Service and History at Shenandoah Valley Battlefields, Virginia

The Trip

The Civil War devastated the Shenandoah Valley. Battles began in earnest in 1862, with General Stonewall Jackson’s campaign giving the Confederates hope. In 1863, General Robert E. Lee used the Valley as an “avenue of invasion” when he moved his troops north. In 1864, the Valley was the site of multiple clashes. General Jubal Early had successes for the South, driving the Union troops out of the Valley. However, that fall, General Philip Sheridan began his scorched earth campaign, burning the land as he advanced south, taking control of the area for the North.

Our work this week will focus on battlefields that the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation has identified as most in need of our help. On recent trips we worked at Winchester and New Market, but other battlefields in the lower valley also need attention. It is likely that we may work on trail maintenance, fence construction, invasive species removal, and maintenance of the wayside exhibits. 

While we’re working, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, our sponsors, will teach us about the role of the valley in the Civil War and the Foundation’s plans to develop sites they preserve. We will be housed at a rural retreat center in single-sex cabins with bunks, adjacent to a lodge building with a dining room and gathering space.

The week will not be all work. We will relax when we’re “at home” each evening and also learn Civil War history. On our day off, we will tour historic sites in the lower Shenandoah Valley.

The Project

The exact nature of our projects will depend on the most pressing needs of the Battlefield Foundation. Based on our discussions with the staff, we will almost certainly be working on trail maintenance, which is an ongoing need and critical for visitors to walk where men fought and understand how the fighting unfolded. We are also likely to help with maintenance of wayside exhibits since they are crucial to visitors’ understanding of the site. Other projects may include fence building and reforestation to help recreate a sense of the landscape at the time of the battle. 

Staff members who work with us during the week will guide our activities and share information about the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley, preservation activities, and our specific site. We have found that working with the staff is educational – they’re knowledgeable and passionate about the work they do.

Day 1: Check-in at the retreat center will be between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. We will gather at 4:00 for introductions and an orientation to the daily routines, the work, and activities after work. We will also make sure that all participants are prepared with everything they need in their daypacks for our work the next day. Dinner in the lodge building will follow and after dinner we hope, if the weather and daylight permit, to visit the site of the Third Battle of Winchester. 

Days 2-3: Our days begin with packing lunches and snacks, followed by a hearty, hot breakfast in the lodge. We will drive to our worksite in carpools with other participants. At the worksite, we will meet the staff from the Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Foundation and divide into teams for our work. Everyone will gather for lunch, where we may hear more from the staff about their work, Civil War history, and stewardship of the Battlefield lands. After a few more hours of work in the afternoon, we will return to our cabins to clean up and relax until dinner.

Day 4: This is our day off from work, and we’ll spend it together visiting selected historic locations that will help us understand how our service work preserves the battlefield heritage. 

Days 5-6: We will return to our workday routine. After dinner on day five, we will discuss conservation issues and concerns we have back home. Such conversations are usually enlightening as they reveal patterns around the country, and we learn about some unique issues faced in other areas.

Day 7: After a hearty breakfast, we will say good-bye and head home (or continue to explore the Valley on our own). The Foundation staff would be happy to share their local knowledge with participants who plan to spend extra time in the Shenandoah Valley.

Getting There

If flying: The closest major airport is Dulles International, and National Airport is a bit farther away, but neither has shuttle service to the lodge. It is your responsibility to get to the center. Do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip co-leaders. 

Accommodations and Food

We will be staying in cabins, located on a lovely campus, with both heat and air conditioning at the retreat center a modest drive from Winchester. We will be housed in cabins that are bunkrooms with ample personal space so that no one will use the dreaded top bunk. We will divide everyone into single-sex cabins. Each cabin can accommodate up to five people and has two showers. 

The retreat center has a campfire pit and several outdoor seating areas that we can enjoy. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we can relax in the comfortable lodge located just across from our cabins where our meals will be served. We will work with participants on an individual basis to accommodate special dietary needs. Note: The Retreat Center has a no-alcohol policy.

Trip Difficulty

The work should be only moderately strenuous. However, everyone will be encouraged to work to the level of his/her ability and endurance, and to take water- and/or shade-breaks when necessary. The trip leaders’ primary concern is for the group to work safely, have fun doing it, and lastly, complete projects assigned to us.

Equipment and Clothing

We will be housed in cabins, so no camping gear is needed. However, you will need to bring your own linens (or sleeping bag), pillow, blanket, towels, and toiletries. You will need work clothes that may get stained, torn, or paint-splattered. Thrift stores are good places to get work clothes. After-work and/or day-off clothes can be anything in which you are comfortable. You will need a daypack for carrying water, hat, sunscreen, lunch, personal first-aid items, and whatever else you need to be comfortable for the day. We will send a complete equipment list closer to the time of the trip.

References

The leaders encourage you to check out the following:

• Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation website: http://www.shenandoahatwar.org has extensive resources about the history of the area and the battles in the Valley.
• The American Civil War Museum: https://acwm.org 
• Davis, Daniel T. and Phillip S. Greenwalt, Bloody Autumn: The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864.
• Glatthaar, Joseph, The Civil War’s Black Soldiers.
• Holsworth, Jerry W., Civil War Winchester.
• Holsworth, Jerry W., Stonewall Jackson and Winchester, Virginia.
• Mitchell, Reid, Civil Soldiers: Their Expectation and Their Experiences.
• Winchester’s visitor site lists some of the historic museums and tours available and also covers the range of area sites and activities: http://www.visitwinchesterva.com 
• Museum of the Shenandoah Valley website: https://www.themsv.org 

Conservation

Because of its year-round attractiveness and its numerous Civil War battlefields, the lower Shenandoah Valley is visited by Civil War enthusiasts and countless others who are interested in American history. We’ll practice Leave No Trace principles that will minimize our impact whenever we’re in nature and on trails, and while we’re working on historic ground. At the retreat center, we will model recycling, conservation, and minimal use of disposable products. We’ll witness and may discuss conservation implications of the use of the landscape we are visiting.

One evening we will have a conservation conversation, which will include strategies to preserve our nation's public lands. Our purpose is to encourage you to consider urging your elected representatives to support public land protection and conservation issues. In this conversation we encourage you to share environmental/conservation issues and stories from your area. Before the trip we will send out a list of possible topics. 

Your leaders are volunteer Sierra Club members with a long-term dedication to the Sierra Club, conservation, enjoyment of the outdoors, and service in public spaces and public lands. We hope to impart to you both our love for historic and public places and an understanding of the work of the Sierra Club. We believe that the Sierra Club's Outings program provides an excellent opportunity for members to enjoy the fruits of past conservation victories and to learn about current concerns. 

Since any traveling leaves a carbon footprint, check out the information that the Sierra Club offers about carbon offsets at: http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/national/offsets/#neutral

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.