August 19, 1862 - Mary Jane Snyder's Ride & Pope's Retreat towards Manassas

August 19, 1862 

Mary Jane Snyder's Ride

Parsons, WV

Union Capt. William Hall

vs.

Confederate Col. John Imboden

* LADY-HERO ALERT!  

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=210403

"Confederate cavalry led by Col. John Imboden entered Pendleton County on August 17, 1862. On the 19th, Mary Jane Snyder, daughter of Union scout Capt. John Snyder, rode 25 miles through wilderness to warn Union Capt. William Hall, who was camped at the forks of Cheat River. Hall averted attack by moving his troops toward St. George and later to Rowlesburg."

*    *    *

Meanwhile, in original VA (somewhere between Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain, geographically speaking), Pope is backing into second Bull Run...

Two days ago:

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=4433

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=288573

Lee and Pope

To the south is Clark's Mountain, behind which Lee's army was gathered, August 17, 1862. From a signal station on the mountain top Lee looked down on Pope's army, which he wished to attack. Pope, realizing his danger, retired northward.

Erected 1927 by Conservation & Development Commission. (Marker Number F-16.)

And then, Northward:

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=280481

The Mill Along the River

The land on which you are standing was known as Martin's Grist Mill, which was established around 1804 and operated by a series of owners throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. The mill's prosperity was due in part its prime location beside the Road to Culpeper, which crossed the river by way of a ford and later an iron bridge built in 1885. The Orange and Alexandria Railroad, finished in 1152, bounded the property on the east side and continued north from the river approximately half of a mile to Rappahannock Station.

August 19, 1862. Timothy O'Sullivan look this picture in 1862, then titled "Fugitive Negroes fording the Rappahannock (during Pope's retreat)," about 200 yards downstream of Martin's Mill at Cow Ford, as the Federal Army retreating from Culpeper County. Martin's .Mill, the miller's hope, and the railroad bridge can be seen in the background. This well-known image captures a profound and significant act as it was occurring—freedom seekers, emancipating themselves and on their journey to an uncertain future. 

Flour Mill of P. B. Lewis and the Southern Railway Bridge, ca. 1905. … mill underwent a series of improvements, as noted in the Alexandria Gazette on August … is said to be replaced by a new and modern building." The property was then described … together with 20 acres of land, water power rights and privileges, mill machinery of alt kinds … shaftings, pulleys, a metal mill wheel, and tool within the mill consisting of rollers, … two shovels, grind stone, wrenches, scoops two scales, weights, and office furniture.

Erected by Fauquier County Parks & Recreation.

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=254654

Martin's Grist Mill

Down the hill from where you are standing is the site of Martin's Mill constructed by brothers George and Francis Martin around 1804. Powered by water, early 19th century grist mills were essential to the success of Fauquier County farmers, providing an efficient means to process locally grown corn and wheat to be transported to distant markets. Martin's Mill was a wood frame structure with a raised stone foundation that stood three stories along the banks of the Rappahannock River. It was noted for its "undershot," interior water wheel, which turned with the flow of the water that was dammed and channeled through a mill race, a feature still visible today.

The miller's house, described as a "two story, metal roof, frame building," stood above the mill. After the deaths of George Martin in 1822 and Francis Martin 1824, Elizabeth Martin, George's widow, lived on the thirteen acre mill tract with her son Charles, 31 enslaved people, and one free man of color who most likely assisted in the operation of the mill.

Martin's Mill changed ownership several times, known as Morgan's Mill during the Civil War, the George Lewis Flour & Grist Mill by 1880, and in the early 20th century, the mill of P. B. Lewis & Son, "manufacturer of high, patent, family and extra four." The grist mill served the surrounding area for more than 100 years until 1920 when it was conveyed to A.R. Hord who along with other investors, developed it into the short-lived Remington Electrical and Light Power Company Plant.

August 1862 - Morgan's Mill and the reconstructed Orange & Alexandria Railroad Bridge

This picture was taken from the south bank of the river after the first Battle of Rappahannock Station, during which the railroad bridge was burned. In his reconnaissance report made on April 7, 1862, Federal Lt. Col. T. J. Lucas described to his superior, "The earthworks command the ford at the burnt bridge. The river at the ford is about 300 feet wide...situated on the northeast bank is a large flouring mill, owned by a person in the Confederate Army and said to contain a considerable amount of grain."

Please tread lightly and with consideration. You are walking on an archaeological site.

 

Erected by Fauquier County Parks & Recreation.