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Battle of Dranesville

January 01, 1970

38°59′43.7″N 77°20′13.9″W / 38.995472°N 77.337194°W / 38.995472; -77.337194

Battle of Dranesville
Part of the American Civil War

Battle of Dranesville
DateDecember 20, 1861 (1861-12-20)
Location
Fairfax County, Virginia
Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union) CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Edward O. C. Ord J. E. B. Stuart
Strength
5,000 [1] 4,000 [1]
Casualties and losses
71 230

The Battle of Dranesville was a small battle during the American Civil War that took place between Confederate forces under Brigadier General J. E. B. Stuart and Union forces under Brigadier General Edward O. C. Ord on December 20, 1861, in Fairfax County, Virginia, as part of Major General George B. McClellan's operations in northern Virginia. The two forces on similar winter time patrols encountered and engaged one another in the crossroads village of Dranesville. The battle resulted in a Union victory.

Background edit

 
Approximate site of the battle, seen in 2017

Following the Battle of Ball's Bluff on October 21, major offensive action was halted in the eastern theater, as both armies went into winter quarters. Small detachments were still occasionally sent out to probe the enemy's position and to obtain forage. Such was the case early on the morning of December 20 when General Stuart, with a mixed brigade of infantry comprising the regiments of the 6th South Carolina, 1st Kentucky, 10th Alabama, and 11th Virginia, 150 of his cavalry troopers and Allen S. Cutts's four-gun Georgia battery, set out north from their position near Centreville to escort the army's wagons trains on a foraging expedition into Loudoun County. Meanwhile, General Ord, leading the 10,000 strong 3rd Brigade of Pennsylvania Reserves set out west from Langley to clear the south bank of the Potomac River of Confederate pickets and partisans in Fairfax and Loudoun. At Colvin Run Mill, Ord left half his force to protect his rear and prevent his force from being cut off from their base at Langley.

Opposing forces edit

Union edit

 
Brigadier General Edward O. C. Ord

Commander: Brigadier General Edward O. C. Ord
Regiments[nb 1]

Confederate edit

 
Brigadier General J. E. B. Stuart

Commander: Brigadier General J. E. B. Stuart
Regiments[3]

Battle edit

 
Sketch of the Affair at Dranesville, Va.
Matz, Otto H., 1895

At about noon, Ord arrived at the intersection of the Georgetown Pike and Leesburg Pike in the village of Dranesville, where he encountered Stuart's advance cavalry pickets, which were quickly driven off by the Union force. Ord then began to lead his command west, down the Leesburg Pike. At around 1 p.m. Stuart, with the main body of his force approached Dranesville from the south, whereupon he encountered the rear of the Union detachment.

Ord halted his infantry and wheeled it around to meet the Confederate threat, forming a line on the north side of the Leesburg Pike. He then deployed his artillery on an eminence near the intersection. Stuart deployed his infantry on the south side of the pike and his artillery 300 yards south of the federal position. While the Confederate infantry was deploying, the 1st Kentucky mistook the 6th South Carolina for Union troops and opened fire, which was quickly returned by the Carolinians.[4] The 11th Virginia advanced, supported by the 10th Alabama but were stopped by heavy fire. The colonel of the 10th Alabama, John Forney, was wounded, and the lieutenant colonel, James B. Martin, was killed.[3]

Hearing the sound of gunfire, the 9th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment charged across the turnpike but were quickly driven back. The artillery then began to duel, but owing to the strength of the Union position, the Confederate guns were quickly knocked out. Ord deployed his infantry in a skirmish line and sent it across the Pike at Stuart and the two sides squared off for nearly 2 hours. At 3 p.m., with his wagons safely away and secure from capture, Stuart ordered a withdrawal. Ord pursued for a half mile, ensuring his line of retreat was safe, before breaking off the attack and returning to Langley.

The following day Stuart returned with reinforcements, but the battle was already over.

