Lacey Spring Historical Marker

On the early morning hours of December 21, 1864, part of Union Gen. George A. Custer’s cavalry division was eating breakfast here and preparing to advance when it suddenly came under attack. Custer had bivouacked the night before not expecting any interference from Confederate Gen. Thomas L. Rosser’s smaller cavalry division nearby. After a brief and spirited skirmish, Custer elected to withdraw north and abort his mission to march to Staunton and support a larger cavalry operation on both sides of Massanutten Mountain. Custer lost forty men captured, along with a few horses and camp equipment. Lacey Spring was one of many smaller actions that followed Gen. Philip H. Sheridan’s crushing defeats of Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early in September and October. etc……

Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.