Our dear friend and esteemed SBPA Board member and 20+ year Shepherdstown Battlefield soldier, Dr. Tom Clemens, is the May 2025 Speaker at the Hagerstown Civil War Round Table on May 22nd.
Hope to see Shepherdstown Battlefield supporters at this event!
Upcoming events to add to your calendar:
Saturday, May 17 at 10 am [temporarily on hold due to safety concerns]
Graffiti removal workshop at the Boteler’s Cement Mill on River Road.
Saturday, June 28 from 11 am to 5 pm
A battlefield booth outside of the George Tyler Moore Civil War Center during the Shepherdstown Streetfest with newly updated maps, brochures, battle artifacts and books.
Saturday, September 20 from 10 am to noon
“Crossing the Potomac River at Packhorse Ford” led by Kevin Pawlak. Meet at the Riverside Park parking area at 9 am for the shuttles into Maryland. Then a battlefield tour after lunch led by Dr. Tom McGrath.
Thanks for the photos and write-up on your Facebook page!
Shepherdstown Annual Spring Fling was held April 26, 2025 on National Park Day.
Thanks to our Donors and co-sponsors including the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission, American Battlefield Trust , Historic Shepherdstown & Museum Civil War Trails, Inc.
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped, and to Dr. Tom McGrath for leading an excellent tour and deeply informative lecture.
Thank you to the Shepherdstown Opera House for hosting the lecture and to the Bistro 112 for the great dinner.
Battlefield Tour and Talk by Author and Professor, Dr. Tom McGrath
The tour starts at the Osbourn Farm house at 1 pm at 1901 Trough Road.
The talk is at the Opera House, Shepherdstown at 7 pm.
The Fire of the Enemy was Appalling: Pender’s Brigade at the Battle of Shepherdstown.
On the morning of September 20, 1862, three Confederate brigades of A.P. Hill’s Division stepped off in line of battle in the fields near Shepherdstown. They were there to confront an unknown number of Yankee troops then crossing Boteler’s Ford into Virginia. Within minutes, the battle-tested brigade of Dorsey Pender found itself isolated from the rest of the division as rifle fire broke out and Federal artillery shells rained down upon them. Hear the story of this Confederate unit in the battle of Shepherdstown, a violent contest that left 15 of their men dead and 48 wounded, many mortally.
Reference: T.A. McGrath (2007) Shepherdstown: Last Clash of the Antietam Campaign.
Your donations matter! The Battle of Shepherdstown is “History worth learning!” Please consider becoming an Annual Battlefield Supporter. 100% of all donations are used to preserve the battlefield and educate the public. We have major upgrades coming to the Battlefield based on a new Master Plan that will greatly improve visitor safety, access and education.
Hello Battlefield Members and Supporters,
We have several important items to present. Firstly, we’d like to sincerely thank the long-term commitment of outgoing Officer Ms. Cindy Feeser and departing Board of Director Ms. Pam Underhill. Your contributions have been essential over the last couple of years, and we thank you for your volunteer efforts on behalf of the battlefield.
We are excited to announce that Dr. Tom McGrath will be joining the SBPA Board of Directors. We know Tom well as a Professor and Author, as well as a long-time battlefield supporter and educator. His bio is below. He has already agreed to lead a tour on April 26 Park Day and present a talk that evening at 7 pm at the Opera House. Both are focused on the movements of the Confederate (AP Hill) Pender’s Brigade during the Battle of Shepherdstown. I am really looking forward to both the tour and talk as this subject area has not previously been presented in a formal, public manner. Welcome Dr. McGrath.
We have a new Secretary, Ms. Stephanie Unger, a long-time educator at the Shepherdstown Middle School. Her bio is below. She is a committed battlefield supporter who lives off Trough Road in the core of the battlefield. She is looking forward to working with our membership to catalyze volunteer activities, fundraising and dispersing new educational information.
Thirdly, we have a new Treasurer, Ms. Elizabeth Nicholson of the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission. Her bio is below. As you can see, she is a valuable addition to our staff with extensive expertise in items that are directly relevant to the battlefield at this time. As HLC member, she has already agreed to lead the Cement Mill work group during Park Day on April 26. She is also spearheading a Graffiti Removal Workshop at the Cement Mill structures on Saturday, May 17. So, she is quite committed to our cause already. Her position on the HLC allows the SBPA to further develop ties to one of our primary partners in battlefield preservation and development. As SBPA Treasurer, she can help distribute the rental income from the Osbourn Farm (~$30k annually) in agreement with our organizations’ common goals.
