Centreville in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

A Lovely Battle for a Picnic

July 21, 1861

Photographed by Mike McKeown, August 31, 2025

1. A Lovely Battle for a Picnic Marker

Inscription.

A Lovely Battle for a Picnic. July 21, 1861. , War Watchers from Washington D.C., came with picnic provisions to Centreville, Virginia on Sunday, July 21, 1861, in the hopes of witnessing the final battle of the nascent rebellion. These curiosity seekers came by carriage, buggy and horseback. Captain John Tidball described a "throng of sightseers" come toward his battery near Centreville. They came in all manner of ways...It was Sunday and everybody seemed to have taken a general holiday...All manner of people were represented in this crowd, from the most grave and noble senators to hotel waiters." Included among the prominent people present were Senators Ben Wade of Ohio, Henry Wilson of Massachusetts, Jim Lane of Kansas, congressman Alfred Ely of New York and photographer Mathew Brady. Only smoke and the sounds of artillery reached the onlookers so a few decided to get a closer look along the Warrenton Turnpike. These brazen curiosity seekers were enveloped in the chaotic Union retreat back to Washington., Near This Very Spot stood Colonel William Tecumseh Sherman searching for a place to ford Bull Run. This was Sherman's first command after returning from civilian life and consisted of three-month volunteers. He was one of the few Union officers to distinguish himself on July 21, 1861. On July 23, 1861, President Lincoln, impressed with Sherman's actions, promoted him to Brigadier General of Volunteers., U.S. Representative Alfred Ely of New York was among the battle onlookers on Sunday, July 21, 1861. Ely and a few other emboldened politicians ventured too close to the battle and he took shelter behind a large tree near the Stone Bridge. Confederates from the 8th South Carolina captured Ely and took him prisoner. Confederate Colonel E.B.C. Cash very nearly executed the congressman. He aimed a pistol at Ely's head and said, "G-d d--n your white-livered soul!" Ely's life was saved by the cooler head captor. Ely was declared a prisoner of war and transported to Libby Prison in Richmond where he was imprisoned for 5 months. He was released on Christmas Day, 1861 and went on to publish his journals detailing, ordeal., (caption) South Carolina's officer's belt buckle excavated in Centreville in the 1990s from the camp of the 4th South Carolina Infantry.

War Watchers from Washington D.C., came with picnic provisions to Centreville, Virginia on Sunday, July 21, 1861, in the hopes of witnessing the final battle of the nascent rebellion. These curiosity seekers came by carriage, buggy and horseback. Captain John Tidball described a "throng of sightseers" come toward his battery near Centreville. They came in all manner of ways...It was Sunday and everybody seemed to have taken a general holiday...All manner of people were represented in this crowd, from the most grave and noble senators to hotel waiters." Included among the prominent people present were Senators Ben Wade of Ohio, Henry Wilson of Massachusetts, Jim Lane of Kansas, congressman Alfred Ely of New York and photographer Mathew Brady. Only smoke and the sounds of artillery reached the onlookers so a few decided to get a closer look along the Warrenton Turnpike. These brazen curiosity seekers were enveloped in the chaotic Union retreat back to Washington.

Near This Very Spot stood Colonel William Tecumseh Sherman searching for a place to ford Bull Run. This was Sherman's first command after returning from civilian life and consisted of three-month volunteers. He was one of the few Union officers to distinguish himself on July 21, 1861. On July 23, 1861, President Lincoln, impressed with Sherman's actions,

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promoted him to Brigadier General of Volunteers.

U.S. Representative Alfred Ely of New York was among the battle onlookers on Sunday, July 21, 1861. Ely and a few other emboldened politicians ventured too close to the battle and he took shelter behind a large tree near the Stone Bridge. Confederates from the 8th South Carolina captured Ely and took him prisoner. Confederate Colonel E.B.C. Cash very nearly executed the congressman. He aimed a pistol at Ely's head and said, "G-d d--n your white-livered soul!" Ely's life was saved by the cooler head captor. Ely was declared a prisoner of war and transported to Libby Prison in Richmond where he was imprisoned for 5 months. He was released on Christmas Day, 1861 and went on to publish his journals detailing, ordeal.

(caption) South Carolina's officer's belt buckle excavated in Centreville in the 1990s from the camp of the 4th South Carolina Infantry.

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

Location. 38° 49.747′ N, 77° 29.922′ W. Marker is in Centreville, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It can be reached from Lee Highway (U.S. 29) 0.8 miles west of Bull Run Post Office Road, on the right when traveling west. On the grounds of the The Winery at Bull Run. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15950 Lee Hwy, Centreville VA 20120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Photographed by Mike McKeown, August 31, 2025

2. A Lovely Battle for a Picnic Marker

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

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: The Stone Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away); Fairfax County / Prince William County (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Stone Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away); Union Retreat (approx. 0.4 miles away); Strategic Crossing (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Farm Ford (approx. 0.6 miles away); Opening Shots (approx. ¾ mile away); a different marker also named Opening Shots (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Centreville.

Other markers no longer nearby. Stone Bridge (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Farm Ford (was approx. half a mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . .
1. Bull Run /First Manassas (American Battlefield Trust). (Submitted on August 31, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland.)
2. William T. Sherman (Wikipedia). (Submitted on August 31, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland.)
3. Spectators Witness History at Manassas (American Battlefield Trust). (Submitted on August 31, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland.)

Photographed by Mike McKeown, August 31, 2025

3. A Lovely Battle for a Picnic Marker

Sign for winery at roadside

Photographed by Mike McKeown, August 31, 2025

4. A Lovely Battle for a Picnic Marker

Close up of Sherman

Matthew Brady - National Archives

5. A Lovely Battle for a Picnic Marker

Congressman Ely by Matthew Brady

Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 225 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 31, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.