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

Artillery Duel

First Battle of Manassas

— July 21, 1861 2 p.m. —

Artillery Duel Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Shane Oliver, September 26, 2015

1. Artillery Duel Marker

Inscription. General Irvin McDowell felt confident that victory was at hand. The Federal flanking column had marched around and behind the Confederate defenses along Bull Run. Nearly 18,000 troops were at, or en route, to the front. Confederate resistance on Matthews Hill had collapsed. After a two-hour delay to reorganize his available men, the Union commander turned his attention to pressing the retreating foe and occupying Henry Hill.

McDowell directed two artillery batteries, eleven guns total, to occupy this high ground. The battery commanders protested the lack of infantry support would make their cannon vulnerable to capture. The order stood. No sooner had the Federal artillery unlimbered when Confederate batteries opened fire from only 300 yards away. Over the next hour, the opposing batteries dueled across the field. Suddenly from the far woods came a blood-chilling cry—the rebel yell. Through the dense smoke, Confederate infantry swarmed across the field.

(captions)
Captain James B. Ricketts, Company I, 1st U.S. Artillery. Ricketts fell wounded in the thigh while commanding his battery. Captured by the Confederates, Ricketts recuperated at the nearby Portici plantation before being imprisoned in Richmond.

Painting by Sidney King

Erected by Manassas

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

National Battlefield Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is July 21, 1861.

Location. 38° 48.827′ N, 77° 31.329′ W. Marker is near Manassas, Virginia, in Prince William County. It can be reached from Sudley Road (Virginia Route 234) half a mile south of Lee Highway (U.S. 29), on the left when traveling south. Marker is located behind the Visitor Center, along the 1-mile Henry Hill Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6511 Sudley Road, Manassas VA 20109, 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 of this marker: Position 7th G.A. Regt. (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named 7th Georgia Markers (within shouting distance of this marker); Henry Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); Lieutenant Ramsey (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The War Over Memory (about 400 feet away); 1st Battle of Bull Run Memorial (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Honoring the Dead (about 400 feet away); Wade Hampton (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manassas.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Fight for Ricketts' Guns (was here, next to this marker but has been reported to have been

Photographed by Shane Oliver, September 26, 2015

2. Artillery Duel Marker

The monument to General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson can be seen in the background, behind the marker.

replaced with another marker now near it); 7th Georgia Markers (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Henry Hill Walking Tour (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it); Honoring the Dead (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . .
1. Manassas National Battlefield Park. National Park Service (Submitted on November 23, 2015.)

2. Old Marker at this Location. This marker replaced an older one at this location titled “The Fight for Rickett’s Guns” (Submitted on November 23, 2015.)

Artillery piece near the "Artillery Duel" Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Shane Oliver, September 26, 2015

3. Artillery piece near the "Artillery Duel" Marker

Artillery limber near the "Artillery Duel" Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Shane Oliver, September 26, 2015

4. Artillery limber near the "Artillery Duel" Marker

The Henry Hill Visitor Center can be seen in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2015, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 944 times since then and 43 times this year. Last updated on February 3, 2024, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 21, 2015, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.