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

Charge on Griffin’s Guns

Raw Recruits: The 33rd Va. Infantry

— First Battle of Manassas —

Charge on Griffin’s Guns Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Fuchs, June 10, 2006

1. Charge on Griffin’s Guns Marker

Inscription. The Virginians were waiting, tense, here at the wood’s edge—their first time under bombardment. Shells from Ricketts’ battery exploded in the boughs overhead and plowed up the ground in front. When the two Union cannon rolled into position on top of the rise only 100 yards away, Col. A. C. Cummings gave the order to charge. Better to get the men moving, the colonel figured, before they panicked and before the Union guns could do more damage.

You are about to follow in the footsteps of the charging Confederates. If the two cannon had turned and used canister at this range, they would have shredded the regiment. For some reason the artillery did not fire, as if the Virginians were invisible.

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

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. 38° 48.764′ N, 77° 31.159′ W. Marker is near Manassas, Virginia, in Prince William County. It can be reached from Sudley Road (Virginia Route 234) 0.8 miles south of Lee Highway (U.S. 29), on the right when traveling north. The marker is one of the waysides along the Henry House Hill trail, which starts at the Manassas National Battlefield Park visitor center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Manassas VA 20109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this 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,

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.

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At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Turning the Tide (here, next to this marker); Lieutenant William P. Mangum (within shouting distance of this marker); Colonel Thomas (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Point-Blank Volley (about 400 feet away); Point Blank Volley (about 400 feet away); General Barnard Elliott Bee (about 500 feet away); Washington (Louisiana) Artillery Battalion (about 500 feet away); Thomas Jonathan Jackson (about 600 feet away); The War Over Memory (about 600 feet away); "…Like a Stone Wall" (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manassas.

More about this marker. This marker was replaced by a new one named Tuning the Tide (see nearby markers).

Also see . . . The 33rd Virginia Infantry. A brief history of the regiment by Robert H. Moore, II. (Submitted on March 18, 2007.)

Additional keywords. Confederate Col. Arthur C. Cummings, First Battle of Bull Run. 1st Bull Run. 1st Manassas. Ricketts’ cannon, Rickett's cannon, Ricketts' cannon, Union Captain J. B. Ricketts, Battery D, 5th U.S. Artillery, commanded by Capt. Charles Griffin.

Marker on Manassas Battlefield image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, November 8, 2007

2. Marker on Manassas Battlefield

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 4, 2008

3. Charge on Griffin’s Guns Marker

Charge on Griffin’s Guns Wayside image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 4, 2008

4. Charge on Griffin’s Guns Wayside

Looking Down the Barrel of One of Ricketts’ Gun image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Fuchs, June 10, 2006

5. Looking Down the Barrel of One of Ricketts’ Gun

The 33rd Virginia's View of Griffin's Guns image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 4, 2008

6. The 33rd Virginia's View of Griffin's Guns

Credits. This page was last revised on April 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2007, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,627 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 18, 2007, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 2. submitted on November 25, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3, 4. submitted on June 8, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on March 18, 2007, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 6. submitted on June 8, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.