Court Square & Springhouse (Rockingham County Courthouse)

This Civil War Trails sign is located at Court Square in historic downtown Harrisonburg at the corner of North Main Street. The courthouse grounds were used as a prison pen following the first battle of Winchester in 1862. Soldiers and townsfolk quenched their thirst at the springhouse in the southwestern corner. Elder John Kline was a Dunker (Brethren) minister farmer of the Broadway, Virginia area who was imprisoned in the second floor jury room of the Rockingham County Courthouse starting on April 5, 1862. During Elder Kline’s 13 day stay in the courthouse, he wrote the refrain to what has been known as “The Prisoner’s Song.”

address

74 Court Square Harrisonburg, VA 22801