STOP 4
New York Monument

At the junction of CR 840 with US 11, turn right (north), go 50 yards, and then turn left onto a gravel road adjacent to the New York monument.

The monument at this site honors the Federal 128th New York Infantry Regiment, Third Brigade, Second Division, XIX Corps, from Dutchess and Columbia counties. The regiment lost 105 killed and wounded out of 310 men engaged.

The monument also marks the southern limit of the XIX Corps trenches. If you are facing the monument, the corps trench line extends .9 mile northwest to Meadow Brook. The original Cedar Creek bridge site is a quarter mile to your left (southwest).

The XIX Corps fought in its area for about an hour. At the sounds of Kershaw's attack, the corps units prepared for battle, but the situation was so confusing that no guidance was available at first. Some fire was coming from Wharton's infantry as well as the artillery on Hupp's Hill, and with the ground fog, General Emory was uncertain at first as to the direction of the main threat. Some XIX Corps units went into the trenches, while others, after about 15 minutes without orders, had just stacked arms to prepare breakfast. At that point, the appearance of VIII Corps stragglers and Wildes' battered brigade made it evident that the Confederates were on the corps' flank.

Turn with your back to the monument and you will see the ridge formerly occupied by Hayes' camp, now passed through by I-81. Wildes' Brigade attacked back across US 11 on Emory's orders so as to buy time for the XIX Corps. Emory also began to thin his lines facing Cedar Creek in order to establish a line parallel to and just west of the Pike (US 11). The Second Brigade of the First Division, XIX Corps, commanded by Colonel Stephen Thomas, was moved from near Meadow Mills all the way across the original corps rear. It crossed the Pike in the vicinity of highway marker A-56 (Battle of Cedar Creek), proceeding to a point 350 yards east of the Pike where it engaged in a vicious half-hour fight with Gordon's men. Three regiments from the First Brigade, XIX Corps led by Colonel Edwin P. Davis moved to a position midway between Belle Grove and the Pike.

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