Good evening. It is my pleasure to welcome you to cedar creek and Belle Grove National Historical park. It has been a very busy day here havee anniversary events unfolded. But now it is time to pause and take a moment to reflect on the magnitude of what happened here 150 years ago. To set the stage for this ceremony, i would like to welcome superintendent jim nort hrup to say a few words. [applause] well, good evening. Norty said, my name is jim hrup. It is my great privilege to serve as the superintendent. Im here to join with amy and ou r hosts to welcome you and thank you for coming to this very important element in the 150th anniversary events here at cedar creek. Activity that is taking place around us, we are gathered at this place in this moment to remember exactly what happened here. And to remember all of those who were killed or wounded on this battlefield. All of you know, on october 19, 1864, a great battle was fought here. Secure theat Shenandoah Valley of virginia for the union, and a battle that is credited with propelling president Abraham Lincoln to reelection. A great deal about the interesting tactics associated with the battle. Risky surprise attack, the Great Success of the Confederate Forces in the morning. General shared his famous ride from winchester, and the union counterattack. But what we dont talk about quite as much are the lives of the young men who fought here. 25roximately 46,000 men from states, 17 for the union, and 8 for the confederacy, proximally 1000 of whom were killed or mortally wounded on this ground. With another 7600 wounded or captured. The secondlargest and the second bloodiest battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley. This evening, we gather in this tranquil setting with signal nob in the distance and the beautiful Belle Grove Plantation house behind us to remember heir bravery and their sacrifice and the impact of the loss on their families that lasted for generations. Creek and Belle Grove National Historical park is not just about this battle. That tells the story of this part of the Shenandoah Valley from native american use of this landscape to early settlement through a rich agricultural period and a plantation era to the civil war and beyond. But today, we take a moment to think only about one thing. To honor the men who fought and died here at the battle of cedar creek. Today,ards of this land we must never forget. Welcome, and thank you for joining us. [applause] 150 years ago at this moment, this field would have been filled with union camps. Soldiers would have been sitting around the fire talking about what has been going on or perhaps you would be the best candidate for the president ial election in three weeks. Would lincoln be reelected . Would mcclellan be the better choice . Which candidate would bring the end to this war . That theme time relaxing atmosphere was here at belle grove, the environment was completely different over at fishers hill. The air at fishers it was probably filled with electric nervous energy. The Confederate Army of the valley was having their last meal before they would be marching through the night to surprise the camps sitting unaware here at belle grove. 150 years ago tomorrow, this landscape will erupt with the sounds of war. The sun will set tomorrow in the valley with almost 1000 men fields withse tattered tents and camp supplies strewn everywhere. By tomorrow evening, the Union Soldiers will return to their camps here victorious but solemn. Here has changed the course of the Shenandoah Valley for the rest of the war. At this place, we find the last major battle of the valley that not only secure this corridor for the union, boosted the votes for lincolns reelection, and contributed to the beginning of the end of the war. The place here in Shenandoah Valley has significance for our local community, the commonwealth, and the nation. Its effects of farreaching and forever remembered. Impact of thehe battle of cedar creek had on the commonwealth of virginia, governor mcauliffe has issued a proclamation recognizing tomorrow as the 150th anniversary. Here to read the proclamation, it is my pleasure to introduce kristin lays, the executive director of belle grove incorporated. [applause] by virtue of the Authority Vested by the constitution of virginia in the governor of the commonwealth of virginia, there is hereby officially recognized the 150th anniversary of the battle of cedar creek. The the events of the civil war have left a mark on thecommonwealth and whereas events surrounding the war and the war itself led to the ultimate abolition of slavery fertileeas the Shenandoah Valley, the breadbasket of the confederacy witnessed repeated campaigns and over itsor control resources and access to washington, d. C. , during the civil war, and whereas the Confederate Army of the valley under the direction of Lieutenant General jubal a early initiated a surprise attack in the Early Morning of october 19, 1864. That pushed the federal army back in defeat. Generaleas major philip sheridans ride from to middletown to rally the army of the shenandoah cemented his status in American History as an iconic American Military general. Union army ofe the shenandoah launched a successful afternoon counter attack that marks the end of the confederate control of the Shenandoah Valley and whereas union and8000 confederate men were killed, wounded, or capture that day and the second bloodiest battle in the Shenandoah Valley. Thewhereas the defeat of confederacy and the shenandoah was a turning point