Near McDowell in Highland County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
A Spectacular Show
The Battle of McDowell (May 8, 1862)
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 17, 2023
1. A Spectacular Show Marker
As night fell, the battle still raged. The growing darkness falling made it difficult to see the enemy, and soldiers resorted to firing at their opponent's muzzle flashes in the woods.
Frank S. Reader, a post-war newspaper editor and member of Company I, 5th Virginia Infantry (Union) at McDowell, wrote: "The flashing of the guns after nightfall on the mountainside and crest, amid the trees, was indescribably grand and beautiful, and no one witnessing it can ever forget it. At times lighting up the whole mountainside, and again the flash from one or a few muskets made a scene of particular beauty and animation."
When darkness finally overtook the battlefield, Union Gen. Robert H. Milroy reluctantly recalled his battle-weary soldiers from the mountainside. After receiving the recall order, Union Col. Nathaniel McLean marched his men to the base of Sitlington's Hill. There he halted and faced his men toward the enemy on the ridge. While McLean's men stood guard, the other three Ohio regiments made their way down the hill. Upon reaching the mountain's base, the Ohioans were joined by the 3rd Virginia Infantry (Union).
As one body, they then marched back to their camps on the opposite side of the Bullpasture River. The four-hour battle had come to an end.
(Caption):
Depiction
this page online
Erected 2022 by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.
Location. 38° 19.321′ N, 79° 28.487′ W. Marker is near McDowell, Virginia, in Highland County. It can be reached from Highland Turnpike (U.S. 250) 1½ miles east of Watertank Road (Virginia Route 656), on the right when traveling east. Marker is located at Stop 13 on the McDowell Battlefield Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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 distance of this marker: The Battle Rages (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sitlington's Hill (about 600 feet away); An Attack Repulsed (about 700 feet away); The 12th Georgia (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Confederate Right (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Reconnaissance In Force (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Ravines (approx. 0.3 miles away); Moving Uphill (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in McDowell.
Other markers no longer nearby. The Battle of McDowell (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Battle of McDowell (was
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 17, 2023
2. A Spectacular Show Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 13, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 274 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 13, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.
