# Battle of McDowell

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Battle_of_McDowell
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Battle_of_McDowell.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_McDowell
> Source revision: 1331823115
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Battle of the American Civil War

Battle of McDowell Part of the American Civil War Date May 8, 1862 (1862-05-08) Location Highland County, Virginia[1] Result Confederate victory Belligerents United States (Union) CSA (Confederacy) Commanders and leaders Robert H. Milroy Robert C. Schenck Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson Edward Johnson Strength 6,000[2]–6,500[3] 6,000[3]–9,000[2] Casualties and losses 256–259 c. 500–532

v t e Jackson's Valley campaign 1st Kernstown McDowell Front Royal 1st Winchester Good's Farm Cross Keys Port Republic

The **Battle of McDowell**, also known as the **Battle of Sitlington's Hill**, was fought on May 8, 1862, near [McDowell, Virginia](/source/McDowell%2C_Virginia), as part of [Confederate](/source/Confederate_States_Army) [Major General](/source/Major_General_(CSA)) [Stonewall Jackson](/source/Stonewall_Jackson)'s 1862 [Shenandoah Valley campaign](/source/Jackson's_Valley_campaign) during the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War). After suffering a tactical defeat at the [First Battle of Kernstown](/source/First_Battle_of_Kernstown), Jackson withdrew to the southern [Shenandoah Valley](/source/Shenandoah_Valley). [Union](/source/Union_(American_Civil_War)) forces commanded by [Brigadier Generals](/source/Brigadier_General_(United_States)) [Robert Milroy](/source/Robert_Milroy) and [Robert C. Schenck](/source/Robert_C._Schenck) were advancing from what is now [West Virginia](/source/West_Virginia) towards the Shenandoah Valley. After being reinforced by troops commanded by Brigadier General [Edward Johnson](/source/Edward_Johnson_(general)), Jackson advanced towards Milroy and Schenck's encampment at McDowell. Jackson quickly took the prominent heights of Sitlington's Hill, and Union attempts to recapture the hill failed. The Union forces retreated that night, and Jackson pursued, only to return to McDowell on 13 May. After McDowell, Jackson defeated Union forces at several other battles during his Valley campaign.

## Background

Further information: [Jackson's Valley campaign](/source/Jackson's_Valley_campaign)

In March 1862, [Union](/source/Union_(American_Civil_War)) forces commanded by [Major General](/source/Major_General_(United_States)) [Nathaniel P. Banks](/source/Nathaniel_P._Banks) moved into the [Shenandoah Valley](/source/Shenandoah_Valley) with the goal of supporting Major General [George B. McClellan](/source/George_B._McClellan)'s [advance up the Virginia Peninsula](/source/Peninsula_Campaign). [Confederate](/source/Confederate_States_of_America) resistance to Banks' advance consisted of a small army commanded by Major General [Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson](/source/Stonewall_Jackson). On March 21, the Union high command ordered the majority of Banks' command out of the Shenandoah Valley, leaving only a [division](/source/Division_(military)) commanded by [Brigadier General](/source/Brigadier_General_(United_States)) [James Shields](/source/James_Shields_(politician%2C_born_1806)) to deal with Jackson. Shields left his camp at [Strasburg](/source/Strasburg%2C_Virginia) and began moving north towards [Winchester](/source/Winchester%2C_Virginia). On March 23, Jackson caught up with Shields' division near [Kernstown](/source/Kernstown%2C_Virginia). Faulty intelligence led Jackson to believe that only a small portion of Shields' force was at Kernstown, so he ordered an assault. Instead, Shields was in the area with his entire force, and [a sharp battle](/source/First_Battle_of_Kernstown) was opened. The Confederates took a position behind a stone wall, but after Confederate Brigadier General [Richard B. Garnett](/source/Richard_B._Garnett)'s [brigade](/source/Brigade) retreated after running low on ammunition, the [flank](/source/Flank_(military)) of the Confederate position was exposed, forcing Jackson to withdraw from the field. Despite having defeated Jackson at Kernstown, Union high command was concerned by the aggressive behavior the Confederate army had shown, and began to send more troops to the Shenandoah Valley area, including the two divisions of Banks' army that had been moved out earlier.[4]