that led to the preservation of our union and the beginning of the end of our nations bloodiest conflict later,reas 150 years virginia recognizes the significance of the battle of cedar creek and the outcome of the American Civil War, now therefore, i, terence mcauliffe, do hereby recognize october 19, 2014, as the 150th anniversary of the battle of cedar creek in virginia andlth of i call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens. [applause] thank you. Is my distinct honor to introduce our keynote speaker. Of distances list to read about Jonathan I Allis but the first one i want to share is that he is a passionate scholar on the batter of cedar creek. He is a supporter of this park and an active participant and an active participant in sharing the history of this place. Jonathan is an assistant professor of history and the director of the center of Civil War History at Lord Fairfax Community college in middletown. A is the author or editor of biography of robert h millwright and the book of the battle of cedar creek. Jonathan is active in battlefield preservation in the Shenandoah Valley and serves on the board of directors for the first timethe battlefield association. It is my honor to introduce jonathan noyales. [applause] andhank you, amy, superintendent northup. Professor who has spent the past decade of my career researching and writing about commemoration here in the Shenandoah Valley, i feel a great sense of honor and humility to stand here this evening as part of a chain of commemorations that go back to the 1880s on this landscape. New veterans from the 128th york infantry gathered on the Cedar Creek Battlefield in 19 no 07 to dedicate a monument not too far from us here, a veteran imentthe reg observed, i do not believe there is a spot on this continent where more for the interest of our nation was concentrated than here at cedar creek. While some individuals might seem inclined to think that this veteran exaggerated cedar history, one in could argue that because of what was at stake for the Union War Effort in the auto of 1864, a momentek if but for became one of the most significant places on the north american continent. Among all the battles fought in the Shenandoah Valley, nine achieve morsi nine mor results and had wider success than cedar creek. T finally impermanent we rest of the Shenandoah Valley from confederate control. That victory here meant valley harvests, what was left of them after the destruction of the burning, would not be available to feed Confederate Forces operating in the old dominion. Union victory here 150 autumns ago, solidified philip sheridans emerging reputation while simultaneously helping president Abraham Lincoln secure his bid for reelection in november. The Union Successes cedar creek also proved a turning point in the civil war. As with the Shenandoah Valley secured, the region could no diversionarys a theater of war for Confederate Forces. Union successes cedar creek meant that freedom for the regions salves, slaves, a proved uncertain due to the backandforth nature of the civil war and the Shenandoah Valley, now stood on firmer ground. Africanamericans would still confront obstacles in the ensuing decades to realize the promise of president Abraham Lincolns emancipation proclamation. Mountains which define the Shenandoah Valley, news of cedar creek rock hope to those in the north for ultimate Union Success or the sobering reality to individuals in the south that the confederate experiment would ultimately end in defeat. In one of his many chronicles of the American Civil War, pulitzer prizewinning historian bruce hichon imagined a scene wchih took place on the grounds where we stand in front of the majestic house which looms behind me. Described a scene where general share it and after the battle cedar creek was over, was leaning against a captured confederate cannon parked in front of belle grove. Peering into the distance at the flickering campfires of the army of the shenandoah. And catton so eloquently captured from sheridans viewpoint what victory meant to the Union War Effort. Sun had gone the down, the fight was over, and earlys army was wrecked for keeps. The war and the Shenandoah Valley had been one without the valley. Lees amr cannot hope to hold richmond much longer. It was an omen of the final set set of the confederacy. Aile this battle with surprise earlymorning assault of an inferior army, the arrival astride his horse, renamed winchester after the battle, an event immortalized by poetry and art after the battle. The rallying of union forces drove the confederate south. Cedar creek indeed proved to be a syndicate turning point in the conflicts, an omen of the final sunset for the confederacy. The landscape upon which this landscapeurred, a which witnessed 8824 men become casualties, reminds us of the very tragic nature of the American Civil War. Sometimes as we stand upon the battlefield such as this one,one aat is usually cloaked in quietness broken only by the sounds of nature, we forget how was,y our american iliard that claimed the lives of three quarters of a million americans. Sacrifice inen who this field had their whole lives in front of them. Interrupted and sadly ended during that conflict. As a college professor, who teaches students who are the same age as many of those slain on this hollowed ground, i pause to wonder about the might have been. Of theght have become Young Division commander general dtephen dodson 27 years ol at the time of the battle, 27 years old at the time he breathed his