Hardy County’s 10 Civil War Trails Markers

Battle of Moorefield (Start)

Trails sign located at 5196 US Route 220, Old Fields WV 26845
Union troopers under Gen. William W. Averell surprised, attacked and routed
Confederate cavalry under Gen. Bradley T. Johnson camped here Aug. 7, 1864.

Battle of Moorefield (Running for the Hills)

Trails sign located at 149 Hyde St, Moorefield WV 26836
Johnson’s troops were pushed back to this area where more Confederates under Gen. John McCausland were camped. The two Southern units tried to form a defensive line but they were outgunned and flanked by the Union troopers. The Confederates were forced to run for the hills. During the battle the Southern cavalry lost four cannon, 400 men and hundreds of hard-to-replace horses.

McMechan House

Trails sign located at 109 N. Main St, Moorefield WV 26836
This house was constructed about 1853 for merchant Samuel A. McMechen, a
Confederate sympathizer who entertained Confederate officers at his house when they controlled Moorefield. McMechan fled when Union forces occupied the town and Union
Gen. John C. Frémont made his headquarters in the house in May 1862.

Mathias Homestead

Trails sign located at 195 Howards Lick Road, Mathias WV 26812
After John T. Mathias enlisted in the Confederate army his family faced tough times here during the war. Both Confederate and Union troops periodically swept through here taking produce and livestock.

Wardensville

Trails sign located at 301 E Main St, Wardensville WV 26851
This busy crossroads town saw lots of action during the war. Union Gen. John C. Fremont’s 20,000 soldiers marched through here in late May 1862 on their way back to the Valley after their defeat at the hands of Stonewall Jackson there. Other units large and small found an easy route to Winchester and points south. Southern guerrillas found friends here but were warned that harboring the partisans might result in the destruction
of the town.

Woodlawn

Trails sign located at 8079 State Road 259, Lost River WV 26810
The house, still standing, was the home of James W. Wood, who grew up here and was 15 years old when the war began. He joined the Confederate army in January 1864 and fought at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor. He also served with Jubal Early’s Valley army. After the war he served three terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates.

Moorefield Presbyterian Church

Sign located at 109 South Main St., Moorefield WV 26836
The leader of this church, Rev. William Wilson, and his congregation were strong Confederate sympathizers. Wilson left town in 1862 to become a chaplain in the Confederate army. During the war, both sides used the church as a hospital. Union soldiers stabled their horses inside and burned pews as firewood.

Cemetery Hill

Sign located at 192 Olivet Drive, Moorefield WV 26836
Fighting erupted among the tombstones of what is now Olivet Cemetery (pictured above) Sept. 10, 1863, when Union troops camped here were surprised by a variety of Confederate troopers. The Union position was soon overrun. The Confederates captured 160 soldiers plus wagons, horses, guns and ammunition.

Mill Island

Sign located at 257 Mill Island Road, Moorefield WV 23836
This mansion was built about 1840 for Felix Seymour and his wife. During the war the home was used as a Confederate hospital (especially for sick and wounded McNeill’s Rangers). The prosperous 1,500-acre farm suffered the loss of crops and livestock to both sides during the war.

Fremont’s Camp

Sign located at 8790 State Road 55, Moorefield WV 23836
Union Gen. John C. Fremont and his 20,000-man army arrived and camped here May 28, 1862. Fremont had been defeated by Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson at the Battle of McDowell earlier in the month. While here, President Abraham Lincoln urged Fremont to return to the Valley to help defeat Jackson. Rain and road conditions slowed the Federals as they broke camp here two days later to return to the Valley.

Civil War Trails

The Civil War Trails program identifies, interprets and creates driving tours centered on Civil War sites and stories. Currently, there are over 1,000 sites in five states (Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, West Virginia and North Carolina). You can download driving tours following major campaigns and a series of regional brochures is from the program’s website, www.civilwartrails.org.

Visit CivilWarTrails.org for more information and plan your route today. Be sure to check back at visithardy.com for information on lodging, dining, events, and entertainment while your in the area.