Documenting the American South

Doc South header logo Home
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes banner

Source:  McDowell County Confederate Memorial, Old Fort. Photo by Rusty Long

  • Monument Name

    McDowell County Confederate Memorial, Old Fort

  • Type

    Marker

  • Subjects

    Civil War, 1861-1865

  • City

    Old Fort

  • County

    McDowell

  • Description

    The memorial is a stone veneer of uncoursed masonry standing three to four feet high on a concrete base. The top holds a polished metal tablet set at an incline.

    Images: McDowell County Confederate and the Col. A.B. Andrews memorials | View of the park with the geyser and other markers and memorials

  • Inscription

    MCDOWELL County / 1861-1865 / WHEN CALLED UPON TO DEFEND THEIR HOMELAND AND FIRESIDES, MEN AND BOYS / FROM MCDOWELL COUNTY ANSWERED THE CALL BY THE HUNDREDS. FROM THE FIRST / [Undecipherable] AT BIG BETHEL TO THE LAST SHOTS FIRED AT APPOMATTOX, / [Undecipherable] MCDOWELL COUNTY WERE THERE. BANDED TOGETHER BY HISTORY, THEY / [Undecipherable] THE FOLLOWING REGIMENTS IN WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS / [Undecipherable] THE GREATEST ARMY EVER ASSEMBLED”… / ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA / 22ND NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY, COMPANY B / 11th NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY, COMPANY K / 35TH NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY, COMPANY B / 49TH NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY, COMPANY A / [Undecipherable] CAROLINA TROOPS, 6TH NORTH CAROLINA CAVALRY / ARMY OF TENNESSEE / 58TH NORTH CAROLINA INFANTRY, COMPANY F / [Undecipherable] THE MEMORY OF OVER 40,000 NORTH CAROLINIANS, / [Undecipherable] 225 OF MCDOWELL COUNTY’S OWN THAT MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE / FOR A CAUSE THEY FELT WAS JUST. / “LEST WE FORGET”

  • Custodian

    Town of Old Fort

  • Dedication Date

    October 15, 2016

  • Decade

    2010s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.651300 , -82.241360 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      “Andrews Geyser,” The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed August 23, 2023) Link

      “Historical Structures Survey Report-Andrews Geyser,” North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, June 7, 2023, (accessed October 2, 2023) Link

      “SVC, Re-enactors to Dedicate New Confederate Memorial,” The McDowell News (Marion, NC), October 14, 2016

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Stone, masonry, metal

  • Sponsors

    Sons of Confederate Veterans

  • Location

    The approximate 10 acre park with the memorial is on Mill Creek Road (County Road 1407) several miles outside of Old Fort, NC.

  • Landscape

    Four other markers and memorials dot the open grass covered landscape near Andrews Geyser. Present are a North Carolina Civil War Trails information plaque about the Swannanoa Gap Engagement in 1865, a memorial to the history of Andrews Geyser, a memorial to the Col. A.B. Andrews, and a memorial to Incarcerated Railroad Workers.

Icon for reporting missing/incorrect information Know anything else about this monument that isn't mentioned here? If you have additional information on this or any other monument in our collection fill out the form at the Contact Us link in the footer. Thank you.