Battle of Lewinsville

Union Reconnaissance Party Attacked

Photographed by Ronald J. Baumgarten, Jr., June 21, 2012

1. Battle of Lewinsville marker

Inscription.

Battle of Lewinsville. Union Reconnaissance Party Attacked. On September 11, 1861, Lt. Orlando Poe led a party of U.S. Army Topographical Engineers to map the area around Lewinsville for military use. Col. Isaac Stevens and 1,800 men protected the engineers. Stevens’s command included the 79th New York (Highlanders) Infantry, detachments from four other regiments, 90 cavalrymen, and Capt. Charles Griffin’s Battery, 5th U.S. Artillery. Ordered not to bring on a general engagement, the expedition marched from Camp Advance on Chain Bridge Road to Lewinsville, arriving at 10 A.M. Skirmishers and artillerymen guarded the surveyors while Confederate cavalry pickets observed from a safe distance., About four hours later, having completed their mission, the Federals were forming columns to withdraw when about 400 Confederates under Col. J.E.B. Stuart attacked from two sides with Maj. James B. Terrill’s 13th Virginia Volunteers, a company of the 1st Virginia Cavalry, and two guns of the Washington Artillery. Confederate Capt. Thomas L. Rosser’s artillery, posted 600 yards southwest of John Gilbert’s farmhouse, rained shot and shell on the retiring Federals, while Griffin’s guns responded from the road and from opposite Mackall’s Hill. Alarmed by the cannonading, Union General William F. Smith, division commander, hurried to the field with a battery, but the fight was essentially over. Stevens and the Highlanders formed the rear guard as the Union forced returned to Camp Advance., Three Union soldiers were killed, several were wounded, and four were taken prisoner. The Confederates claimed no casualties. This small engagement became known as the “Battle of Lewinsville.”, (captions) , "The Village of Lewinsville, Virginia, now occupied by U.S. Troops," Harper's Weekly, Dec. 14, 1861, "Bringing in the Federal Wounded after the Skirmish at Lewinsville," The Illustrated London News, Oct 12, 1861 , Courtesy Library of Congress, 10:30 A.M. - 2:15 PM. . 3:00 P.м. - 5:00 Р.М.

On September 11, 1861, Lt. Orlando Poe led a party of U.S. Army Topographical Engineers to map the area around Lewinsville for military use. Col. Isaac Stevens and 1,800 men protected the engineers. Stevens’s command included the 79th New York (Highlanders) Infantry, detachments from four other regiments, 90 cavalrymen, and Capt. Charles Griffin’s Battery, 5th U.S. Artillery. Ordered not to bring on a general engagement, the expedition marched from Camp Advance on Chain Bridge Road to Lewinsville, arriving at 10 A.M. Skirmishers and artillerymen guarded the surveyors while Confederate cavalry pickets observed from a safe distance.

About four hours later, having completed their mission, the Federals were forming columns to withdraw when about 400 Confederates under Col. J.E.B. Stuart attacked from two sides with Maj. James B. Terrill’s 13th Virginia Volunteers, a company of the 1st Virginia Cavalry, and two guns of the Washington Artillery. Confederate Capt. Thomas L. Rosser’s artillery, posted 600 yards southwest of John Gilbert’s farmhouse, rained shot and shell on the retiring Federals, while Griffin’s guns responded

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from the road and from opposite Mackall’s Hill. Alarmed by the cannonading, Union General William F. Smith, division commander, hurried to the field with a battery, but the fight was essentially over. Stevens and the Highlanders formed the rear guard as the Union forced returned to Camp Advance.

Three Union soldiers were killed, several were wounded, and four were taken prisoner. The Confederates claimed no casualties. This small engagement became known as the “Battle of Lewinsville.”

(captions)
"The Village of Lewinsville, Virginia, now occupied by U.S. Troops," Harper's Weekly, Dec. 14, 1861

"Bringing in the Federal Wounded after the Skirmish at Lewinsville," The Illustrated London News, Oct 12, 1861 — Courtesy Library of Congress

10:30 A.M. - 2:15 PM. • 3:00 P.м. - 5:00 Р.М.

Erected 2012 by Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 11, 1861.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 38° 55.69′ N,

View of Battle of Lewinsville marker from parking lot at Lewinsville Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ronald J. Baumgarten, Jr., June 21, 2012

2. View of Battle of Lewinsville marker from parking lot at Lewinsville Park

The marker looks south towards the location of the John Gilbert House (now Meadowbrook), beyond the baseball field. During the battle, Confederate artillery positioned to the southwest of the Gilbert House opened fire on the retiring Union soldiers.

77° 11.468′ W. Marker was in McLean, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It could be reached from the intersection of Chain Bridge Road and Wasp Lane, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located on the edge of the parking lot inside Lewinsville Park. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 1659 Chain Bridge Rd, Mc Lean VA 22101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 2 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Battle of Lewinsville (here, next to this marker); William Whann Mackall

Photographed by James Dean, October 24, 2022

3. Battle of Lewinsville Marker

(approx. 0.4 miles away); McLean Volunteer Firehouse (approx. ¾ mile away); The Laughlin Building (approx. 0.8 miles away); McLean (approx. 0.8 miles away); Benvenue (approx. 1.1 miles away); Salona (approx. 1.2 miles away); William Watters (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in McLean.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Marker At This Location also titled "Battle of Lewinsonville".

Also see . . .
1. 79th New York at Lewinsville, Part 1. Additional information about the 79th New York's role in the Battle of Lewinsville. (Submitted on June 23, 2012, by Ronald J. Baumgarten, Jr. of McLean, Virginia.)

2. 79th New York at Lewinsville, Part 2. (Submitted on June 23, 2012, by Ronald J. Baumgarten, Jr. of McLean, Virginia.)
3. Lecture on the battle. A video of a lecture on the battle given at a meeting of the McLean Historical Society. (Submitted on June 23, 2012, by Ronald J. Baumgarten, Jr. of McLean, Virginia.)

Civil War Trails sign at entrance to Lewinsville Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ronald J. Baumgarten, Jr., June 21, 2012

4. Civil War Trails sign at entrance to Lewinsville Park

On September 11, 1861, a reconnaissance force under Col. Isaac Stevens proceeded down the road to the left, towards Lewinsville. Around two in the afternoon, recall was sounded. As the Union troops prepared for the return to camp, a much smaller Confederate force under Col. Jeb Stuart attacked from the area around today's Lewinsville Park

Gilbert House, Lewinsville Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ronald J. Baumgarten, Jr., June 4, 2011

5. Gilbert House, Lewinsville Park

A current view of the Gilbert House, where the Confederate attack on pickets of the 79th New York unfolded at Lewinsville. Jeb Stuart placed his guns to the southwest of the house and opened fire on the retiring Union soldiers. Known today as "Meadowbrook," the home is located in Lewinsville Park off Chain Bridge Road in McLean. The Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites lists the date of construction as circa 1860, although according to local historian Carole Herrick's book on McLean, the farmhouse dates to 1847. The house was damaged during the Civil War, and in 1941, the owners made numerous additions. Fairfax Country acquired the property in 1973.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2012, by Ronald J. Baumgarten, Jr. of McLean, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,014 times since then and 116 times this year. Last updated on October 24, 2022, by James Dean of Chesterfield, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 22, 2012, by Ronald J. Baumgarten, Jr. of McLean, Virginia. 3. submitted on October 24, 2022, by James Dean of Chesterfield, Virginia. 4, 5. submitted on June 22, 2012, by Ronald J. Baumgarten, Jr. of McLean, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.