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

Jackson’s Bivouac

Photographed 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.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 17, 1861.

Location. 39° 0.305′ N, 77° 57.027′ W. Marker is in Paris, Virginia, in Fauquier County. It 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. The marker is just at the exit lane off Highway

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17/50 for Federal Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Paris VA 20130, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Clark County / Fauquier County (approx. 0.9 miles away); Ashby’s Gap (approx. 1.2 miles away); Mount Bleak Farm (approx. 1.2 miles away); Mt. Carmel Fight (approx. 2½ miles away); Lee Moves North Again (approx. 3.2 miles away); Battle of Upperville (approx. 3.2 miles away); John C. Underwood (approx. 3.3 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Upperville (approx. 3.7 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Signal Station (was approx. 1.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

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.

Photographed by Craig Swain, June 16, 2007

2. Jackson's Bivouac Marker

Sign at farm in Paris repeats the text of the highway marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Linda Walcroft, September 8, 2007

3. Sign at farm in Paris repeats the text of the highway marker

Bordering the town of Paris is a farm with this marker affixed to the fence, about a quarter mile away.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,624 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 27, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on September 9, 2007, by Linda Walcroft of Woodstock, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.