Historic
Buildings:
Presbyterian
Church:
The
Presbyterian Church was built in 1856 on land donated by the
Sitlington family. It was used as a hospital during the McDowell
battle and during previous nearby engagements. The young minister was
Rev. William Price. A circuit rider, he warned the Confederate
cavalry at Shaw's Fork and Ft. Johnson on Shenandoah Mountain of
Union Army movements and their encampment in McDowell. (During the
event, there will be lots of activity in and around the church
including spectator-oriented lectures, demonstrations, and camp for
civilians. It is a good place for living history scenarios to take
place as it is a likely place to take refuge during unsettled times.
Note the graffiti carved in the bricks on the front of the church
from soldiers and returning veterans. Also, on the east side of the
church, legend says a cannon ball caused damage. On the hill behind
the church where a cemetery is now located, Federal artillery was
placed during the battle. East of the church rises Sitlington's Hill
on which Confederate infantry was posted and much fighting occurred.
Some units from Highland County were engaged in this battle and some
local men were casualties including Colonel Smith and Major
Higgenbothem who were wounded.)
During the
Civil War, the church was known as the Central Union Church. The name
was not changed to "McDowell Presbyterian Church" until
1870.
George Hull House
and the Hull Family:
In 1860,
there were two brick houses belonging to Felix and Elizabeth (Eliza)
Hull and George and Sarah Hull in McDowell. (The Felix Hull house is
located a block or so east of the Sugar Tree Country Store and is now
owned by Mrs. Lott. It is surrounded by an iron fence and is
off-limits.) The George Hull house is located next to the Sugar Tree
Country Store and is owned by the Ralston Family. The Provost
Marshall will have his headquarters on the porch and grounds of this
house.) This house was used as a hospital during the war. A VMI cadet
recalled seeing a wounded soldier on the piano and another on the
dining table; he some of the dead under a maple tree. A third house
owned by Peter and Rachel Hull is also standing in McDowell (it too
is currently occupied). The Hulls owned 1,500 acres of land,
everything north of the road and to the top of Hull's Hill from which
Federal troops fought during the battle.
Felix,
George, and their father Peter Hull were all dead by the time of the
battle, leaving behind widows and children. Peter's will mentioned 10
slaves: Silas, Andrews, Darkie, Mary, Eliza, Ennis or Eunis, Jane and
her child Martha, Fannie and John. Felix owned 8 slaves and a
racehorse in addition to other property. He died in November 1861
from typhoid fever at age 37 leaving behind 4 children, the oldest
who was 14 years old. Eliza had to deal with the death of her husband
in November, a public auction of his property in December, and Union
occupation in April. George died in April 1862 at age 45 from typhoid
fever.
Another
prominent McDowell family, the Sitlingtons lived south of town within
walking distance.
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