On March 8, 1865, part of Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s army, having crossed into North Carolina from South Carolina, camped near Old Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church. There Sherman authorized a change in foraging policy as his troops entered the state. His men, blaming South Carolina for starting the war, had looted ruthlessly as they marched through that state. Hoping North Carolinians would embrace the Federal army and quickly rejoin the Union, Sherman ordered his forces to deal as moderately and fairly by North Carolinians as possible while taking advantage of discord between North Carolina and South Carolina. Foraging for supplies continued, but the number of structures burned declined except for those considered of military value. Sherman also sent two separate couriers, a sergeant and Corp. Pike, to the Federal commander in Wilmington requesting that a boat with supplies be sent up the Cape Fear River to Fayetteville. His army spent several days nearby while heavy rain slowed its progress toward Fayetteville. Laurel Hill was then a thriving town and a prominent stop on Old Wire Road. The church congregation had been organized in 1797, and the current sanctuary was built in 1856. After the Civil War, Laurinburg, on the Wilmington, Charlotte and Rutherford Railroad to the south, outgrew Laurel Hill as railroads became more important.