Asheville in Buncombe County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Napoleons on Stony Hill
After the April 6 Battle of Asheville, the battery was ordered to Greenville, South Carolina, but it was captured outside Hendersonville, North Carolina, on April 23. Union Gen. Alvan C. Gillem reported the capture of “4 pieces and 70 of its infantry guard,” and commended “Lt. Col. (Frederick) Slater for his distinguished gallantry in charging and capturing the enemy’s battery.” The next day, when Gillem negotiated a truce with Confederate Gen. James G. Martin, he reported that “General Martin demanded the restoration of the battery captured the preceding day, basing his claim on the fact that the capture had been made after
Gillem sent the guns back through Asheville to Greenville, Tennessee where they arrived on Apirl 27. Forester A. Sondley, local resident, later wrote, “The people of Asheville had the mortification of seeing the guns of Porter’s battery that had guarded the crest of what is now Battery Park hill, just captured, driven through by (the First U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery).”
(sidebar)Br> Stony Hill was called Battery Porter Hill after the war, but was renamed Battery Park when a hotel opened there in 1886. E.W. Grove reduced the height of the hill by 70 feet in 1824 when he built today’s Battery Park Hotel. To envision the height of the former hill, count to the seventh floor of Battery Park Hotel.
(lower left) Combat artist Edwin Forbes sketched this Model 1857 Napoleon in Aug. 1863 - Courtesy Library of Congress
(upper center) Asheville, with Battery Park to right - Courtesy North Carolina Collection, Pack Memorial Library, Asheville
(lower right) Battery Park Hotel - Courtesy North Carolina Collection, Pack Memorial Library, Asheville
Erected by North Carolina Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Civil War Trails series list.
Location. 35° 35.752′ N, 82° 33.424′ W. Marker is in Asheville, North Carolina, in Buncombe County. Marker is at the intersection of O Henry Avenue and Battle Square, on the right when traveling north on O Henry Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Asheville NC 28801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Historic Hilltop (within shouting distance of this marker); Jimmie Rodgers (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Appalachian Stage (about 800 feet away); Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D. (approx. 0.2 miles away); Immortal Image (approx. ¼ mile away); O. Henry (approx. ¼ mile away); Wartime Jail (approx. ¼ mile away); Stepping Out (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Asheville.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 521 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 20, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.