during the civil war, culpeper was a crossroads for a number of armies marching through central virginia, with both union and confederate forces occupying the town by turn. in the heart of downtown, the childhood home of confederate general a.p. hill stands at the corner of main and davis streets. one block north on main st. (present location of piedmont realty) was the frame house where "the gallant major" john pelham died after being wounded at the battle of kelly's ford.