After the retreat from Kernstown, Jackson's force remained in the southern Shenandoah Valley awaiting orders and preparing for battle. In April, Jackson received orders to keep the Union forces in the Valley occupied with the goal of preventing them from joining McClellan's army near [Richmond](/source/Richmond%2C_Virginia). Also coming to Jackson's camp were reinforcements commanded by Major General [Richard Ewell](/source/Richard_Ewell).[5] Meanwhile, another Union force was moving against Jackson's army. Major General [John C. Frémont](/source/John_C._Fr%C3%A9mont)'s [Mountain Department](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mountain_Department&action=edit&redlink=1) was moving towards Jackson from the west, across the [Allegheny Mountains](/source/Allegheny_Mountains). Frémont's advance force consisted of 3,500 men commanded by Brigadier General [Robert Milroy](/source/Robert_Milroy). Milroy reached the town of [McDowell](/source/McDowell%2C_Virginia) in early May, and was reinforced by another 2,500 men under Brigadier General [Robert C. Schenck](/source/Robert_C._Schenck) on 8 May.[6]

Jackson's columns departed their camps in the area of West View and [Staunton](/source/Staunton%2C_Virginia), on the morning of 7 May. Jackson had been further reinforced by elements of Brigadier General [Edward "Allegheny" Johnson](/source/Edward_Johnson_(general))'s brigade.[7] The area around McDowell contained several points of high ground; a peak known as Jackson's Mountain was located west of the town, and Bull Pasture Mountain was east of McDowell. A road known as the Parkersburg and Staunton Turnpike ran roughly east to west through the area. A hill known as Sitlington's Hill was located south of the road, and Hull's Hill was north of the road. The [Bull Pasture River](/source/Bull_Pasture_River) ran between the town of McDowell and Sitlington's Hill and Hull's Hill. Expecting an attack, the Union commanders sent out small forces to serve as [skirmishers](/source/Skirmishers). A portion of an [artillery battery](/source/Artillery_battery) was also sent to the southern portion of Hull's Hill, where it kept up a regular fire despite not having a clear view of any Confederates. Union skirmishers from the [32nd Ohio Infantry](/source/32nd_Ohio_Infantry), [73rd Ohio Infantry](/source/73rd_Ohio_Volunteer_Infantry_Regiment), and [3rd West Virginia Infantry](/source/3rd_Regiment_West_Virginia_Volunteer_Infantry) made contact with the Confederate forces.[8]

## Opposing forces

### Union

Further information: [Union order of battle](/source/McDowell_Union_order_of_battle)

As the ranking officer on the field, Schneck had overall command of the Union force, although he still retained nominal command of his brigade. Milroy's brigade contained six [regiments](/source/Regiments) of [infantry](/source/Infantry), two [artillery batteries](/source/Artillery_batteries), and a regiment of [cavalry](/source/Cavalry). All of the units in Milroy's brigade were from the states of [Ohio](/source/Ohio) and [West Virginia](/source/West_Virginia). Schenck's brigade consisted of three regiments of infantry, one battery of artillery, and a [battalion](/source/Battalion) of cavalry. Units from Ohio, West Virginia, and [Connecticut](/source/Connecticut) were represented in Schenck's brigade.[9]

### Confederate

Further information: [Confederate order of battle](/source/McDowell_Confederate_order_of_battle)

The Confederate army consisted of the three brigades of Jackson's original force and the two brigades of Johnson's attached force. Jackson's original force contained a brigade of five regiments of infantry and two artillery batteries commanded by Brigadier General [Charles S. Winder](/source/Charles_S._Winder), a brigade of three infantry regiments, an infantry battalion, and two artillery batteries commanded by [Colonel](/source/Colonel_(United_States)) [John A. Campbell](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_A._Campbell_(Confederate_soldier)&action=edit&redlink=1), and a brigade of three infantry regiments and one artillery battery commanded by Brigadier General [William B. Taliaferro](/source/William_B._Taliaferro). Johnson's force was composed of a brigade of three infantry regiments commanded by Colonel [Zephaniah T. Conner](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zephaniah_T._Conner&action=edit&redlink=1) and a second brigade of three infantry regiments commanded by Colonel [William C. Scott](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_C._Scott_(American_soldier)&action=edit&redlink=1). All of the units in the Confederate army were from [Virginia](/source/Virginia), except for one [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(U.S._state)) regiment in Conner's brigade. Neither the Stonewall Brigade or Jackson's artillery were present at the battle.[10]

