Battle of McDowell

Battle of McDowell
Part of the American Civil War
DateMay 8, 1862 (1862-05-08)
Location
Highland County, Virginia[1]
Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America 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

The Battle of McDowell, also known as the Battle of Sitlington's Hill, was fought on May 8, 1862, near McDowell, Virginia, as part of Confederate Major General Stonewall Jackson's 1862 Shenandoah Valley campaign during the American Civil War. After suffering a tactical defeat at the First Battle of Kernstown, Jackson withdrew to the southern Shenandoah Valley. Union forces commanded by Brigadier Generals Robert Milroy and Robert C. Schenck were advancing from what is now West Virginia towards the Shenandoah Valley. After being reinforced by troops commanded by Brigadier General Edward Johnson, 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.

  1. ^ Kennedy 1998, p. 450.
  2. ^ a b Kennedy 1998, p. 79.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference NPSreport was invoked but never defined (see the help page).