The Civil War In Fairfax County

In his latest book, The Civil War in Fairfax County: Civilians and Soldiers, Charles Mauro has given voice to the heretofore silent majority of the participants in the Civil War: the civilians. This overdue study examines the full spectrum of men, women, slaves and freedmen who lived in Fairfax County, Virginia, during this chaotic, uncertain period. Drawn from the files of the Southern Claims Commission, Mauro recounts the stories the civilians told the Commission after the war to document their losses, lives and living conditions. The citizens of Fairfax County found themselves occupying front row seats at the most horrific show that this country has ever seen. Because of its position just across the Potomac River on the doorstep of the city of Washington, Fairfax County was heavily targeted by the Confederate army and defended with equal determination by the Union army. Fairfax was the first county in the South that the Union army invaded, and the last it occupied as soldiers were mustered out of service after the Grand Review. The Civil War in Fairfax County contains stories of the devastation that both armies brought upon the civilians and their property, as well as the daily strife caused by a war that pitted neighbor against neighbor and family members against themselves. It gives an important, fascinating and unprecedented look into the everyday lives of the civilians who lived through the most tumultuous four years in American history, in a county that was occupied by both the Confederate and Union armies throughout the entire Civil War.

The passage of time has brought with it vast alterations to the landscape of Northern Virginia and Fairfax County. Once a sleepy rural area dotted with a few small villages, it has changed into a bustling suburb that is now home to thousands of people. Throughout its history, Fairfax County has hosted presidents, been home to slave traders and been a strategic component in multiple campaigns during the Civil War. Remembering Fairfax County, Virginia by longtime local historian Karl Reiner is a collection of historical vignettes that captures not only the essence of the events and people who have shaped the history of Fairfax County, but also their impact on the Old Dominion. Reiner calls upon a breadth of materials, exploring much of the forgotten heritage in the county, to provide an accessible and balanced work that is both informative and entertaining. From the influence of presidents such as George Washington to forgotten battles during the Civil War, this collection chronicles the history of Fairfax County during some of the most influential periods in American history.

Battles, Skirmishes, Incidents & Events of The War Between the States occurring in Fairfax County, Virginia Two Volume Set, Book 2 of 2

The history of Northern Virginia's Fairfax County has been told many times but never through the lens of postcards documenting a county's transition and mirroring the changing face of American life. Readers can view Fairfax County's historic townscapes in communities like Herndon and the city of Fairfax. Explore the county's extensive military history through sites from the Civil War and images of daily life at Camp Humphreys and Fort Belvoir. Enjoy the diversity of places of worship, as well as various spots tourists and county residents have enjoyed during the last 300 years. Each postcard in the collection tells a story. Collectively they offer a unique view into the history of the county.

Join William C. Connery as he recounts the notable events and battles that occurred in Northern Virginia in 1861 after the firing on Fort Sumter. Beginning in May 1861, both the Confederate and Union armies assembled in Northern Virginia as politicians were deciding how and where the Civil War would be fought. Several months passed as both armies maneuvered and attempted to complete reconnaissance on the other. During this early time, the first officers on both sides were killed; Mount Vernon was declared neutral territory; the Confederate battle flag was adopted; and the first real battles of the war took place in Northern Virginia.

As told by the villagers themselves, this book details the history of Falls Church, Va., during the Civil War and how it fell victim to a duo of military "firsts". The first aerially-directed bombardment of a human settlement and the first use of aerial reconnaissance in the war by hot-air balloon.

The remarkable true story of the woman who sheltered Confederate soldiers and gathered intelligence—and the secret book given to her by J. E. B. Stuart. As the Civil War raged, Confederate brigadier general J. E. B. Stuart entrusted a secret album to Laura Ratcliffe, a young girl in Fairfax County, “as a token of his high appreciation of her patriotism, admiration of her virtues, and pledge of his lasting esteem.” A devoted Southerner, Laura provided a safe haven for Rebel forces, along with intelligence gathered from passing Union soldiers. Ratcliffe’s book contains four poems and forty undated signatures: twenty-six of Confederate officers and soldiers and fourteen of loyal Confederate civilians. In A Southern Spy in Northern Virginia, Charles V. Mauro uncovers the mystery behind this album, identifying who the soldiers were and when they could have signed its pages. The result is a fascinating look at the covert lives and relationships of civilians and soldiers during the war, kept hidden until now. Includes photos and illustrations

Fairfax County is far more than just a bedroom community for Washington, D.C. The county has been the site of crimes as shocking and fascinating as anything that happens across the Potomac. In 1898, troops from a Spanish-American War training camp looted their way across the area, even robbing a few graves. The twentieth century brought horrific murders, hysteria over a hatchet-wielding rabbit and an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus. The tenacity of suffragists jailed in the Lorton Workhouse changed the very character of our nation. Later, spies crisscrossed the county, leaving our country's Cold War secrets and millions in cash stuffed under bridges. Join author Cindy Bennett as she chronicles the wicked and wild side of Fairfax County.