Dayton in Rockingham County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Site Where Lt. John Rodgers Meigs Was Killed
This is the approximate site where Union Lt. John Rodgers Meigs was killed in a fight with three Confederate scouts on October 3, 1864. In retaliation, General Philip H. Sheridan ordered that buildings over a large area, including the town of Dayton, be burned to the ground. The order to burn the town was later rescinded, but 30 other dwellings were destroyed in what became known as the "burnt district."
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1741.
Location. 38° 25.433′ N, 78° 55.309′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Virginia, in Rockingham County. Marker is on Meigs Lane, 0.1 miles east of John Wayland Highway, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dayton VA 22821, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Death of Lt. Meigs (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Death of Lt. Meigs (a few steps from this marker); Fort Harrison (approx. 0.9 miles away); Silver Lake Historic District (approx. one mile away); Shenandoah College and Shenandoah Conservatory of Music (approx. one mile away); Lt. Col. Thomas F. Wildes (approx. one mile away); Daniel Bowman Mill at Silver Lake (approx. one mile away); First Church in Rockingham County (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The Killing of Lt. Meigs and the Burning of Dayton
Also see . . . John Rodgers Meigs. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on May 23, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional commentary.
1. For more information about the death of Lt. J. R. Meigs...
For more information about the death of Lt. J. R. Meigs, please consider reading an article titled, In the Shadow of the Valley:Lieutenant Meigs Dies, by George Skoch, in Civil War Times Magazine, September 1984, pp. 34-39.
— Submitted August 25, 2009, by George Skoch of Fairview Park, Ohio.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 23, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,545 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 8, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 2. submitted on January 9, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.