The Washington times., 1933-06-24

It lies a lew SnOrC miles, Dy mo-
tor, from Washington on excellent
paved highways. Fine farms line
the roads a little beyond Washing
ton; close to the Capital are the
suburban homes of those who
work in the city and retire to the
cool of the country at night.
This weeks. Washington Times
tour takes us to Warrenton, The
Plains, Middleburg, Fairfax and
by the Bull Run battlefields.
The trip from Washington to
Warrenton is over United States
Route I'll, transcontinental
highway named in honor of Gen.
Robert E. Lee. General Lee won
one of his major victories on this
road, the second battle Of Bull
Run or Manassas, the name de-
pending on what part of the
country you are from. SouthernerS
refer to it as the battle of Manas-
sas from the town of that name
which lies a few miles to the
south. To the Northerners, it is
Bull Run because of the stream
that flows through the battle
field and which played an i'm
portant part in the two engage
ments.
Pass Key Bridge
The excursionists leave Wash
ington over the Key Bridge,
named for Francis Scott Key, au-
thor of "The Star-Spangled Ban
ner" and at one time a resident
of Georgetown. A right turn is
made at the end of the bridge
in Rosslyn onto the Lee High,
way.
Passing the eastern terminal of
the Washington and Old Domin'
ion Railroad, the road winds into
Cherrydale and on to Falls
Church. Important roads intersect
in this old town and on the left
just beyond the traffic light, is
the Falls Church, erected in 1853
used as a recruiting station dur
ing the Revolutionary War and
as a stable by the Federal cav
airy in the Civil War.
George Washington was a
vestryman, in the church built
there is 1884. The old graveyard
is worth attention to those inter
ested in history.
New homes and tourists cot
cages line the road as it winds tc
Fairfax, nine miles west. On the
,outskirts of Fairfax, the Lee High
way bears to the right. Keeping
straight ahead for about two
miles the motorist soon is ir
front of the old court house ir
which are on display the wills OF
George and Martha Washington
It was in this old town that
one of the first fatal encounters
of the Civil War occurred. It was
here, too, that Col. John S. Mosby
leader of band of irregular Con
federate cavalry, penetrated the
Union lines for more than a mile
and captured the Union leader
General Stoughton. The General
asleep at the time of the raid
was rudely routed out of bed
made to dress, and with mum
ber Of his staff, herded at pisto
point through his own pickets
and to the headquarters of Gen
j. E. B. Stuart as a prisoner o1
war.
Old Battlefield
At the end of the civil war, the
area around Fairfax was virtu
ally a deserted battlefield, pock
marked with abandoned camps
forts and earthWorks and military
equipment.
Today, however, it is a peace
full community, resounding only
to the roar of the thousands OF
automobile motors which daily
travel through it. Because o1
the number of main roads tt
Washington and Alexandria from
the area, Fairfax is rapidly be
coming the home of hundreds oil
persons employed in washington
A mile out of Fairfax, U. S
Route 211 bears to the left fol-
Centreville. The road runs straight
through a rolling country now
strictly rural. Along the roac
are many places to rest and eat
and gasoline stations are plenti
full.
Along the road are many old
time country homes. Some are ir
sad shape, others a little better
while some have been done com
pletely over and present a charm
ing appearance with their flower
gardens and surrounding trees.
Centreville is an important roads
junction. State Route % bears
left for the town of Manassas
county seat of Prince William
county and a well-known point
on the Southern Railway system
A dirt road bears off to the right
for Chantilly. once called o.
Hill, scene of a bitter fight dur
ing the civil war. U. S. 211 con
tinueS straight down a long grade
from Centreville.
Historic Bridge
A few miles beyond Centrevillt
is the Bull Run battlefield. Tht
old stone bridge, which, accord
ing to local history, was covered
with blood spilled in the laugh,
ter of the First Manassas, is {
few feet to the right of the new
highway.
The bridge bears historical
markers and is easily identified
the moment it is seen. The
Confederates under General Beau
regard held the heights of Henry
Farm and from this advantageous