The McCormick Civil War Institute at Shenandoah University, in association with the U.S. National Park Service and the Clarke County Historical Society, will present “Shut Up in a Slaughter Pen: The Battle of Cool Spring,” on Friday, July 18, from 4 to 6 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public, and participants are asked to gather on the west side of the Shenandoah River near the Holy Cross Abbey entrance (901 Cool Spring Lane, Berryville, Virginia, 22611). Car pooling is encouraged and appreciated.
Tour leaders Jonathan Noyalas, a 2001 graduate of Shenandoah University, and Shannon Moeck will begin the tour near the chapel for the natural cemetery. After completing the tour on the river’s west side, the tour will caravan to the east bank of the Shenandoah River to examine the Battle of Cool Spring from that perspective. The tour includes:
• Overview and discussion of action on the west and east banks of the Shenandoah River
• The deployment of Col. Joseph Thoburn’s division from the area around the Retreat
• Crossing of Thoburn’s division at Island Ford
• Thoburn’s retreat and the battle’s meaning
Noyalas is assistant professor of history and director of the Center for Civil War History at Lord Fairfax Community College. He is the author or editor of eight books on Civil War Era history and has also written scores of essays, book chapters, articles and reviews for scholarly and popular publications.
Moeck is a park ranger at Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park. She joined the Cedar Creek & Belle Grove staff as a seasonal hire during the park’s inaugural season of interpretation in 2010. She is now a full time permanent ranger on the team, and her responsibilities include interpretation, volunteer management, webmaster, social media coordinator, research and park development.
For more information contact Jo Miller at 540/665-5442 or jmille3@su.edu.