New Hope in Augusta County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Battle of Piedmont
Final Action at New Hope
The Southerners retreated across the Middle River to the west, as well as south behind you on the old East Road (present-day Rte. 608). Just north of you, where the road curves, the ground was forested in 1864. There Capt. John H. McClanahan's Confederate battery in a rear-guard action, deployed a two-gun section and cut down pursuing Federal cavalrymen as they charged four abreast on the narrow road. The Southerners regrouped at Fishersville, then marched east to the Blue Ridge and blocked the gaps, thereby compelling Hunter to change his targets to Lexington and Lynchburg.
New Hope became a hospital, and soldiers who died of their wounds were buried nearby. The Methodist church cemetery contains one marked Confederate grave, and the bloodstained wooden floor in the original church still survives, covered by linoleum.
The Battle of Piedmont cost the Confederates some 1,600 casualties, and the Federals lost about 875. On June 6, the Confederate supply base at Staunton fell to Hunter's army. At Lexington on June 11, Hunter ordered the home of former Virginia war governor John Letcher and buildings of the Virginia Military Institute to be burned.
Hunter's spring campaign ended June 15-17 when he was defeated at the Battles of Lynchburg and Hanging Rock by Jubal Early and the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia.
Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1670.
Location. 38° 12.056′ N, 78° 54.242′ W. Marker is in New Hope, Virginia, in Augusta County. Marker is on Battlefield Road (County Route 608), on the left when traveling south. At the New Hope Community Center building just north of village of New Hope. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Crimora VA 24431, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Piedmont Battlefield (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Piedmont (approx. 1˝ miles away); The Rev. John Craig (approx. 4.6 miles away); Augusta Stone Church (approx. 4.6 miles away); Augusta Military Academy (approx. 4.6 miles away); Willow Spout (approx. 4.6 miles away); a different marker also named Augusta Stone Church (approx. 4.6 miles away); Quarles Walk (approx. 4.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Hope.
More about this marker. Picture on left side of marker shows Confederate artillery in action. On the right is a battlefield map showing the respective army locations. Portraits of Generals Hunter and Jones are next to the map.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. The Battle of Piedmont.
Also see . . . Battle of Piedmont. National Park Service summary of the battle. (Submitted on June 9, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 9, 2008, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia. This page has been viewed 5,976 times since then and 92 times this year. Last updated on August 30, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 9, 2008, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia. 6, 7. submitted on January 21, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 8. submitted on June 9, 2008, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.