Tuesday August 17, 2004
Battlefield association meeting set for tonight
BEDINGTON, W.Va. - The first meeting of the Falling Waters Battlefield Association (FWBA) will be today at 7 p.m. at the Bedington Ruritan Club.
The Battle of Falling Waters, W.Va., which took place on July 2, 1861, has been allowed to be almost forgotten, except in official records and a light mention in a few books, said Charles C. Walker III, president of Falling Waters Battlefield Association.
Walker said it sometimes is called by other names, such as the Battle of Hoke's Run or Hainesville.
"It was a very important battle, as it set up the first battle of Manassas as a Confederate victory," Walker said in a prepared release.
"Col. Thomas J. Jackson was promoted to brigadier general due to his actions at the Battle of Falling Waters and became 'Stonewall' Jackson at First Manassas," Walker said in the release.
Walker said many firsts of the war took place in the Falling Waters battle, including:
The first cannon fired in battle in the Shenandoah Valley
The first cavalry engagement of the war
The first battle for Cols. T.J. Jackson and J.E.B. Stuart
The Porterfield/Crocket house on U.S. 11, known then as the Valley Turnpike, is where the heaviest fighting took place, Walker said. The Porterfields owned the property at the time of the war; Davy Crockett's grandfather built the log home that today is hidden under siding.
The Falling Waters Battlefield Association will work with heritage and preservation organizations to preserve the Porterfield site and other properties, such as the acreage south of the Verizon building and north of the Jackson Monument on U.S. 11.
Walker said charter memberships will be taken and officers elected at tonight's meeting. Members of battlefield preservation organizations, and state and local politicians have been invited to attend.
Plans for the future will be discussed at the meeting.
The Ruritan Club is on the west side of U.S. 11, south of Bedington Crossroads.
Battlefield association meeting set for tonight
BEDINGTON, W.Va. - The first meeting of the Falling Waters Battlefield Association (FWBA) will be today at 7 p.m. at the Bedington Ruritan Club.
The Battle of Falling Waters, W.Va., which took place on July 2, 1861, has been allowed to be almost forgotten, except in official records and a light mention in a few books, said Charles C. Walker III, president of Falling Waters Battlefield Association.
Walker said it sometimes is called by other names, such as the Battle of Hoke's Run or Hainesville.
"It was a very important battle, as it set up the first battle of Manassas as a Confederate victory," Walker said in a prepared release.
"Col. Thomas J. Jackson was promoted to brigadier general due to his actions at the Battle of Falling Waters and became 'Stonewall' Jackson at First Manassas," Walker said in the release.
Walker said many firsts of the war took place in the Falling Waters battle, including:
The first cannon fired in battle in the Shenandoah Valley
The first cavalry engagement of the war
The first battle for Cols. T.J. Jackson and J.E.B. Stuart
The Porterfield/Crocket house on U.S. 11, known then as the Valley Turnpike, is where the heaviest fighting took place, Walker said. The Porterfields owned the property at the time of the war; Davy Crockett's grandfather built the log home that today is hidden under siding.
The Falling Waters Battlefield Association will work with heritage and preservation organizations to preserve the Porterfield site and other properties, such as the acreage south of the Verizon building and north of the Jackson Monument on U.S. 11.
Walker said charter memberships will be taken and officers elected at tonight's meeting. Members of battlefield preservation organizations, and state and local politicians have been invited to attend.
Plans for the future will be discussed at the meeting.
The Ruritan Club is on the west side of U.S. 11, south of Bedington Crossroads.