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

Avenel

In the Eye of the Storm

— Hunter’s Raid —

Avenel CWT Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 29, 2011

1. Avenel CWT Marker

Inscription.

Avenel. In the Eye of the Storm. , On May 26, 1864, Union Gen. David Hunter marched south from Cedar Creek near Winchester to drive out Confederate forces, lay waste to the Shenandoah Valley, and destroy transportation facilities at Lynchburg. His raid was part of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s strategy to attack Confederates simultaneously throughout Virginia. After defeating Gen. William E. “Grumble” Jones at Piedmont on June 5, Hunter marched to Lexington, burned Virginia Military Institute, and headed to Lynchburg. There on June 17–18, Gen. Jubal A. Early repulsed Hunter and pursued him to West Virginia. Early then turned north in July to threaten Washington., The war came early and late to Avenel. When the conflict began, Catherine Burwell’s husband, Dr. Thomas M. Bowyer, served as captain of the Old Dominion Rifles, a Bedford County militia company that drilled on the Avenel property here in April 1861. The unit entered Confederate service on June 1 as Co. C, 28th Virginia Infantry Regiment, fought in the First Battle of Manassas, then became a light artillery battery in action under Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson at Cedar Mountain and Antietam. Later, Boyer served in Southwest Virginia. On July 18, 1863, after an engagement at Wytheville, he treated and protected Union Col. William H. Powell, a wounded prisoner of war. Powell, released early in 1864 and riding with Gen. David Hunter on his June raid, returned the favor by protecting Avenel and the Burwells. Hunter’s men stopped here twice, en route to and from Lynchburg, and the Confederates paused here as they pursued Hunter to West Virginia, but left the house untouched., Other visitors proved more congenial company. In 1863, Mrs. Robert E. Lee and her daughters stopped here as they returned to Richmond from the mountains’ hot springs resorts. After the war, in 1867, Gen. Lee and his daughter Mildred also visited here. When news of Lee’s arrival spread across town, former Confederate soldiers came here to salute him.,

“The ladies offered to make up the undress uniforms for the Old Dominion Volunteers while they were out here this afternoon drilling. I wrote the offer of the ladies and sent it down to them. It was read aloud and tremendous cheers rent the air for the ladies.” - Letitia M. Burwell diary, Wed., Apr. 24, 1861.

, (caption) , In 1836, William McCreary Burwell and Frances Steptoe Burwell constructed this dwelling just outside Liberty (present-day Bedford). The Burwells had five children, Letitia McCreary, Catherine Steptoe, Mary Francis, Rosalie, and James Steptoe Burwell. – Courtesy of Avenel Foundation

On May 26, 1864, Union Gen. David Hunter marched south from Cedar Creek near Winchester to drive out Confederate forces, lay waste to the Shenandoah Valley, and destroy transportation facilities at Lynchburg. His raid was part of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s strategy to attack Confederates simultaneously throughout Virginia. After defeating Gen. William E. “Grumble” Jones at Piedmont on June 5, Hunter marched to Lexington, burned Virginia Military Institute, and headed to Lynchburg. There on June 17–18, Gen. Jubal A. Early repulsed Hunter and pursued him to West Virginia. Early then turned north in July to threaten Washington.

The war came early and late to Avenel. When the conflict began, Catherine Burwell’s husband, Dr. Thomas M. Bowyer, served as captain of the Old Dominion Rifles, a Bedford County militia company that drilled on the Avenel property here in April 1861. The unit entered Confederate service on June 1 as Co. C, 28th Virginia Infantry Regiment, fought in the First Battle of Manassas, then became a light artillery battery in action under Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson at Cedar Mountain and Antietam. Later,

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Boyer served in Southwest Virginia. On July 18, 1863, after an engagement at Wytheville, he treated and protected Union Col. William H. Powell, a wounded prisoner of war. Powell, released early in 1864 and riding with Gen. David Hunter on his June raid, returned the favor by protecting Avenel and the Burwells. Hunter’s men stopped here twice, en route to and from Lynchburg, and the Confederates paused here as they pursued Hunter to West Virginia, but left the house untouched.

Other visitors proved more congenial company. In 1863, Mrs. Robert E. Lee and her daughters stopped here as they returned to Richmond from the mountains’ hot springs resorts. After the war, in 1867, Gen. Lee and his daughter Mildred also visited here. When news of Lee’s arrival spread across town, former Confederate soldiers came here to salute him.

“The ladies offered to make up the undress uniforms for the Old Dominion Volunteers while they were out here this afternoon drilling. I wrote the offer of the ladies and sent it down to them. It was read aloud and tremendous cheers rent the air for the ladies.” - Letitia M. Burwell diary, Wed., Apr. 24, 1861.

(caption)
In 1836, William McCreary Burwell and Frances Steptoe Burwell constructed this dwelling just outside Liberty (present-day Bedford). The Burwells had five children, Letitia McCreary, Catherine Steptoe, Mary Francis, Rosalie, and James Steptoe Burwell. – Courtesy of Avenel Foundation

Erected by Virginia

Avenel Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 26, 2026

2. Avenel Marker

The marker has faded slightly but remains generally legible.

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 April 1861.

Location. 37° 20.287′ N, 79° 31.463′ W. Marker is in Bedford, Virginia, in Bedford County. It can be reached from Avenel Avenue north of Burwell Way, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 413 Avenel Avenue, Bedford VA 24523, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in 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: Marilyn Moore Boardman (here, next to this marker); The Wharton Cottage

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 29, 2011

3. Avenel

(about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Peaks of Otter Road (about 800 feet away); 104 N. Bridge Street (approx. ¼ mile away); Mural of Appreciation (approx. ¼ mile away); The Famed "Bedford Boys" (approx. ¼ mile away); Bedford (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Mural of Appreciation (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bedford.

Also see . . .
1. Historic Avenel. The Avenel Foundation website entry (Submitted on May 30, 2011.)

2. Avenel. Virginia Department of Historic Resources website entry (Submitted on May 30, 2011.)

3. Hunter's Raid (or the Lynchburg Campaign). John's Military History website entry (Submitted on March 27, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Avenel from the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 26, 2026

4. Avenel from the street

Map of Hunter's Raid image. Click for full size.

May 29, 2011

5. Map of Hunter's Raid

Virginia Historic Landmark and National Register of Historic Places plaques for Avenel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 26, 2026

6. Virginia Historic Landmark and National Register of Historic Places plaques for Avenel

Avenel - Back View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 3, 2026

7. Avenel - Back View

Avenel - Side Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 3, 2026

8. Avenel - Side Entrance

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 3, 2026

9. Avenel - Back View

Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,386 times since then and 42 times this year. Last updated on September 13, 2024, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on May 30, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 2. submitted on April 29, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on May 30, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on April 29, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 5. submitted on May 30, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 6. submitted on April 29, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 7, 8, 9. submitted on July 14, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.