Mocksville in Davie County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Davie County in the Civil War

Stoneman in Mocksville

— Stoneman's Raid —

Davie County in the Civil War Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, March 3, 2012

1. Davie County in the Civil War Marker

Inscription.

Davie County in the Civil War. Stoneman in Mocksville. , On March 24, 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman led 6,000 cavalrymen from Tennessee into southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina to disrupt the Confederate supply line by destroying sections of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, the North Carolina Railroad, and the Piedmont Railroad. He struck at Boone on March 28, headed into Virginia on April 2, and returned to North Carolina a week later. Stoneman's Raid ended at Asheville on April 26, the day that Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to Union Gen. William T. Sherman near Durham., On April 11, 1865, two brigades of Union Gen. George Stoneman's force, about 3,000 men, crossed the Yadkin River at Shallow Ford en route to Salisbury to free Federal captives in the Confederate prison camp there. A Home Guard of 21 men including fifteen-year-old E. L. Gaither assembled at Elisha Creek Hill just north of Mocksville, exchanged a few shots with the Federals, and then scattered. , , Stoneman's men burned the McNeely cotton factory half a mile west, it had not operated since the 1840s. Some threw county records into the street. A deed recorded in 1872 asserted that the original "was destroyed by Stoneman's men." The courthouse stood in the center of the square facing south and some of the troops used the weathervane for target practice. It was taken for repair to a tin shop in the March House southeast of here, but a later fire destroyed both the weathervane and the house. , , Townspeople here were forced to feed the soldiers and endure looting. Raiders broke into Baxton Bailey's store, ruined his goods, and stole four horses. His wife was held at gunpoint in the Lee House on Carter Street when she resisted demands for money; a bed pillow was set on fire, but the soldiers left without harming her. The fire was quickly extinguished. The only remaining artifact, a charred wallboard, is now on display at the library. , , Stoneman bivouacked south of town in Ephesus, taking five hostages, who escaped. He hastened to Salisbury to find the prisoners had been moved to Wilmington in February.

On March 24, 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman led 6,000 cavalrymen from Tennessee into southwestern Virginia and western North Carolina to disrupt the Confederate supply line by destroying sections of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, the North Carolina Railroad, and the Piedmont Railroad. He struck at Boone on March 28, headed into Virginia on April 2, and returned to North Carolina a week later. Stoneman's Raid ended at Asheville on April 26, the day that Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to Union Gen. William T. Sherman near Durham.

On April 11, 1865, two brigades of Union Gen. George Stoneman's force, about 3,000 men, crossed the Yadkin River at Shallow Ford en route to Salisbury to free Federal captives in the Confederate prison camp there. A Home Guard of 21 men including fifteen-year-old E. L. Gaither assembled at Elisha Creek Hill just north of Mocksville, exchanged a few shots with the Federals, and then scattered.

Stoneman's men burned the McNeely cotton factory half a mile west, it had not operated since the 1840s. Some threw county records into the street. A deed recorded in 1872 asserted that the original "was destroyed by Stoneman's men." The courthouse stood in the center of the square facing south and some of the troops used the weathervane for target practice.

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It was taken for repair to a tin shop in the March House southeast of here, but a later fire destroyed both the weathervane and the house.

Townspeople here were forced to feed the soldiers and endure looting. Raiders broke into Baxton Bailey's store, ruined his goods, and stole four horses. His wife was held at gunpoint in the Lee House on Carter Street when she resisted demands for money; a bed pillow was set on fire, but the soldiers left without harming her. The fire was quickly extinguished. The only remaining artifact, a charred wallboard, is now on display at the library.

Stoneman bivouacked south of town in Ephesus, taking five hostages, who escaped. He hastened to Salisbury to find the prisoners had been moved to Wilmington in February.

Erected by North Carolina 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 North Carolina Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 24, 1865.

Location. 35° 53.61′ N, 80° 33.78′ W. Marker is in Mocksville, North Carolina, in Davie County. It is at the intersection of Clement Street and Water Street, on the right when traveling south on Clement Street. Marker located in front of Mocksville City Hall. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mocksville NC 27028, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Stoneman's Raid image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, March 3, 2012

2. Stoneman's Raid

North Carolina History Project website entry:
Click for more information.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont.

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: H. Andrew Lagle (a few steps from this marker); Meroney Hardware Company Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Sanford Brothers Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Davie County War Memorial (about 300 feet away); C.C. Sanford Sons Store (about 300 feet away); Davie County Courthouse (about 400 feet away); Boone Memorial (about 400 feet away); The Running of the Horses (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mocksville.

Also see . . .
1. Our History. Town of Mocksville website entry (Submitted on October 9, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Civil War Trails. Website homepage (Submitted on March 4, 2012, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.)

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, March 3, 2012

3. Davie County in the Civil War Marker

Photographed by Michael C. Wilcox, March 3, 2012

4. Davie County in the Civil War Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2012, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,256 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 4, 2012, by Michael C. Wilcox of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.