Battle of McDowell Facts

Also Known As

• Sitlington’s Hill

Date and Location

• May 8, 1862
• Highland County near the village of McDowell in western Virginia

Campaign

• Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862

Principal Union Commanders

• Brigadier General Robert H. Milroy
• Brigadier General Robert Schenck

Principal Confederate Commanders

• General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson
• Brigadier General Edward “Allegheny” Johnson

Union Forces Engaged

• Mountain Department

Confederate Forces Engaged

• Valley District, Army of the Northwest

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

• Roughly 6,000

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

• Roughly 6,500

Estimated Union Casualties

• 259 (34 killed, 220 wounded, and 5 missing)

Estimated Confederate Casualties

• 420 (116 killed, 300 wounded, and 4 missing)

Result

• Confederate victory

Significance

• The Battle of McDowell was the second engagement of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862.
• The Battle of McDowell was the first Confederate victory of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862.

Timeline of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862

These are the main battles and events of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862 in order.

• March 23, 1862 — First Battle of Kernstown
• May 8, 1862 — Battle of McDowell
• May 15–17, 1862 — Battle of Princeton Court House
• May 23, 1862 — Battle of Front Royal
• May 25, 1862 — First Battle of Winchester
• June 8, 1862 — Battle of  Cross Keys
• June 9, 1862 — Battle of  Port Republic