Hanging Rock, Virginia

Hanging Rock is an unincorporated community in Roanoke County, Virginia, United States located directly north of Salem. The community is named for a prominent rock outcrop. The intersection of Virginia State Route 311 and Virginia State Route 419 is in Hanging Rock.[3]

Hanging Rock
Unincorporated community
Location within the Commonwealth of Virginia
Hanging Rock, Virginia (the United States)
Coordinates: 37°19′41″N 080°02′24″W
CountryUnited States
StateVirginia
CountyRoanoke
Elevation1,115 ft (340 m)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
24019
Area code540
FIPS code[2]51-35144
GNIS feature ID[1][2]1499521

Battle

In the Battle of Hanging Rock in the Civil War, a retreat to West Virginia by Union General David Hunter was briefly disrupted by the forces of Confederate Generals Jubal A. Early and John McCausland. On June 21, 1864, Hunter and his men were seeking refuge after failing to capture Lynchburg, 60 miles to the east. About 100 union soldiers were killed partly because their way was blocked by trees that had been felled across the road.

"On June 21, 1864 General Hunter, retreating from defeat at Lynchburg by General Early, met Confederate forces led by General John McCausland. After losing some of his artillery here, Hunter continued his withdrawal northwest through New Castle to Lewisburg." [4]

"Hunter retreated along the Lynchburg-Salem Turnpike (today’s U.S. 460) in a wagon train that stretched for 11 miles. Union Gen. Alfred Duffie was ordered to burn the wool mill and depot at Bonsack, Virginia, cut telegraph wires and burn the rail depots in Big Lick (now Roanoke) and Salem. McCausland pursued Hunter by crossing the Peaks of Otter and headed toward Salem on the Great Valley Pike (the primary corridor for today’s I-81 and U.S. Route 11 in Virginia), which was a better road and a faster way to get to the Roanoke Valley. McCausland and Confederate Gen. Robert Ransom Jr.’s men caught Hunter’s army, which was slowed by the narrow gap through Hanging Rock up Catawba Mountain toward New Castle, Virginia. Local militia had blocked the road with fallen trees, further slowing the retreat."[5]

Maps Number 10 and 10a by Jedediah Hotchkiss, 1828-1899, concern the battle. "No. 10. Map of engagement at Hanging Rock, Roanoke County, Va., Tuesday June 21st 1864, to accompany report of Jed. Hotchkiss, Top. Eng., A.V.D. Scale 1:40,000 -- No. 10a. Map of engagement at Hanging Rock, Roanoke County, Va., Tuesday June 21st 1864. Scale 1:40,000."[6]

Markers

There are several markers at the site commemorating the battle. One was placed there in 1932 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.[7] Another one commemorates the battle and was placed there by the Virginia Civil War Trails.[8] Another marker, "Two Future Presidents In Wartime Retreat: Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail" commemorates two future presidents, William McKinley and Rutherford B. Hayes, who were present at the conflict.

Another marker described the attack, and was erected in 1999 by County of Roanoke, the City of Salem, and the Hanging Rock Battlefield and Railway Preservation Foundation.[9]

The United Daughters of the Confederacy also placed a marker commemorating the 100th anniversary of the battle. "100th Anniversary of Hanging Rock." The inscription reads: "Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Skirmish at Hanging Rock, June 21, 1864. Erected by the William Watts Chapter, U. D. C. June 21, 1964."

References
  1. "Feature Detail Report: Hanging Rock (Roanoke County, Virginia)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
  2. "FIPS55 Data: Virginia". United States Geological Survey. February 23, 2006. Archived from the original on June 18, 2006.
  3. "Hanging Rock, VA 24019". Google Maps. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
  4. Historical Highway Markers: Hanging Rock, KH-7. Virginia State Library. 1964.
  5. Berrier, Ralph. 150 years later, peace abides at Hanging Rock battlefield: The nearest Civil War action to Roanoke took place a century and a half ago today. Roanoke Times. June 20, 2014.
  6. "Nos. 10-10a: Hanging Rock, Roanoke County, Virginia." Library of Congress. Map Division.
  7. "Battle of Hanging Rock".
  8. "Battle of Hanging Rock: A Union Retreat Interrupted."
  9. "McCausland Attacks; Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail."

Bibliography

https://web.archive.org/web/20140720163248/http://www.salemmuseum.org/guide_archives/HSV5N3.aspx

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