By late May of 1862, Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson had 17,000 men in his ranks. He moved them north against US Gen. Nathaniel Banks’ main force at Strasburg. Using his knowledge of Valley geography, Jackson side-stepped Banks by marching the bulk of his army across Massanutten Mountain. The Confederates surprised and overwhelmed a small Federal outpost at the Battle of Front Royal, at the northern end of Massanutten, on May 23. Banks, finding Jackson in his rear, had no choice but to order a rapid retreat to Winchester, in hopes of making a stand there.
Front Royal Battlefield
Virginia historical highway marker J-8 commemorates the capture of Front Royal. It is on the southeast corner of South Royal Avenue (US Route 340) and East Main Street.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service