War on the Landscape
1861
In the early summer of 1861, preparations for war made Manassas Junction one of the most famous places on earth. The railway junction held great strategic significance for the Confederacy, and the new nation assembled its largest army to defend this place. The war effort resulted in the first major battle of the Civil War on July 21, 1861, five miles north of here.
The First Battle of Manassas ushered in a brutal, long war. After the battle, the Confederate army remained in the area for the winter, consuming woodlots, livestock, and crops. A local resident remembered, "There was enough firewood on our farm to last us for hundreds of years. But the Southern troops had their quarters here and cut down every bit of it." From Manassas Junction through Centreville to Fairfax, the Confederate army scarred the landscape with vast camps and fortifications.
[Manassas] is the point of attraction for the whole South.... There must be fighting here, and [this] is the place, therefore, for meeting people, not unlike New York.
— Charleston [SC] Mercury, June 27, 1861
[Captions:]
This detail from a mid-nineteenth century map shows the Orange and Alexandria Railroad line intersecting with the Manassas Gap Railroad line. The strategic value of these two lines put the area
this page online
— Courtesy of the Library of Congress
The Confederates built a complicated network of fortifications to defend Manassas Junction. Note the railroad running through the image.
— Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Basket used by the Marsteller family to gather eggs, fruits, or vegetables. The Manassas Museum's collection is home to many objects that speak to the farming life practiced by the families that lived here during the Civil War.
— Photograph by Don Flory
Manassas Museum Collection
Erected by City of Manassas, Virginia.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Orange and Alexandria Railroad series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 27, 1861.
Location. 38° 44.931′ N, 77° 28.299′ W. Marker is in Manassas, Virginia. Marker can be reached from Prince William Street just west of Main Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9101 Prince William Street, Manassas VA 20110, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Manassas (a few steps from this marker); Manassas Veterans Memorial
Credits. This page was last revised on January 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 189 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 30, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
