Bristow in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Battle Along the Railroad
Bristoe Station
September 9, 2012
1. Battle Along the Railroad Marker
The devastating crossfire provided by the 60th Georgia to your right on the other side of the railroad tracks had nearly an entire Federal brigade pinned down in this field. The Georgians used the cuts and fills along the railroad as a parapet to fire into the Federal line. Brig. Gen. Nelson Taylor of the Excelsior Brigade came onto the field and noticed this predicament. He ordered his two reserve regiments, the 70th and 72nd New York Infantry, to wheel right and attack here along the knoll where they could fire down upon the 60th Georgia.
Across the railroad, the 5th New Jersey Infantry moved up along the tracks. They now gained a perfect line of fire down on the 60th Georgia and wasted little time in making their shots count. The outflanked Georgians could no longer hold their line and broke for the safety of their main line of defense along the Brentsville Road. The sight of fleeing Confederates brought Taylors men to their feet in a charge, planting their colors on the railroad.
[O]ur color bearer was ordered to raise our flag over the bank, which was done. The firing did not cease however until the flag had been shown two or three times, and their officers told them repeatedly that they were firing on their own men our color bearer had a very narrow escape while he stood halfway up thebank with the flag raised. A ball struck the flag cutting it half off
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Corp. Alfred Bellard, 5th New Jersey Infantry
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.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 38° 43.232′ N, 77° 32.61′ W. Marker was in Bristow, Virginia, in Prince William County. It could 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 was in this post office area: Bristow VA 20136, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area, in Northern Virginia, and in the Piedmont. 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 Battle Along the Railroad (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Deadly Day for the Excelsior Brigade (about 400 feet away); Preparing for Battle (about 400 feet away); The "Tigers" of Louisiana (about 700 feet away); We Shall Bag the Whole Crowd (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fight for a Pine Thicket (approx. 0.2 miles away);
September 2, 2012
2. Battle Along the Railroad Marker
Another marker is no longer nearby. Deadly Day for Excelsior Brigade (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker. On the upper center of the marker is a portrait captioned Pvt. Alfred Bellard, 5th New Jersey Infantry Courtesy of Gone For a Soldier. The bottom of the marker displays (Far Left) Gen. Nelson Taylor's hand-drawn map of Bristoe Battlefield. Courtesy of the Ohio Historical Society and (Left) James Dover Bailey, 60th Georgia Courtesy of Cary Dover.
The marker also displays a map of the battlefield indicating troop positions and movements.
Also see . . . Report of Brig. Gen. Nelson Taylor. From the Official Records, pg 443-444. (Submitted on September 11, 2012.)
September 2, 2012
3. Close-up of Map on Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2012. This page has been viewed 1,162 times since then and 39 times this year. Last updated on April 18, 2026. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 11, 2012. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