## Battle

Plaque marking battle, placed in front of the Presbyterian Church

A map of the battle by Jedediah Hotchkiss

Jackson then sent troops to take the lightly-defended crest of Sitlington's Hill. Scott's brigade led the way. The [52nd Virginia Infantry](/source/52nd_Virginia_Infantry) aligned in skirmishing formation on the Confederate left, and the [44th Virginia Infantry](/source/44th_Virginia_Infantry) and [58th Virginia Infantry](/source/58th_Virginia_Infantry) aligned between the 52nd Virginia and the road at the other end of Sitlington's Hill. The [12th Georgia Infantry](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=12th_Georgia_Infantry&action=edit&redlink=1) of Conner's brigade supported the Virginians.[11] Jackson and Johnson moved to the top of the hill to have a point from which they could observe the Union position with the hopes of finding a path suitable for a [flanking attack](/source/Flanking_attack). However, Milroy ordered his Union troops to attack the Confederate position on Sitlington's Hill, disrupting the Confederate plans.[12] Jackson did not bring his artillery as he thought the steep slopes of Sitlington's Hill would be too difficult to move it there.[3]

Milroy and Schenck decided to send five regiments against the Confederate line. The [25th Ohio Infantry](/source/25th_Ohio_Infantry) and [75th Ohio Infantry](/source/75th_Ohio_Infantry) (both from Milroy's brigade) aimed for where the Union commanders thought the center of the Confederate line was located. The [82nd Ohio Infantry](/source/82nd_Ohio_Infantry) of Schenck's brigade and [32nd Ohio Infantry](/source/32nd_Ohio_Infantry) of Milroy's brigade aligned to the left of the 25th and 75th Ohio, and the [3rd West Virginia Infantry](/source/3rd_Regiment_West_Virginia_Volunteer_Infantry) advanced along the road on the Union left.[13] The fact that the Confederates held the high ground would prove to be a disadvantage for them: the sun was setting behind the Confederate line, silhouetting the soldiers against the sky. The hill also cast shadows that helped conceal the Union troops.[14] The 12th Georgia had been posted in an exposed position in front of the main Confederate line, and made first contact with the Union assault. The Georgians were in an exposed position and at a disadvantage carrying outdated smoothbore muskets while Milroy's troops had [Enfield rifles](/source/Pattern_1853_Enfield). Further down the line, the 32nd and 82nd Ohio hit the main Confederate line, which had been reinforced by the [25th Virginia Infantry](/source/25th_Virginia_Infantry) and the [31st Virginia Infantry](/source/31st_Virginia_Infantry) of Conner's brigade.[15] The fighting became very heavy, with reports describing the battle as "fierce and sanguinary"[3] and "very terrific".[16] At one point, Confederates fighting against the 82nd Ohio attempted to use the bodies of dead soldiers as [breastworks](/source/Breastworks).[17]

The fifth Union regiment in the charge, the 3rd West Virginia, encountered skirmishers from the 52nd and 31st Virginia who were guarding the Confederate right flank. The Confederates then received further reinforcements from Campbell's and Taliaferro's brigades. The [10th Virginia Infantry](/source/10th_Virginia_Infantry) of Taliaferro's brigade moved to the Confederate left, and Taliaferro's [23rd Virginia Infantry](/source/23rd_Virginia_Infantry) and [37th Virginia Infantry](/source/37th_Virginia_Infantry) relieved the 25th Virginia in the main Confederate line. Towards the center of the Confederate line, the 12th Georgia, bloodied and out of ammunition, was forced to withdraw and was replaced by Campbell's [48th Virginia Infantry](/source/48th_Virginia_Infantry). Milroy shifted some of his regiments around, moving the 32nd Ohio to support the 75th Ohio near where the Georgians had been driven off, and bringing the 3rd West Virginia from the flank to the position formerly occupied by the 32nd Ohio. While the added weight of the 32nd Ohio forced the 48th Virginia to vacate its advanced position quickly, the outnumbered Union assailants broke off the assault. The fighting ended around 9:00 pm.[18]