Results edit

Though the battle was small, of no strategic importance and resulted in only light casualties, it marked the first time in the east that a Union force had bested their Confederate enemy, inflicting 230 casualties while suffering only 71, and was able to drive them from the field.[5]

Notes edit

  1. ^ The 'dual names' of Pennsylvania Reserve Regiments are employed by Samuel P. Bates.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b (PDF). National Park Service. Civil War Sites Advisory Commission. p. 116. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  2. ^ Bates, Samuel P. (1869). History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865, Volume I. Harrisburg, PA: B. Singerly, State Printer. pp. 539–544, 692–719, 784–875, 907–1056. ASIN B002FK988S.
  3. ^ a b Stuart, J.E.B. "Official Report". Shotgun's Home of the American Civil War. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  4. ^ Woodward, Thomas (1883). Address of Maj. Thomas W. Woodward, delivered before the Survivors Association of the Sixth Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, at Chester S.C., on 9th August, 1883. Fort Sumter to Dranesville. Columbia, S.C.: The Presbyterian Publishing House. p. 25.
  5. ^ "Dranesville".
  • Salmon, John S. The Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide.Stackpole Books; Mechanicsburg, Pa. 2001.
  • Evans, Thomas J and James M. Moyer. Mosby's Confederacy:A Guide to the Roads and Sites of Colonel John Singleton Mosby. White Mane Publishing Company, Inc. Shippensburg, Pa. 1991. p. 46.

