"Over the works, Cross over," Came the Confederate command.(A.R. Waud, Wood Print Collection)
The Cedar Creek Earthworks as they appeared on the morning of October 19, 1864
as described by Captain D. Augustus Dickert
 3rd South Carolina, Kershaw’s Brigade

“The enemy’s breastworks were built of strong timbers with earth thrown against them,” wrote one of the Confederates whose job that dark morning was to assault them, “with a deep trench on the inside, being deeper from the bottom of the trench to the top of the works than the heights of the soldiers when standing.  Thus a step of three or four feet was built for the troops to stand on and fire.  The breastworks wound in and out with the creek, some places jutting out almost to the very brink; at others, several hundred yards in the rear, a level piece of bottom land intervening.  This ridge and plateau were some fifty feet or more above the level of the creek, and gave elegant position for batteries.  In front of this breastwork, and from forty to fifty feet in breadth was an abatis constructed of pine trees, the needles stripped, the limbs cut and pointed five to ten feet from the trunks.  These were packed and stacked side by side and on top of each other, being almost impossible for a single man even to pick his way through, and next to impossible for a line of battle to cross over.  All along the entire length of the fortifications were built great redoubts of earthwork in the forms of squares, the earth being of sufficient thickness to turn any of our cannon balls, while all around was a ditch from twelve to fifteen feet deep, - only one opening in the rear large enough to admit the teams drawing the batteries.  field pieces were posted at each angle, the infantry, when needed, filled the space between. These forts were built about two hundred yards apart, others being built in front of the main line.  This I believe was one of the most completely fortified positions by nature, as well as by hand, of any line occupied during the war.”

from The History of Kershaw’s Brigade, 1899
 
Map by Mark Collier
Of the 300 acres owned by CCBF, 175.5 acres are now free of debt thanks to the
contribution of our many friends over the past decade.  However, an additional
$400,000 is needed to pay off the balance of our new acquisition, and we need your
help once again to preserve in perpetuity these hallowed grounds.
The key to the security of these magnificent earthworks in in your hands.
Please help protect this treasure by purchasing a Cedar Creek Key.

For your tax-deductible donation, each Cedar Creek Key owner  will receive a
certificate of donation, an honorary Cedar Creek Key, and entitlement to a walking
tour of the earthworks.  Donations over $150 will also receive a limited edition
print by Edwin Forbes, entitled "On the March - Twenty Minutes Halt."

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CEDAR CREEK KEY

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Please send my Cedar Creek Key when my donations reach $50.

Please charge my credit card #_____________________________ expiration date ________________
 

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