first 150 qualifying Civil War sites in the state. West Virginia is positioned to benefit from the regional branding and cross-promotion that Civil War Trails offer; especially as we approach the sesquicentennial (150th) commemoration of the Civil War and the birth of our statehood. For information on what types of sites qualify and how to submit a Civil War site in or near your community, contact Justin Gaull at jgaull@wvtourism.com.