final breath. One wonders what might have become of the harvard educated Union ColonelCharles Russell is emblazoned in harbors memorial hall. Mortally wounded, like his confederate counterpart during the battles after the battles afternoon chaise. Three years after the civil war ended, the short biography of lowell is published along with ardothers in the harv memorial biographies, a series edited by a union veteran. Its publication, the widow sent a copy to a wellknown scottish intellectual thomas carlyle, a m aan long admired by her late husband. After carlisle received and read the essay on the colonels life he penned a note to his widow which captured the tragedy of our civil war, a tragedy was we must never forget. Carlisle penned, it would need harder than my not to recognize the hyatt noble spirit that dwelt in these young men, their readiness, devotedness, patience, diligence and virtue in the cause that they sought to be the highest. Difference only deepens me to the sorrowful tragedy that each of the brief lives is. While this battlefield can be viewed as a place where a turning point in a conflict occurred, or is a tragic landscape where men with potential had their lives cut short, it is also a place that reinforces Robert E Lees axio thatm it is history that teaches us to hope. Who fought it cedar creek in october, 1864, and survived could have never fathomed that just 19 years after the battle men who had once shot at each other would come back as part of a united country. An unbreakable nation welded together with blood and fire to remember, contemplate, and commemorate. When the members of the sheridans Veterans Association made their excursion to the Shenandoah Valley in september, 18 83, the 19th anniversary of 64 shenandoah campaign, they visited all of the battlefield of that campaign, including this one. Owners ofd by the belle grove, the veterans visited their old battlelines, delivered remarks of commemoration and walked sidebyside with confederate veterans. Veterans who served in earlys army and called the Shenandoah Valley home. Veteranssheridans association returned two years later, this time to dedicate a monument to the exploits of the eighth for mont infantry, a spirit of True National feeling prevailed. A spirit that did not require the veterans to forget their past but not let the create a stagnant presence nor paralysis for the future among former foes. While that block of vermont marble was intended to commemorate the exploits of the ofhth vermont on the morning october 19, a morning where the regiment lost three quarters of its men in a span of 30 minutes, it also stood as a testament to the bravery and courage and shared experience of sacrifices of its citizen soldiers. Whether they donned the blue with a grey. One vermonter noted during the dedication of the symbolic importance of this monument as a tangible testament to national healing. This monument will serve as a pillar stone which shall forever mark an era of genuine fraternal feeling between us. Let it be an everlasting covenant that we will not pass over the stone to thee. Thout shall not pass over this pillar to us for harm. May all the social and moral virtues have a high rating with us and the people. Then there will be ground for the hope that the future of our beloved country may be worthy of its glorious past. As we commemorate the battle of cedar creek this evening, and contemplate its many meanings, remember thatt to this battlefield can teach us and generations that we know not not only about the civil wars the significant battle in Shenandoah Valley, but it can instruct us on such thing as heroism, devotion to duty, the tragedy of war, memory and forgiveness. The men who fought here, bled who, died, and those survived and returned after our american iliad have earned the right along with this battlefield to remembered to be remembered not only once every quarter of a century but every year. It is fitting this evening to close my remarks with the words of a veteran of the second ohio cavalry. Who fought here at cedar creek 150 years ago. For the occasion of the grand army of the republic reunion in cleveland, ohio, 37 years after this battle, he penned a poem entitled cedar creek. Cut across time offer a reminder as to why we must always continue to commemorate, preserve, and learn from this battlefield landscape. And he wrote in part, confronting each other like tigers at bay layawarbattered armies across the Shenandoah Valley that october day these veterans were all that words can apply as brave as the biggest of men, when they duty demanded, they dear not die dare not die they had done it again and again the flower of this nation met there that day in that army and blue, and army in gray and took their position of every advantage each saw to make most and reeled into their places full soon as evening closed in around each host andrew down its state shades with a the semblance of a ghost. Waged with as valor that no mortal can tell in handtohand struggle, they fiercely engaged the passing the theory of lines and caged and charts back and forth in their unbridled rage while brave men like autumn leaves fell tears for each hero who found a great. Rust may destroy sort of gone, but here in conclusion permit me to say that whoever took part in that battle that day, wearing the blue or gray will never forget cedar creek but the world we regret grows poor when such brave men die. Thank you. [applause] thank you, jonathan. Eard, it is a sacred place we remember. The war weary soldiers wh