Near Buckland in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Battle of Buckland Mills

Photographed by Craig Swain, August 19, 2012

1. Battle of Buckland Mills Marker

Inscription. On October 19, 1863, 12,000 Confederate and Union cavalry clashed at Buckland. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, screening the Confederate withdrawal following the Battle of Bristoe Station, blocked the advance of Union Gen. H. Judson Kilpatrick's cavalry division. Initially occupying this position, Gen. George A. Custer's brigade forced Stuart's retreat westward and Gen. Henry E. Davies' brigade gave chase. Early in the afternoon, as Custer's men rested at Buckland, Confederate Gen. Fitzhugh Lee's division suddenly attacked from the south, pushing Custer back across the Broad Run bridge and separating his brigade from Davies at New Baltimore. Davies broke off pursuit of Stuart who immediately counterattacked, routing the Federals along the Warrenton Turnpike. The Confederates lost about 50 men, the Federals about 260, mostly prisoners in what the Confederates jubilantly called the “Buckland Races.” Stuart termed the Union rout “the most complete that any cavalry…suffered during this war” while Custer noted the date as “the most disastrous this division ever passed through.”

Erected 2011 by Prince William County Historical Commission.

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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia, Prince William County Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 19, 1863.

Location. 38° 47.122′ N, 77° 39.99′ W. Marker is near Buckland, Virginia, in Prince William County. It is at the intersection of James Madison Highway (U.S. 15) and Madison Ridge Place, on the right when traveling south on James Madison Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gainesville VA 20155, 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,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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

Photographed by Craig Swain, August 19, 2012

2. Battle of Buckland Mills Marker

the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Buckland Mill (approx. half a mile away); Lafayette's Tour (approx. half a mile away); The Buckland Plan (approx. half a mile away); Buckland (approx. half a mile away); Buckland Mills Battle (approx. one mile away); Aldo Leopold (approx. 1.6 miles away); On Hallowed Ground (approx. 1.7 miles away); Second Battle of Manassas (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Buckland.

Photographed by Craig Swain, August 19, 2012

3. Battle of Buckland Mills Marker

Nearby Preservation Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, August 19, 2012

4. Nearby Preservation Sign

The nearby sign notes the history of the tract of land and how it was preserved.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2012, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,908 times since then and 66 times this year. Last updated on December 6, 2023, by N. Jozsa of Woodbridge, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 26, 2012, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.