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

Selecman’s (Snyder’s) Ford

Photographed by B Horton, March 2, 2011

1. Selecman’s (Snyder’s) Ford Marker

Inscription. Near here on the Occoquan River was Selecman’s Ford, a rocky, narrow river crossing used by both sides during the Civil War. The 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry with 100 men of the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry crossed this ford on December 19, 1862 to defend Occoquan from General Wade Hampton’s raiding horsemen. On December 28, 1862, a day after General J.E.B. Stuart struck Dumfries and Occoquan, General Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry brigade encountered 250 men of the 2nd and 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry on a reconnaissance and drove them back to Selecman’s Ford. The Confederate cavalry with Major John Pelham’s horse artillery charged single file across the ford and pursued the Federals two miles into Fairfax County where they sacked and burned a Union camp. The outnumbered Federals lost 2 officers killed, 10 enlisted wounded, and 100 men captured. Stuart’s “Christmas Raid” continued on to Burke Station and Fairfax Courthouse. The Occoquan dam, completed in 1958, flooded the ford site forever.

Erected 2010 by Prince William County Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1863.

Location. 38° 42.016′ N, 77° 17.194′ W. Marker is near Fairfax Station, Virginia, in Fairfax

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

County. It can be reached from Van Thompson Road near Hampton Road (County Route 647). It is on the shore of the Occoquan Reservoir at Sandy Run Regional Park. There is no clear path to this marker; somewhat difficult trek by land, but easily seen from water. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10450 Van Thompson Road, Fairfax Station VA 22039, 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. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Selecman’s (Snyder’s) Ford (approx. 0.7 miles away); Valentine Peyton (approx. 1½ miles away); Occoquan River Bridges (approx. 1.6 miles away); Historic Occoquan (approx. 1.6 miles away); The Dogue Indians (approx. 1.6 miles away); James John McCoart (approx. 1.7 miles away); Town of Occoquan (approx. 1.7 miles away); Occoquan Workhouse (approx. 1.7 miles away).

More about this marker. The map coordinates are a guess.

Photographed by B Horton, March 2, 2011

2. Selecman's (Snyder's) Ford Marker

Prince William County shore is in the distance.

February 18, 2013

3. Selecman’s (Snyder’s) Ford Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2011, by B Horton of Fairfax Station, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,700 times since then and 27 times this year. Last updated on February 18, 2013. Photos: 1. submitted on March 21, 2011, by B Horton of Fairfax Station, Virginia. 2. submitted on March 3, 2011, by B Horton of Fairfax Station, Virginia. 3. submitted on February 18, 2013. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.