The fort was set on low ground, and generally offered little military advantage, except as a guard post for the pike.

Shortly afterwards the American Civil War began, and extensive defensive preparations were made in the northern Shenandoah Valley.

The Stine farmstead and homesite was located on high ground alongside the valley pike, and made a natural defensive position for the north end of town, and was chosen as the site for the fort by Confederate Engineer Lieutenant Collier and William Henry Chase.

They have completely surrounded Stine's House which is now occupied by soldiers, some of whom were working there, come cooking, some washing, some on guard, and some lounging, and some sleeping ...

"Defensive troops occupied the fort during the Romney Expedition in early 1861, but Jackson evacuated Winchester in March 1862 as Maj Gen Banks invaded the town at the outset of the Valley Campaign.

During the occupation of Maj Gen Milroy from January to June 1863, Federal troops manned the fort, and listed it under the name of Battery No.

A Federal cavalry charge was made that day during the Third Battle of Winchester composed of 6,000 cavalrymen coming south from Stephenson's Depot.

The assault, composed of five brigades lined across the open fields north of town, was the largest charge in the war made by cavalry against infantry.