Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-05

airy ii, 1861, to consider the matter of
secession. Janney was chosen presi-
dent of the convention and made
solemn address, warning the assem-
bly, of the far-reaching effects of the
action they were considering. When
the vote was taken1both the Loudoun
delegates were for remaining in the
Union. But at home secession senti-
ment was growing. A public meeting
was held at LeeSburg, at which the
cause of the South was Endorsed by
considerable majority. The Germans
and the Quakers stayed away. They
were not Shareholders. All their in
terests were with the Union.
When Virginia finally withdrew five
companies of Confederate troops were
mustered in the county. In add1-
ton, many of Mosby's rangers were
Loudoun men who objected to the
discipline of a regular organization.
They made the section their headquar-
tiers throughout the war. 1t was from
the Loudoun hills that they made
their sensational raids toward Wash
ington in the rear of the Federal
Army. The force seldom included
more than 100 soldiers, but their serv-
ices to- the Confederacy were of ines
Unable value. They were scattered
about on the farms, meeting by ap-
pointment at night and disbanding at
daylight.
Organize Cavalry Troops.
The Germans. with some Quakers,
organized two irregular cavalry COM
panies, the Loudoun Rangers, which
rendered valuable services to the
Union during the war. 1t was long
before they were entirely forgiven by
their neighbors for the part they
played.
Although the theater of at least two
major battles. Loudoun County escaped
the full brunt of the war until April.
1864, when Grant, angered by Mosby's
stings. ordered Sheridan to make
general cleanup of the Loudoun Valley
place all men under so under arrest as
prisoners of war, remove all negroes,
burn the barns and destroy the crops.
The work was thoroughly done by
Gen. Anger of the Sth Illinois Cav
airy, acting under Sheridan's orders.
He secured the county thoroughly be-
tween the Blue Ridge and Catoctin
Mountains, much as Sheridan himself
had secured the Shenandoah Valley.
The primary purpose of the operation,
the elimination of Mostly, was not &C
complished. The daring raider did not
call his men together. They remained
in hiding and very few of them were
captured. Those that fell into Auger's
hands escaped in few days and re-
Joined their leader.
Following, as nearly as can be as
certained from records at the Pension
Bureau, is the complete list of battles
and skirmishes fought on the soil OF
Loudoun County during the Civil War:
Many Are Slain.
Balls Bluff, October 10, 1S61-Fol-
lowing the first battle of Manassas.
Beauregard stationed the 7th Brigade
of the Confederate Army of the Po-
tomac, under Brig. Gen. Mathew G.
Evans, in Leesburg to guard his left
flank from Federal attack directed
through Maryland. Opposing this force
were two brigades of the Union Army,
stationed by Mcclellan across the Po-
tomac at Darnestown and Pooles-
vile, Md, to guard the right of the
army he was organizing in Washing
ton and to prevent a Confederate raid
on Washington or Baltimore. On the
day of the battle a Federal brigade
crossed the river at Edwards Ferry
and Balls Bluff, mile or two from
Leesburg. The Union troops had VEN
tured on desperate undertaking, the
success Of which depended on bring
ing troops across the Potomac rapidly
enough to outnumber the Confederates.
Evans ordered an attack along the
whole line The brunt of the battle
was borne by Massachusetts, troops
under Gen. Charles Devens, in whose
| honor one of the World War canton
ments was named. There was terrific
slaughter and many of the Union SOL
| diers were driven into the river, where
| they drowned. Comparatively few of
| them got back to safety across the
| Potomac.
| Among those severely wounded at
Balls Bluff was Oliver Wendell Holmes,
the veteran associate justice of the
! Supreme Court, who then was a cap
| tain under Devens. Had the Federal
attack succeeded 1t would have opened
up the rich Loudoun Valley, which re.
manned a granary for the Southern
Army until nearly the end of the war.
Stuart Guards Front.
Leesburg, Sept. 2, 1S62.-During
Lees movement north for the first
Maryland campaign his front toward
Washington was guarded by Gen.
j. E. b. Stuart and his cavalry COM
mand. Capt. Means with small
DOuy Ol OIlOu 1dfdEy was StdliOlicu
in LeeSburg. Stuart sent Col. Null
ford with a part of the End Virginia
Cavalry to clean him out. Means was
taken by surprise and chased as far
as Waterford. He lost 20 killed and
AZ prisoners.
Aide, June II, 1S63.-A cavalry
battle was fought between section
of. Stuarts command and two Union
Cavalry divisions under Gen. d. M
Gregg, a part of Pleasanton's com
mand Col. T. l.. Rosser of the
Southern forces succeeded in driving
back the Union charge on Aldie and
deployed sharpshooters behind hay
stacks along the Bluemont road. The
Federal Cavalry charged several
times, but was unable to drive the
Confederates out Of Aide, where they