Fairfax County, Virginia, 1 June, 1861
Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, circa July 1861
Skirmish at Fairfax Courthouse
Army of the Potomac
Lieutenant Colonel R S Ewell, cavalry, Provisional Army of Virginia
- Warrenton Rifles: CAPT. J Q Marr
Captain J Q Marr, Warrenton Rifles, was killed during the skirmish at Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, at 3 AM on 1 June, 1861, and First Lieutenant B H Shackleford, Warrenton Rifles, was appointed captain, Warrenton Rifles, on 3 June, 1861. The company was assigned to the 17th Virginia Infantry, Company K, by General Orders No.19, Headquarters, Department of Alexandria, Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 18 June, 1861 (See the 17th Virginia Infantry). - Prince William Cavalry, detachment: CAPT. W W Thornton
The company was assigned to the Sixth Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Colonel J A Early, 24th Virginia Infantry, by Special Orders No.64, Paragraph IV, Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 24 June, 1861 (See Scott's Squadron Cavalry). - Rappahannock Cavalry/ Old Guards: CAPT. J S Green
The company was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under the command of Brigadier General R S Ewell, Confederate States Army, by Special Orders No.112, Paragraph II, Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, on 14 July, 1861 (See Jenifer's Battalion Cavalry).
McDowell's Army
- Second United States Cavalry, Company B, detachment: First Lt. C H Tompkins
Second Lieutenant D S Gordon, 2nd United States Dragoons, was temporarily assigned to the 2nd United States Cavalry, Company B, in the evening on 31 May, 1861 (See the United States Battalion Cavalry).
Books/ Manuscripts
Memoirs of Governor William Smith, of Virginia, his political, military, and personal history, by John W Bell
Confederate General R. S. Ewell: Robert E. Lee's hesitant commander, by Paul D Casdorph
Battle at Bull Run: A history of the first major campaign of the Civil War, by W C Davis
History of the United States Cavalry: From the formation of the Federal Government to the 1st of June, 1863, by Albert Gallatin Brackett
Notes
Lieutenant Colonel R S Ewell, cavalry, Provisional Army of Virginia
Lieutenant Colonel R S Ewell, cavalry, Provisional Army of Virginia, was ordered to Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 27 May, 1861.
Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, to Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, Prince William Cavalry & Rappahannock Cavalry/ Old Guards, 27 May, 1861: The Prince William Cavalry was ordered to Centreville, Fairfax County, Virginia, at 10 AM on 27 May, 1861, and was accompanied by Brigadier General M L Bonham, Confederate States Army. The company was ordered to Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the evening on 27 May, 1861, and was accompanied by the Rappahannock Cavalry/ Old Guards (See the First Brigade, Army of the Potomac).
Note: The Rappahannock Cavalry/ Old Guards was stationed at Centreville, Fairfax County, Virgina, on 27 May, 1861 (See Jenifer's Battalion Cavalry).
Centreville to Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, Warrenton Rifles, 31 May, 1861: The Warrenton Rifles arrived at Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the evening on 31 May, 1861.
Note: Ex-Governor W Smith, State of Virginia, arrived at Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, at 5 PM on 31 May, 1861, and was stationed at J Gunnell's, opposite the Fairfax Courthouse lot, Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the evening on 31 May, 1861 (See the 49th Virginia Infantry).
Disposition of troops at Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, 31 May, 1861: The Warrenton Rifles was stationed at the Methodist Church/ Duncan Chapel, south of the Fairfax Courthouse lot, Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia; the Prince William Cavalry at the Zion Episcopal Church, on the Little River Turnpike, west of Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia; and the Rappahannock Cavalry/ Old Guards at Fairfax Courthouse and lot, on the Little River Turnpike, Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the evening on 31 May, 1861.
Note: Lieutenant Colonel R S Ewell, cavalry, Provisional Army of Virginia, was stationed at the Union Hotel, on the Little River Turnpike, Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the evening on 31 May, 1861.
J Cooper's Carriage Shop, on the Little River Turnpike, west of Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, detachment of Warrenton Rifles, 1 June, 1861: A detachment of the Warrenton Rifles, under the command of Ex-Governor W Smith, State of Virginia, was stationed at and opposite J Cooper's Carriage Shop, on the Little River Turnpike, west of Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the morning on 1 June, 1861.
Note: Ex-Governor W Smith, State of Virginia, was was assigned to command a detachment of the Warrenton Rifles (40/45) at Stevenson's farm, southwest of Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the morning on 1 June, 1861.
