Lenoir in Caldwell County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

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Raiders in Lenoir

St. James Episcopal Church and Prison

— Stoneman's Raid —

Raiders in Lenoir Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 20, 2014

1. Raiders in Lenoir Marker

Inscription.

Raiders in Lenoir. St. James Episcopal Church and Prison. , On March 24, 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman led 6,000 cavalrymen from Tennessee into southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina to disrupt the Confederate supply line by destroying sections of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, the North Carolina Railroad, and the Piedmont Railroad. He struck at Boone on March 28, headed into Virginia on April 2, and returned to North Carolina a week later. Stoneman’s Raid ended at Asheville on April 26, the day that Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to Union Gen. William T. Sherman near Durham., The church that stood here in 1865 became a prison for three days when Union Gen. George Stoneman, with two brigades of raiders under Gen. Alvan C. Gillem, occupied Lenoir over Easter weekend, April 15-17, 1865. The prisoners were 900 old men, boys and Confederate soldiers captured as they recuperated at their homes from wounds or illness. They filled the grounds and sanctuary of Saint James Episcopal Church, which served as a hospital as well as a prison., Some looting occurred in Lenoir, but most residents merely suffered a scare. Local resident Joseph C. Norwood wrote, “We are just through with a scene of alarm and very great danger,” but added that the cavalrymen “were equipped in the very best manner, and under the severest discipline and were not allowed to plunder to any great extent or commit any acts of violence.” Ella Harper, of Lenoir, wrote in her diary on April 15, “At sunset the Yanks rushed in on us. We obtained a guard about our house after they came in, and fared better than some others. Did not undress or sleep all night.” The next day, Easter Sunday, was “unlike the Holy Sabbath,” she wrote, with “excitement, confusion and hurry all day. Our poor prisoners seemed almost starved.” , On the morning of April 17, part of Stoneman’s force rode west toward Morganton while Stoneman, the prisoners, and a guard headed northward toward Blowing Rock. Lenoir resident Louisa Norward wrote her uncle, Walter Lenoir, that Union cavalrymen called Lenoir “the damnedest little rebel town they ever saw.”

On March 24, 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman led 6,000 cavalrymen from Tennessee into southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina to disrupt the Confederate supply line by destroying sections of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, the North Carolina Railroad, and the Piedmont Railroad. He struck at Boone on March 28, headed into Virginia on April 2, and returned to North Carolina a week later. Stoneman’s Raid ended at Asheville on April 26, the day that Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to Union Gen. William T. Sherman near Durham.

The church that stood here in 1865 became a prison for three days when Union Gen. George Stoneman, with two brigades of raiders under Gen. Alvan C. Gillem, occupied Lenoir over Easter weekend, April 15-17, 1865. The prisoners were 900 old men, boys and Confederate soldiers captured as they recuperated at their homes from wounds or illness. They filled the grounds and sanctuary of Saint James Episcopal Church, which served as a hospital as well as a prison.

Some looting occurred in Lenoir, but most residents merely suffered a scare. Local resident Joseph C. Norwood wrote, “We are just through with a scene of alarm and very great danger,” but added that the cavalrymen “were equipped in the very best manner, and under the severest discipline and were

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not allowed to plunder to any great extent or commit any acts of violence.” Ella Harper, of Lenoir, wrote in her diary on April 15, “At sunset the Yanks rushed in on us. We obtained a guard about our house after they came in, and fared better than some others. Did not undress or sleep all night.” The next day, Easter Sunday, was “unlike the Holy Sabbath,” she wrote, with “excitement, confusion and hurry all day. Our poor prisoners seemed almost starved.”

On the morning of April 17, part of Stoneman’s force rode west toward Morganton while Stoneman, the prisoners, and a guard headed northward toward Blowing Rock. Lenoir resident Louisa Norward wrote her uncle, Walter Lenoir, that Union cavalrymen called Lenoir “the damnedest little rebel town they ever saw.”

Erected by North Carolina Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1915.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 35° 54.824′ N, 81° 32.357′ W. Marker was in Lenoir, North Carolina, in Caldwell County. It

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 20, 2014

2. Raiders in Lenoir Marker

was at the intersection of Harper Avenue Northwest and Main Street Northwest, on the right when traveling east on Harper Avenue Northwest. The marker is on the grounds of the St James Episcopal Church. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Lenoir NC 28645, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in North Carolina’s Mountains. It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: A different marker also named Raiders in Lenoir (here, next to this marker); Belk's Department Store (within shouting distance of this marker); St. James Episcopal Church Labyrinth (within shouting distance of this marker); Blackwelder Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Hog Waller Market in Downtown Lenoir (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Davenport College (about 400 feet away); Lenoir City Clock (about 400 feet away); Smithey's Department Store (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lenoir.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,539 times since then and 42 times this year. Last updated on May 31, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 29, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.