Near New Hope in Augusta County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Confederate Defenses

"I Can Whip Hunter Anywhere"

— The Battle of Piedmont (June 5, 1864) —

The Confederate Defenses Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 21, 2025

1. The Confederate Defenses Marker

Inscription.

The Confederate Defenses. "I Can Whip Hunter Anywhere". , Late Morning, In late May 1864, Union Gen. David Hunter led an army south in the Shenandoah Valley, targeting Staunton, a critical rail and supply center for the Confederate war effort. Gen. William E. Jones, the Confederate commander in southwestern Virginia, hurriedly gathered a force to block Hunter's advance. He advanced them to Mt. Crawford, 10 miles north of here, where Gen. John D. Imboden placed them in a formidable defensive position along the North River. Realizing the strength of that line, Hunter veered southeast to Port Republic on June 4 - but Jones shifted his own force here to Piedmont to block Hunter's route south., On the morning of June 5, Jones deployed his infantry in a defensive position 250 yards behind you, with their right flank resting near this road and the left anchored on the commanding bluffs above the Middle River. The Confederates positioned themselves on the edge of a tree line (no longer present) and constructed breastworks of fence rails and logs., Imboden's cavalry advanced to Mount Meridian, three miles north. Imboden repelled the initial Union advance but launched an ill-advised counterattack that nearly ended in disaster when Union Gen. Julius Stahel's cavalry charged in force, overwhelming the southerners in a running fight back toward Piedmont. Only timely reinforcements saved Imboden from disaster, as Jones deployed two cannons near this location and hurried 500 Confederates under Maj. Richard H. Brewer 175 yards to your front., Near this spot, Imboden questioned the positioning of the infantry, prompting Jones to declare, "By God, Sir! I believe I am in command here today." The two rode along the battle line, cheered by the soldiers, and Jones shouted back, "Aim low, boys, aim low, and hit 'em below the belt... make every shot tell.", Union artillery opened fire and forced the advanced Confederate artillery to withdraw, and Union Col. Augustus Moor's infantry then drove Brewer back to the main Confederate line, setting the stage for the Battle of Piedmont., (Captions):, Confederate Gen. John Imboden , Union Gen. Julius Stahel. , Library of Congress

Late Morning

In late May 1864, Union Gen. David Hunter led an army south in the Shenandoah Valley, targeting Staunton, a critical rail and supply center for the Confederate war effort. Gen. William E. Jones, the Confederate commander in southwestern Virginia, hurriedly gathered a force to block Hunter's advance. He advanced them to Mt. Crawford, 10 miles north of here, where Gen. John D. Imboden placed them in a formidable defensive position along the North River. Realizing the strength of that line, Hunter veered southeast to Port Republic on June 4 - but Jones shifted his own force here to Piedmont to block Hunter's route south.

On the morning of June 5, Jones deployed his infantry in a defensive position 250 yards behind you, with their right flank resting near this road and the left anchored on the commanding bluffs above the Middle River. The Confederates positioned themselves on the edge of a tree line (no longer present) and constructed breastworks of fence rails and logs.

Imboden's cavalry advanced to Mount Meridian, three miles north. Imboden repelled the initial Union advance but launched an ill-advised

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counterattack that nearly ended in disaster when Union Gen. Julius Stahel's cavalry charged in force, overwhelming the southerners in a running fight back toward Piedmont. Only timely reinforcements saved Imboden from disaster, as Jones deployed two cannons near this location and hurried 500 Confederates under Maj. Richard H. Brewer 175 yards to your front.

Near this spot, Imboden questioned the positioning of the infantry, prompting Jones to declare, "By God, Sir! I believe I am in command here today." The two rode along the battle line, cheered by the soldiers, and Jones shouted back, "Aim low, boys, aim low, and hit 'em below the belt... make every shot tell."

Union artillery opened fire and forced the advanced Confederate artillery to withdraw, and Union Col. Augustus Moor's infantry then drove Brewer back to the main Confederate line, setting the stage for the Battle of Piedmont.

(Captions):

Confederate Gen. John Imboden

Union Gen. Julius Stahel.
Library of Congress

Erected 2025 by Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. (Marker Number Stop #15.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic

Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 21, 2025

2. The Confederate Defenses Marker

Marker is located at the far left.

list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1864.

Location. 38° 13.303′ N, 78° 53.713′ W. Marker is near New Hope, Virginia, in Augusta County. It is on Battlefield Road (Virginia Route 608) 0.1 miles south of Piedmont Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1089 Battlefield Road, Grottoes VA 24441, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

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: Hunter's First Attack (here, next to this marker); Hunter's Second Attack (here, next to this marker); Battle of Piedmont (here, next to this marker); Piedmont Battlefield

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(approx. ¼ mile away); "Grumble" Jones Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Piedmont Battlefield (approx. 0.3 miles away); General Jones's Last Stand (approx. 0.3 miles away); Thoburn's Flank Attack (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Hope.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 178 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 27, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.