Many Thanks to WVTim, GR8Caches and The Wandering Panhandlers for their guidance, support, cache page design and cache placement for the Villages of Berkeley County Trail. We hope you enjoy yourself!
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Falling Waters
Located along Route 11, this community was established in 1815.
The Falling Waters area was the site of two battles during the Civil War-The Hokes Run/Falling Waters/Hainesville Battle in July 1861 and the Battle of Williamsport/Falling Waters in July 1863.
The Battle of Falling Waters, fought on July 2, 1861, has several names and is frequently confused with an 1863 engagement. However this Civil War battle, the first in the Shenandoah Valley, also called the Battle of Hoke's Run, and the Battle of Hainesville, contributed to the Confederate victory at the Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) less than three weeks later. This conformed to the Northern practice of naming battles after the closest body of water, whereas the South used the name of the nearest town.
Union General Robert Patterson commanded about 3,500 men, comprised of some regular troops, but mostly 90-day volunteers, whose enlistment's were about to end. He was under orders to at least pin down a small Confederate division commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston, keeping them from re-enforcing the Southern troops gathering near the town of Manassas outside of Washington, DC. Colonel Thomas J. Jackson, who commanded a brigade under Johnston, was stationed north of Martinsburg. Upon learning from his Cavalry screen on the morning of July 2 that Federal troops had crossed the Potomac and were marching south, Jackson ordered the 5th Virginia Regiment, approximately 380 men, and one cannon, north along the Valley Turnpike (Route 11) to meet them.
The two armies met just north of what is now the intersection of Hammond's Mill Road and Route 11 on the farm of William Rush Porterfield. For about 45 minutes the Virginians fought a delaying action as the Union troops brought up four cannon, and tried to surround the Confederates with their infantry. Substantially outnumbered and outgunned, the Confederates slowly retreated about a mile south, and gradually broke off fighting. There were only a few casualties on either side, although the Confederate Cavalry under Colonel J.E.B. Stuart was able to surprise and capture 49 Union soldiers.
The intensity of the Confederate fighting withdrawal caused the union forces to overestimate the Confederate strength by almost tenfold. So although tactically the Battle of Falling Waters was a Union victory, strategically the Confederates were successful. From this point on, Union General Patterson would be less aggressive, thinking he was up against a larger Confederate force. This allowed General Johnston, along with Jackson's Virginians, to slip away and re-enforce the Confederate troops preparing to fight along Bull Run.
Less than three weeks after Falling Waters, on July 21, 1861, the Confederates won a decisive victory at the Battle of Manassas where Jackson received his sobriquet "Stonewall". The Civil Was then continued on for almost four bloody years. Falling Waters was a small battle with important repercussions.
War returned to this area in July 1863 with the Battle of Williamsport/Falling Waters. This was part of the Gettysburg Campaign and was fought between July 6 and July 16. During the night of July 4th-July 5th General Robert E. Lee’s battered Confederate army began it s retreat from Gettysburg moving down into this area. On July 7th the Confederacy stopped the Union cavalry from occupying Williamsport (just across the river in MD) and destroying Confederate trains. However the Union drove two other Confederate brigades thru Hagerstown before being forced to stop by Stuart’s (South) command. Lee’s infantry reached the Potomac River but could not cross because the bridge had been destroyed. Only July 13 construction finished on a new bridge (don’t you wish it only took 6 days to build a bridge nowadays?) and the troops crossed.
The Cache:
This cache takes you to the Civil War Sign Highlighting the Battle of Falling Waters. This is a driving 2 stage cache. Both stages are within the Falling Waters area. Please note, not far from here at another Civil War Marker you will be crossing paths with another geotrail (WV Civil War Trail) be sure to take some time and check out the WV Civil War Trail.
The main cache page coordinates take you to the Civil War Sign. While at this location be sure to visit the Falling Waters Falls. There is a little path close to the parking lot, that will give you a good view of the falls. Be careful, the path is nothing fancy, but the view of the falls is worth it.
At the first stop, one needs to gather some information. Once you have gotten the information from the Civil War sign, the coordinates to the Final Cache may be calculated. It is just a short drive (less than one mile) from the sign.
Final coords found by solving for A B and C :
Sgt. Andrew Malsced, 2A Penn. Volunteer Infantry, June 19, 1CB1.
Final is located at N 39 33.A25 W 077 53.B9C
The establishment at the final which sells Antiques, Computers, Airsoft and Jewelery gave us permission to place the final there. Stop in and say hello. They are very friendly people.