Battle of Arlington Mills
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Arlington Mills, Virginia
was a small skirmish that was one of the first military engagements of the American Civil War
. It occurred at about 11:00 p.m. on the night of June 1, 1861. The Battle of Fairfax Court House (June 1861)
took place earlier that day. The skirmish at Arlington Mills occurred a week after the Union Army
occupation of the area of Virginia opposite Washington, D.C. on May 24, 1861. Under cover of darkness, a squad of as few as nine Virginia
, soon to be Confederate
, soldiers, fired a volley at Union Army
soldiers from Company E of the 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment (90-day)
and Company G of the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (1st New York Fire Zouaves). These companies had camped and were performing picket duty at Arlington Mill or Arlington Mills, Virginia. During the brief and confused exchange of gunfire in the dark, one Union soldier was killed and another was wounded while one Confederate soldier was wounded. This small and brief affair was one of the first combat actions of the American Civil War. The affair showed that despite the Union Army occupation of areas of northern Virginia across from Washington, D.C., Confederates could still operate in that area and strike the Union forces close to the capital city.
in the harbor Charleston, South Carolina
to Confederate forces on April 14, 1861. The next day, President
Abraham Lincoln
called for 75,000 volunteers to serve for 90 days in order to reclaim federal property and to suppress the rebellion begun by the seven Deep South
states which had formed the Confederate States of America
(Confederacy). Four Upper South States, including Virginia, refused to furnish troops for this purpose. Instead, political leaders in these states began the process of secession
from the Union with the intent of joining the Confederacy. On April 17, 1861, a convention for the purpose of considering the secession of Virginia began in Richmond, Virginia
. The convention immediately passed an ordinance of secession and authorized the governor to call for volunteers to join the military forces of Virginia to defend the state against Federal military action. Despite scheduling a popular vote to ultimately determine whether Virginia would secede from the Union, the actions of the Virginia Secession Convention and of the state government, especially Virginia Governor
John Letcher
, effectively took Virginia out of the Union. Governor Letcher appointed Robert E. Lee
, who had just resigned as a colonel
in the U.S. Army, as commander in chief of Virginia’s army and navy forces on April 22, 1861 at the grade of major general. On April 24, 1861, Virginia and the Confederate States agreed that the Virginia forces would be under the overall direction of the Confederate President, Jefferson Davis
, pending completion of the process of Virginia joining the Confederate States.
The 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, under the command of Colonel Orlando Willcox, was a three-month regiment, the only such regiment from Michigan. The unit was organized at Fort Wayne, Detroit, Michigan
, and mustered into United States service on May 1, 1861. The regiment left the State of Michigan for Washington, D.C. on May 13, 1861, reached Washington on May 16, 1861 and occupied Arlington Heights, Virginia and Alexandria, Virginia
on May 24, 1861. Orlando Willcox was soon given brigade command. With Willcox in command of the brigade, the regiment was commanded by Major Alonzo F. Bidwell. The 1st Michigan Infantry (90-day) was attached to Orlando Willcox's Brigade, Samuel Heintzelman's Division, Irwin McDowell's Army of Northeastern Virginia
. A three–year regiment with the same regiment number replaced the 90–day 1st Michigan Infantry Regiment after the original 1st Michigan Infantry Regiment was mustered out of the Union Army at the end of its term of service. First, however, the 90–day men (many of whom re–enlisted) would have to fight in the Battle of First Bull Run
(Battle of First Manassas).
On May 7, 1861 the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (1st New York Fire Zouaves) was mustered in to Federal service to serve for the duration of the war, not just for 3 months or a limited period of time. Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth
commanded the regiment. The 11th New York Infantry served in the same brigade as the 1st Michigan Infantry at the First Battle of Bull Run
(Battle of First Manassas). The regiment suffered extensive casualties, including many taken prisoner, at the First Battle of Bull Run during the fighting on Henry House Hill
and while serving as the rear guard for the retreating Union army. Eventually, on June 2, 1862, after a period of service on guard duty at Newport News, Virginia
, near Fort Monroe
, the regiment, which had been suffering discipline problems, was mustered out. Many of its remaining members, including men who joined after the First Battle of Bull Run, re–enlisted in other regiments.
The secession of Virginia was ratified by a popular vote on May 23, 1861. Virginia Governor Letcher issued a proclamation officially transferring Virginia forces to the Confederacy on June 6, 1861. Major General Robert E. Lee, commanding the state forces, issued an order in compliance with the proclamation on June 8, 1861.
