McDowell in Highland County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Battle of McDowell

"God blessed our arms with victory at McDowell"

— 1862 Valley Campaign —

Battle of McDowell Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 17, 2023

1. Battle of McDowell Marker

Inscription.

Battle of McDowell. "God blessed our arms with victory at McDowell". , Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's unsuccessful attack on Union forces at Kernstown on March 23, 1862, alarmed Federal officials, who assigned additional troops to the Shenandoah Valley to guard against a Confederate assault on Washington, D.C. In May and June, Jackson's "foot cavalry" marched 350 miles; defeated three Union armies in engagements at McDowell (May 8), Front Royal (May 23), Winchester (May 25), Cross Keys (June 8), and Port Republic (June 9); inflicted twice the number of casualties it suffered; and tied down 60,000 Federal troops. The campaign made Jackson the Confederate's foremost hero. , In May 1862, two Union armies threatened Confederate Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's army in the Shenandoah Valley. To keep them from uniting, Jackson left a division to block Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks's force at Winchester and turned his attention to Gen. John C. Frémont's army, which was approaching from the west. Jackson first marched his command out of the Valley to suggest that he was en route to Richmond and then turned back to Staunton. On May 7, he marched west on the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike., The head of Frémont's army, Gen. Robert H. Milroy's division had been camped here at McDowell since April 17. Milroy's artillery occupied Cemetery Hill across the road in front of you. He neglected to occupy the high ground, Sitlington's Hill, to your left across U.S. Route 250, and Jackson sent Gen. Edward "Allegheny" Johnson's division to hold it. On May 8, Johnson deployed his force with the 12th Georgia Infantry in front. Late in the afternoon, Milroy attacked up the steep slope, using ravines and heavy woods for cover. After desperate fighting at the summit, the Federals fell back to McDowell., The next day, Jackson telegraphed Richmond, "God blessed our arms with victory at McDowell yesterday," and then pursued the retreating Federals west on the turnpike and then north about thirty miles to Franklin. After some skirmishing, Jackson marched back to the Valley on May 12. Frémont's army soon retreated deeper into western Virginia, leaving Jackson free to operate against Banks.

Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's unsuccessful attack on Union forces at Kernstown on March 23, 1862, alarmed Federal officials, who assigned additional troops to the Shenandoah Valley to guard against a Confederate assault on Washington, D.C. In May and June, Jackson's "foot cavalry" marched 350 miles; defeated three Union armies in engagements at McDowell (May 8), Front Royal (May 23), Winchester (May 25), Cross Keys (June 8), and Port Republic (June 9); inflicted twice the number of casualties it suffered; and tied down 60,000 Federal troops. The campaign made Jackson the Confederate's foremost hero.

In May 1862, two Union armies threatened Confederate Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's army in the Shenandoah Valley. To keep them from uniting, Jackson left a division to block Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks's force at Winchester and turned his attention to Gen. John C. Frémont's army, which was approaching from the west. Jackson first marched his command out of the Valley to suggest that he was en route to Richmond and then turned back to Staunton. On May 7, he marched west on the Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike.

The head of Frémont's army, Gen. Robert H. Milroy's division had been camped here at McDowell since April 17. Milroy's artillery occupied Cemetery Hill across the road in front

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of you. He neglected to occupy the high ground—Sitlington's Hill, to your left across U.S. Route 250—and Jackson sent Gen. Edward "Allegheny" Johnson's division to hold it. On May 8, Johnson deployed his force with the 12th Georgia Infantry in front. Late in the afternoon, Milroy attacked up the steep slope, using ravines and heavy woods for cover. After desperate fighting at the summit, the Federals fell back to McDowell.

The next day, Jackson telegraphed Richmond, "God blessed our arms with victory at McDowell yesterday," and then pursued the retreating Federals west on the turnpike and then north about thirty miles to Franklin. After some skirmishing, Jackson marched back to the Valley on May 12. Frémont's army soon retreated deeper into western Virginia, leaving Jackson free to operate against Banks.

Erected by Virginia Department of Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is March 23, 1862.

Location. 38° 20.111′ N, 79° 29.397′ W. Marker is in McDowell, Virginia, in Highland County. It is on Mansion House Road (Virginia Route 645) north of Highland Turnpike (U.S. 250), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8871 Highland Turnpike, Mc Dowell VA 24458, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley,

in the Alleghany Highlands,

and specifically in the Potomac Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

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

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds 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

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 17, 2023

2. Battle of McDowell Marker

Marker is on the right.

distance of this marker: Highway To War (here, next to this marker); Felix Hull House (a few steps from this marker); The Mansion House (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Guns of Cemetery Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away); McDowell VA - May 8, 1862 (approx. ¼ mile away); The Church and Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); McDowell Presbyterian Church (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Battle of McDowell (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in McDowell.

Other markers no longer nearby. Battle of McDowell (has been replaced with this marker); Highway to War (was here, next to this marker but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it); Battle Of McDowell (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Village of McDowell (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been permanently removed).

Regarding Battle of McDowell. Marker includes the portraits of Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, Gen. Edward Johnson and Gen. Robert H. Milroy.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2023, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 313 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 8, 2023, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.