January 2, 2025 article by Ryan Fitzmaurice published in The Northern Virginia Daily:

New sign tells Medal of Honor stories at Fisher’s Hill

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.