Post by quincannon on Jan 7, 2018 18:03:42 GMT
What you do not see, and it is quite important, is the action that took place earlier, some on 31 August, and most on 1 September that is off of the map, which answers Ian's first question.
On 31 August a brigade of Stuart's division (Fitz Lee) was screening Jackson on the Little River Turnpike. At the intersection of what is now US 50 and Lee's Corner Road, a hundred yards from my house Fitz Lee tangled with a squadron of the 5th Cavalry. The squadron was scattered and most were captured, but some did get away and reported confederate presence. This of course told Pope that the ANV was enveloping his right flank and was headed to his rear.
Stuart continued on the LRT heading for Fairfax. He reached Jermantown (now the intersection of US50 and US29/211), put a section of guns on high ground there and shelled Pope's trains coming back from Centreville and heading to Fairfax. He withdrew after a few moments, satisfied that he had played a joke on Pope,(who Stuart despised) moved back to the intersection on the Ox Road and LRT and then north on the OX Road to Navy and camped at what is now Navy School (where my daughter first learned to play soccer). Stuart then went off to sport some ladies over by Frying Pan Church. He never reported any of this to Jackson until the next midday.
On 1 September Jackson resumes his march from Pleasant Valley. The going is slow because Jackson keeps his Infantry in the fields on either side of the LRT keeping the surface of the road clear for his artillery. (Sidebar: The LRT was to my knowledge the first paved road in America). When Jackson's lead reaches Saunder's Toll Gate (US50 and Walney Mill RD) they skirmish with some Union folks, probably no more than a regiment on land that my daughter used to keep her horse on. They quickly moved on, and continued about two miles to the intersection of LRT and Stringfellow Road. Jackson put a brigade down on that road that skirmished with Howard across a stream called Little Rocky Run . The junior high my son attended Rocky Run Junior High sits right on the confederate line, and the high school both my kids went to (Chantilly High) sits on the ground where Jackson rested and observed part of that battle.
So what you have now is clear evidence that Jackson is in strength on the LRT and the LRT leads directly to Fairfax Court House, then on to Annandale which would put Jackson well into Pope's rear and cut Pope off from Washington. Pope must act and the first thing he does is put Hooker at Jermantown, blocking the LRT. He next orders Stevens to take his division and get in front of Hooker, and orders him to set up a blocking position at the intersection of the LRT and Ox Road. That position would be on the top of Ox Hill. Keep in mind Stevens was at Centreville and had to march the socks off his troops to get in place in time.
So that is why Steven got there and attacked so early Ian. He had hoped to get there before Jackson and set up in time to meet Jackson's advanced guard. Jackson reached there before he did. Stevens attacked not knowing Jackson had his whole corps assembled in an area that is less than a square mile. He was trying to do what his orders said to do.
I remember that land as being near the state it was in the battle as could be expected a 112 years later. The only built up area was around the Reid Farm and its entrance lane. I first walked that field with Robert Ross Smith and Army historian who published a booklet in 1962 on the battle for Fairfax County. The railroad indicated on the map was the same unfinished railroad line prominent at Second Manassas. It was perfectly preserved in 1974 to the point you could lay track on it. The area between the Reid House and US 50 was heavily wooded, just as most of it was during the battle. The photo you see of the monuments to Kearny and Stevens were at that time in the middle of those woods.
Frankly I am glad they could save five acres. Smith and I, along with a few others testified before the Fairfax County commissioners in 1975 in an effort to same some of that property. In the end what was convincing to the developer is that the State of New Jersey owned that ground where the monuments were, something a little bigger than a postage stamp, and would not sell, which blocked the development of the area for a couple of years, until a compromise was reached creating the park you see in the picture. What was significant to Fairfax County was that Chantilly/Ox Hill was the only battle of the ACW fought within the county.
Chantilly gets its name from Chantilly Plantation owned by the Stewart family, which is not on the main battlefield but rather off of Route 50 just directly north of US50 and Stringfellow Road. It was still there in 1974, although the original house had been destroyed and replaced by another.
One of those last pictures you see has a shot of the apartment my daughter and her husband lived in when they were first married.
In the end Steven accomplished what he set out to do and stop Jackson, long enough for Pope to withdraw.