Despite the presence of Virginia forces in league with the Confederacy in Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., President Lincoln did not wish to make a provocative military move into Virginia until after the popular vote on secession of the state had taken place. In the early morning hours of May 24, 1861, the day after the vote, the 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment and the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment crossed the Long Bridge into Arlington and occupied Arlington Heights. Part of the 1st Michigan Infantry, along with part of the 11th New York Infantry, continued to Alexandria while the other companies of the 11th New York Infantry crossed the Potomac by boat and occupied the town. It was during this operation that Colonel Ellsworth took down a secessionist flag at the Marshall House
hotel and was killed by its proprietor James W. Jackson
. Jackson, in turn, was immediately killed by Private Francis E. Brownell
of Ellsworth's regiment. The 69th New York State Militia, a 90-day regiment, later the 69th Infantry New York State Volunteers (NYSV)
, under Colonel Michael Corcoran
, also participated in the operation, crossing the Potomac River over the Chain Bridge.
The Union regiments established camps, performed picket duty and later built part of the defenses of Washington on high ground near the river and up to about five miles (8 km) away from the river. Companies from both the 1st Michigan Infantry under Captain Brown and the 11th New York Infantry under Captain Roth performed picket duty and camped at Arlington Mills, about 5 miles (8 km) from the Long Bridge at Washington.
. Historian Charles Poland, Jr. says that the Arlington Mills skirmish and the Battle of Fairfax Court House were "among the antecedents of the forthcoming first battle at Bull Run."
The 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment fought at the Battle of First Bull Run (Battle of First Manassas) on July 21, 1861. The regiment, under Major Bidwell, was mustered out August, 7, 1861. A reorganized 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment (3 Years)
then was organized at Detroit, Michigan, and mustered into United States service on September 16, 1861. The reorganized regiment served until July, 1865. The 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (1st New York Fire Zouaves) also fought at the Battle of First Bull Run and suffered many casualties and hundreds taken prisoner as well as some desertions. The regiment was never completely and successfully reorganized and eventually was mustered out of service. Many of its men re–enlisted in other New York regiments.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
was a small skirmish that was one of the first military engagements of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It occurred at about 11:00 p.m. on the night of June 1, 1861. The Battle of Fairfax Court House (June 1861)
Battle of Fairfax Court House (June 1861)
The Battle of Fairfax Court House was a skirmish between a small Union Regular Army cavalry force and a Virginia militia infantry company in the village of Fairfax Court House in Fairfax County, Virginia on June 1, 1861, during the early days of the American Civil War...
took place earlier that day. The skirmish at Arlington Mills occurred a week after the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
occupation of the area of Virginia opposite Washington, D.C. on May 24, 1861. Under cover of darkness, a squad of as few as nine Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, soon to be Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
, soldiers, fired a volley at Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
soldiers from Company E of the 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment (90-day)
1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment (3 Months)
The 1st Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 1st Michigan Infantry was organized at Detroit, Michigan and mustered into Federal service for three months on May 1, 1861...
and Company G of the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (1st New York Fire Zouaves). These companies had camped and were performing picket duty at Arlington Mill or Arlington Mills, Virginia. During the brief and confused exchange of gunfire in the dark, one Union soldier was killed and another was wounded while one Confederate soldier was wounded. This small and brief affair was one of the first combat actions of the American Civil War. The affair showed that despite the Union Army occupation of areas of northern Virginia across from Washington, D.C., Confederates could still operate in that area and strike the Union forces close to the capital city.
Background
The U.S. Army surrendered Fort SumterBattle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter, near Charleston, South Carolina, that started the American Civil War. Following declarations of secession by seven Southern states, South Carolina demanded that the U.S. Army abandon its facilities in Charleston Harbor. On...
in the harbor Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
to Confederate forces on April 14, 1861. The next day, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
called for 75,000 volunteers to serve for 90 days in order to reclaim federal property and to suppress the rebellion begun by the seven Deep South
Deep South
The Deep South is a descriptive category of the cultural and geographic subregions in the American South. Historically, it is differentiated from the "Upper South" as being the states which were most dependent on plantation type agriculture during the pre-Civil War period...
