Brigadier General William E. "Grumble" Jones of the Confederate Army of the Valley District was mortally wounded just north of here on the field at the Battle of Piedmont on the afternoon of June 5, 1864, while riding forward in an attempt to rally his men and prevent the defeat of his command. The battle caused 1,500 Confederate casualties, halted Confederate resistance in the immediate area, and opened the way for Federal forces to attack the strategic Confederate rail and supply center at Staunton, Virginia. Jones's command included the First Brigade under Col. B. Jones, the Second Brigade under Col. W.H. Browne, Vaughan's Brigade under Brig. Gen. J.C. Vaughan, Imboden's Brigade under Brig. Gen. J.D. Imboden, the Rockingham and Augusta County Reserves, Marquis' Augusta Reserve Artillery, Bryan's Lewisburg Artillery, and McClanahan's Staunton Artillery, with a command strength of 5,600 and command casualties of 1,500.