Stone-and-rail fences—common in regions with abundant fieldstone, such as parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia—combined stacked stones at the base with wooden rails laid on top. These hybrid fences were sturdier than simple rail fences and harder for troops to dismantle quickly.

During the Civil War, they often became ready-made defensive positions: soldiers used the stone base as cover while the wooden rails added height and structure. On battlefields like Gettysburg and Antietam, stone-and-rail fences shaped infantry lines, slowed advances, and provided both protection and obstacles in the heat of combat.