Leesburg in Loudoun County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Lee Comes to Leesburg
Conference at Harrison Hall
Photographed By Craig Swain, May 11, 2011
1. Lee Comes to Leesburg Marker
Inscription.
Lee Comes to Leesburg. Conference at Harrison Hall. On the afternoon of September 4, 1862, five days after the Confederate victory at the Second Battle of Manassas, throngs of well-wishers lined Leesburg's streets, including King Street behind you, to welcome the threadbare but jubilant Army of Northern Virginia as it marched through the town. Among its 55,000 men was a horse-drawn ambulance carrying the army's injured commander, Gen. Robert E. Lee. Here, before the grand entrance to Harrison Hall, home of a distant relative of the Lees, the ambulance halted. Lee, hands bandaged - one broken, one badly sprained when his horse, Traveller, bolted at Second Manassas - was escorted inside and treated by local physician Samuel Jackson, who lived in the house to your right., That afternoon, in the first-floor room to the right of the front door, Lee quietly visited with his son Robert, a private in the Rockbridge Artillery. Later, escorted by two young daughters of the household, the general walked to the home of John Janney, which still stands at 10 Cornwall Street. Janney had served as president of the Virginia Secession Convention in 1861. Although Janney voted against secession, it was he who handed the sword of command of Virginia's troops to Lee., The next morning, a rare conference too place when Gens. Lee, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, J.E.B. Stuart, James Longstreet, and Lewis A. Armistead all assembled here in the dining room. When the generals later rose from their meeting, they had planned to execute Lee's daring decision to invade Maryland, which culminated at Antietam in the bloodiest day in American history., "The doorways and curbstones are like living bouquets of beauty - everything that wears a crinoline or pretty face is out." , - Felix de Fontaine, Charleston (SC) Daily Courier, 1862, on the reception of Lee's army into Leesburg
On the afternoon of September 4, 1862, five days after the Confederate victory at the Second Battle of Manassas, throngs of well-wishers lined Leesburg's streets, including King Street behind you, to welcome the threadbare but jubilant Army of Northern Virginia as it marched through the town. Among its 55,000 men was a horse-drawn ambulance carrying the army's injured commander, Gen. Robert E. Lee. Here, before the grand entrance to Harrison Hall, home of a distant relative of the Lees, the ambulance halted. Lee, hands bandaged - one broken, one badly sprained when his horse, Traveller, bolted at Second Manassas - was escorted inside and treated by local physician Samuel Jackson, who lived in the house to your right.
That afternoon, in the first-floor room to the right of the front door, Lee quietly visited with his son Robert, a private in the Rockbridge Artillery. Later, escorted by two young daughters of the household, the general walked to the home of John Janney, which still stands at 10 Cornwall Street. Janney had served as president of the Virginia Secession Convention in 1861. Although Janney voted against secession, it was he who handed the sword of command of Virginia's troops to Lee.
The next morning, a rare conference too place when Gens. Lee, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, J.E.B. Stuart, James Longstreet, and
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Lewis A. Armistead all assembled here in the dining room. When the generals later rose from their meeting, they had planned to execute Lee's daring decision to invade Maryland, which culminated at Antietam in the bloodiest day in American history.
"The doorways and curbstones are like living bouquets of beauty - everything that wears a crinoline or pretty face is out." - Felix de Fontaine, Charleston (SC) Daily Courier, 1862, on the reception of Lee's army into Leesburg
Erected 2011 by Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 4, 1941.
Location. 39° 7.062′ N, 77° 33.82′ W. Marker is in Leesburg, Virginia, in Loudoun County. Marker is at the intersection of North King Street (Business U.S. 15) and North Street, on the right when traveling south on North King Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 205 North King Street, Leesburg VA 20176, United States of America. Touch for directions.
On the lower right of the marker is a painting by Mort Kunstler. Gen. Robert E. Lee, seated with Gen. James Longstreet, presided over the council of war at Harrison Hall on September 5, 1862. Pointing to the map is Lee's "right arm," Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, who is accompanied by members of his staff, Dr. Hunter McGuire and his chief aid Sandy Pendleton. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, Lee's chief of cavalry, stands on the right, and Gen. Lewis A. Armistead stands between Lee and Stuart. On the extreme right is Lee's trusted aide, Lt. Col. Charles Marshall.
Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 19, 2020
6. The Home of John Janney
The house still stands nearby at 10 Cornwall Street. The large bushes in front of the home have been removed.
Photographed By Bradley Owen, October 19, 2020
7. Harrison Hall
Now known as the Glenfiddich House.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,744 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 11, 2011, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6, 7. submitted on March 10, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.