Why the Forts?

Why the Forts?. May 8, 1861. , On May 8, 1861 General Robert E. Lee, then commanding Virginia forces, ordered General Phillip Cocke to take units from across central and northern Virginia to build camps and begin training at Tudor Hall (Manassas Junction). Two important rail lines, the Orange and Alexandria and Manassas Gap Railroads, intersected here, making it easy to move soldiers into the area to defend Virginia from Union advances out of Washington, D.C. They also allowed for movement of supplies to and from northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley., On May 22, the Virginia forces became part of the Confederate Army. General M.L. Bonham of South Carolina was placed in command. Regiments from Virginia and South Carolina began to fortify the hills around the railroad junction. Soon, thousands of men from across the south descended on Prince William and Fairfax Counties with Manassas Junction as their command center. The area became known as "Camp Pickens," in honor of South Carolina Governor Francis Pickens. The forts these men built were vital to not only control the railroad junction, but also gave rookie soldiers a fighting advantage in the coming battle., [Captions:] , In this wartime sketch, Confederate soldiers arrive by train at Manassas Junction., This sketch by Robert K. Sneden shows the earthwork defenses built at Manassas Junction towering over the railroad line., A map of the Orange and Alexandria and Manassas Gap Railroads illustrates the area of Virginia serviced by the lines. Protecting the junction of the railroad also meant protecting the people and resources found here.