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

First Battle of Manassas

Panic at Cub Creek Bridge

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 5, 2020

1. First Battle of Manassas Marker

Inscription. In the afternoon of 21 July 1861, after Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's and Brig. Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard's Confederates defeated Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell's Union army, the bridge over Cub Run was jammed with retreating Federal soldiers as well as civilians who had come to watch the battle. Capt. Delaware Kemper's Confederate artillery fired a few parting rounds toward the bridge, and one shell burst directly overhead. The crowd panicked and upset a wagon, thereby blocking the bridge. The mob of civilians and soldiers abandoned carriages, cannons, and caissons, splashed across the stream, and fled on foot to Alexandria.

Erected 1999 by the Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number C-42.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 21, 1861.

Location. 38° 50.015′ N, 77° 27.759′ W. Marker is in Centreville, Virginia, in Fairfax County. Marker is on U.S. 29 west of Prince Way, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Centreville VA 20120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Retreat From Manassas (within shouting distance of this marker); Lane's Mill and Newton's Mill Ruins

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(approx. 0.4 miles away); Battery Ridge (approx. one mile away); Campaign of Second Manassas (approx. 1.2 miles away); Confederate Defenses (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Centreville.

More about this marker. This marker replaced a marker with the same number dating from the late 1920s or early 1930s. That marker was titled “First Battle of Manassas” and read:

“In the afternoon of July 21, 1861, the bridge over Cub Run was jammed by the upsetting of a wagon. This turned into disorder; carriages, cannon and caissons were abandoned as civilians and soldiers escaped across the stream on foot of their way to Alexandria.”

Also see . . . War Watchers at Bull Run. Four page June 25, 2006 article by John J. Hennessy from Civil War Times Magazine on the History.net website. (Submitted on June 25, 2006.)

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 5, 2020

2. First Battle of Manassas Marker

Cub Creek Near Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 1, 2007

3. Cub Creek Near Bridge

Panic at Cub Creek Bridge Marker image. Click for full size.

February 27, 2011

4. Panic at Cub Creek Bridge Marker

Was the temporary “storage” location of marker while the Upper Occoquan Service Authority replaced sewer pipelines in the Cub Run Gravity Delivery System. Now re-erected.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,801 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 5, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on August 1, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on February 27, 2011. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.

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