BERKELEY COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A partnership was announced this week for the establishment of Berkely County’s very first Battlefield Park.
Made possible by a public-private partnership between members of the Berkeley County Commission, Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, and Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation Board, the development will entail the preservation of Hoke’s Run Battlefield Park located off WV 901.
“We couldn’t be more excited to make this announcement on the 163rd anniversary of the Battle of Hoke’s Run, the first Civil War battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley,” said Foundation CEO Kevin Walker on Tuesday.
“Berkeley County is the northern gateway to the Shenandoah Valley, and this collaborative partnership to preserve acreage where the Battle of Hoke’s Run was fought will highlight for future generations the importance of Berkely County in the American Civil War.
Berkeley County Commission President, Jim Whitacre extended gratitude to the Berkeley County Board of Education for their hand in making the collaborative project possible.
“I especially want to thank the Berkeley County Board of Education, the previous owner of the property, for agreeing to transfer ownership of the site to the County to allow us to move forward with this initiative,” he said. “As a battlefield park, this passive recreation site will certainly be an education resources for our community going forward.”
Plans for the battlefield park will reportedly include interpretive signage, a recreation trail, bathrooms, and pavilion area.
“Through our partnership with the Battlefields Foundation, we are looking forward to welcoming area residents and visitors alike to enjoy this special park and learn some of the rich history of the Falling Waters area,” Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks & Recreation Board Executive Director, Joe Burton stated.
The Battle of Hoke’s Run, fought on July 2, 1861, saw a Union force commanded by General Robert Patterson which engaged with a Confederate force commanded by Colonel Thomas – later General “Stonewall” Jackson.
“Although a small battle by later standards, the intensity of the conflict led Patterson to overestimate the size of the Confederate force and therefore become less aggressive,” said Falling Waters Battlefield Association, Inc. President, Gary Gimbel of the battle. “The outcome allowed Southern forces in the Shenandoah Valley to slip away and help the Confederates win a decisive victory at the Battle of Manassas. Hoke’s Run was a small battle with big consequences.”
