The Stephens City Virginia historical marker is on the west side of the Valley Pike (U.S. 11) in front of the Post Office, on the north side of Stephens City. (39°05’27.1″N 78°12’41.3″W; see map below)
The marker commemorates how the town narrowly averted destruction during 1864.
Raids behind the lines on Federal supply and ammunition wagon trains around Newtown, Virginia (now Stephens City) had become costly and distracting by the spring of 1864. Federal Major General David Hunter threatened to burn the town if it happened again. This was quickly followed by another attack by the Confederate raiders of Major Harry Gilmor’s 2nd Maryland Cavalry Battalion.
Hunter sent Major Joseph Stearns and a detachment of 200 men from the 1st New York Cavalry Regiment from his army at New Market with the order to “proceed to Newtown tomorrow morning at 3 o’clock, for the purpose of burning every house, store and out-building in that place, except the churches and houses and out-buildings of those who are known to be loyal citizens of the United States.”
When the New Yorkers neared Newtown Major Stearns revealed their mission. The men became sullen and talked of refusing to obey the order. The children and elderly of the town, aware of Hunter’s threat, helplessly stood in their doorways. Major Stearns met with the elders of the town, who protested that they had no control over the Confederate raiders and that they had cared for Federal wounded from the attack.
Stearns decided to risk Hunter’s wrath and his military career and spared the town in exchange for their taking the Oath of Allegiance. The major returned to face a blistering rebuke from the general known as “Black Dave,” but Hunter let his actions stand and left him in command. The historic buildings that can still be seen in Stephens City today are testimony to a different kind of Civil war heroism.
From the marker:
A12
Stephens City
—-
General David Hunter
ordered the burning of
this town on May 30,
1864; but Major Joseph
Streans of the First New
York Cavalry Prevented it.
Department of Conservation and Historica Resources 1988