Philomont in Loudoun County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Battle of Unison

In the Wake of Antietam

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 15, 2011

1. Battle of Unison Marker

Inscription.

Battle of Unison. In the Wake of Antietam. , After the Battle of Antietam in September 1862, Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia escaped to Virginia. President Abraham Lincoln repeatedly urged Union Gen. George B. McClellan to pursue and attack. Following a plan that Lincoln devised to trap Lee's army in the Shenandoah Valley, McClellan finally got his Army of the Potomac moving. On November 1, Union cavalry Gen. Alfred Pleasonton began leading the advance from Philomont toward Upperville. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry delayed him for three days. On November 5, learning that Lee's army had evaded the trap and reached Culpeper County, Lincoln ordered McClellan relieved of command., On Saturday morning, November 1, 1862, Union Gen. Alfred Pleasonton with 1,200 cavalrymen and an artillery battery paused here in Philomont. He planned to push south and reach Upperville by evening. He ordered 22 male residents into the nearby Roszell Chapel Methodist Church to your left to take the oath of loyalty to the United States. Suddenly the sound of cannons was heard. The Federals rushed off toward the North Fork ford half a mile in front of you to engage the Confederates who had come up from Unison (also called Union). The two sides hotly exchanged cannon and rifle fire from ridges on either side of the stream for the rest of the day. Meeting more opposition than he expected, Pleasonton was reinforced with 1,200 infantrymen and another artillery battery that night., On Sunday morning, November 2, his column marched down present-day J.E.B. Stuart Road (in front of you) toward Unison and Uppervile, to the strains of a brass band., "John Smith, will you take this oath of allegiance to the government of the United States? ... , [Smith:] Can you guarantee me the protection of the United States? If so, I will take the oath. If not, I prefer waiting the result of the war. If the United States conquer the South, I shall become a United States citizen; if not, I shall remain under southern rule." , - The (N.Y.) World, reported from Philomont, November 6, 1862

After the Battle of Antietam in September 1862, Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia escaped to Virginia. President Abraham Lincoln repeatedly urged Union Gen. George B. McClellan to pursue and attack. Following a plan that Lincoln devised to trap Lee's army in the Shenandoah Valley, McClellan finally got his Army of the Potomac moving. On November 1, Union cavalry Gen. Alfred Pleasonton began leading the advance from Philomont toward Upperville. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry delayed him for three days. On November 5, learning that Lee's army had evaded the trap and reached Culpeper County, Lincoln ordered McClellan relieved of command.

On Saturday morning, November 1, 1862, Union Gen. Alfred Pleasonton with 1,200 cavalrymen and an artillery battery paused here in Philomont. He planned to push south and reach Upperville by evening. He ordered 22 male residents into the nearby Roszell Chapel Methodist Church to your left to take the oath of loyalty to the United States. Suddenly the sound of cannons was heard. The Federals rushed off toward the North Fork ford half a mile in front of you to engage the Confederates

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who had come up from Unison (also called Union). The two sides hotly exchanged cannon and rifle fire from ridges on either side of the stream for the rest of the day. Meeting more opposition than he expected, Pleasonton was reinforced with 1,200 infantrymen and another artillery battery that night.

On Sunday morning, November 2, his column marched down present-day J.E.B. Stuart Road (in front of you) toward Unison and Uppervile, to the strains of a brass band.

"John Smith, will you take this oath of allegiance to the government of the United States? ...
[Smith:] Can you guarantee me the protection of the United States? If so, I will take the oath. If not, I prefer waiting the result of the war. If the United States conquer the South, I shall become a United States citizen; if not, I shall remain under southern rule."
- The (N.Y.) World, reported from Philomont, November 6, 1862

Erected 2011 by Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1862.

Location. 39° 3.39′ N,

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 15, 2011

2. Battle of Unison Marker

77° 44.425′ W. Marker is in Philomont, Virginia, in Loudoun County. It is at the intersection of Snickersville Turnpike (County Route 734) and JEB Stuart Road (County Route 630), on the right when traveling north on Snickersville Turnpike. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Philomont VA 20131, 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 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Round Oak Rag Apple Elevation (here, next to this marker); White Pump Drovers Tavern (approx. 1.4 miles away); Hibbs Bridge (approx. 1.6 miles away); Bacon Fort (approx.

Marker Beside the Philomont General Store image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 15, 2011

3. Marker Beside the Philomont General Store

2.2 miles away); a different marker also named The Battle of Unison (approx. 3.1 miles away); Bushrod Lynn (approx. 3.1 miles away); Huntland (approx. 3.2 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Unison (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philomont.

North Fork Crossing image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 15, 2011

4. North Fork Crossing

North Fork crosses modern day JEB Stuart Road about a half mile from the marker location.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,693 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 16, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.