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

Civil War Fortifications

November 11, 2006

1. Civil War Fortifications Marker

Inscription. In the winter of 1861-1862, Centreville was the linchpin of extensive fortifications erected by Confederate troops to protect their winter quarters and block anticipated Union advances. The earthworks stretched nearly eight miles south and west of town. More than 40,000 troops occupied the area that winter. The map shows the major features of the works around Centreville in relation to the roads as they existed at that time.

Erected 1989 by NVRetail Incorporated.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. 38° 50.144′ N, 77° 25.543′ W. Marker is in Centreville, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It can be reached from Braddock Road. Marker is located near the entrance to the Old Centreville Crossing shopping center - adjacent to Glory Days Grill. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13860 Braddock Road, 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,

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 5 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Newgate Tavern (approx. 0.4 miles away); Convicts and Slaves (approx. 0.4 miles away); Archaeology at Newgate Tavern (approx. 0.4 miles away); Harrison House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mystery Of The Centreville Six

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(approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Centreville.

Also see . . . Rebel Position at Centreville. The lower left of this map includes a map of the Centreville Civil War Fortifications (David Rumsey Historical Map Collection). (Submitted on February 24, 2008.)

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

2. Civil War Fortifications Marker

Centreville Fort image. Click for full size.

3. Centreville Fort

"Centreville, Va. Fort on the heights, with Quaker guns." (Civil War photographs, 1861-1865 / compiled by Hirst D. Milhollen and Donald H. Mugridge, Washington, D.C. : Library of Congress, 1977. No. 0018)

Battery Ridge Earthworks image. Click for full size.

February 24, 2008

4. Battery Ridge Earthworks

Located about 1 ½ miles northwest of this marker (along the aptly named Battery Ridge Lane) are the remains of a well-preserved section of the northern line of these fortifications. About 150 yards long, it has two artillery emplacements, one with four and the other with five embrasures. There is a ditch in front of the artillery emplacements. (Field Armies and Fortifications in the Civil War: The Eastern Campaigns, 1861-1864, Earl J. Hess, p. 35)
There is no documentation on site – this is in the middle of modern housing developments.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2006. This page has been viewed 4,454 times since then and 82 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 12, 2006. 2. submitted on May 15, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4. submitted on February 24, 2008. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.