Shenandoah Confederate Breastworks

In late winter of 1862, the people of the Shenandoah Valley were growing anxious regarding the threat of a major Yankee invasion near Staunton VA. On April 5, 1862, about 3000 troops began construction of Fort Edward Johnson near the top of Shenandoah Mountain. Included also was over a mile of trench of “breastworks” dug into the frozen, rocky ground. Men camped on the top of the mountain found the ground too steep and rocky to find any comfort at all.
By the end of April, General Johnson was worried. Jackson had been defeated near Winchester and had left the valley. When Johnson left the fort to confer with Jackson, a panicked officer gave the order to abandon and destroy the fort. Johnson’s army now camped near Staunton, faced two approaching armies without defenses. On May4th Jackson’s army arrived in Staunton in a secret and lightning move to assist Johnson and forced the Union Army into retreat at least for a time.

- USDA Forest Service brochure