The Historical Art of John Paul Strain
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John Paul Strain - Historical Artist
Historical Paintings

ROAD TO ROMNEY

General Stonewall Jackson, Lt. Col. Turner Ashby, & Lt. Col. Seth M. Barton
Near Unger’s Store - Morgan County, Western Virginia - January 8, 1862

Road To Romney
Road To Romney Remarque
Remarques on Artist's Proof Paper Giclée Edition

By the end of December 1861, the Governor of Virginia had provided new state flags for all the Virginia regiments. On New Years Eve, Stonewall Jackson’s regiments received orders to prepare for action, draw ammunition, five day’s rations, and arise at 3 A.M. to begin a march, which would later be called the Romney Expedition.

Around 9 A.M. the next day Jackson's army of 8500 men filed out of Winchester waving their new flags, headed for Berkeley Springs (Bath) in mild weather conditions.

Jackson was leading four brigades that afternoon when they were hit by by a severe northwestern wind, which dropped temperatures below freezing. By the next day the army was fighting a blinding snow storm as Lt. Col. Turner Ashby and his cavalry led the way, followed by Jackson’s brigades. But General Jackson was not deterred, pushing the soldiers ever forward through the icy snow covered roads.

On January 4th Jackson attacked the Federals at Berkeley Springs (Bath) forcing them to retreat and quickly occupied the town. He then ordered his artillery to shell the enemy positions in Hancock, Maryland.

Snow continued to fall on January the 5th when Stonewall turned his attention to the Federal garrison at Romney. Jackson then gathered his brigades and headed back the way they had come towards Romney. After a long and arduous march, the cold and exhausted army arrived at Unger’s Store the night of the 7th. Jackson was invited to rest at Oakleigh Manor, the home of Washington Unger.

The sky was beginning to clear on the morning of the 8th, as Jackson and his staff rode along the hills assessing the condition of his army. It was decided that the men would need a number of days to reorganize, refit, and recoup before their move on the garrison at Romney, thought to be 18,000 men strong.

But news came that 2000 Federals had overwhelmed a 700 militia outpost at Hanging Rock near Romney. Jackson sent several raiding elements in different directions to probe the enemy strength and locations, to tear up telegraph and railroad lines, and to confound and confuse the enemy while his army recuperated. Despite the winter conditions, Jackson’s men destroyed a great number of telegraph lines and over 100 miles of B&O railroad track, earning Jackson the nick name “The Old Railroad Wrecker.”

Back at camp, the milder weather began to melt the snow, turning their bivouac into what the men called “Camp Mud.”

On January 13th General Jackson, and only about two-thirds of the men he had started with began their march to take the garrison at Romney. The next day Jackson’s brigades were hit with another heavy snow storm.

When one of Jackson’s brigade commanders questioned whether his men could continue under these circumstances, Jackson replied, “I have never found anything impossible with this brigade.”

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200 S/N Paper Giclées - $275
50 Artist's Proof Paper Giclées - $375
Image Size: 28.25" x 18"
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Image Size 24" x 15.25"

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Image Size 32" x 20.25"

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Image Size 40" x 25.5"
Canvas Giclee
Historical Paintings