Manassas in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Thornberry House
Manassas National Battlefield Park
With John away serving in the Confederate Army, Martha took the children to her sister's farm on Stony Ridge during First Manassas. Although the house escaped the combat, it was overrun with wounded Union Soldiers following the fighting. Driven away again the ensuing year during Second Manassas, the family returned to discover more than 150 bodies strewn about the property.
Laura Thornberry, seven-years-old at the time of First Manassas, recalled the damage nearly 75 years later:
There was not an article of anything left in it. Ten men had bled to death in mother's bedroom the night before. Carpets and all furniture were out and gone...The old farm well in the back yard was full of everything that would go in it. Such as China ware, cooking utensils, flat irons, and everything you can imagine used by a family was thrown in it. How we all cried over it; and no prospects of replacing any of it.
(caption)
Two of the Thornberry children pose in front of their house in March 1862. In the years following the war, the building served as the Sudley Post Office.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.
Location. 38° 50.511′ N, 77° 32.236′ W. Marker is in Manassas, Virginia, in Prince William County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Sudley Road (Virginia Route 234) and Featherbed Lane, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5309 Sudley Rd, Manassas VA 20109, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Field Hospital (here, next to this marker); Sudley Springs (within shouting distance of this marker); Sudley Springs Ford (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Sudley Springs Ford (about 300 feet away); A Debt Repaid (about 700 feet away); Sudley Methodist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sudley Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sudley (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manassas.
Also see . . .
1. Manassas National Battlefield Park. National Park Service (Submitted on February 21, 2017.)
2. Old Marker at this Location. This marker replaced an older one at this location titled “Field Hospital” (Submitted on February 21, 2017.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2017, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 629 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 18, 2017, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on April 25, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.