126:
113:
205:
393:
break through the locked gate. Among the first to make it through the gate was Bean, who, after Flint fell, was supposed to be in command. Mosby seized the initiative and led a counterattack with the 20 or so
Rangers that had been able to mount up. The Rangers were on top of the Federals, who were trapped in the barnyard lane, almost instantly, causing the vast majority to surrender. Those who managed to escape were pursued for several miles by the victorious Rangers.
406:
mistakes. The most glaring was his insistence on leading a saber charge against the
Rangers, who made notorious use of drawn pistols in their fights. The Vermonters were armed with carbines, which the Rangers could not match. If Flint had dismounted and attacked with those weapons the Federals could have easily overpowered the trapped Rangers, and in all likelihood Flint would have survived the fight rather than running head on into the Rangers' deadly volley.
807:
522:
338:), the Rangers felt safe from Federal patrols. Most of the Rangers tied their mounts in the barnyard and made their beds in the barn, which was surrounded by a high fence with only a single gate opening out to the lane running to the road to Leesburg pike. The lane, in turn, was bounded on both sides by two fences. Mosby and his officers took refuge in the main house.
212:
410:
unit and pressed the attack. Instead Bean lead the retreat. For his incompetence and cowardice Bean was subsequently drummed from the service. The fight taught the young commander Mosby and his troops many valuable lessons; never again would he put himself in such a vulnerable position, nor leave himself camped without the protection of pickets.
405:
The fight resulted in a crushing defeat for the
Federals; they had the Rangers bottled up in a barnyard with only one exit, on a farm surrounded on two sides by water and outnumbered them by more than 2 to 1. By all accounts, the Rangers should have been wiped out that morning, but Flint made several
384:
command of a small 50-man reserve force while he maintained command of the vanguard. Bean was detailed with the duty of barricading the barnyard gate after Flint and his men went through and then circling around behind the barn to cut off all routes of escape for the
Rangers. Just as Flint prepared
341:
The presence of Mosby and his
Rangers was a conspicuous sight to the locals, who knew all too well what the Federals might do to them if they were found aiding and abetting the Rangers. Thus, a local woman, hoping, perhaps to spare herself such a calamity or maybe just an outright Union sympathizer,
409:
Flint's second mistake was dividing his unit and placing Bean in second command. What knowledge Flint had of Bean's leadership qualities is unknown, but even after Flint had been killed, the
Federals still had the Rangers surrounded and outnumbered, a competent officer could still have rallied the
392:
As the
Federals fell upon the Rangers, they were met with a sharp volley of pistol fire from the partially mounted Confederates. Flint was killed instantly, struck by six bullets, and fell from his horse. At this point, the Federal attack broke down and the men began to panic as they struggled to
325:
warfare being waged by Mosby. With night fast approaching, the
Rangers set out back west into Loudoun, eventually stopping at the farm of Thomas and Lydia Miskel at about 10:00 p.m. to get forage for their mounts and to rest for the night. At the farm, located on the eastern bank of the Broad
372:
By early dawn, the
Federals had reached Broad Run on the Leesburg Pike, and stopped briefly at a house off the Road to inquire as to the whereabouts of the Miskel Farm. After receiving the information, they set out towards Miskel Farm and Mosby's unsuspecting men. As fate would have it, Ranger
435:
385:
to attack, Dick Moran came rushing by and burst into the barnyard yelling for his comrades to mount up and prepare to give fight. The
Rangers rushed to their mounts, and Mosby burst from the main house as the Federals charged into the barnyard. Though armed with
433:
Greenleaf, William L. "First Regiment Cavalry" in "Dedication of the Statue to Brevet Major-General William Wells and the Officers and Men of the First regiment Vermont Cavalry," Privately Printed: 1914, page 155, via Google Books, accessed September 13, 2022,
401:
When the smoke cleared, Mosby had suffered one killed and three wounded. The Rangers killed 9, including Flint and another officer, wounded 15, including three officers and captured 82. In addition, 95 horses were seized by the Rangers.
436:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dedication_of_the_Statue_to_Brevet_Major/bqkTAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=first+regiment+cavalry+by+william+l+greenleaf+first+lieutenant+vermont+cavalry&pg=PA150&printsec=frontcover
939:
463:
929:
924:
377:
had been in the house the Federals stopped at visiting friends. As soon as the Federals left, he mounted his horse and took off across the fields to warn Mosby and his fellow Rangers.
456:
278:
on the farm of Thomas Miskel. The Rangers successfully defended the attack and subsequently routed the 2nd Pennsylvania, inflicting heavy casualties and taking many prisoners.
919:
720:
449:
934:
472:
204:
725:
773:
255:
826:
730:
220:
61:
782:
636:
631:
311:
166:
310:
border. They planned on attacking the Union garrison stationed there, which was often sent into Loudoun and Fauquier to raid
131:
862:
857:
612:
571:
566:
161:
872:
867:
576:
944:
740:
949:
852:
581:
486:
291:
766:
307:
303:
295:
259:
51:
836:
546:
496:
343:
586:
335:
877:
646:
491:
350:
347:
299:
641:
511:
506:
287:
381:
357:
143:
882:
759:
541:
361:
354:
322:
536:
389:, Flint opted for the romance of a cavalry charge and ordered his man to unsheathe their sabers.
317:
Upon arriving in Dranesville, they found the garrison abandoned, having been pulled back east of
251:
28:
374:
263:
677:
271:
898:
591:
551:
806:
441:
702:
692:
656:
501:
353:
of the 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry. Upon learning the news, Taggart immediately dispatched
821:
556:
380:
As Captain Flint approached the Miskel Farm, he divided his command, assigning Captain
913:
796:
687:
331:
318:
275:
267:
149:
118:
607:
682:
521:
735:
327:
286:
On the afternoon of March 31, Mosby and about 70 of his Rangers set out from
76:
63:
751:
247:
55:
314:. Unfortunately for the Rangers, they were foiled by their own success.
386:
274:. The 2nd Pennsylvania surprised and attacked the Rangers, who were
755:
445:
346:, arriving around midnight. She reported Mosby's presence to
940:
Military operations of the American Civil War in Virginia
421:
The Mosby Myth; A Confederate Hero in Life and Legend.
334:, a few miles north of the Leesburg Pike (present day
891:
845:
814:
789:
713:
667:
621:
600:
529:
479:
930:Operations of the 43rd Virginia Cavalry Battalion
925:Confederate victories of the American Civil War
211:
21:
721:Ball's Bluff Battlefield and National Cemetery
430:Simon and Schuster Paperbacks; New York, 1990.
298:through snow and rain. Their destination was
767:
457:
8:
774:
760:
752:
464:
450:
442:
321:in the face of mounting pressure from the
18:
920:Loudoun County in the American Civil War
473:Loudoun County in the American Civil War
266:and the 1st Vermont Cavalry as part of
191:106 (9 killed, 15 wounded, 82 captured)
726:Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
423:SR Books; Wilmington, Delaware, 2002.
342:made her way to the Federal lines at
254:. It took place April 1, 1863, near
7:
224:Location of the skirmish in Virginia
637:43rd Battalion of Virginia Cavalry
632:35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry
419:Ashdown, Paul and Edward Caudill.
14:
805:
520:
364:to kill or capture the Rangers.
