Hunter's Headquarters

— Battle of Lynchburg —

Union Gen. David Hunter's army reached the outskirts of Lynchburg on June 17, 1864, despite being delayed by engagements with Gen. John McCausland's Confederate cavalry. That evening, Hunter made his headquarters here at Sandusky, aware that Confederate reinforcements were arriving. He remained confident, however, that he could carry out Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's orders to capture Lynchburg. That night, in Sandusky's parlor, Hunter and his commanders planned the assault on Confederate Gen. Jubal A. Early's defenses.

The next morning, June 18, Union forces assaulted Early's lines with little success along the Lynchburg-Salem Turnpike (Fort Ave.), at Fort McCausland on Early's right; and along Fishing Creek (Lynchburg Expressway) on Early's left. Federal artillery bombarded the Confederate center, but Early surprised Hunter with an assault west of the turnpike in the afternoon, and the resulting confusion caused Hunter to pause. Returning to Sandusky that evening, he ordered a retreat that occurred during the night.

Charles Johnson built Sandusky about 1808 and named it for the Ohio Indian camp where he was once held prisoner. The house was among the first in the area to display the elegant details of refined Federal architecture. Among Hunter's staff members here were future presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley.

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Show me all markers in:  Lynchburg, VA  |  24502  |  Virginia  |  United States of America

Lynchburg
Quaker Meeting House
Sandusky
Quaker Meeting House
91st Ohio Volunteer Infantry
Grave of John Lynch
Samuel Miller
Fort Early
Jubal Early Memorial
Fort Early

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