states which had formed the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
(Confederacy). Four Upper South States, including Virginia, refused to furnish troops for this purpose. Instead, political leaders in these states began the process of secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
from the Union with the intent of joining the Confederacy. On April 17, 1861, a convention for the purpose of considering the secession of Virginia began in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. The convention immediately passed an ordinance of secession and authorized the governor to call for volunteers to join the military forces of Virginia to defend the state against Federal military action. Despite scheduling a popular vote to ultimately determine whether Virginia would secede from the Union, the actions of the Virginia Secession Convention and of the state government, especially Virginia Governor
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
John Letcher
John Letcher
John Letcher was an American lawyer, journalist, and politician. He served as a Representative in the United States Congress, was the 34th Governor of Virginia during the American Civil War, and later served in the Virginia General Assembly...
, effectively took Virginia out of the Union. Governor Letcher appointed Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
, who had just resigned as a colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
in the U.S. Army, as commander in chief of Virginia’s army and navy forces on April 22, 1861 at the grade of major general. On April 24, 1861, Virginia and the Confederate States agreed that the Virginia forces would be under the overall direction of the Confederate President, Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
, pending completion of the process of Virginia joining the Confederate States.
The 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, under the command of Colonel Orlando Willcox, was a three-month regiment, the only such regiment from Michigan. The unit was organized at Fort Wayne, Detroit, Michigan
Fort Wayne (Detroit)
Fort Wayne is located in the city of Detroit, Michigan, at the foot of Livernois Avenue in the Delray neighborhood. The fort is situated on the Detroit River at a point where it is about a mile to the Canadian shore. The original 1848 limestone barracks still stands, as does the 1845 star...
, and mustered into United States service on May 1, 1861. The regiment left the State of Michigan for Washington, D.C. on May 13, 1861, reached Washington on May 16, 1861 and occupied Arlington Heights, Virginia and Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
on May 24, 1861. Orlando Willcox was soon given brigade command. With Willcox in command of the brigade, the regiment was commanded by Major Alonzo F. Bidwell. The 1st Michigan Infantry (90-day) was attached to Orlando Willcox's Brigade, Samuel Heintzelman's Division, Irwin McDowell's Army of Northeastern Virginia
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
. A three–year regiment with the same regiment number replaced the 90–day 1st Michigan Infantry Regiment after the original 1st Michigan Infantry Regiment was mustered out of the Union Army at the end of its term of service. First, however, the 90–day men (many of whom re–enlisted) would have to fight in the Battle of First Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
(Battle of First Manassas).
On May 7, 1861 the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (1st New York Fire Zouaves) was mustered in to Federal service to serve for the duration of the war, not just for 3 months or a limited period of time. Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth
Elmer E. Ellsworth
-External links:* * * * * *...
commanded the regiment. The 11th New York Infantry served in the same brigade as the 1st Michigan Infantry at the First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
(Battle of First Manassas). The regiment suffered extensive casualties, including many taken prisoner, at the First Battle of Bull Run during the fighting on Henry House Hill
Henry House Hill
Henry House Hill is a location near Bull Run in Virginia. Named for the house of the Henry family that sits atop it, the hill begins near the road of Centreville, Virginia, after Warrenton, Virginia, to the today's U.S. Route 29, the Warrenton Turnpike. It is a slow, constant rise toward the south...
and while serving as the rear guard for the retreating Union army. Eventually, on June 2, 1862, after a period of service on guard duty at Newport News, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
, near Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe was a military installation in Hampton, Virginia—at Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula...
, the regiment, which had been suffering discipline problems, was mustered out. Many of its remaining members, including men who joined after the First Battle of Bull Run, re–enlisted in other regiments.
The secession of Virginia was ratified by a popular vote on May 23, 1861. Virginia Governor Letcher issued a proclamation officially transferring Virginia forces to the Confederacy on June 6, 1861. Major General Robert E. Lee, commanding the state forces, issued an order in compliance with the proclamation on June 8, 1861.