210:
203:
124:
111:
16:Battle of the American Civil War
935:Raids of the American Civil War
167:43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry
1:
132:Confederate States of America
162:1st Vermont Cavalry Regiment
873:Action at Mount Zion Church
577:Action at Mount Zion Church
966:
360:and five companies of the
863:2nd Battle of Dranesville
853:Battle of Loudoun Heights
803:
613:George's Schoolhouse Raid
582:Battle of Loudoun Heights
518:
198:
185:
172:
155:
137:
104:
34:
26:
883:Rout of Blazer's Command
858:Fight at Blackleys Grove
260:Loudoun County, Virginia
119:United States of America
837:Warrenton Junction Raid
832:Skirmish at Miskel Farm
827:Raid on Herndon Station
562:Skirmish at Miskel Farm
547:Affair at Glenmore Farm
497:Battle of Harpers Ferry
244:Gunfight at Miskel Farm
236:Skirmish at Miskel Farm
22:Skirmish at Miskel Farm
487:Battle of Ball's Bluff
194:4 (1 killed 3 wounded)
138:Commanders and leaders
878:Skirmish at Adamstown
647:8th Virginia Infantry
492:Battle of Dranesville
186:Casualties and losses
642:7th Virginia Cavalry
512:Battle of Upperville
507:Battle of Middleburg
240:Fight at Miskel Farm
238:, also known as the
221:class=notpageimage|
797:Col John Mosby, CSA
587:Heaton's Crossroads
542:Battle of Mile Hill
362:1st Vermont Cavalry
312:Mosby's Confederacy
96:Confederate victory
73: /
868:Second Calico Raid
537:Fight at Waterford
351:Charles F. Taggart
252:American Civil War
29:American Civil War
945:April 1863 events
907:
906:
749:
748:
678:Robert H. Chilton
426:Wert, Jeffery D.
272:Northern Virginia
232:
231:
100:
99:
957:
950:1863 in Virginia
899:Harmony Skirmish
809:
776:
769:
762:
753:
592:Harmony Skirmish
552:Battle of Unison
524:
466:
459:
452:
443:
214:
213:
207:
130:
128:
127:
117:
115:
114:
88:
87:
85:
84:
83:
78:
74:
71:
70:
69:
66:
36:
35:
19:
965:
964:
960:
959:
958:
956:
955:
954:
910:
909:
908:
903:
887:
841:
810:
801:
785:
783:Mosby's Raiders
780:
750:
745:
741:Fort Beauregard
709:
703:Samuel C. Means
693:Elijah V. White
663:
657:Loudoun Rangers
617:
596:
572:2nd Dranesville
567:Blackleys Grove
525:
516:
502:Battle of Aldie
475:
470:
428:Mosby's Rangers
416:
399:
370:
292:Fauquier County
284:
264:Mosby's Rangers
228:
227:
226:
225:
223:
217:
216:
215:
125:
123:
112:
110:
81:
79:
77:39.07°N 77.44°W
75:
72:
67:
64:
62:
60:
59:
58:
17:
12:
11:
5:
963:
961:
953:
952:
947:
942:
937:
932:
927:
922:
912:
911:
905:
904:
902:
901:
895:
893:
889:
888:
886:
885:
880:
875:
870:
865:
860:
855:
849:
847:
843:
842:
840:
839:
834:
829:
824:
822:Fight at Aldie
818:
816:
812:
811:
804:
802:
800:
799:
793:
791:
787:
786:
781:
779:
778:
771:
764:
756:
747:
746:
744:
743:
738:
733:
728:
723:
717:
715:
711:
710:
708:
707:
706:
705:
697:
696:
695:
690:
685:
680:
671:
669:
665:
664:
662:
661:
660:
659:
651:
650:
649:
644:
639:
634:
625:
623:
619:
618:
616:
615:
610:
604:
602:
598:
597:
595:
594:
589:
584:
579:
574:
569:
564:
559:
557:Fight at Aldie
554:
549:
544:
539:
533:
531:
527:
526:
519:
517:
515:
514:
509:
504:
499:
