Between September 26 and October 8, 1864, General Philip Sheridan's troops worked their way north from Staunton to Cedar Creek, leaving behind destruction previously unseen in North America. The Edinburg Mill, though ultimately spared, was set ablaze like many others, with fires started in the stairwells that acted like natural chimneys and quickly spread fire throughout the building. The damage to the building was minimal, and some of the charred timbers can still be seen, though much of the visible charring has been rubbed away over the years by visitors' hands.