 the battle of mcdowell, also known as sitlington's hill, was fought may 8, 1862, in highland county, virginia, as part of confederate army maj. gen. thomas j. "stonewall" jackson's campaign through the shenandoah valley during the american civil war. it followed jackson's tactical defeat, but strategic victory, at the first battle of kernstown. ==background== thumb|400px|valley campaign: kernstown to mcdowell.     jackson's columns departed west view and staunton, virginia, on the morning of may 7, marching west along the parkersburg turnpike. elements of brig. gen. edward "allegheny" johnson's brigade composed the vanguard. at mid-afternoon, union pickets were encountered at rodgers' tollgate, where the pike crosses ramsey's draft. the union force, which consisted of portions of three regiments (3rd west virginia, 32nd ohio, and 75th ohio) under overall command of brig. gen. robert h. milroy, withdrew hastily, abandoning their baggage at the tollgate and retreating to the crest of shenandoah mountain. the confederate force split into two columns to envelope the union holding position on shenandoah mountain. milroy ordered his force to withdraw and concentrate at mcdowell, where he hoped to receive reinforcements. milroy also positioned a section of artillery on shaw's 
1862_in_Virginia Battles_of_the_Eastern_Theater_of_the_American_Civil_War Confederate_victories_of_the_American_Civil_War Conflicts_in_1862 Highland_County,_Virginia Jackson\'s_Valley_Campaign Virginia_in_the_American_Civil_War