HELP SAVE THE PIEDMONT BATTLEFIELD “SUFFERED AS TERRIBLY” ● THE BATTLE OF PIEDMONT
“The Battle [of Piedmont] is scarcely more than mentioned…yet the regiments engaged suffered as terribly and fought as bravely as any equal body of troops in any battle of the war.” – Union Col. Thomas F. Wildes, 116th Ohio
THE ROAD TO BATTLE THE BATTLE OPENS – THE CAVALRY FIGHT In the spring of 1864, new Union commander Gen. Ulysses On the morning of June 5, Federal cavalry commanded by S. Grant organized a huge offensive across the entire front of Gen. Julius Stahel advanced south on the Staunton Road in the embattled Confederacy. Grant’s first push up the Valley the drizzly pre-dawn and met Imboden’s cavalry at Mt. under the command of Gen. Franz Sigel had ended in Meridian. The Federals were initially driven back, but after disaster for the Federals when they were driven from the being reinforced they advanced again and sent the Confederates tumbling south in confusion. Imboden was field during the Battle of New Market. nearly captured, but jumped his horse over a fence to escape. Sigel was quickly Confederate Capt. John Opie hurried his Augusta County replaced by Gen. David Reserves northward in an attempt to hold back the Federal “Black Dave” Hunter. cavalry. Although Opie repulsed a frontal assault, he By late May, the Federals withdrew when Federals moved around his flank. Opie’s men were on the move again, joined with other reinforcements a short distance south and and by early June they helped delay the Union advance as Grumble Jones set up his were bearing down on “Grumble” Jones was given David Hunter was called main defensive line on a ridgeline next to a bend in Middle their objective – the vital his nickname due to the “Black Dave” due to his bitter and disagreeable black hair and “swarthy and River, near the village of Piedmont – setting the stage for the rail and supply center of demeanor he developed Indian-like” dark after the tragic loss of his complexion. bloody, sharp, and decisive battle. Jones was confident,
Staunton, Virginia. fiancée at sea. proclaiming, “I can whip Hunter anywhere.”
Confederate commander Gen. William E. “Grumble” Jones “Now men, if it is necessary to run, I will start first, but, if any man
hurriedly gathered a force – from anywhere from which a runs before I do, I will shoot him!” – Confederate Capt. John Opie
man, horse, or gun could be spared – to block Hunter’s advance. He brought them first to Staunton and then sent them north to Mt. Crawford, where Gen. John D. Imboden placed them in a formidable defensive position along the North River. Realizing the strength of the Confederate position, Hunter marched his army southeast to Port Republic on June 4, with the intention of moving south to Waynesboro and cutting the Confederates off from Richmond and resupply. But Jones shifted his own force east to block Hunter’s route south, and sent Imboden and his cavalry to Mt. Meridian, three miles south of Port Republic, to delay the Federal advance. Union Gen. Julius Stahel being helped back onto his horse after being wounded in the arm. Stahel would receive the Medal of Honor in recognition of his actions at Piedmont. Images from Deeds of Valor.