Despite the presence of Virginia forces in league with the Confederacy in Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., President Lincoln did not wish to make a provocative military move into Virginia until after the popular vote on secession of the state had taken place. In the early morning hours of May 24, 1861, the day after the vote, the 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment and the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment crossed the Long Bridge into Arlington and occupied Arlington Heights. Part of the 1st Michigan Infantry, along with part of the 11th New York Infantry, continued to Alexandria while the other companies of the 11th New York Infantry crossed the Potomac by boat and occupied the town. It was during this operation that Colonel Ellsworth took down a secessionist flag at the Marshall House
Marshall House
-in the United States:* Marshall House , listed on the National Register of Historic Places * Couch-Marshall House, Magnolia, Arkansas, listed on the NRHP in Columbia County, Arkansas...
hotel and was killed by its proprietor James W. Jackson
James W. Jackson
James W. Jackson was an ardent secessionist and the proprietor of the Marshall House, an inn located in the City of Alexandria during the time of the Civil War. During the capture of Alexandria Jackson used an English-made double-barrel shotgun to kill Col...
. Jackson, in turn, was immediately killed by Private Francis E. Brownell
Francis E. Brownell
Francis Edwin Brownell was a soldier and recipient of the Medal of Honor for killing James W. Jackson, murderer of Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, colonel of the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment...
of Ellsworth's regiment. The 69th New York State Militia, a 90-day regiment, later the 69th Infantry New York State Volunteers (NYSV)
69th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 69th Infantry Regiment was a Regular Army infantry regiment in the United States Army.-History:There have been three different lineages started under this number: The Famous 69th Infantry Regiment , and two under the Federal designation....
, under Colonel Michael Corcoran
Michael Corcoran
Michael Corcoran was an Irish American general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and a close confidant of President Abraham Lincoln. As its colonel, he led the 69th New York regiment to Washington, D.C. and was one of the first to serve in the defense of Washington by building Fort...
, also participated in the operation, crossing the Potomac River over the Chain Bridge.
The Union regiments established camps, performed picket duty and later built part of the defenses of Washington on high ground near the river and up to about five miles (8 km) away from the river. Companies from both the 1st Michigan Infantry under Captain Brown and the 11th New York Infantry under Captain Roth performed picket duty and camped at Arlington Mills, about 5 miles (8 km) from the Long Bridge at Washington.
Battle
On the night of June 1, 1861, Company E of the 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment was camped in the Arlington Mill while on picket duty and Company G of the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (1st New York Fire Zouaves), having come to relieve them, was in a nearby house. At about 11:00 p.m., a squad of Virginia militia men, which contemporary newspaper accounts stated were only nine in number, approached the Union sentinels and camps and fired a volley. At least one newspaper account at the time stated that in the confusion the Michigan men in the mill and the Zouaves in a nearby house fired on each other as well as at the Virginians. In any event, the Virginians (Confederates) were quickly driven off. The Union forces suffered one killed and one wounded among the New York men while the Confederates suffered one man wounded. The web site of a re-enactor group states with respect to the picket duty performed by the regiment in the early days of the war: "21-year-old Henry S. Cornell of Company G, a member of Engine Co. 13, was killed and another man wounded one night on the picket line." This obviously refers to the affair at Arlington Mills and provides the name of the soldier who was killed in the incident.Aftermath
Following the Battle of Fairfax Court House and the skirmish at Arlington Mills on the same day, the Union Army did not attempt to move farther into northern Virginia until June 17, 1861 when a Union reconnaissance in force led to the Battle of Vienna, VirginiaBattle of Vienna, Virginia
The Battle of Vienna, Virginia was an engagement on June 17, 1861 between a Union Army force of 271 men of the 1st Ohio Volunteer Militia Infantry Regiment and a Confederate States Army force of about 750 men, including about 575 men of the South Carolina 1st Infantry, , two companies of cavalry...
. Historian Charles Poland, Jr. says that the Arlington Mills skirmish and the Battle of Fairfax Court House were "among the antecedents of the forthcoming first battle at Bull Run."
The 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment fought at the Battle of First Bull Run (Battle of First Manassas) on July 21, 1861. The regiment, under Major Bidwell, was mustered out August, 7, 1861. A reorganized 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment (3 Years)
1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment (3 Years)
The 1st Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 1st Michigan Infantry was organized at Detroit, Michigan and mustered into Federal service for a three year enlistment on September 16, 1861...
then was organized at Detroit, Michigan, and mustered into United States service on September 16, 1861. The reorganized regiment served until July, 1865. The 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (1st New York Fire Zouaves) also fought at the Battle of First Bull Run and suffered many casualties and hundreds taken prisoner as well as some desertions. The regiment was never completely and successfully reorganized and eventually was mustered out of service. Many of its men re–enlisted in other New York regiments.