The Battle of Ox Hill

The Battle of Ox Hill (or Chantilly) was fought here, in rain and storm, on September 1, 1862. It was a bloody aftermath following the Second Battle of Manassas (August 28-30) where the Union Army under Gen. John Pope was defeated and driven across Bull Run by the Confederate forces of Robert E. Lee. , Pope retreated to Centreville seven miles west of here. To turn Pope's position, Lee sent Stonewall Jackson moving around Pope via the Little River Turnpike (Route 50) in order to cut the Union line of retreat near Fairfax. Pope learned of this movement, ordered troops to Germantown, and sent the IX Corps, including Gen. Issac Stevens' division, to block Jackson at the Turnpike. , About 4 p.m. September 1, as storm clouds gathered, Stevens attacked Jackson's column at Ox Hill. A fierce battle ensued as a violent thunderstorm lashed the combatants with high winds and rain. Stevens was shot through the head and killed. As Stevens's troops fell back, Gen. Philip Kearny brought up several brigades of III Corps troops and attacked Jackson's right. The attack faltering, Kearny rode forward in the rain and gloom to reconnoiter, found himself in the Confederate lines, was shot from his horse and killed. Darkness halted further fighting., About 500 Confederate troops and perhaps 1,000 Union troops were killed or wounded. The Union army retreated during the night to Alexandria and the defenses of Washington. On September 3, Lee's army moved towards Leesburg and the Potomac River fords. Lee's army entered Maryland September 4-7. The Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam) was fought September 17, ending Lee's Maryland adventure.