Bristow in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Camp Jones
Bristoe Station
September 2, 2012
1. Camp Jones Marker
Inscription.
Camp Jones. Bristoe Station. From August through November of 1861, thousands of Confederate soldiers filled the acres surrounding Bristoe Station. These men belonged to the brigades of Brig. Gens. Henry Whiting and Cadmus Wilcox. This encampment was named Camp Jones after Col. Egbert Jones of the 4th Alabama Infantry, who died from wounds suffered at the First Battle of Manassas. Bristoe served as an ideal location for a large encampment, as it was near a fresh water source and close to the vital Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Camp Jones probably consisted of numerous unit encampments spread out around the Bristoe Station area., Poor sanitary conditions in the camps led to a massive outbreak of various diseases that resulted in nearly 1,000 deaths. Soldiers died from ailments such as yellow fever, dysentery, typhoid, measles and other contagious diseases. Most of these men were buried in various cemeteries organized by their state of origin., By November 1861, most of the Confederates had moved from Camp Jones to other areas of Prince William and Fairfax Counties. This area would continue to host several camps from both sides throughout the war, including a large Federal encampment during the winter of 1863-1864., I find the health of the Reg. terrible. Only about two hundred and thirty fit for duty and many of the sick desperately ill. I fear we shall have a great many deaths before we get through. And accommodations are adverse, worse than on march. I shall do all in my power to relieve these poor fellows… , Col. Willam Dorsey Pender, Camp Jones, Near Manassas, August 27, 1861
From August through November of 1861, thousands of Confederate soldiers filled the acres surrounding Bristoe Station. These men belonged to the brigades of Brig. Gens. Henry Whiting and Cadmus Wilcox. This encampment was named Camp Jones after Col. Egbert Jones of the 4th Alabama Infantry, who died from wounds suffered at the First Battle of Manassas. Bristoe served as an ideal location for a large encampment, as it was near a fresh water source and close to the vital Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Camp Jones probably consisted of numerous unit encampments spread out around the Bristoe Station area.
Poor sanitary conditions in the camps led to a massive outbreak of various diseases that resulted in nearly 1,000 deaths. Soldiers died from ailments such as yellow fever, dysentery, typhoid, measles and other contagious diseases. Most of these men were buried in various cemeteries organized by their state of origin.
By November 1861, most of the Confederates had moved from Camp Jones to other areas of Prince William and Fairfax Counties. This area would continue to host several camps from both sides throughout the war, including a large Federal encampment during the winter of 1863-1864.
I find the health of the Reg. terrible. Only about two hundred and thirty fit for duty and many of the sick desperately ill. I fear
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we shall have a great many deaths before we get through. And accommodations are adverse, worse than on march. I shall do all in my power to relieve these poor fellows… — Col. Willam Dorsey Pender, Camp Jones, Near Manassas, August 27, 1861
Erected 2012 by Prince William County Department of Public Works, Historic Preservation Division.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.
Location. 38° 43.568′ N, 77° 32.709′ W. Marker is in Bristow, Virginia, in Prince William County. Marker can be reached from Iron Brigade Unit Ave.. Marker is located on the 1861-1862 Trail at Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bristow VA 20136, United States of America. Touch for directions.
sectionhead>More about this marker. The marker displays a portrait captioned Col. William Dorsey Pender Courtesy Library of Congress, a map of CSA Campsites Fall 1861-Winter 1862 and a photo captioned Camp Jones probably appeared much like this image of a Federal Camp during the Civil War. Courtesy Library of Congress
Credits. This page was last revised on June 10, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2012. This page has been viewed 1,077 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on September 2, 2012. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
