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

chased them through the gap and
across the Shenandoah. When Sar-
gents caValrymen reached the river
they ran into heavy musketry from
the windows of houses on the other
side and were forced back. One of
the infantry detachments, however,
charged on to the river through a
mistake in orders and suffered very
heavy losses from the musketry.
Smokers Gap, September II, 1864
A Union Cavalry Brigade under Brig.
Gen. George A. Chapman moved from
the east into the gap. where they were
to be Joined by detachment of so
men sent over the mountains early
through Ashbys Gap. This detach-
ment reached the meeting place ahead
of time and was surprised and almost
annihilated by the Confederates before
the main body came up.
Infantry Driven Back.
Snickersvile, November s, 1862
Lieut.. Col. J. S. Fillebrown and the
10th Main Infantry was attacked by
ConfederateS near Snickersville and
forced to retreat, but got away with
light losses.
Snickersville, March 5, 1S64.-A
small detachment of the 1st New York
Cavalry was ordered to Purcellville
under an orderly sergeant for picket
duty. 1t took the wrong road and
ran into the Confederate lines near
Snickersville. Four were killed and
10 captured.
Lovettsville, October 81, 1S62.-Two
Federal brigades under Brig. Gen.
John w. Geary tried to intercept a
Confederate foraging train near
Lovettsville. They encountered a de-
tachment of enemy Cavalry, which
had been dismounted and stationed
as sharpshooters behind haystacks.
Geary ordered a Cavalry charge and
the Confederates were driven out with
heavy losses.
Clash With Pickets.
Lovettsville, January is. 1S61.-A
detachment of Confederate Cavalry
under Col. e. V. White crossed Short
Hill, 200 strong, and clashed with the
Federal pickets, killing several. The
entire Union regiment was turned out
and forced Whites flank He retired
with three killed and II wounded. The
Northern regiment lost two killed and
five wounded
Philomont, November 1, 1862
There was a clash between Pleason-
toms and Stuart's Cavalry, in which
the Northerners were being driven
back, when two regiments of horse
men under Col. David NJ Gregg were
rushed up to support them. Gregg
dismounted his men and threw them
into the woods as skirmishers. \
Confederate Artillery piece was turned
on Gregg's men, showering them with
grape and canister. They retired
with heavy losses.
10
E. V. White reported to Stuart that
-four of our men drove so Yankee
Cavalry out of town and captured two
negroes and three wagons" There
is no mention of this encounter in the
Union records.
Waterford, August s. 1S63.-A de-
tachment of los men of the 9Th
Michigan Cavalry were in camp at
this town. They were victims of a
surprise attack at midnight and
were routed. Fifty men were missing
the next morning.
NIOsby Attacks Cavalry.
Waterford. May II. 1S64.-Brig.
Gen. B. F. Kelly and detachment of
Independent Federal Cavalry were at.
and driven to Harpers Ferry. Two
Goose Creek, June IS, 1S63.-A
Union Cavalry brigade met enemy
skirmishers at Goose Creek bridge
and drove them to Philomont. Then
half the brigade was posted on the
hill south of the creek to enfilade the
road to the north and protect the
Federal rear.
These II battles and skirmishes
probably do not constitute COM
plete list of the engagements on the
soil of Loudoun County, since the
records of Mosby's raiders are incom-
plete and no report was made by the
Union Cavalry of some of the smaller
engagements.
largest town in Loudoun County, has
long and picturesque history.
Fort Is Established.
During the French and Indian wars
a frontier fort was established there
to protect the Bluemont pass. Prob
ably there were few houses around
1t. In 1857 the town was laid out by
Nicholas Minor on a 60-acre farm in
half-acre lots. The town was named
Georgetown. The next year the new
village was accepted as the seat of
the. county and the name changed to
81
Lee, the county lieutenant. The first
courthouse was completed in 1851.
The present building, the third to
stand on the site, was erected in 1894.
Leesburg in it's early years was a
frontier city where expeditions to the
county west of the Alleghanies were
QUILTED. 1t occupied somewhat the
same position as that filed by Pitts
burgh few years later and by st.
Joseph just before the Civil War.
The town now is one of the most
fiourishing communities in northern
Virginia, a trading center for all of
Loudoun County and with practically
every sort of store, and business
house. 1t has two large banks,
seven churches q $4,000 high school,
a county hospital and public library
which Is probably the finest in north