Lastly, one of my most enjoyable activities each year occurs in January. I work with the ABT, Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board and the JC Historic Landmarks Commission to tabulate the acres of core battlefield that have been protected. As each organization has their own accounting and presentation methods, this is more challenging than might be thought. We just completed this January’s exercise with key input from Kathy Robertson, ABT, and Jason Adams, Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board.
The grand total for January 2025 is: 1,066 acres. I have been hoping for years that we’d see our efforts going over 1,000 acres protected and NEVER expected it this soon. We have the momentum and are actually establishing a new battlefield! A huge congratulations to SBPA members and battlefield supporters.
Thanks to all the SBPA members and battlefield supporters for your continued commitment to preserving the Shepherdstown Battlefield. The new officers and Board member provide us with an improved tool set of skills and expertise as we move forward with the exciting events already planned for 2025. Please welcome our new Officers and Board member.
Regards,
Mike Nickerson, Ph.D.
President
Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association
Dr. McGrath Bio for the Board of Directors
Born and raised near Boston, Dr. Tom McGrath received his Bachelors Degree in History from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He has a Masters in Civil War Studies from American Military University and a Ph.D. in History from the State University of New York at Albany.
He is the author of Shepherdstown: Last Clash of the Antietam Campaign, September 19-20, 1862. He has written numerous articles for a variety of publications including “Gettysburg Magazine” and “Blue and Gray.” Tom served as Chief Historian for the National Park Service’s Special Resource Study of the Shepherdstown Battlefield. He is currently Associate Professor of History and Humanities at North Country Community College in Ticonderoga, NY.
Stephanie Unger Bio for Secretary
This year marks my 25th year of teaching at Shepherdstown Elementary and Middle Schools, currently teaching 8th grade WV History. I have been enjoying my 3rd year on the board of Historic Shepherdstown where I am the Marketing chair and on the Archives, Museum, and Events committees. For 10 years I co-owned Earth Vibe Productions and Events helping to put on community events including The Panhandle Earth Day Celebration at Morgans Grove Park. I am a mother of 2 grown children and grandmother of 3 rambunctious grandchildren. I currently live on Trough Road and have enjoyed taking part in the preservation of the Battle of Shepherdstown as well as volunteering for the various activities they sponsor in our community. I look forward to continuing my commitment to the SBPA as your secretary.
Elizabeth Nicholson Bio for the Treasurer
Elizabeth Nicholson is a preservationist and museum professional dedicated to safeguarding historic sites and engaging communities in heritage conservation. With a BA in history from SUNY New Paltz and a Master of Design Studies in Historic Preservation in progress at Boston Architectural College, she has worked extensively in collections management, monument conservation, and historic site stewardship. Through roles with the National Park Service, local historic commissions, and museums, Elizabeth has developed expertise in preservation treatments, grant writing, public programming, and community outreach. As an AmeriCorps member with the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, she continues to advocate for the protection and appreciation of local history.
9:00 A.M. : Park Day volunteers meet at Riverside park at the intersection of River and Trough Roads. Off road parking available.
9:15 A.M. : Leave Riverside park for clean up assignments
11:00 A.M. : Trough Road Clean up by both Union and Confederate Groups
12:00 P.M : Lunch courtesy of SBPA at the Osbourn Farm
12:45 P.M : Gather for tour led by Dr. Tom McGrath – Tour will begin at 1 P.M.
5:30 P.M. : Join us for dinner with Dr. Tom McGrath at Bistro 112 (please confirm if you are joining us so we may add you to our reservation)
7:00 P.M. : Opera House Lecture by Dr. Tom McGrath about the Battle of Shepherdstown
9:00 P.M. : After-party is at the Mecklenburg Inn
Sponsored by: Shepherdstown Battlefield Preservation Association, Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission, Historic Shepherdstown Museum and the Shepherdstown Opera House
Saturday, April 26 9 am – noon Riverside Park
Meet at the Riverside Park on River and Trough Roads below town next to Boteler’s Cement Mill by 9 am. We will form 2 groups led by SBPA and JCHLC staff to clean up the Cement Mill (Union) and the Osbourn Farm (Confederate).
At ~11 am, each group will pick up trash on Trough Road to see who can advance the furthest North or South. Snacks and water will be available at the Osbourn Farm.
