Fairfax County Prepares to Commemorate 150th Anniversay of Civil War

The Commonwealth of Virginia has more Civil War sites than any other state and several of those sites are here in Fairfax County. Last week, some of those battles and skirmishes in the county and Northern Virginia area were highlighted at the monthly meeting of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association chapter 1159.

Held at the Mason District Governmental Center, the meeting also discussed the Civil War Sesquicentennial, since 2011 marks the start of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War and Emancipation.

According to Elizabeth Crowell, manager of Cultural Resources, Management and Protection Division of the Fairfax County Park Authority, the focus of the sesquicentennial in Virginia is to commemorate the Civil War as a whole, not to celebrate the war, but looking at life and material culture and not only the military aspects. Cromwell is also the co-chair of the Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee for Fairfax County and president of the Council of Virginia Archaeology.

Much of the meeting’s presentation included information about battles in the Fairfax County and Northern Virginia area. Throughout the early years of the war from 1861-1862, there were 40,000 troops (including Union troops occupying parts of the state) located throughout Northern Virginia.

Cromwell spoke about several battles within the county including the battle of First Manassas/Bull Run on July 21, 1861. A Confederate victory, Cromwell said many people came to watch the battle, arriving in their horse-drawn carriages from Washington, D.C. This year on July 21, 2011, the Commission and the National Park Service will commemorate this battle at the Manassas National Battlefield Park. Other major battles in our area included the Battle of Ox Hill/Chantilly on Sept. 1, 1862 and the Battle of Dranesville on Dec. 20, 1861.

Several events are being planned to commemorate these battles, with reenactors contributing their talents and making connections to the present. For example, a blood drive will include a Clara Barton reenactor. Barton was a Civil War nurse who later founded the American Red Cross.

Those in attendance at the meeting also received a brochure developed by Fairfax County, "Conflict and Courage in Fairfax County, Sites and Stories of the Civil War," with information, photos and a map with an overview of Fairfax County’s connection to the Civil War. Of interest to Annandale residents is the information about Captain John Q. Marr, the namesake of John Marr Drive, who was the first Confederate officer to die in combat. Marr was killed in a skirmish near the courthouse on June 1, 1861 and to commemorate him, a monument was erected in 1904 on the grounds of the Old Fairfax Courthouse.

Last month an exhibition opened in Richmond at the Virginia Historical Society, "An American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia." Starting in 2012, this exhibition will tour throughout Virginia. Details about the exhibition can be found on the Virginia Civil War Web site. In 2006, the Virginia General Assembly created the Civil War Sesquicentennial with the goal of developing programs to "understand our past, and embrace our future.” Conferences were held in 2009 and 2010 and this year's annual conference, titled "Military Strategy in the American Civil War," is scheduled for May 21, 2011 at Virginia Tech. 

Upcoming events include:

• , Tuesday, Cabell's Mill

• , March 26, Fairfax
• , April 14, Centreville
• Historic Manassas is to help out with the sesquicentennial event in July.
• The historic Stone House on the Manassas battlefield (just off Highway 29) opens in April. Hours are on weekends from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After Memorial Day it will be open daily.

Manassas National Battlefield Park will be having a slew of events leading up to and around the anniversary of First Manassas/Bull Run, July 21. Some highlights:

March 20, Spring Drill Day: reenactors conducting drills, musketry & artillery firing.

April 14-15, Civil War Education Days: reenactors portraying civilians and soldiers on hand to interpret Civil War life.

April 30-May 1, Stonewall Brigade & the 27th Virginia: Confederate encampment and infantry demonstrations.

May 28-29, 14th Brooklyn Chasseurs (redtrousered Zouaves): Union encampment and infantry demonstrations.

May 30, Memorial Day Observance at Groveton Cemetery & New York Avenue: musketry & artillery salutes, decoration of monuments.

June 4-5, Artillery firings, musket firings on June 5.

June 19, Artillery firings, Union & Confederate reenactor impressions.

June 25-26, Infantry Demonstrations and Soldier Life.

Between Thursday, July 21 and Sunday, July 24, many living history events, lectures, guided tours, ceremonies and dedications will be occurring. For a complete list, ongoing updates, and weekly historic trivia, check out the park website and Facebook page:

http://www.nps.gov/mana/index.htm
http://www.facebook.com/manassasbattlefield

--NPS Manassas

For more information about Fairfax County's connection to the Civil War, visit http://www.fxva.com/150/

Patch will cover events marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War throughout the year. If you know of an event you'd like to see covered, please let us know by leaving a comment or sending a note to maryann.barton@patch.com.