Danbury in Stokes County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Moody Tavern

Stoneman's Headquarters

— Confederate Lifeline —

Moody Tavern Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 21, 2014

1. Moody Tavern Marker

Inscription.

Moody Tavern. Stoneman's Headquarters. Early in April 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman’s cavalry moved from Tennessee into Virginia and then south through Danbury to destroy railroad track, warehouses, and supplies that supported Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Stoneman led 4,000-5,000 men as a long train of supply and ambulance wagons, artillery pieces and caissons, and pack mules. He expected to encounter resistance in Stokes County but found none. While in Danbury on April 9-10, Stoneman established his headquarters here at Moody’s Tavern. The second floor of the structure offered a commanding view of the area from its east-and west-facing rooms, allowing Stoneman and his staff to observe his camp and any approaching enemy forces., During Stoneman’s occupation of the county, his men put the nearby Moratock Iron Works out of commission. The Confederacy relied on this and similar charcoal-fired furnaces to furnish iron for the foundries that produced cannons, swords, and rifles., Stoneman soon received word of Lee’s surrender in Virginia at Appomattox Court House on April 9. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s surrender near Durham, North Carolina, on April 23 effectively ended the war, and Stoneman led his men back to Tennessee., (sidebar) , Gen. George Stoneman was born in Lakewood, N.Y., on August 8, 1822. He graduated in 1846 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where his roommate his junior year was Thomas J. Jackson, later nicknamed Stonewall. After graduation, Stoneman served in the Mexican War and was then assigned to California. He returned there after the Civil War and served as governor, 1883-1887. Later, in ill health, he moved to Buffalo, N.Y., where he died on September 5, 1894., (captions) , (lower left) McCandless Hotel, ca. 1830. Nathaniel Moody constructed this tavern before 1860 to accommodate visitors to the mineral springs, and Dr. W.W. McCandless bought the Inn in 1870. Moody and John Pepper also built the nearby Moratock Iron Furnace, called “Moody’s Tunnel Iron Works,” in 1843. , (upper right) Gen. George Stoneman - Courtesy Library of Congress

Early in April 1865, Union Gen. George Stoneman’s cavalry moved from Tennessee into Virginia and then south through Danbury to destroy railroad track, warehouses, and supplies that supported Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Stoneman led 4,000-5,000 men as a long train of supply and ambulance wagons, artillery pieces and caissons, and pack mules. He expected to encounter resistance in Stokes County but found none. While in Danbury on April 9-10, Stoneman established his headquarters here at Moody’s Tavern. The second floor of the structure offered a commanding view of the area from its east-and west-facing rooms, allowing Stoneman and his staff to observe his camp and any approaching enemy forces.

During Stoneman’s occupation of the county, his men put the nearby Moratock Iron Works out of commission. The Confederacy relied on this and similar charcoal-fired furnaces to furnish iron for the foundries that produced cannons, swords, and rifles.

Stoneman soon received word of Lee’s surrender in Virginia at Appomattox Court House on April 9. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s surrender near Durham, North Carolina, on April 23 effectively ended the war, and Stoneman led his men back to Tennessee.

(sidebar)
Gen. George Stoneman was born in Lakewood, N.Y., on August 8, 1822. He graduated in 1846

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from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where his roommate his junior year was Thomas J. Jackson, later nicknamed Stonewall. After graduation, Stoneman served in the Mexican War and was then assigned to California. He returned there after the Civil War and served as governor, 1883-1887. Later, in ill health, he moved to Buffalo, N.Y., where he died on September 5, 1894.

(captions)
(lower left) McCandless Hotel, ca. 1830. Nathaniel Moody constructed this tavern before 1860 to accommodate visitors to the mineral springs, and Dr. W.W. McCandless bought the Inn in 1870. Moody and John Pepper also built the nearby Moratock Iron Furnace, called “Moody’s Tunnel Iron Works,” in 1843.
(upper right) Gen. George Stoneman - Courtesy Library of Congress

Erected by North Carolina Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1865.

Location. 36° 24.569′ N, 80° 12.378′ W. Marker is in Danbury, North Carolina, in Stokes County. It is at the intersection of Courthouse Circle and Main Street (North Carolina Highway 8/89), on the left when traveling

Moody Tavern image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 21, 2014

2. Moody Tavern

north on Courthouse Circle. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Danbury NC 27016, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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: Stokes County Troops C.S.A (a few steps from this marker); Stokes County World War I Monument (a few steps from this marker); Stoneman’s Raid (within shouting distance of this marker); Stack-Bickett Law Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Gabriel Moore (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Stokes County Historical Society Flagpoles (about 500 feet away); Danbury Presbyterian Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Moratock Furnace (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Danbury.

Moody Tavern and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, February 8, 2025

3. Moody Tavern and Marker

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 21, 2014

4. Moody Tavern

Moody Tavern-Courthouse Circle and CWT sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, August 21, 2014

5. Moody Tavern-Courthouse Circle and CWT sign

Credits. This page was last revised on February 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,421 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 3, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3. submitted on February 10, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 4, 5. submitted on October 3, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.