Saturday, April 26 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Osbourn Farmhouse
Meet at the Farmhouse at 1901 Trough Road by 1 pm. Be prepared for an epic Battlefield Tour by Professor and Author Thomas McGrath. Subject: “The Fire of the Enemy was Appalling: Pender’s Brigade at the Battle of Shepherdstown.” If you’ve ever thought about it, IT IS GO TIME to experience the battle with the author for several hours and several miles. Totally worth it! Dress appropriately.
Saturday, April 26 7 pm Shepherdstown Opera House
The Fire of the Enemy was Appalling: Pender’s Brigade at the Battle of Shepherdstown
Reference: T.A. McGrath (2007) Shepherdstown: Last Clash of the Antietam Campaign.
Saturday, May 17 10 am Graffiti removal workshop at the Boteler’s Cement Mill on River Road.
Saturday, June 28 11 am – 5 pm SBPA booth at the Shepherdstown Streetfest.
Saturday, September 20 10 am – 4 pm Crossing the Potomac River at Packhorse Ford led by Kevin Pawlak, then a cookout on the Osbourn Farm. Special guests are the descendants of the 118th PA regiment.
January 2, 2025 article by Ryan Fitzmaurice published in The Northern Virginia Daily:
Shenandoah County is reshaping local Civil War storytelling with a focus on personal narratives, recently showcased by the installation of a Civil War Trails sign recognizing five Medal of Honor recipients from the Battle of Fisher’s Hill.
Located at 3124 Battlefield Road near Strasburg, the sign invites visitors to connect with the past through the individual stories of these soldiers, reflecting a broader initiative to humanize local history.
The sign highlights the actions of five U.S. soldiers. According to their Medal of Honor citations, each soldier was honored for extraordinary bravery on Sept. 22, 1864, during one of the Civil War’s pivotal battles.
Private James Connors, Company E, 43rd New York Infantry: Captured a Confederate flag.
Private John Creed, Company D, 23rd Illinois Infantry: Captured a Confederate flag.
Private George G. Moore, Company D, 11th West Virginia Infantry: Captured a Confederate flag.
Sergeant Sylvester D. Rhodes, Company D, 61st Pennsylvania Infantry: Led the skirmish line that drove the enemy from their first entrenchment, was the first to breach the breastworks, and turned a captured gun on the enemy.
First Lieutenant Edward Newton Whittier, Battery 5, Maine Light Artillery: Rode with the assaulting column to seize enemy artillery, turning it against Confederate forces.
“These five soldiers’ names haven’t been lost to time, but certainly they deserve to be better recognized,” said Drew Gruber, executive director of Civil War Trails, Inc. “We are humbled to help elevate their stories, and we hope as you stand in their footsteps, you find yourself inspired to dig into their lives in more detail.”
The sign is part of Shenandoah County’s deliberate effort to shift Civil War history from grand battles and strategies to individual and civilian experiences.
“The important element in this is we want to tell more stories of the people, not only of the soldiers, the everyday people that were here during the Civil War,” said Brenda Black, the county’s tourism development manager.
Black said the Shenandoah County is working hand in hand with the Civil War Trails organization and other partners to bring more stories to light of residents, women, children and the many others who participated in the war.
Gruber echoed the importance of uncovering the experience of the individual during the war.
“Oftentimes events of the past seem so foreign, but in exploring the lives of these five soldiers we are reminded that history is incredibly relevant and the people of the past are oftentimes just like you and me.”
The project was made possible through partnerships with a private donor, local historians, archivists and property owners.
“Partnerships are essential and at the core of our mission,” Gruber said. “Without the property owner and private donor, we wouldn’t have had the chance to put visitors in the footsteps of these soldiers.”
Shenandoah County, in coordination with the Civil War Trails organization, has reviewed and updated 14 markers across the region to incorporate broader narratives, with additional signs planned for the future, Black said.
The Civil War Trails sign at Fisher’s Hill is already featured on Virginia Civil War Trails map-guides, distributed to travelers worldwide. Efforts are also underway to include the site on the national Medal of Honor Valor Trail, a partnership between the American Battlefield Trust and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
“This new Civil War Trails site adds another amenity for travelers exploring Shenandoah County and also helps point visitors to the nearby battlefield park, encouraging them to stay longer,” Gruber said. “We know that our visitors tend to spend 2.5 days when they travel with the majority of their dollars spent going back into the hands of service industry employees at local restaurants, breweries and lodgings.”
For more information about Civil War Trails or to request a free brochure, visit civilwartrails.org. To explore Shenandoah County’s history and outdoor amenities, visit visitshenandoahcounty.com.