McLean in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Battle of Lewinsville
Union Reconnaissance Party Attacked
Photographed by Mike McKeown, September 6, 2025
1. Battle of Lewinsville Marker
Inscription.
Battle of Lewinsville. Union Reconnaissance Party Attacked. On September 11, 1861, Lt. Orlando Poe led a party of U.S. Army topographical engineers to map the area around Lewinsville for military use. They were protected by 1800 Union soldiers under Col. Isaac Stevens' command, which included the 79th New York (Highlanders) Infantry, detachments from four other regiments, 90 cavalrymen, and Capt. Charles Griffin's Battery, 5th U.S. Artillery. The troops were ordered not to bring on a general engagement as they marched from Camp Advance on Chain Bridge Road to Lewinsville, arriving at 10 a.m. As Union skirmishers and artillery soldiers guarded the surveyors, Confederate cavalry pickets observed from a safe distance., About four hours later, having completed their mission, the Union troops were forming columns to withdraw when about 400 Confederates led by Col. J.E.B. Stuart approached from the direction of Falls Church. Stuart attacked from two sides with the 13th Virginia Volunteers, a company of the 1st Virginia Cavalry, and two guns of the Washington Artillery. Confederate Capt. Thomas L. Rosser's artillery, posted 600 yards southwest of John Gilbert's farmhouse, rained shot and shell on the retreating Union soldiers, while Griffin's Union guns responded from the road and from opposite Mackall's Hill. Alarmed by the cannon fire, Union Gen. William F. Smith, division commander, hurried to the field with a battery, but the fight was essentially over. Stevens and the Highlanders formed the rear guard as the Union force returned to Camp Advance., Three Union soldiers were killed, several were wounded, and four were taken prisoner. The Confederates claimed no casualties. This small engagement became known as the "Battle of Lewinsville.", (captions) , Picket guard on alert near Lewisville, circa 1861. Images courtesy of the Library of Congress., "The village of Lewinsville, Virginia, now occupied by U.S. Troops," Harper's Weekly, Dec. 14,1861, "Bringing in the Federal Wounded after the Skirmish at Lewinsville," The Illustrated London News, Oct. 12, 1861
On September 11, 1861, Lt. Orlando Poe led a party of U.S. Army topographical engineers to map the area around Lewinsville for military use. They were protected by 1800 Union soldiers under Col. Isaac Stevens' command, which included the 79th New York (Highlanders) Infantry, detachments from four other regiments, 90 cavalrymen, and Capt. Charles Griffin's Battery, 5th U.S. Artillery. The troops were ordered not to bring on a general engagement as they marched from Camp Advance on Chain Bridge Road to Lewinsville, arriving at 10 a.m. As Union skirmishers and artillery soldiers guarded the surveyors, Confederate cavalry pickets observed from a safe distance.
About four hours later, having completed their mission, the Union troops were forming columns to withdraw when about 400 Confederates led by Col. J.E.B. Stuart approached from the direction of Falls Church. Stuart attacked from two sides with the 13th Virginia Volunteers, a company of the 1st Virginia Cavalry, and two guns of the Washington Artillery. Confederate Capt. Thomas L. Rosser's artillery, posted 600 yards southwest of John Gilbert's farmhouse, rained shot
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and shell on the retreating Union soldiers, while Griffin's Union guns responded from the road and from opposite Mackall's Hill. Alarmed by the cannon fire, Union Gen. William F. Smith, division commander, hurried to the field with a battery, but the fight was essentially over. Stevens and the Highlanders formed the rear guard as the Union force returned to Camp Advance.
Three Union soldiers were killed, several were wounded, and four were taken prisoner. The Confederates claimed no casualties. This small engagement became known as the "Battle of Lewinsville."
(captions)
Picket guard on alert near Lewisville, circa 1861. Images courtesy of the Library of Congress.
"The village of Lewinsville, Virginia, now occupied by U.S. Troops," Harper's Weekly, Dec. 14,1861
"Bringing in the Federal Wounded after the Skirmish at Lewinsville," The Illustrated London News, Oct. 12, 1861
Erected by Fairfax County Park Authority.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is September 11, 1861.
Location. 38° 55.69′ N, 77° 11.467′ W. Marker is in McLean, Virginia, in Fairfax
Photographed by Mike McKeown, September 6, 2025
2. Battle of Lewinsville Marker
Marker area
County. It can be reached from the intersection of Chain Bridge Road and Wasp Lane, on the right when traveling east. Marker is in the parking lot for Lewinsville Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1659 Chain Bridge Rd, Mc Lean VA 22101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 790 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 6, 2025, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
