Civil War In the Valley—
Historic Sandusky

Fall-Winter 2007
by Gregory Starbuck

Sandusky, southeast of the Shenandoah Valley near Lynchburg, is one of the finest examples of formal Federal style architecture in Virginia's Piedmont region. Built in 1808 by Richmond merchant Charles Johnston, the home was purchased by Major George C. Hutter in the early 1840s. Hutter was a 45-year veteran of the US Army, having served in both the Seminole and Mexican Wars, as well as the Virginia Volunteer Forces.

When Union Gen. David Hunter, on his 1864 raid through Virginia, arrived in Lynchburg, he commandeered Sandusky to serve as his headquarters during the coming battle for the city.

According the Lynchburg Virginian, "The...officers were in very high spirits at the supper table on Friday night, and boasted that they would be in Lynchburg the next day." Hunter bragged to Hutter that "he had fifty thousand men and could take Lynchburg easily." Hutter replied that it might not be such an easy task.

After the first day's battle and the repulse of Hunter's attacks, the Union officers again ate dinner at Sandusky. The Virginian reported the officers "took their meal at the same board in perfect silence."

After dinner, Hunter held a council of war in the house. Believing that additional enemy troops were arriving, he decided to retreat.

Sandusky had been a private residence since 1808. In 2000 it was purchased by the Historic Sandusky Foundation, for the purpose of developing it into an historic site interpreting Lynchburg's role in the Civil War.

Article text ©2007, Shenandoah Specialty Publishing, LLC.
May be printed for personal use only.

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