Bristow in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Fight for a Pine Thicket
Bristoe Station
As the Confederates fell back in confusion, General Thomas Smyth's Brigade was ordered to cross the railroad in front of you into what was then a pine tree thicket and attack the Confederate flank. With fixed bayonets, the Federals entered the thicket where visibility was only a few yards.
Soon Smyth saw a new Confederate line approaching his position. Opening fire on them, Smyth soon received orders to fall back onto the railroad. The Confederates were Brigadier General Carnot Posey's Mississippians and Brigadier General Edward Perry's Floridians. These men were part of the support that Hill promised Heth earlier. During this small fight, casualties were few but select. A shell fragment struck Posey in his thigh resulting in his death almost a month later.
"General Hays had to send an aide to bring us back in line. Fight, why the men seemed full of it! Let us at them! Haven't we whipped them twice today? Going to surprise us? Strike us in the flank and cut us in two, are you? Guess not! Not the Second Corps!"
— William Haines, 12th New Jersey
Erected by Prince William County Department of Public
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.
Location. 38° 43.367′ N, 77° 32.549′ W. Marker is in Bristow, Virginia, in Prince William County. It can be reached from 10th Alabama Way 0.3 miles south of Iron Brigade Unit Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11619 Iron Brigade Unit Ave, Bristow VA 20136, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area, in Northern Virginia, and in the Piedmont. 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 walking distance
Other markers no longer nearby. Deadly Day for Excelsior Brigade (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Battle Along the Railroad (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on June 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 358 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 13, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
