Yankee Army Camp
November 5, 1863
John D. Sutton, 10th West Virginia Infantry, wrote, "The army went into camp in the levels between Mill Point and Hillsboro." These fields were later owned by 2nd Lt. Matthew John McNeel, Company F, 19th Virginia Cavalry, and the Capt. Edgar estate. In plain view of his camp was the large, brick home of Col. Paul McNeel, a member for Pocahontas County in the convention at Richmond that declared secession. Col. McNeel's son was a Confederate captain in McNeil's Rangers. Averell reportedly spent the night either in the home of Col. Paul McNeel or in the Presbyterian Manse.
Eight-year-old C.L. Stulting lived on the farm with Hermannus and Johannah Staulting (ancestors of Pearl S. Buck). Staulting wrote "around 6 o'clock, we were all sitting around the breakfast table unaware of there being any soldiers in our neighborhood, when we heard the firing of army guns just outside of the house."
Marker is on Main Street (U.S. 219), on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