## Aftermath

Plaque in cemetery in McDowell

Milroy and Schenck ordered a general retreat the night after the battle, after burning supplies they were unable to take on the retreat and disposing of extra ammunition by dumping it into the Bull Pasture River. Jackson began a pursuit of the Union column on 9 May, and the Union troops reached [Franklin, West Virginia](/source/Franklin%2C_West_Virginia) on 11 May. Jackson's pursuit reached as far as the vicinity of Franklin, but the Confederates gave up the chase and fell back to McDowell on 13 May.[19]

Estimates of casualties vary between sources. One source places Confederate losses as 146 killed, 382 wounded, and four captured, for a total of 532; the same source gives Union losses as 26 killed, 230 wounded, and 3 missing, for a total of 259.[20] Others place losses as 256 for the Union and about 500 for the Confederates.[14][21] Of the Confederate losses, approximately 180 were suffered by the 12th Georgia alone.[14] Edward Johnson was shot in the ankle and disabled from action for the next year; he returned in May 1863 to command Jackson's former division. Col. Simeon Gibbons of the 10th Virginia was killed and Cols. George Smith and Michael Harman of the 25th and 52nd Virginia were wounded. No Union officers above the company level were casualties in this battle.[22]

Despite retreating from the field, some sources have argued that the Union forces achieved a draw by fighting Jackson to essentially a standstill. However, the defeat of the Union force and Milroy and Schenck's withdrawal from the Shenandoah Valley provided the Confederates with a strategic victory.[3] Jackson would later summarize the battle in the single sentence "God blessed our arms with victory at McDowell yesterday." Jackson continued his Valley campaign after McDowell. His [next battle](/source/Battle_of_Front_Royal) was against an outpost of Banks' army on 23 May, and the Confederates then [defeated Banks' main force](/source/First_Battle_of_Winchester) on 25 May. Further victories at the battles of [Cross Keys](/source/Battle_of_Cross_Keys) on June 8 and [Port Republic](/source/Battle_of_Port_Republic) on June 9 restored Confederate control of the Shenandoah Valley.[23]

## Battlefield preservation

The [Civil War Trust](/source/Civil_War_Trust) (a division of the [American Battlefield Trust](/source/American_Battlefield_Trust)) and its partners have acquired and preserved 583 acres (2.36 km2) of the battlefield as of 2019.[24] The battlefield is in a good state of preservation, with some of the wartime buildings still standing. A trail leads to the site of some of the fighting on Sitlington's Hill, and the site of the battle is commemorated with markers. Some of the soldiers killed during the battle are buried in a cemetery in McDowell.[25]

## See also

- [Mansion House (McDowell, Virginia)](/source/Mansion_House_(McDowell%2C_Virginia))

