Battle of McDowell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of McDowell |
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States (Union) |
 CSA (Confederacy) |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Robert H. Milroy Robert C. Schenck |
Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson Edward Johnson |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 6,000–6,500 | 6,0ash | ||||||
9,000
| casualties1 = 256–259 | casualties2 = c. 500–532 | campaignbox = }} The Battle of McDowell, also called the Battle of Sitlington's Hill, happened on May 8, 1862. It was fought near McDowell, Virginia, during the American Civil War. This battle was part of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson's 1862 Shenandoah Valley campaign.
After a small loss at the First Battle of Kernstown, Jackson's army moved back to the southern Shenandoah Valley. Meanwhile, Union forces were coming from what is now West Virginia. These Union troops were led by Generals Robert Milroy and Robert C. Schenck. Jackson got more soldiers, led by General Edward Johnson. Then, Jackson moved his army towards Milroy and Schenck's camp at McDowell.
Jackson quickly took control of a high point called Sitlington's Hill. Union attempts to take the hill back failed. The Union forces left that night. Jackson chased them for a while but returned to McDowell on May 13. After McDowell, Jackson won several more battles during his Valley campaign.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
The American Civil War was a conflict between the northern Union states and the southern Confederate states. In March 1862, Union General Nathaniel P. Banks moved his soldiers into the Shenandoah Valley. His goal was to help General George B. McClellan's army, which was moving towards Richmond. Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy.
The Confederate army in the Valley was small. It was led by General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. On March 21, the Union leaders told most of Banks's army to leave the Shenandoah Valley. They left only a small group, led by General James Shields, to deal with Jackson. Shields started moving north.
On March 23, Jackson's army caught up with Shields's group near Kernstown. Jackson thought there were only a few Union soldiers there, so he attacked. But Shields had his whole force nearby. A fierce battle began. The Confederates fought from behind a stone wall. However, one of their groups ran out of ammunition and had to retreat. This left Jackson's side open, and he had to pull back.
Even though the Union won at Kernstown, their leaders were worried. Jackson's army had been very aggressive. So, they sent more troops back to the Shenandoah Valley.
Jackson's Plan
After the fight at Kernstown, Jackson's army stayed in the southern Shenandoah Valley. They waited for new orders and got ready for more battles. In April, Jackson was told to keep the Union forces busy in the Valley. This would stop them from joining McClellan's army near Richmond. Jackson also received more soldiers, led by General Richard Ewell.
At the same time, another Union army was moving towards Jackson. This army was led by General John C. Frémont. It was coming from the west, across the Allegheny Mountains. Frémont's lead group had 3,500 men, led by General Robert Milroy. Milroy reached the town of McDowell in early May. On May 8, he was joined by another 2,500 men under General Robert C. Schenck.
Jackson's soldiers left their camps on the morning of May 7. Jackson had also been joined by parts of General Edward "Allegheny" Johnson's group. The area around McDowell had several high points. Jackson's Mountain was west of town, and Bull Pasture Mountain was east. A road called the Parkersburg and Staunton Turnpike ran through the area. Sitlington's Hill was south of the road, and Hull's Hill was north. The Bull Pasture River flowed between McDowell town and these hills.
The Union commanders expected an attack. They sent out small groups of soldiers, called skirmishers, to scout ahead. Some artillery was also sent to Hull's Hill. They fired regularly, even though they couldn't clearly see any Confederates. Union skirmishers from the 32nd Ohio, 73rd Ohio, and 3rd West Virginia regiments met the Confederate forces.
Who Fought in the Battle
The Union Army
General Schenck was in charge of the entire Union force. General Milroy's group had six regiments of infantry (foot soldiers), two artillery batteries (groups of cannons), and one cavalry regiment (soldiers on horseback). All of Milroy's units were from Ohio and West Virginia. Schenck's group had three infantry regiments, one artillery battery, and a battalion of cavalry. His units were from Ohio, West Virginia, and Connecticut.
The Confederate Army
The Confederate army had three groups from Jackson's original force. It also had two groups from Johnson's attached force. Jackson's original force included a group of five infantry regiments and two artillery batteries, led by General Charles S. Winder. Another group had three infantry regiments, an infantry battalion, and two artillery batteries, led by Colonel John A. Campbell. A third group had three infantry regiments and one artillery battery, led by General William B. Taliaferro.
Johnson's force had two groups of three infantry regiments each. One was led by Colonel Zephaniah T. Conner, and the other by Colonel William C. Scott. Most Confederate units were from Virginia. However, one regiment in Conner's group was from Georgia.