Troops stationed at Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, 1 June, 1861: Lieutenant Colonel R S Ewell, cavalry, Provisional Army of Virginia; Ex-Governor W Smith, State of Virginia; Warrenton Rifles (90/96), Captain J Q Marr; Prince William Cavalry (62), detachment, Captain W W Thornton; Rappahannock Cavalry/ Old Guards, Captain J S Green
Note: A detachment of the Prince William Cavalry (32), under the command of Captain W W Thornton, was assigned to picket duty during the skirmish at Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the morning on 1 June, 1861.
List of killed, etc, during the skirmish at Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, 1 June, 1861: Captain J Q Marr, Warrenton Rifles, killed; Lieutenant Colonel R S Ewell, cavalry, Provisional Army of Virginia, wounded; Prince William Cavalry, captured 3; Rappahannock Cavalry/ Old Guards, captured 1; Killed 1, wounded 1, captured 4
Fairfax Station to Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, Goochland Light Dragoons & Hanover Light Dragoons, 1 June, 1861: The Goochland Light Dragoons and the Hanover Light Dragoons were stationed at Fairfax Station, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 31 May, 1861, and arrived at Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, at 5/6 AM on 1 June, 1861.
Note: Captain W W Thornton, Prince William Cavalry, was ordered to Fairfax Station, Fairfax County, Virginia, in the morning on 1 June, 1861 (See Scott's Squadron Cavalry).
Centreville to Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, 1st South Carolina Infantry, Company E, 1 June, 1861: The 1st South Carolina Infantry, Company E, was stationed at Camp Gregg, Centreville, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 31 May, 1861, and arrived at Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 1 June, 1861 (See the 1st South Carolina Infantry).
Manassas Junction, Prince William County, to Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, 1st Virginia Infantry, Companies B, D, G, & K, 1-2 June, 1861: The 1st Virginia Infantry, Companies B, D, G, and K, under the command of Major W Munford, were ordered to Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, at 8 PM on 1 June, 1861, and arrived via Fairfax Station and W Farr's Crossroad's, one and a quarter miles south of Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, at 6 AM on 2 June, 1861 (See the 1st Virginia Infantry).
First Lieutenant C H Tompkins, 2nd United States Cavalry, Company B
The 2nd United States Cavalry, Company B, was stationed at Camp Union, south of Ross', Arlington Heights, Alexandria County, Virginia, on 31 May, 1861.
South of Ross', Arlington Heights, Alexandria County, to Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, detachment of 2nd United States Cavalry, Company B, 31 May-1 June, 1861: A detachment of the 2nd United States Cavalry, Company B, under the command of First Lieutenant C H Tompkins, was ordered on a scouting expedition to Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, at 10.30 PM on 31 May, 1861, and was accompanied by Second Lieutenant D S Gordon, 2nd United States Dragoons, Company E, and Assistant Quartermaster W Cary, Quartermaster H S Fearing, and Adjutant P Frank, 5th New York States Militia. The detachment of the 2nd United States Cavalry, Company B, was engaged in a skirmish at Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, at 3 AM on 1 June, 1861 (See the Three Months' Volunteers, Department of Washington).
Organisation of reconnaissance to Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, 31 May-1 June, 1861: First Lieutenant C H Tompkins, 2nd United States Cavalry, Company B; Second Lieutenant D S Gordon, 2nd United States Dragoons, Company E; 2nd United States Cavalry (50), Company B; Quartermaster H S Fearing, Assistant Quartermaster W Cary, Adjutant P Frank, 5th New York State Militia (See the United States Battalion Cavalry)
List of killed, etc, detachment of 2nd United States Cavalry, Company B, during the skirmish at Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, 1 June, 1861: Killed 1, wounded 4, missing 1, total 6
Note: First Lieutenant C H Tompkins, 2nd United States Cavalry, Company B, and Assistant Quartermaster W Cary, 5th New York State Militia, were wounded during the skirmish at Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, on 1 June, 1861.
Reports
OFFICIAL REPORT NO.2: Series I, Volume 2 (Serial No.2), Chapter IX, p60
First Lieutenant C H Tompkins, Second United States Cavalry, dated Camp Union, in the vicinity of Arlington, Alexandria County, Virginia, 1 June, 1861
OFFICIAL REPORT NO.4: Series I, Volume 2 (Serial No.2), Chapter IX, p61-62
Brigadier General M L Bonham, Confederate States Army, dated Camp Pickens, Manassas Junction, Prince William County, Virginia, 1 and 2 June, 1861
OFFICIAL REPORT NO.5: Series I, Volume 2 (Serial No.2), Chapter IX, p63-64
Lieutenant Colonel R S Ewell, Provisional Army of Virginia, dated Fairfax Courthouse, Fairfax County, Virginia, 1 June, 1861
Orders of Battle
The above painting, 'The Fourth Alabama', is by Don Troiani, modern America's finest historical artist.