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKennedy1998450_1-0)** [Kennedy 1998](#CITEREFKennedy1998), p. 450.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKennedy199879_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKennedy199879_2-1) [Kennedy 1998](#CITEREFKennedy1998), p. 79.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NPSreport_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NPSreport_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NPSreport_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-NPSreport_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-NPSreport_3-4) ["McDowell (8 May 1862)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20041028001428/http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/shenandoah/svs3-2.html). National Park Service. Archived from [the original](http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/shenandoah/svs3-2.html) on October 28, 2004.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKennedy199874–78_4-0)** [Kennedy 1998](#CITEREFKennedy1998), pp. 74–78.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDavis1988173–174_5-0)** [Davis 1988](#CITEREFDavis1988), pp. 173–174.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKennedy199878–79_6-0)** [Kennedy 1998](#CITEREFKennedy1998), pp. 78–79.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECozzens2008260–261_7-0)** [Cozzens 2008](#CITEREFCozzens2008), pp. 260–261.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECozzens2008263–265_8-0)** [Cozzens 2008](#CITEREFCozzens2008), pp. 263–265.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECozzens2008516_9-0)** [Cozzens 2008](#CITEREFCozzens2008), p. 516.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECozzens2008518_10-0)** [Cozzens 2008](#CITEREFCozzens2008), p. 518.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECozzens2008265–266_11-0)** [Cozzens 2008](#CITEREFCozzens2008), pp. 265–266.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKennedy199879–80_12-0)** [Kennedy 1998](#CITEREFKennedy1998), pp. 79–80.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECozzens2008266–267_13-0)** [Cozzens 2008](#CITEREFCozzens2008), pp. 266–267.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKennedy199880_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKennedy199880_14-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKennedy199880_14-2) [Kennedy 1998](#CITEREFKennedy1998), p. 80.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECozzens2008267–269_15-0)** [Cozzens 2008](#CITEREFCozzens2008), pp. 267–269.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETanner1996191_16-0)** [Tanner 1996](#CITEREFTanner1996), p. 191.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECozzens2008269–270_17-0)** [Cozzens 2008](#CITEREFCozzens2008), pp. 269–270.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECozzens2008270–272_18-0)** [Cozzens 2008](#CITEREFCozzens2008), pp. 270–272.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECozzens2008274–275_19-0)** [Cozzens 2008](#CITEREFCozzens2008), p. 274–275.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECozzens2008273_20-0)** [Cozzens 2008](#CITEREFCozzens2008), p. 273.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEEicher2001259_21-0)** [Eicher 2001](#CITEREFEicher2001), p. 259.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECozzens2008272_22-0)** [Cozzens 2008](#CITEREFCozzens2008), p. 272.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKennedy199880–87_23-0)** [Kennedy 1998](#CITEREFKennedy1998), pp. 80–87.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Saved Land 2019"](https://www.battlefields.org/preserve/saved-land). American Battlefield Trust. Retrieved May 2, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["McDowell Battlefield"](https://www.battlefields.org/visit/battlefields/mcdowell-battlefield). American Battlefield Trust. Retrieved May 2, 2020.

## References

- Cozzens, Peter (2008). *Shenandoah 1862: Stonewall Jackson's Valley Campaign*. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8078-3200-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8078-3200-4).

- Eicher, David J. (2001). [*The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil War*](https://archive.org/details/longestnightmili00eich). New York: Simon & Schuster. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-684-84944-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-684-84944-5).

- Davis, Burke (1988). *They Called Him Stonewall* (reprint ed.). New York: Fairfax Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-517-66204-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-517-66204-3).

- Kennedy, Frances H. (1998). *The Civil War Battlefield Guide* (2nd ed.). New York/Boston: Houghton Mifflin. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-395-74012-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-395-74012-5).

- Tanner, Robert G. (1996). *Stonewall in the Valley: Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign, Spring 1862*. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0811720649](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0811720649).

## External links

- [Battle of McDowell in *Encyclopedia Virginia*](http://encyclopediavirginia.org/McDowell_Battle_of)

- [The Battle of McDowell](http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/mcdowell.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150923204706/http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/mcdowell.html) September 23, 2015, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine): Battle maps, history articles, photos, and preservation news ([Civil War Trust](/source/Civil_War_Trust))

- [CWSAC Report Update](https://web.archive.org/web/20121108220125/http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/CWSII/VirginiaBattlefieldProfiles/Manassas%20Gap%20to%20Middleburg.pdf)

[38°19′29″N 79°28′31″W / 38.3247°N 79.4754°W / 38.3247; -79.4754](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Battle_of_McDowell&params=38.3247_N_79.4754_W_region:US_type:landmark)

Authority control databases National United States Israel Other Yale LUX

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Battle of McDowell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_McDowell) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_McDowell?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.