Waterford

Unionist Stronghold

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 21, 2011

1. Waterford Marker

Inscription.

Waterford. Unionist Stronghold. , Historically Quaker and abolitionist Waterford decisively split with Loudoun County's pro-Confederate majority and rejected secession (220 votes to 31) in Virginia's May 1861 referendum. Many residents fled to Maryland as Southern troops occupied the town and its Quaker meeting house to curb "treason.", Confederate Capt. Elijah V. White arrived here in January 1862 to recruit his 35th Battalion Virginia Cavalry from the area's secessionists. (His second in command, Waterford farm boy Lt. Frank Myers, later wrote The Comanches, a history of the battalion.) White's troopers patrolled the border for runaway slaves and Unionist spies until a Union offensive in March 1862 forced a temporary evacuation. Townspeople welcomed Col. John W. Geary's 28th Pennsylvania Infantry with open arms as liberators, after months of Confederate occupation and threats to burn their "cursed Quaker settlement.", Local Unionists, including Quakers, joined Capt. Samuel C. Means's Independent Loudoun Rangers, the only Federal cavalry raised in Confederate Virginia. On August 27, 1862, White's "Rebels" jolted townspeople awake by firing from across the road on your right at the Rangers camped here beside the Baptist Church. When the fight ended, residents were dismayed to learn that White's cavalry had defeated their protectors (see plaque on church front). Means's command served until war's end nonetheless, operating nearby in a "brothers' war" with White's and Col. John S. Mosby's partisans. , Waterford and nearby Lovettsville ("North Loudoun") remained firmly Unionist, with reinstated U.S. mail and trading privileges. In 1863, these communities joined other areas under the Restored Government of Virginia in Alexandria. Here in 1864, three Quaker girls began publishing the Waterford News, an underground Union newspaper.,

"You just aught to have seen how glad [the were] to see us Yankees." , - Cpl. James P. Steward, 28th Pennsylvania Infantry, March 23, 1862

Historically Quaker and abolitionist Waterford decisively split with Loudoun County's pro-Confederate majority and rejected secession (220 votes to 31) in Virginia's May 1861 referendum. Many residents fled to Maryland as Southern troops occupied the town and its Quaker meeting house to curb "treason."

Confederate Capt. Elijah V. White arrived here in January 1862 to recruit his 35th Battalion Virginia Cavalry from the area's secessionists. (His second in command, Waterford farm boy Lt. Frank Myers, later wrote The Comanches, a history of the battalion.) White's troopers patrolled the border for runaway slaves and Unionist spies until a Union offensive in March 1862 forced a temporary evacuation. Townspeople welcomed Col. John W. Geary's 28th Pennsylvania Infantry with open arms as liberators, after months of Confederate occupation and threats to burn their "cursed Quaker settlement."

Local Unionists, including Quakers, joined Capt. Samuel C. Means's Independent Loudoun Rangers, the only Federal cavalry raised in Confederate Virginia. On August 27, 1862, White's "Rebels" jolted townspeople awake by firing from across the road on your right at the Rangers camped here beside the Baptist Church. When the fight ended, residents were dismayed to learn that White's cavalry had defeated their protectors (see plaque

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on church front). Means's command served until war's end nonetheless, operating nearby in a "brothers' war" with White's and Col. John S. Mosby's partisans.

Waterford and nearby Lovettsville ("North Loudoun") remained firmly Unionist, with reinstated U.S. mail and trading privileges. In 1863, these communities joined other areas under the Restored Government of Virginia in Alexandria. Here in 1864, three Quaker girls began publishing the Waterford News, an underground Union newspaper.

"You just aught to have seen how glad [the were] to see us Yankees."
- Cpl. James P. Steward, 28th Pennsylvania Infantry, March 23, 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 Quakerism, and the Virginia Civil War Trails series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1862.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 11.175′ N, 77° 36.644′ W. Marker was in Waterford, Virginia, in Loudoun County. It was at the intersection of Patrick Street and High Street (County Route 665), on the right when traveling west on Patrick Street

Northern Loudoun Map image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 21, 2011

2. Northern Loudoun Map

Northern Loudoun County, showing precinct area that voted against secession shaded light blue. Stars and blue points indicate other Civil War sites in the area.

. Located next to the Waterford Baptist Church. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Waterford VA 20197, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 walking distance of this location: A different marker also named Waterford (here, next to this marker); Waterford Baptist Church (a few steps from this marker); The Old School (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Loudoun County (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Second Street School (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fairfax Meeting of Friends (approx. ¼ mile away); Bond Street Barn, Waterford (approx. 0.3 miles away); Independent Loudoun Virginia Rangers (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waterford.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Tin Shop (was about 700 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker which has different text.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 21, 2011

3. Waterford Marker

Portrait of Capt. Samuel C. Means, from Briscoe Goodhart, History of the Independent Loudoun Virginia Rangers (1896). On the right is the Waterford News masthead from Monday, April 3, 1865.

Captain Frank Myers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 21, 2011

4. Captain Frank Myers

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 21, 2011

5. Waterford Marker

Waterford Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 21, 2011

6. Waterford Baptist Church

The church is not the original structure. It was rebuilt after the war. See "nearby markers" for the plaque on the church.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,294 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 21, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.