494:
489:
483:
481:
477:
476:
471:
469:
468:
461:
454:
446:
440:
439:
431:
424:
415:
412:
398:
395:
382:George H. Bean
369:
366:
358:Henry C. Flint
296:Fairfax County
283:
280:
270:operations in
230:
229:
219:
218:
209:
208:
202:
201:
200:
199:
196:
195:
192:
188:
187:
183:
182:
179:
175:
174:
170:
169:
164:
158:
157:
156:Units involved
153:
152:
147:
144:Henry C. Flint
140:
139:
135:
134:
121:
107:
106:
102:
101:
98:
97:
94:
90:
89:
52:Loudoun County
50:
48:
44:
43:
40:
32:
31:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
962:
951:
948:
946:
943:
941:
938:
936:
933:
931:
928:
926:
923:
921:
918:
917:
915:
900:
897:
896:
894:
890:
884:
881:
879:
876:
874:
871:
869:
866:
864:
861:
859:
856:
854:
851:
850:
848:
844:
838:
835:
833:
830:
828:
825:
823:
820:
819:
817:
813:
808:
798:
795:
794:
792:
788:
784:
777:
772:
770:
765:
763:
758:
757:
754:
742:
739:
737:
734:
732:
731:Fort Johnston
729:
727:
724:
722:
719:
718:
716:
712:
704:
701:
700:
698:
694:
691:
689:
688:John Mobberly
686:
684:
681:
679:
676:
675:
673:
672:
670:
666:
658:
655:
654:
652:
648:
645:
643:
640:
638:
635:
633:
630:
629:
627:
626:
624:
620:
614:
611:
609:
606:
605:
603:
599:
593:
590:
588:
585:
583:
580:
578:
575:
573:
570:
568:
565:
563:
560:
558:
555:
553:
550:
548:
545:
543:
540:
538:
535:
534:
532:
528:
523:
513:
510:
508:
505:
503:
500:
498:
495:
493:
490:
488:
485:
484:
482:
478:
474:
467:
462:
460:
455:
453:
448:
447:
444:
437:
432:
429:
425:
422:
418:
417:
413:
411:
407:
403:
396:
394:
390:
388:
383:
378:
376:
367:
365:
363:
359:
356:
352:
349:
345:
339:
337:
333:
332:Potomac River
329:
326:Run near its
324:
320:
319:Difficult Run
315:
313:
309:
305:
301:
297:
293:
289:
281:
279:
277:
273:
269:
265:
261:
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
237:
222:
206:
197:
193:
190:
189:
184:
180:
177:
176:
171:
168:
165:
163:
160:
159:
154:
151:
150:John S. Mosby
148:
145:
142:
141:
136:
133:
122:
120:
109:
108:
103:
95:
92:
91:
86:
82:39.07; -77.44
57:
53:
49:
46:
45:
42:April 1, 1863
41:
38:
37:
33:
30:
25:
20:
831:
674:Confederate
628:Confederate
608:Burning Raid
561:
427:
420:
408:
404:
400:
391:
379:
371:
344:Union Church
340:
316:
285:
243:
239:
235:
233:
105:Belligerents
27:Part of the
683:John Janney
300:Dranesville
250:during the
80: /
914:Categories
892:1865 Raids
846:1864 Raids
815:1863 Raids
736:Fort Evans
530:Skirmishes
414:References
375:Dick Moran
328:confluence
288:Rectortown
282:Background
276:bivouacked
262:, between
397:Aftermath
330:with the
302:near the
256:Broad Run
387:carbines
323:partisan
294:towards
248:skirmish
246:, was a
173:Strength
56:Virginia
47:Location
480:Battles
355:Captain
336:Route 7
308:Fairfax
304:Loudoun
268:Mosby's
68:77°26′W
65:39°04′N
790:Leader
699:Union
668:People
653:Union
368:Battle
129:
116:
93:Result
714:Sites
622:Units
601:Raids
438:>.
348:Major
434:<
234:The
39:Date
290:in
258:in
242:or
178:150
916::
181:70
54:,
775:e
768:t
761:v
465:e
458:t
451:v
306:–
146:†
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