“T HE HORRIBLE MASS OF FIRE-SPITTING RIFLES” “SHOOT THAT OFFICER!” The main part of the Confederate army was in an L-shape, That fire came from Col. Kenton Harper’s anchored on a bend of Middle River facing north and angling Augusta Reserves hurrying up from the south along the ridge line. The other part, Confederate reserves south. They struck the flank of the 34th consisting of home guards, was in the woods south and east of Massachusetts on the target property and Piedmont. Between the two parts of Jones’ army was a gap, “poured a withering fire into our faces,” as several hundred yards wide, partially filled by the 60th Virginia. one northerner remembered. But the commander of the 34th, Col. George Wells, On the Federal side, one brigade of infantry, under Col. Union Col. George D. Wells, steadied his troops, who held their ground commander of the 34th Augustus Moor, advanced on the west. Another brigade, under Massachusetts. Wells reacted Col. Joseph Thoburn, was to the east. And Union artillery and fought in two directions. In some quickly to the attack on his flank by the Augusta Reserves, commanded by Capt. Henry DuPont – 22 guns in all – places, the two sides engaged in savage hand- shouting “Remember New to-hand fighting. As the 54th Pennsylvania Market!” Wells would be deployed on the heights to the northeast. killed in an engagement at added their fire in support, the pressure on Hupp’s Hill on October 13, 1864. On the west, Moor’s men attacked and were repulsed with heavy the Confederates became too great, and their losses by a “withering and steady fire” from Confederates who line began to give way. were positioned behind formidable barricades of logs and rails. Meanwhile, DuPont’s cannon unleashed a hailstorm of metal at Grumble Jones tried to rally his men. Lt. Monroe Blue of the the outnumbered Confederate artillery, overwhelming them and Augusta Reserves responded, shouting, “General, I will lead driving them from the field. them – boys follow me!” but a Union officer shouted “Shoot that officer before he starts a rally!” and, as one Federal “The horrible mass of fire-spitting rifles which were aimed at the front remembered, “Several of us cut loose at him and he spun of our regiment, brought us a great loss of men.” around, dropped his sword, and fell to the ground.” Blue died – Lt. Henry Ocker, 28th Ohio, Moor’s brigade instantly, along with his abortive charge.
THE FATAL GAP: “A STAND-UP FIGHT” As the Confederate line began to crumble, Jones rushed into the Emboldened by his success in repulsing Moor, the aggressive confusion, urging his men to hold their ground. It was the last Jones decided to counterattack, and pulled troops from his right act of his life. A Union bullet struck him in the temple and wing to reinforce his left for the assault – including the 60th killed him instantly. The Confederate defense collapsed, and Virginia, the only force covering the dangerous gap in his line. the retreat became a rout, with the Confederates streaming Seeing the Confederate troops moving, and alerted to the southward. growing gap, Hunter ordered Col. Joseph Thoburn to assault “If every boy who later claimed to have shot him [Grumble Jones] had that spot. He also instructed the rest of his force to attack, put a bullet in him, why, he would have been so heavy it would have pressuring the Confederates all along the line and successfully taken a four horse team to have moved his body off of the battlefield." distracting them from Thoburn’s movement.
The Confederates belatedly became aware of Thoburn’s advance. POST BATTLE: THE FALL OF STAUNTON Startled, Jones attempted to hurry troops to fill the gap, As the Confederates retreated south towards Waynesboro, the including the just-departed 60th Virginia and the 39th way to Staunton and Lexington was clear. Hunter set out on Tennessee, which had been moved from the “Hunter’s Raid,” marching into Staunton the next day, right flank to the left. They were too late. destroying military stores and seizing Confederate clothing and Only part of the 60th had reached the area munitions depots, and then burning the Virginia Military when Thoburn’s three regiments surged up Institute days later. Hunter continued to push south until he the hill and struck the gap. The 34th was thwarted by Jubal Early at Lynchburg and fled into the Massachusetts advanced across the target mountains of West Virginia – clearing the way for Early to property, absorbed a volley from the embark on what would be the last great invasion of the North. Virginians, and charged, letting out a yell
Confederate Maj. Robert “that could have been heard for a mile.” FURTHER READING:
McFarland, commander of the The 60th Virginia “poured lead [like] hail 39th Tennessee. Grumble Jones The Battle of Piedmont and Hunter’s Raid on moved the 39th from his right to stones” into the Federals, and the two sides Staunton: The 1864 Shenandoah Campaign (Scott his left in preparation for his counterattack - then hurried “had a fair stand up fight for about twenty C. Patchan). Available at our online store. Go to them to fill the gap when he saw minutes,” as one Massachusetts soldier www.ShenandoahAtWar and click “SHOP.” Thoburn’s brigade approaching. th The 39 lost nearly half their remembered – “when suddenly a heavy fire men during the battle. broke out on our left.”
“We jumped up with a big yell and took out across an open field for all we were worth hoping those Rebels wouldn’t start shooting before we could get in among them. When it came to shooting you couldn’t beat those boys.” – Union Pvt. Thomas J. Evans, 54th Pennsylvania, who was awarded the Medal of Honor