The Plumb House was built between 1802 and 1806 on what was then the western edge of Waynesboro. Although fighting did not occur there until late in the war, the community felt the war’s impact early. Henry Plumb, who lived there, was mortally wounded at the First Battle of Manassas and died in July 1861. Early in Stonewall Jackson’s famous Valley Campaign of 1862, his army passed through Waynesboro by train on its way to the Battle of McDowell. Confederate successes that year left Waynesboro and the Upper Shenandoah Valley largely untouched until 1864. Skirmishes occurred there on June 10, following the Battle of Piedmont, and on September 28, following the Battle of Fisher’s Hill. On March 2, 1865, the Confederate defense of the Valley collapsed around the Plumb House. The remnants of Gen. Jubal Early’s Army of the Shenandoah formed a line along the hill east of the house, along modern Pine Avenue. Union cavalry attacked from the west, drove the Confederates to the South River, and captured most of them, effectively ending the war in the Valley. After the victory at Waynesboro, Federal forces marched through Albemarle County to the James River at Scottsville. After destroying part of the canal and other buildings there, Union troops under Gen. Philip Sheridan continued to the Petersburg area, where they rejoined the command of Gen. U.S. Grant. Jed Hotchkiss recalled a terrible panic and stampede, a perfect rout along the road up the mountain, with the enemy dashing into the swarm of flying men and wagons, until the whole army was captured or scattered and all seemed lost.