Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia Page2
Photos/text courtesy of Alan M. Di Sciullo, Esq., Princeton Jct, NJ and Bill Weisheit, OH
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Another view of the North Fork which Confederate troops crossed the early morning of the 19th.

Gordon's wing advanced up to the area occupied by the 128th NY Volunteer regiment, adjacent to the Valley Road. The New Yorker's were able to hold on for some time, some men hiding in a ravine. However, Kershaw's men crosses the ravine and engaged the Union in hand to hand combat. The New Yorkers lost 105 of their 305 men and the Confederates continued their surge up to the area around Belle Grove.

Belle Grove occupies a central part of the battle. Its surrounding ground is hilly and rocky and could account for the Confederates stalled advance later that morning. Confederates entered the the encampment of XIX Corp General William H. Emory around 5:30 and forced the Union soldiers to "cross over" their protective works (as depicted in a famous painting by Alfred R. Waud of the battle) to met the rebel onslaught led by Gordon's troops.

The Ramseur Monument marks the spot where 27 year old Major General Stephen Dodson Ramseur of North Carolina was shot and killed through the lungs by a Union bullet during the Union retreat. The monument also marks the area where Kershaw's troops drove across the fields between here and the Pike and pushed the XIX Corps into the area occupied by the Union VI Corps in front of Cedar Creek.

North Fork
 
Photo by Alan M. Di Sciullo

128th NY Vol. Regt. Enlarge
 
Photo by Alan M. Di Sciullo