On the 6th a scout from McNeill’s Rangers saw the Federal Forces in Romney and rode to Moorefield and notified McCausland at his headquarters around midnight, at the McMechen house (shown below), that the Yankees were headed to Moorefield.

At 2:00 AM McCausland sent word to General Bradley Johnson at his headquarters at Willow Wall to be ready for an attack.

Johnson alerted his commanders to ready the horses and artillery and sent a scouting party from the 8th VA north out on the Romney Road. Two of the advanced scouts were captured by a small detail of Yankee soldiers led by Averell. Their interrogation revealed the locations of the Rebel camps but also that they were aware the Federals were coming. As day broke Averell pushed forward in a heavy fog with 15 men dressed in Rebel uniforms (Jessie Scouts) leading the way. The Yankees passed right through the camps of the 1st and 2nd Maryland where they rounded up the sleeping men. Gilmor tried to mount a response, but it was too late. General Bradley Johnson was asleep on the second floor of Willow Wall and had to climb out a second story window in the back of the house and jump to the ground from the porch roof. The cannons were captured before they could fire, and the Confederate fled south across the South Branch River toward McCausland’s camps.

Sites listed on the map above are shown below

Three hundred men from the 21st VA held up the Federals for a short time at the ford giving the remnants of Johnson’s men time to escape and McCausland time to prepare for the attack. It took three assaults by the 1st and 3rd WV to carry the ford. Meanwhile other elements of Averell’s force crossed above and below the ford and got into McCausland’s rear. The Rebels broke quickly and were routed. Most fled into the foothills to the east, while others fled through Moorefield to the Wardensville Road.

Averell had placed 100 men from the 22nd PA on that road and captured more than 40 prisoners. The battle constituted one of the most complete defeats of a Rebel force in the war. About 400 men were captured including six field and staff officers, thirty-two company officers, three battle flags, 400 horses and several cannons. The Maryland Cavalry was finished as a fighting unit. Confederate General Jubal Early would say of Moorefield, “This affair had a very damaging effect on my cavalry for the rest of the campaign.”

Next- Chambersburg- Other Civil War Sites and Markers

Sources

Southern Revenge! Civil War History of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania edited by Ted Alexander

McCausland’s Raid and the Burning of Chambersburg by Ted Alexander Blue and Gray Magazine August 1994.

History and Tour Guide of the Burning of Chambersburg and McCausland’s Raid by Ted Alexander published by Blue and Gray Magazine 2004.