What are the lessons: Move fast and report what you see if you ever hope to envelop the other guy. Stuart and Jackson both kick the can in this regard.
On 31 August a brigade of Stuart's division (Fitz Lee) was screening Jackson on the Little River Turnpike. At the intersection of what is now US 50 and Lee's Corner Road, a hundred yards from my house Fitz Lee tangled with a squadron of the 5th Cavalry. The squadron was scattered and most were captured, but some did get away and reported confederate presence. This of course told Pope that the ANV was enveloping his right flank and was headed to his rear.
Stuart continued on the LRT heading for Fairfax. He reached Jermantown (now the intersection of US50 and US29/211), put a section of guns on high ground there and shelled Pope's trains coming back from Centreville and heading to Fairfax. He withdrew after a few moments, satisfied that he had played a joke on Pope,(who Stuart despised) moved back to the intersection on the Ox Road and LRT and then north on the OX Road to Navy and camped at what is now Navy School (where my daughter first learned to play soccer). Stuart then went off to sport some ladies over by Frying Pan Church. He never reported any of this to Jackson until the next midday.
On 1 September Jackson resumes his march from Pleasant Valley. The going is slow because Jackson keeps his Infantry in the fields on either side of the LRT keeping the surface of the road clear for his artillery. (Sidebar: The LRT was to my knowledge the first paved road in America). When Jackson's lead reaches Saunder's Toll Gate (US50 and Walney Mill RD) they skirmish with some Union folks, probably no more than a regiment on land that my daughter used to keep her horse on. They quickly moved on, and continued about two miles to the intersection of LRT and Stringfellow Road. Jackson put a brigade down on that road that skirmished with Howard across a stream called Little Rocky Run . The junior high my son attended Rocky Run Junior High sits right on the confederate line, and the high school both my kids went to (Chantilly High) sits on the ground where Jackson rested and observed part of that battle.
So what you have now is clear evidence that Jackson is in strength on the LRT and the LRT leads directly to Fairfax Court House, then on to Annandale which would put Jackson well into Pope's rear and cut Pope off from Washington. Pope must act and the first thing he does is put Hooker at Jermantown, blocking the LRT. He next orders Stevens to take his division and get in front of Hooker, and orders him to set up a blocking position at the intersection of the LRT and Ox Road. That position would be on the top of Ox Hill. Keep in mind Stevens was at Centreville and had to march the socks off his troops to get in place in time.
So that is why Steven got there and attacked so early Ian. He had hoped to get there before Jackson and set up in time to meet Jackson's advanced guard. Jackson reached there before he did. Stevens attacked not knowing Jackson had his whole corps assembled in an area that is less than a square mile. He was trying to do what his orders said to do.
I remember that land as being near the state it was in the battle as could be expected a 112 years later. The only built up area was around the Reid Farm and its entrance lane. I first walked that field with Robert Ross Smith and Army historian who published a booklet in 1962 on the battle for Fairfax County. The railroad indicated on the map was the same unfinished railroad line prominent at Second Manassas. It was perfectly preserved in 1974 to the point you could lay track on it. The area between the Reid House and US 50 was heavily wooded, just as most of it was during the battle. The photo you see of the monuments to Kearny and Stevens were at that time in the middle of those woods.
Frankly I am glad they could save five acres. Smith and I, along with a few others testified before the Fairfax County commissioners in 1975 in an effort to same some of that property. In the end what was convincing to the developer is that the State of New Jersey owned that ground where the monuments were, something a little bigger than a postage stamp, and would not sell, which blocked the development of the area for a couple of years, until a compromise was reached creating the park you see in the picture. What was significant to Fairfax County was that Chantilly/Ox Hill was the only battle of the ACW fought within the county.
Chantilly gets its name from Chantilly Plantation owned by the Stewart family, which is not on the main battlefield but rather off of Route 50 just directly north of US50 and Stringfellow Road. It was still there in 1974, although the original house had been destroyed and replaced by another.
One of those last pictures you see has a shot of the apartment my daughter and her husband lived in when they were first married.
In the end Steven accomplished what he set out to do and stop Jackson, long enough for Pope to withdraw.
What are the lessons: Move fast and report what you see if you ever hope to envelop the other guy. Stuart and Jackson both kick the can in this regard.