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

Battle of Piedmont

Final Action at New Hope

Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 21, 2025

1. Battle of Piedmont Marker

Inscription.

Battle of Piedmont. Final Action at New Hope. , The Battle of Piedmont, fought on June 5, 1864 between Union Gen. David Hunter and Confederate Gen. William E. "Grumble" Jones, ended here. It began more than a mile northeast when the 12,000-man strong Federal army, whose mission was to scour the Shenandoah Valley of Confederates and then destroy the rail center at Charlottesville, encountered Jones's combined force of 6,000 infantry and cavalry. The third Union assault uphill against Jones's fortified line ended in Confederate disaster when Jones was killed while trying to rally his men during a Union flank attack., The Southerners retreated across the Middle River to the west, as well as south behind you on the old East Road (present-day Rte. 608). Just north of you, where the road curves, the ground was forested in 1864. There Capt. John H. McClanahan's Confederate battery in a rear-guard action, deployed a two-gun section and cut down pursuing Federal cavalrymen as they charged four abreast on the narrow road. The Southerners regrouped at Fishersville, then marched east to the Blue Ridge and blocked the gaps, thereby compelling Hunter to change his targets to Lexington and Lynchburg., New Hope became a hospital, and soldiers who died of their wounds were buried nearby. The Methodist church cemetery contains one marked Confederate grave, and the bloodstained wooden floor in the original church still survives, covered by linoleum., The Battle of Piedmont cost the Confederates some 1,600 casualties, and the Federals lost about 875. On June 6, the Confederate supply base at Staunton fell to Hunter's army. At Lexington on June 11, Hunter ordered the home of former Virginia war governor John Letcher and buildings of the Virginia Military Institute to be burned., Hunter's spring campaign ended June 15-17 when he was defeated at the Battles of Lynchburg and Hanging Rock by Jubal Early and the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia., (Captions):, "The Artillery Duel" - Courtesy LHA collection, Louisiana Research Collection, Tulane University, Gen. David Hunter , Library of Congress, Gen. William E. Jones , Library of Congress

The Battle of Piedmont, fought on June 5, 1864 between Union Gen. David Hunter and Confederate Gen. William E. "Grumble" Jones, ended here. It began more than a mile northeast when the 12,000-man strong Federal army, whose mission was to scour the Shenandoah Valley of Confederates and then destroy the rail center at Charlottesville, encountered Jones's combined force of 6,000 infantry and cavalry. The third Union assault uphill against Jones's fortified line ended in Confederate disaster when Jones was killed while trying to rally his men during a Union flank attack.

The Southerners retreated across the Middle River to the west, as well as south behind you on the old East Road (present-day Rte. 608). Just north of you, where the road curves, the ground was forested in 1864. There Capt. John H. McClanahan's Confederate battery in a rear-guard action, deployed a two-gun section and cut down pursuing Federal cavalrymen as they charged four abreast on the narrow road. The Southerners regrouped at Fishersville, then marched east to the Blue Ridge and blocked the gaps, thereby compelling Hunter to change his targets to Lexington and Lynchburg.

New Hope became a hospital, and soldiers who died of their wounds were buried nearby. The Methodist church cemetery contains one marked Confederate grave, and the bloodstained

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wooden floor in the original church still survives, covered by linoleum.

The Battle of Piedmont cost the Confederates some 1,600 casualties, and the Federals lost about 875. On June 6, the Confederate supply base at Staunton fell to Hunter's army. At Lexington on June 11, Hunter ordered the home of former Virginia war governor John Letcher and buildings of the Virginia Military Institute to be burned.

Hunter's spring campaign ended June 15-17 when he was defeated at the Battles of Lynchburg and Hanging Rock by Jubal Early and the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia.

(Captions):

"The Artillery Duel" - Courtesy LHA collection, Louisiana Research Collection, Tulane University

Gen. David Hunter
Library of Congress

Gen. William E. Jones
Library of Congress

Erected by Virginia 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 date for this entry is June 5, 1864.

Location. 38° 12.059′ N, 78° 54.242′ W. Marker is in New Hope, Virginia, in Augusta County. It is on Battlefield Road (Virginia Route 608) 0.3 miles

Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 21, 2025

2. Battle of Piedmont Marker

north of Dam Town Road ( Route 616), on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in front of the New Hope Community Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 691 Battlefield Road, Fort Defiance VA 24437, 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: World War II Memorial (here, next to this marker); New Hope High School (here, next to this marker); The Battle's Aftermath (approx. 1.2 miles away); Thoburn's Flank Attack (approx. 1.2 miles away); General Jones's Last Stand (approx. 1.2 miles away); Piedmont Battlefield (approx. 1.2 miles away); "Grumble" Jones Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); a different marker also named Piedmont Battlefield (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Hope.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Battle of Piedmont (has been replaced with this marker).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced another at this location.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 21, 2025

3. Battle of Piedmont Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 231 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 28, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.