Highway marker A-35 was erected in 1941 by the Virginia Conservation Commission. The sign is directly next to train tracks, South Main St (Route 11), and across the street from a used car lot and Back Country Bar and Lounge. Depending on the time of the day, the noise level varies, as this is a high traffic road during Harrisonburg rush hour. Historical markers such as this one have become a part of Virginia's physical and cultural landscape, interpreting events of local history on a larger scale.

Historical marker A-35 was created by the Virginia Conservation Commission. This organization was established in 1926 to bring several agencies together and promote the recognition of Virginia history. In 1927, the Commission's first chairman, William E. Carson, believed that Virginia needed to make its history and tradition known to those who were unaware, particularly those not from Virginia. More than 1,400 markers were erected near busy roads and highways to mark nearby historic events, taking advantage of the age of automobiles.

Route 11, where highway marker A-35 stands, was constructed in 1926 and became an interstate highway in 1956. It served as the main route going north and south through the Shenandoah Valley. Due to its prominence, 118 historic markers have been placed along Route 11 over time.

(Image: Virginia Department of Historic Resources, 2018)

History of Route 11

Route 11 (or the Valley Pike) stretches the length of the Shenandoah Valley. It was the main road for transportation in the Valley before the construction of Interstate 81. From early colonists to Civil War soldiers, Route 11 served as the stage for many of Virginia’s important historical events. Jackson notably utilized the road during his Valley campaign, driving the Union army back up through the valley. The video below describes the rich history of Route 11 including interviews from transportation officials and an archaeologist.

Jackson's background provides insight as to why he became such a notable figure in the Confederacy and Civil War as a whole. He was an exemplary model of Confederate values of bravery and dedication, themes that were common in Lost Cause memorials to Jackson.

Raised in Clarksburg, Virginia (now West Virginia), Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson graduated from West Point in 1846. He taught at VMI after fighting in the Mexican American War. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Jackson fought under Confederate General Robert E. Lee. In 1862, he helped lead the Valley Campaign, the end of which is described on historical marker A-35. On May 2, 1863, after the Battle of Chancellorsville, Jackson was surveying the region when his own troops accidentally shot him three times in the arm. His arm had to be amputated and he was moved to a field hospital 30 miles away from the battlefield. He died on May 10th, 1863.

Image: General Jackson photographed at Winchester, Virginia 1862

After the Valley Campaign and his death, Jackson became an iconic figure of the Lost Cause. "His purpose and determination was matched by few and exceeded by none on the field of battle," according to soldier William Garrett Piston. Jackson was as well known as General Robert E. Lee amongst the Confederate army.

Jackson was seen as almost an "Old Testament God of wrath." His memory became associated with an exaggerated, mythological view of the Confederacy and how life could have been. More than this, Jackson symbolized the ideals of white masculinity glorified in the Confederate South. His life and actions represented the highest form of heroism to which men aspired. Despite this, even Jackson's descendants have stated that they believe any monuments dedicated to his memory as a Confederate hero be torn down. Even so, monuments such as historical marker A-35 remain standing today.

(Image: The Abbeville Review, 2016)

This monument and others like it were put in place because the Virginia Conservation Commission understood the significance of the Valley Campaign. The Shenandoah Valley was a key target for the Union during the war because of its status as “the breadbasket of the Confederacy.” The valley was the location of many wheat farms used to feed residents of the Confederate South. Had the Union destroyed Harrisonburg and the surrounding valley, they would have symbolically destroyed the foundation of the Confederate economy. Jackson realized this, and took action against the Union to repel them and save the Confederacy. Upon hearing of the loss of the valley, President Lincoln diverted a large number troops meant to attack Richmond to the valley in order to attempt its recapture. Due to this, fewer Union troops were sent to attack the Confederate capital at Richmond, allowing the Confederacy to stand their ground against the Union until Confederate reinforcement arrived.

Image: Stonewall Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign, CivilWarTalk

The Valley Campaign described on historical marker A-35 began on May 21, 1862, when Jackson and his army set out North from New Market towards Front Royal, accompanied by Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell. On May 23, Jackson and Ewell’s forces drove Union Major General Nathaniel Banks out of Front Royal. By May 25, Jackson won the Battle of Winchester and drove the Union army out of the valley. This effectively secured the breadbasket of the Confederacy and its economy. On June 6, Jackson and Ewell’s army passed through Harrisonburg after redirecting their troops in response to incoming Union troops. Once in Port Republic, the Confederate army took a stand to maintain control of the only two bridges to cross the the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, preventing the Union armies from uniting. At the Battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic on June 8 and 9, Jackson and Ewell's forces held their position against Fremont. The Confederate army won both battles, resulting in the retreat of Fremont and Shields. On June 19, Jackson and his forces left the valley to join General Robert E. Lee near Richmond. This marks the end of the Valley Campaign as commemorated specifically on historical marker A-35.

Click here to see a timeline of Jackson's Valley Campaign.

(Image: Hal Jespersen, 2018)

Historical markers like the End of the Campaign marker A-35 have become symbols of local history, documenting the physical location of events that have historically shaped an area's cultural landscape. This marker in particular was erected by the Virginia state legislature a symbol of Confederate success, metaphorically representing how the Lost Cause movement attempted to expel Northern ideals from the South. In many ways, it exaggerates the degree to which events of the Civil War continue to shape the Shenandoah Valley today. Though this historical marker did not have an elaborate ceremony to commemorate its opening, many significant historical markers had such ceremonies, making their presence more known in the public eye. These markers documenting local history are accessible to anyone, making them critical pieces of public history outside the academic sphere. However, markers like this one established by former Confederate states that recount events of the Civil War tend to be biased in favor of the Lost Cause. Historian Shackel argued that this phenomenon is somewhat common, as interpretations of the Civil War have changed over time and come to emphasize the motivation of state's rights in the war rather than slavery. Considering the historical context of markers such as this one is essential in interpretation of elements of public history. Perhaps, if Shackel's argument and the wishes of Jackson's descendants are taken into consideration, this monument and others like it will be torn down– but only time will tell.