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

The Civil War

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 25, 2025

1. The Civil War Marker

Inscription. Four long years of bitter Civil War devastated Culpeper more than any other community in the country. Savage battles at Cedar Mountain, Kelly's Ford and Brandy Station left thousands of young Americans dead and wounded. Culpeper's homes, churches and businesses served as hospitals and as blessed shelter for bloodstained men of both armies. Although the sweeping Piedmont between the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers witnessed momentous battles throughout the first three years of the war, the single military event that ravished Culpeper more than any other involved the arrival in December 1863 of the Army of the Potomac, 100,000 strong. For five months, General George Meade's occupying Federal Army took total command of Culpeper's homes, farm lands, and local economy. Here before you in this beautiful park, imagine hundreds of white tents and just beyond, thousands of bluecoated soldiers marching in formation. These were the 15,000 men of the First Corps, Army of the Potomac, and right before you they camped until leaving for the Wilderness Campaign in May 1864. In early May, the Federals turned their backs on Culpeper, never

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to return; in their path, the Yankees left homes wrecked, churches destroyed, businesses ruined, and farm fields barren. But out of the depths of desperate starvation and financial chaos, a hopeful and undaunted Culpeper resolved to recover. And so it has.

1862
July 20
Federal forces occupy Culpeper.

1862
August 17
Major General J.E.B. Stuart orders Fitzhugh Lee to cross Rapidan River.
U.S. General Pope learns of Lee's movements and leaves Culpeper.

1862
October 6-7
Rebel troops retreat through Culpeper after defeat at Barbee's Crossroads.

1862
October 7
Skirmishes at the burnt Rappahannock railroad bridge.

(Photo Captions)
Confederate General A.P. Hill, November 9, 1825 (Culpeper, Virginia) - April 2, 1865

Photograph from the main eastern theater of war, Meade in Virginia, 1863. Shows two African American men sitting in front of a tent, one with a cigar and the other with a soup ladle.

Culpeper Courthouse and railroad depot yard.

Camp of the 114th Pennsylvania Infantry, Brandy Station, Virginia, March 1864.

Brandy Station, Virginia, Capt. Samuel A. McClellan, Capt. J. Henry Sleeper, Capt. O'Neil W. Robinson, all of the Artillery Brigade, 3d Corps, and Alfred R. Waud, artist correspondent.

Encampment, Culpeper, Virginia, August 1862.

Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart, February 6, 1833 - May 11, 1864

Headquarters of Army of Potomac, Wallach's house, Culpeper, Virginia, September 1863.

General Andrew A. Humphreys standing in front of the door facing General George G. Meade, seated. Standing, to Meade's right is Major J.C. Biddle, A.D.C., on the steps of Wallach's House, the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, Culpeper, Virginia, September 1863.

*Photos and descriptions courtesy of the Library of Congress
*Nattarive and timeline courtesy of Claude Guinn, Bud Hall, Rose Marie Martin, Giles Miller, Zann (Miner) Nelson

Topics.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 25, 2025

2. The Civil War Marker

This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1863.

Location. 38° 28.438′ N, 78° 0.15′ W. Marker is in Culpeper, Virginia, in Culpeper County. It can be reached from North Blue Ridge Avenue 0.1 miles south of Sperryville Pike (U.S. 522). Marker is in Yowell Meadow Park on the main trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 226 N Blue Ridge Ave, Culpeper VA 22701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

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: A different marker also named The Revolutionary War (within shouting

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distance of this marker); Mountain Run Watershed (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Culpeper Minute Men (about 800 feet away); Who Were The Culpeper Minute-Men? (approx. 0.2 miles away); Culpeper Minute Battalion (approx. 0.2 miles away); What Did The Minute-Men Accomplish? (approx. 0.2 miles away); Major Gabriel Long (approx. 0.2 miles away); Yowell Meadow Park (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Culpeper.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Civil War (has been replaced with this marker); The Revolutionary War (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Regarding The Civil War. There are a variety of communities that were utterly devastated by the Civil War. It is impossible for the marker's claim about Culpeper being the most devastated to be empirically validated.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location also titled "The Civil War".

Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 16, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 71 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 16, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.