Old Fields in Hardy County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
REMOVED
SEE LOCATION SECTION
Battle of Moorefield
Where the Fighting Started
Photographed By J. J. Prats, October 22, 2011
1. Battle of Moorefield Marker
Inscription.
Battle of Moorefield. Where the Fighting Started. The Confederate cavalry brigade of Gen. Bradley T. Johnson bivouacked in the fields to your left on August 7, 1864. Willow Wall (built ca. 1830), visible to your left down the road, was Johnson’s headquarters. Johnson’s brigade and that of Gen. John McCausland (bivouacked closer to Moorefield) had taken part in Gen. Jubal A. Early’s raid on Washington, D.C., and had burned Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in retaliation for Federal “depredations” in the Shenandoah Valley, which had likewise been in retaliation for Confederate “atrocities.” Union Gen. William W. Averell, whose command was in pursuit, surprised the Confederate pickets north of here by attacking with “Jesse Scouts” (Federal soldiers in Confederate uniforms). He drove Johnson’s men south through here toward Parson’s Ford. Averell captured four cannons, more than 400 men with their weapons, and, about as bad for the Confederates at this stage of the war, an equal number of hard-to-replace horses. Early claimed that “this affair had a very damaging effect upon my cavalry for the rest of the campaign” in terms of both morale and horses. That campaign ended with the loss of the Shenandoah Valley, the “breadbasket of the Confederacy.” , This community, remarkably undamaged by the fight, was home to the Van Meter and McNeill families. Isaac “Big Ike” Van Meter lived at Fort Pleasant (constructed 1833, behind you and to your right) and enlisted in Co. F, 7th Virginia Cavalry, in the summer of 1862. The unit fought in the Shenandoah Valley and in several other campaigns. According to Van Meter, “We did not surrender at Appomattox, but came home, giving Grant’s army leg bail to save our horses and private effects, and then surrendered in squads at New Creek or elsewhere, when more convenient.” , (sidebar) , The other buildings that you see around you include Old Fields Church (1812), the second-oldest church in West Virginia; the Garrett Van Meter House (1835); Buena Vista (1836), built for William T. Van Meter, killed in Gen. Wade Hampton’s “Beefsteak Raid” behind Union lines near Petersburg, Va., in 1864; and Traveler’s Rest (1856), constructed for Garrett Van Meter’s three unmarried sisters: Ann, Rebecca, and Susan Van Meter.
The Confederate cavalry brigade of Gen. Bradley
T. Johnson bivouacked in the fields to your left
on August 7, 1864. Willow Wall (built ca. 1830), visible to your left down the road, was Johnson’s headquarters. Johnson’s brigade and that of Gen. John McCausland (bivouacked closer to Moorefield) had taken part in Gen. Jubal A. Early’s
raid on Washington, D.C., and had burned Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in retaliation for Federal “depredations” in the Shenandoah Valley,
which had likewise been in retaliation for Confederate “atrocities.” Union Gen. William W.
Averell, whose command was in pursuit, surprised the Confederate pickets north of here by
attacking
with “Jesse
Scouts”
(Federal
soldiers in
Confederate
uniforms).
He drove
Johnson’s
men south through
here toward Parson’s Ford. Averell captured four cannons, more than 400 men with their weapons, and—about as bad for the
Confederates at this
stage of the war—an
equal number of hard-to-replace horses. Early
claimed that “this
affair had a very damaging effect upon my cavalry for the rest of the campaign” in terms of both
morale and horses. That campaign ended with
the loss of the Shenandoah Valley, the “breadbasket of the Confederacy.”
This community, remarkably undamaged
by the
Click or scan to see this page online
fight, was home to the Van Meter and
McNeill families. Isaac “Big Ike” Van Meter lived
at Fort Pleasant (constructed 1833, behind you
and to your right) and enlisted in Co. F, 7th Virginia Cavalry, in the summer of 1862. The unit
fought in the Shenandoah Valley and in several
other campaigns. According to Van Meter, “We did
not surrender at Appomattox, but came home, giving Grant’s army leg bail to save our horses and
private effects, and then surrendered in squads at
New Creek or elsewhere, when more convenient.”
(sidebar)
The other buildings that you see around you include Old Fields Church (1812), the second-oldest church in West Virginia; the Garrett Van Meter House (1835); Buena Vista (1836), built for William T. Van Meter, killed in Gen. Wade Hampton’s “Beefsteak Raid” behind Union lines near Petersburg, Va., in 1864; and Traveler’s Rest (1856), constructed for Garrett
Van Meter’s three unmarried sisters: Ann, Rebecca, and Susan Van Meter.
Erected by 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 West Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, October 22, 2011
2. Battle of Moorefield Marker
It was located near 39° 7.877′ N, 78° 57.069′ W. Marker was in Old Fields, West Virginia, in Hardy County. Marker was on U.S. 220 just north of Rolling Acres Drive, on the right when traveling north. It is just before Old Fields, just before the bridge, when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Old Fields WV 26845, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced by the linked marker.
Also see . . . Battle of Moorefield. Wikipedia entry. “At around 3 a.m. the Union vanguard led by Capt. Thomas Kerr encountered and captured the first Confederate pickets north of Moorefield. After the pickets were sent to the rear, Averell rode up and prepared
3. Closeup of Map on Marker
for his attack, placing Major Thomas Gibson in the center along the Moorefield road. Two columns under Col. William Powell formed on the flanks of Gibson. Kerr again lead the vanguard. With his line formed Averell ordered the attack. Gibson’s column immediately smashed into the Bradley Johnson camp. Most of Johnson’s men were asleep and woke up only in time to be taken prisoner or rush off in full retreat. The commotion of Johnson’s retreating men was enough to awake the men in McCausland’s camp on the other side of the river who were able to form a line and meet Gibson’s advance at the river. Averell had planned to meet resistance at the river and thus sent his two flanking columns to cross up and down stream respectively of Gibson's crossing. The two columns soon crossed and poured into the flank of the hastily formed Confederate line causing it to break into retreat. The Federal advance then pushed on encountering Brig. Gen. William Jackson’s horse cavalry on the Winchester pike east of town. Jackson tried to bring his guns up to fire on the Federals, but because the retreating Confederates were so interspersed among them he could not get a shot off before they were overrun and captured.” (Submitted on October 30, 2011.)
4. Generals Averell, McCAusland, and Johnson
Closeup of portraits on marker.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, October 22, 2011
5. View North Towards Old Fields
Marker is on the right on the grass.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, October 22, 2011
6. Willow Wall
It is half a mile south of the marker, on the right when traveling south. This view is from the roadway of U.S. 220.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,078 times since then and 166 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 30, 2011, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of Old Fields Church •
the Garrett Van Meter House •
Buena Vista •
Traveler’s Rest • Can you help?
