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

Confederate Defenses

Photographed by Tom Fuchs, June 10, 2006

1. Confederate Defenses Marker

Inscription. Here while the Confederate army camped at Centreville, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston built strong fortifications in the winter of 1861–1862. In Feb. 1862, President Jefferson Davis ordered Johnston to evacuate them and move his army closer to Richmond, the Confederate capital. Outnumbered by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac, Johnston complied. On 10 March, McClellan found "Quaker cannon," logs painted black, in the abandoned trenches to deceive his scouts. McClellan, believing that he was outnumbered, already had planned to attack Richmond from the east instead of the north, via the Peninsula between the James and York rivers.

Erected 1999 by the Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number C-21.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1862.

Location. 38° 50.275′ N, 77° 26.485′ W. Marker is in Centreville, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It is at the intersection of Machen Road and U.S. 29, on the right when traveling south on Machen Road. This and three other markers are on the Centreville Public Library grounds.

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Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14200 St Germain Dr, Centreville VA 20120, 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Campaign of Second Manassas (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Second Battle of Manassas (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named First Battle of Manassas (a few steps from this marker); Mystery Of The Centreville Six (approx. half a mile away); Old Stone Church (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Centreville.

Other markers no longer nearby. Second Battle of Manassas (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); First Battle of Manassas (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. This marker replaces a circa 1920–1930 marker with the same number that was originally erected on Route 211 in Centreville. Route 211 became Route 29/211, and finally just plain Route 29. The original marker's text was different. It read:

“Here Joseph E. Early built fortifications in the winter of 1861–62 while the Confederate army was camped at Centreville. These strong works led McClellan in the spring

Photographed by Tom Fuchs, June 10, 2006

2. Confederate Defenses Marker

of 1862 to attack Richmond from the York-James peninsula instead of from the north.”

Additional commentary.
1. Correction
This historical marker mistakenly says that “President Jefferson Davis ordered [Gen. Joseph E.] Johnston to evacuate the and move his army closer to Richmond.” Johnston evacuated on his own accord, without telling Davis he was doing so—Davis only discovered this a week later.

— Submitted July 1, 2025, by John Carter of Oakton, Virginia.

Quaker Guns at Centreville Fort image. Click for full size.

3. Quaker Guns at Centreville Fort

"Group of Federal soldiers in Confederate fort on heights of Centreville with Quaker guns." (Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division)
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cwpb.00981

Credits. This page was last revised on July 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,569 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 25, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 3. submitted on February 24, 2008. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of original marker. • Can you help?