Jefferson Manor near Alexandria in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Fairview – Caught in History's Crossfire
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 29, 2019
1. Fairview – Caught in History's Crossfire Marker
Inscription.
Fairview – Caught in History's Crossfire. . In the early 19th century these 10 acres were part of Burgundy Plantation. In the 1850s, John A. Fairfax established a 150 acre plantation named Fairview on the property. He improved the existing dwelling originally constructed between 1800 and 1830. The property changed hands several times until 1847 when Bushrod Frobel purchased the land. Within a year Frobel sold the property and in 1854 it was sold to Fairfax. In 1921, the Sisters of the Holy Cross, from St. Mary's Academy in Alexandria purchased the property. Since 1936, it has been a site of a private residence. During the Civil War, Union officers occupied the house and troops camped on the grounds which were adjacent to Fort Lyons. Fort Lyons was one of the Union forts erected in defense of Washington City., Mosby's Second Visit , According to neighbor Anne Frobel's diary, John S. Mosby and his partisan rangers visited the Fairfax house twice. Sometimes in the summer of 1864, Mrs. Margaret Fairfax told Anne Frobel that Mosby had visited her house. The second time Mrs. Frobel's young girl, Milly, found the horse tracks and reported it to the nearby fort. Union cavalry searched the surrounding area all day, but didn't find the Gray Ghost., Mrs. Fairfax Is Almost Killed From Anne Frobel's Diary , Monday January 26, 1863:We were at Mrs. Fairfax's this evening and learned how narrowly she escaped being killed on Thursday last, she had just finished dressing and had left her room, when a ball came tearing through the walls and into her room, shivering the looking glass frame and splintering her bed stand and then dropped near the fireplace where two or three of her little children were standing. She says if she had been in bed she would have been killed. Mrs. Fairfax went out and searched all about, and through the bushes but could see no one.
In the early 19th century these 10 acres were part of Burgundy Plantation. In the 1850s, John A. Fairfax established a 150 acre plantation named Fairview on the property. He improved the existing dwelling originally constructed between 1800 and 1830. The property changed hands several times until 1847 when Bushrod Frobel purchased the land. Within a year Frobel sold the property and in 1854 it was sold to Fairfax. In 1921, the Sisters of the Holy Cross, from St. Mary's Academy in Alexandria purchased the property. Since 1936, it has been a site of a private residence. During the Civil War, Union officers occupied the house and troops camped on the grounds which were adjacent to Fort Lyons. Fort Lyons was one of the Union forts erected in defense of Washington City.
Mosby's Second Visit
According to neighbor Anne Frobel's diary, John S. Mosby and his partisan rangers visited the Fairfax house twice. Sometimes in the summer of 1864, Mrs. Margaret Fairfax told Anne Frobel that Mosby had visited her house. The second time Mrs. Frobel's young girl, Milly, found the horse tracks and reported it to the nearby fort. Union cavalry searched the surrounding area all day, but didn't find the Gray Ghost.
Mrs. Fairfax Is Almost Killed From Anne Frobel's Diary Monday January 26, 1863:
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We were at Mrs. Fairfax's this evening and learned how narrowly she escaped being killed on Thursday last, she had just finished dressing and had left her room, when a ball came tearing through the walls and into her room, shivering the looking glass frame and splintering her bed stand and then dropped near the fireplace where two or three of her little children were standing. She says if she had been in bed she would have been killed. Mrs. Fairfax went out and searched all about, and through the bushes but could see no one.
Location. 38° 47.768′ N, 77° 5.277′ W. Marker is near Alexandria, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It is in Jefferson Manor. Marker is on Tennessee Drive east of Palin Place, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3398 Tennessee Drive, Alexandria VA 22303, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort Lyon (approx. 0.7 miles away); Lake Cook (approx. ¾ mile away); Schuyler Hamilton Jones (approx. 0.8 miles
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 29, 2019
2. Fairview – Caught in History's Crossfire Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 591 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 29, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.