Civil war skirmish took place in Annandale 150 years ago
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| A sketch of the Annandale skirmish from the Civil War Washington, D.C. blog. It was originally published in the Illustrated London News. |
Thanks to local resident and history enthusiast Steven Berkowitz for pointing out an important sesquicentennial: Friday, Dec. 2, was the 150th anniversary of the skirmish in Annandale, which took place between Union and Confederate forces along Little River Turnpike. He describes the skirmish in his Civil War Washington, D.C., blog.
The conflict occurred on the afternoon of Dec. 2, 1861, when troops from South Carolina approached and fired upon detachments from two New York regiments who were on picket duty at an unfinished section of the Manassas Gap railroad. According to Berkowitz, at least two Confederates and one Union soldier were killed.
A historic marker commemorating the “Action at Annandale” was installed in front of George Mason Regional Library in spring 2010, and a dedication ceremony in October 2010 featured re-enactors, elected officials, and historians.
