Waterford in Loudoun County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Independent Loudoun Virginia Rangers
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 21, 2011
1. Independent Loudoun Virginia Rangers Marker
Created under authorization of the U.S. Secretary of War, the Independent Loudoun Rangers were the only organized Union cavalry unit in Confederate Virginia. Their first captain, local miller Samuel C. Means, mustered two companies from local Quakers, the German settlement in Lovettsville and other Unionists beginning June 1862. Although the Rangers suffered that summer in a clash with Confederate Col. Elijah V. White's Cavalry (35th VA Battalion) at Waterford Baptist Church, they continued to serve as scouts and protectors of local Unionists throughout the Civil War. In 1864, after Means refused to transfer his command to West Virginia, Capt. Daniel Keyes replaced him.
Erected 2010 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number F-36.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Quakerism, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.
Location. 39° 11.413′ N, 77° 36.806′ W. Marker is in Waterford, Virginia, in Loudoun County. It is at the intersection of Main Street (County Route 662), on the right when traveling north on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Waterford VA 20197, 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.
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. The Tin Shop (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
Also see . . . The Loudoun Rangers. The History of Loudoun County, Virginia website entry (Submitted on May 21, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 21, 2011
2. Independent Loudoun Virginia Rangers Marker
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, February 26, 2018
3. Independent Loudoun Virginia Rangers Marker
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 21, 2011
4. Means House
The stone section to the left was built in 1762 by Mahlon Janney. The brick section dates to 1803, built by Asa Moore. Samuel C. Means lived in the house from 1856 to 1867.
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 21, 2011
5. Dedication Ceremony
Although the marker's date is shown as 2010, it was not mounted until May 2011 and dedicated on May 21, 2011. A color guard composed of members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and Sons of Union Veterans were present at the dedication.
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 21, 2011
6. Mounted Loudoun Rangers
Reenactors portraying the Loudoun Rangers, present at the dedication.
Internet Archive
7. Captain Samuel C. Means Company A.
from A History of the Independent Loudoun Virginia Rangers by Briscoe Goodhart, 1896.
Internet Archive
8. Captain Daniel M. Keyes, Company A.
from A History of the Independent Loudoun Virginia Rangers by Briscoe Goodhart, 1896.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,522 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 21, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on March 3, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 21, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 7, 8. submitted on March 3, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