The Battle Begins
Jackson sent his soldiers to take Sitlington's Hill. This hill was not heavily defended. Colonel Scott's group led the way. The 52nd Virginia Infantry spread out on the Confederate left side. The 44th Virginia Infantry and 58th Virginia Infantry lined up between the 52nd Virginia and the road. The 12th Georgia Infantry supported these Virginia soldiers.
Jackson and Johnson went to the top of the hill. They wanted to see the Union position. They hoped to find a way to attack the Union from the side, which is called a flanking attack. But General Milroy ordered his Union troops to attack the Confederates on Sitlington's Hill. This changed the Confederate plans. Jackson had decided not to use cannons on Sitlington's Hill because the ground was too rough.
Milroy and Schenck decided to send five regiments to attack the Confederate line. The 25th Ohio Infantry and 75th Ohio Infantry aimed for what they thought was the middle of the Confederate line. The 82nd Ohio Infantry and 32nd Ohio Infantry lined up to their left. The 3rd West Virginia Infantry moved along the road on the Union left.
The Confederates held the high ground, but this became a problem for them. The sun was setting behind their line, making their soldiers stand out against the sky. The hill also cast shadows that helped hide the Union troops. The 12th Georgia had been placed in an open spot in front of the main Confederate line. They were the first to meet the Union attack. The Georgians' position and old muskets put them at a big disadvantage.
Further down the line, the 32nd and 82nd Ohio hit the main Confederate line. This part of the line had been made stronger by the 25th Virginia Infantry and 31st Virginia Infantry. The fighting became very intense. Reports from the time called the battle "fierce and bloody." At one point, Confederates fighting the 82nd Ohio even tried to use dead soldiers' bodies for protection.
The fifth Union regiment, the 3rd West Virginia, met Confederate skirmishers. These were from the 52nd and 31st Virginia regiments, guarding the Confederate right side. The Confederates then received more soldiers from Campbell's and Taliaferro's groups. The 10th Virginia Infantry moved to the Confederate left. Taliaferro's 23rd Virginia Infantry and 37th Virginia Infantry took the place of the 25th Virginia in the main Confederate line.
In the middle of the Confederate line, the 12th Georgia was tired and out of ammunition. They had to pull back. Campbell's 48th Virginia Infantry replaced them. Milroy moved some of his regiments around. He moved the 32nd Ohio to help the 75th Ohio, near where the Georgians had been pushed back. He also moved the 3rd West Virginia from the side to where the 32nd Ohio had been. The extra strength of the 32nd Ohio quickly forced the 48th Virginia to leave its advanced spot. However, the Union attackers, who were outnumbered, stopped their assault. The fighting ended around 9:00 pm.
What Happened After
Generals Milroy and Schenck ordered a full retreat the night after the battle. They burned supplies they couldn't take with them. They also got rid of extra ammunition by throwing it into the Bull Pasture River. Jackson started chasing the Union soldiers on May 9. The Union troops reached Franklin, West Virginia on May 11. Jackson's chase went as far as Franklin, but the Confederates stopped and went back to McDowell on May 13.
The number of soldiers hurt or killed varies in different reports. One source says the Confederates lost 146 killed, 382 wounded, and four captured, totaling 532. The same source says the Union lost 26 killed, 230 wounded, and 3 missing, totaling 259. Other sources say the Union lost 256 and the Confederates about 500. About 180 of the Confederate losses were from the 12th Georgia regiment alone. General Johnson, a Confederate commander, was also shot in the ankle and badly wounded.
Some people argue that the Union forces achieved a draw. They say the Union fought Jackson to a standstill, even though they retreated. However, the Union army was defeated, and Milroy and Schenck left the Shenandoah Valley. This gave the Confederates an important victory. Jackson later said about the battle, "God blessed our arms with victory at McDowell yesterday."
Jackson continued his Valley campaign after McDowell. His next battle was on May 23. He then defeated Banks's main force on May 25. More victories at the battles of Cross Keys on June 8 and Port Republic on June 9 gave the Confederates control of the Shenandoah Valley again.
Protecting the Battlefield
The Civil War Trust (now part of the American Battlefield Trust) and its partners have worked to save parts of the battlefield. As of 2019, they have protected about 583 acres (2.36 square kilometers). The battlefield is well-preserved, and some of the buildings from the war are still standing. A trail leads to where some of the fighting happened on Sitlington's Hill. Markers also remember the battle. Some of the soldiers who died in the battle are buried in a cemetery in McDowell.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de McDowell para niños
