Bristow in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Preparing for Battle

Bristoe Station

September 2, 2012

1. Preparing for Battle Marker

Inscription. As dawn broke on August 27, 1862, Stonewall Jackson moved two of his divisions up the railroad to the main Federal supply depot at Manassas Junction, leaving three brigades of Maj. Gen. Richard S. Ewell’s Division as a rear guard at Bristoe. Ewell’s mission was to fend off the expected Federal counterattack until further orders from Jackson. Ewell placed his main battle line along Brentsville Road, with batteries posted along the hills around Bristoe. Two regiments of Forno’s Brigade were pushed forward near the Kettle Run bridge, ¾ mile to your right along the railroad. These men would warn of any approaching Federals. Also, the 60th Georgia Infantry with an artillery attachment were located on the southern side of the railroad to confront any Federals on that side of the tracks.

Pope assumed that the incursion at Bristoe was only an annoyance. When he learned of the large number of Confederates occupying the station on the morning of August 27, Pope ordered Maj. Gen. Joe Hooker’s division to move back up the rail line and recapture Bristoe. Hooker’s men experienced a hot and grueling march with many men dropping out due

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to the extreme conditions. After pushing back Forno’s two regiments at the Kettle Run bridge, Hooker’s lead elements pushed through a stand of woods to your right and arrived at the open field before you at 2:30 pm.

(Sidebar): Gen. Ewell had been ordered by Gen. Jackson to remain at Bristow with his three remaining brigades to check any advance from Pope’s army along the railroad, but, if the enemy appeared in heavy force, retire upon the Junction (Manassas), as he did not desire a general engagement at this time. — Brig. Gen. Jubal Early, CSA

Erected 2012 by Prince William County Department of Public Works, Historic Preservation Division.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.

Location. 38° 43.281′ N, 77° 32.664′ W. Marker is in Bristow, Virginia, in Prince William County. It can be reached from Iron Brigade Unit Ave.. Marker is located on the 1861-1862 Trail at Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bristow VA 20136, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this

September 2, 2012

2. Preparing for Battle Marker

marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on 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 walking distance of this marker: Deadly Day for the Excelsior Brigade (about 500 feet away); The "Tigers" of Louisiana (about 500 feet away); “We Shall Bag the Whole Crowd” (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Battle Along the Railroad (about 700 feet away); Fight for a Pine Thicket (about 800 feet away); Confederates in Bristoe (approx. 0.2 miles away); Kettle Run's Aftermath (approx. ¼ mile away); Davis Family Farmstead (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bristow.

Other markers no longer

Close-up of Map on Marker image. Click for full size.

September 9, 2012

3. Close-up of Map on Marker

nearby. Battle Along the Railroad (was about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Deadly Day for Excelsior Brigade (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

More about this marker. The marker displays (Above left) Federal Army crossing Kettle Run Courtesy of The Library of Congress, (Above) Campbell-Brown map Courtesy of the Tennessee State Library and Archives and (Top right) Images of Gen. Ewell and Gen. Hooker Courtesy of The Library of Congress. The two images are captioned Maj. Gen. Richard S. Ewell and Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker.

The marker also displays a map of the area of the battlefield indicating troop positions and movements.

Southeast view to the railroad image. Click for full size.

September 9, 2012

4. Southeast view to the railroad

From a few steps in front of marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 10, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2012. This page has been viewed 1,096 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 9, 2012. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.