External links edit

  • National Park Service battle description
  • CWSAC Report

January 01, 1970
battle, dranesville, 995472, 337194, 995472, 337194, part, american, civil, wardatedecember, 1861, 1861, locationfairfax, county, virginiaresultunion, victorybelligerentsunited, states, union, confederacy, commanders, leadersedward, ordj, stuartstrength5, casu. 38 59 43 7 N 77 20 13 9 W 38 995472 N 77 337194 W 38 995472 77 337194 Battle of DranesvillePart of the American Civil WarBattle of DranesvilleDateDecember 20 1861 1861 12 20 LocationFairfax County VirginiaResultUnion victoryBelligerentsUnited States Union CSA Confederacy Commanders and leadersEdward O C OrdJ E B StuartStrength5 000 1 4 000 1 Casualties and losses71230 The Battle of Dranesville was a small battle during the American Civil War that took place between Confederate forces under Brigadier General J E B Stuart and Union forces under Brigadier General Edward O C Ord on December 20 1861 in Fairfax County Virginia as part of Major General George B McClellan s operations in northern Virginia The two forces on similar winter time patrols encountered and engaged one another in the crossroads village of Dranesville The battle resulted in a Union victory Contents 1 Background 2 Opposing forces 2 1 Union 2 2 Confederate 3 Battle 4 Results 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksBackground edit nbsp Approximate site of the battle seen in 2017 Following the Battle of Ball s Bluff on October 21 major offensive action was halted in the eastern theater as both armies went into winter quarters Small detachments were still occasionally sent out to probe the enemy s position and to obtain forage Such was the case early on the morning of December 20 when General Stuart with a mixed brigade of infantry comprising the regiments of the 6th South Carolina 1st Kentucky 10th Alabama and 11th Virginia 150 of his cavalry troopers and Allen S Cutts s four gun Georgia battery set out north from their position near Centreville to escort the army s wagons trains on a foraging expedition into Loudoun County Meanwhile General Ord leading the 10 000 strong 3rd Brigade of Pennsylvania Reserves set out west from Langley to clear the south bank of the Potomac River of Confederate pickets and partisans in Fairfax and Loudoun At Colvin Run Mill Ord left half his force to protect his rear and prevent his force from being cut off from their base at Langley Opposing forces editUnion edit nbsp Brigadier General Edward O C Ord Commander Brigadier General Edward O C Ord Regiments nb 1 6th Infantry Pennsylvania Reserves a k a 35th Pennsylvania Volunteers Lt Col William M Penrose 9th Infantry Pennsylvania Reserves a k a 38th Pennsylvania Volunteers Col Conrad Feger Jackson 10th Infantry Pennsylvania Reserves a k a 39th Pennsylvania Volunteers Col John S McCalmont 12th Infantry Pennsylvania Reserves a k a 41st Pennsylvania Volunteers Col John H Taggart Kane s 1st Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment a k a 42nd Pennsylvania Volunteers Lt Col l Thomas L Kane 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry a k a 44th Pennsylvania Volunteers Lt Col Jacob C Higgins 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Artillery a k a 43rd Pennsylvania Volunteers Lt Col Charles T Campbell Battery A Cpt Hezekiah Easton Battery F Cpt Ezra Matthews Confederate edit nbsp Brigadier General J E B Stuart Commander Brigadier General J E B Stuart Regiments 3 11th Virginia Volunteers Col Samuel Garland Jr 6th South Carolina Volunteers Lt Col Andrew J Secrest 10th Alabama Volunteers Col John Horace Forney 1st Kentucky Volunteers Col Thomas A Taylor 1st North Carolina Cavalry 100 man detachment Maj James B Gordon 2nd Virginia Cavalry Company C Cpt Andrew L Pitzer Sumter Flying Artillery Georgia Capt Allen S CuttsBattle edit nbsp Sketch of the Affair at Dranesville Va Matz Otto H 1895 At about noon Ord arrived at the intersection of the Georgetown Pike and Leesburg Pike in the village of Dranesville where he encountered Stuart s advance cavalry pickets which were quickly driven off by the Union force Ord then began to lead his command west down the Leesburg Pike At around 1 p m Stuart with the main body of his force approached Dranesville from the south whereupon he encountered the rear of the Union detachment Ord halted his infantry and wheeled it around to meet the Confederate threat forming a line on the north side of the Leesburg Pike He then deployed his artillery on an eminence near the intersection Stuart deployed his infantry on the south side of the pike and his artillery 300 yards south of the federal position While the Confederate infantry was deploying the 1st Kentucky mistook the 6th South Carolina for Union troops and opened fire which was quickly returned by the Carolinians 4 The 11th Virginia advanced supported by the 10th Alabama but were stopped by heavy fire The colonel of the 10th Alabama John Forney was wounded and the lieutenant colonel James B Martin was killed 3 Hearing the sound of gunfire the 9th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment charged across the turnpike but were quickly driven back The artillery then began to duel but owing to the strength of the Union position the Confederate guns were quickly knocked out Ord deployed his infantry in a skirmish line and sent it across the Pike at Stuart and the two sides squared off for nearly 2 hours At 3 p m with his wagons safely away and secure from capture Stuart ordered a withdrawal Ord pursued for a half mile ensuring his line of retreat was safe before breaking off the attack and returning to Langley The following day Stuart returned with reinforcements but the battle was already over Results editThough the battle was small of no strategic importance and resulted in only light casualties it marked the first time in the east that a Union force had bested their Confederate enemy inflicting 230 casualties while suffering only 71 and was able to drive them from the field 5 Notes edit The dual names of Pennsylvania Reserve Regiments are employed by Samuel P Bates 2 References edit a b Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Updated Report on the Nation s Civil War Battlefields PDF National Park Service Civil War Sites Advisory Commission p 116 Archived from the original PDF on 3 April 2015 Retrieved 1 June 2021 Bates Samuel P 1869 History of Pennsylvania Volunteers 1861 1865 Volume I Harrisburg PA B Singerly State Printer pp 539 544 692 719 784 875 907 1056 ASIN B002FK988S a b Stuart J E B Official Report Shotgun s Home of the American Civil War Retrieved 20 February 2012 Woodward Thomas 1883 Address of Maj Thomas W Woodward delivered before the Survivors Association of the Sixth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers at Chester S C on 9th August 1883 Fort Sumter to Dranesville Columbia S C The Presbyterian Publishing House p 25 Dranesville Salmon John S The Official Virginia Civil War Battlefield Guide Stackpole Books Mechanicsburg Pa 2001 Evans Thomas J and James M Moyer Mosby s Confederacy A Guide to the Roads and Sites of Colonel John Singleton Mosby White Mane Publishing Company Inc Shippensburg Pa 1991 p 46 External links editNational Park Service battle description CWSAC Report Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Dranesville amp oldid 1171947855, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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