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

Blackburn’s Ford

Guarding the Fords

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 15, 2021

1. Blackburn’s Ford Marker

Inscription. By the early summer of 1861, Americans in both the North and South greeted the outbreak of war with patriotism and expectations of a quick decisive battle to end the conflict. In the North, the public clamored for immediate invasion to crush the rebellious South. While professional soldiers urged patience, President Lincoln, bowing to public pressure, ordered Gen. Irvin McDowell to submit a plan to advance on the important railroad junction at Manassas. On July 17, 1861, anticipating the Federal attack, Gen. Pierre G. T. Beauregard ordered Confederate forces to abandon the extensive earthworks on the open plains at Centreville and withdraw behind the strong naturally wooded defensive position of the Bull Run stream. Beauregard knew the Federals would not cross Bull Run except at the fords and bridges because the river banks were steep and the approaches to other crossings impassable. The new defensive position increased the Confederate chances for victory and protected the vital railroad junction at Manassas that was used to supply and reinforce the Southern army. The first tactical use of railroads in history to deliver

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troops to combat occurred on July 21, 1861, at the Battle of First Manassas when three Confederate brigades (9,000 men) under the command of General Joseph E. Johnston arrived at Manassas Junction from the Shenandoah Valley.

Erected 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 Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, and the Virginia Civil War Trails series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1859.

Location. 38° 48.204′ N, 77° 26.977′ W. Marker is in Centreville, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It is on Centreville Road (Virginia Route 28), on the right when traveling south. The marker lies off the southbound side of the road, on the north side of the bridge over Bull Run. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7128 Centreville Rd, Centreville VA 20121, 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,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 6, 2007

2. Blackburn's Ford Marker

This is a previous iteration of the marker. While the information is identical, there are slight differences in the formatting.

the Eastern Seaboard. 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 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Blackburn's Ford (here, next to this marker); The Centreville Confederate Military Railroad (approx. 0.6 miles away); McLean Farm (approx. 0.7 miles away); a different marker also named Wilmer McLean's Yorkshire (approx. 0.7 miles away); Wilmer McLean after the Civil War (approx. ¾ mile away); Mitchell's Ford (approx. one mile away); Union Mills Historic Site (approx. 1.3 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Centreville.

Other markers no longer nearby. Blackburn’s Ford (has been replaced with this marker); Wilmer McLean’s Yorkshire (was approx. 0.7 miles away but has been replaced

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 15, 2021

3. Blackburn’s Ford Marker

with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. The marker displays a map of the tactical situation just before the First Battle of Manassas.

Blackburn's Ford image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 6, 2007

4. Blackburn's Ford

This view demonstrates the natural features of terrain mentioned on the marker to good effect. Any Federal force must descend the banks in the foreground, cross the Bull Run, then scale the opposite bank. And this was one of the easy crossing points.

Photographed by Bradley Owen

5. Blackburn’s Ford

Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 5,037 times since then and 106 times this year. Last updated on May 22, 2011. Photos: 1. submitted on May 15, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on September 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on May 15, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on September 2, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on September 3, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.