Jackson’s Bivouac Marker

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Paris in Fauquier County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Jackson’s Bivouac

By Craig Swain, June 22, 2007

1. Jackson's Bivouac Marker

Inscription. After a day’s march from Winchester on 19-20 July 1861, Brig. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson halted his lead brigade of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s Valley army near here. At 2:00 A.M. his 2,500 men sank down to rest. When told that no sentries had been posted, Jackson stated “Let the poor boys sleep. I will guard the camp myself.” Relieved of his duty an hour before daybreak, Jackson slept briefly, rising at dawn to march to Piedmont Station (now Delaplane), where railcars waited to transport the 11,000-man army to Manassas Junction. There, nearly 30,000 Confederates faced 35,000 Federals at the First Battle of Manassas.

Erected 1996 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number B 20.)

Location. 39° 0.305′ N, 77° 57.027′ W. Marker is in Paris, Virginia, in Fauquier County. Marker is at the intersection of John Mosby Highway (County Route 17/50) and Federal Street (Virginia Route 759), on the right when traveling east on John Mosby Highway. Click for map. The marker is just at the exit lane off Highway 17/50 for Federal Street. Marker is in this post office area: Paris VA 20130, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, as the crow flies

By Craig Swain, June 16, 2007

2. Jackson's Bivouac Marker

. Clark County / Fauquier County (approx. 0.9 miles away); Ashby’s Gap (approx. 1.2 miles away); Signal Station (approx. 1.2 miles away); Mount Bleak Farm (approx. 1.2 miles away); Mt. Carmel Fight (approx. 2.5 miles away); Lee Moves North Again (approx. 3.2 miles away); Battle of Upperville (approx. 3.2 miles away); Upperville (approx. 4.3 miles away).

More about this marker. This marker replaces a marker with the same number and title but with shorter text dating from the late 1920s or 1930s. The text of that marker read “Near here Jackson’s mens, going to First Manassas, sank down to rest, July 19, 1861, without placing pickets. Jackson said ‘Let the poor fellows sleep, I will guard the camp myself.’ ” —Ed.