Hackwood And Patton

Hackwood House was constructed in 1777 by John Smith, a Winchester-area politician and militia leader, using stone hewed by Hessian prisoners of war from the Battle of Saratoga. During Union Gen. George Crook's mid-afternoon attack, combat swirled around the house and adjoining fields. After Crook's soldiers crossed Red Bud Run, Confederate Col. George S. Patton's brigade, posted behind a stone wall lining the lane that ran west from the house to the Valley Pike, fired heavy volleys at the Federals as they charged past the house. The Virginians fought obstinately, but reinforcements from Union Col. Joseph Thoburn's division entered the battle, and Union cavalry also joined the attack. Hit on three sides, Patton tried to fight his way back 1,000 yards toward another stone wall where Gen. John B. Gordon was rallying his men, but converging infantry and cavalry overwhelmed his troops. Patton's brigade was effectively destroyed, and Patton was mortally wounded by a shell fragment, dying six days later. Crook then quickly consolidated his command, advanced, and engaged the Confederates behind the second wall. Hackwood House was used as a hospital by both Confederate and Union troops.

Virginia · United States