Hunter's Raid Civil War Trail
Hunter's Raid Civil War
Trail
A
scenic driving tour following the route of
Union General David Hunter's
1864 raid through Virginia.
To receive a map & travel package
please call 1-800-732-5821 or e-mail civilwar@historicsandusky.org
On May 26, 1864, Union Gen. David Hunter marched south from Cedar Creek near Winchester to drive out Confederate forces, lay waste to the Shenandoah Valley, and destroy the railroads at Lynchburg. His raid was part of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's strategy to attack Confederates simultaneously throughout Virginia. After defeating Gen. William E. “Grumble” Jones at Piedmont on June 5, Hunter marched to Lexington, burned Virginia Military Institute, and headed to Lynchburg. There, on June 17–18, Gen. Jubal A. Early repulsed Hunter and pursued him to West Virginia. Early then turned north in July to threaten Washington.
With the help of Virginia Civil War Trails markers and this driving map you can travel along the route of Hunter's Raid and visit many of sites associated with that 1864 raid, as well as other Civil War places of interest. The route also features some of the most beautiful landscapes and vistas to found in the Commonwealth of Virginia .
Starting in Staunton , the “breadbasket of the Confederacy” you can visit the American Farm at the Frontier Culture Museum and see what life was like on a Shenandoah Valley farm on the eve of the Civil War. From there you can visit Staunton National Cemetery where nearly 1,000 Union soldiers are buried, and then Thornrose Cemetery where nearly 2,000 Confederate soldiers rest.
Travel down I-81 to Lexington and visit the Virginia Military Institute and view its museum exhibits on the Civil War including former professor Gen Thomas "Stonewall” Jackson . Go downtown and visit Stonewall Jackson's Home and then visit his gravesite at Jackson cemetery just as Hunter's men did 141 years ago.
Lee Chapel on the campus of Washington and Lee is a National Historic Landmark and is where Confederate General Robert E. Lee is buried. The chapel also houses the memorial sculpture of the recumbent Lee by Edward Valentine and includes a family crypt where his wife, mother, father ("Light-Horse Harry" Lee) are now buried. The remains of his beloved horse, Traveller, are interred in a plot outside the museum's entrance.
From here you can travel down Route 11 to Natural Bridge, one of the natural wonders of the world. For centuries Natural Bridge has been a resort for rest and relaxation. Marvel at it just as did US and CS soldiers did during Hunter's Raid.
Next you'll come to Buchanan the place where Confederate General McCausland personally fired the covered bridge in the face of Hunter's advancing army. After setting the fire McCausland swam across the James River to safety as Union soldiers fired upon him. The stone pilings of the bridge still stand.
From Buchanan you'll pass through the Blue Ridge Mountains at the Peaks of Otter just as Hunter's army did in1864. Beautiful mountain vistas await you at this junction with the Blue Ridge Parkway . Here you will find a lodge, visitor center, campground, picnic area and historic farm.
As you descend from the Peaks of Otter on Rt. 43 you will soon arrive in downtown Bedford . Stop and visit the Confederate Monument in front of the Bedford County Courthouse and then view the Civil War exhibits at the Bedford City/County Museum. Historic Avenel Plantation was center of the social, cultural and political life of Bedford for over 150 years. The unique and original architectural features of the house make it one of the region's treasures.
Halfway between Bedford and Lynchburg on Rt. 460 you will come upon New London , the site of a sharp skirmish between Confederate cavalry and Union forces. Here stands New London Academy, the oldest continuously operating school in Virginia (1795). During Hunter's Raid it was pillaged and ransacked.
When you reach Lynchburg on Business 460 you'll find the Quaker Meeting House. This ridge line marks the location of the fighting that took place June 17, 1864 . It has been carefully restored to its 18th Century appearance.
Next you should visit Historic Sandusky. The Federal era home was seized by Hunter and used as his headquarters during the Lynchburg battle. Tour the grounds and Civil War exhibits there. Hear scores of anecdotes and tales of the Union occupation there.
Also in Lynchburg are three cemeteries, Old City Cemetery, Spring Hill Cemetery , and Presbyterian Cemetery , where many Civil War soldiers are buried. These include Generals Jubal Early, Robert Rodes, Sam Garland, and James Dearing along with over 2,200 Confederate soldiers from fourteen states who died in the Lynchburg military hospitals during the war.
Just twenty miles east of Lynchburg is Appomattox , the small village where Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia and the nation reunited. Visit the McLean house where the surrender terms where signed.
Travel over to the Roanoke-Salem area and you can visit the site of the Hanging Rock battle, the last action of Hunter's Raid. Enjoy the natural beauty of the mountains by hiking along the Hanging Rock walking trail.
Visit these points along Hunter's Raid
Visit Natural Bridge of Virginia
Visit the Battle of Lynchburg Headquarters
Visit the Battle of Hanging Rock (Salem/Roanoke)
Visit Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
Visit Virginia Civil War Trails
E-mail for more information on Hunter's Raid