"Pass Around Their Army Without Hindrance"

— Gettysburg Campaign —

On June 25, 1863, Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart and about 5,000 of his cavalrymen approachedHaymarket. They acted on orders from commanding Gen. Robert E. Lee, who was on the western side of the Bull Run Mountains marching north to invade Maryland and Pennsylvania. He directed Stuart to "pass around their [U.S.] army without hindrance" to screen the Army of Northern Virginia from observation as it crossed the Potomac River. Stuart took the intendedroute north through Haymarket on the advice of the noted partisan ranger Maj. John S. Mosby.

Here, Stuart and U.S. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock's II Corps converged on the Old Carolina Road simultaneously. Hancock, too, was marchingnorth toward Leesburg. Stuart attacked the Federal wagon train and infantry, shelling them withsix cannons. This bombardment "scattered men,wagons, and horses in wild confusion," causingseveral Union casualties. The Federals regrouped,formed a battle line, and marched toward Stuart,forcing him to make a decision either to fight thelarger force or to retreat. Stuart decided to withdraw southwest toward Buckland Mills and senta courier to Lee detailing his change of plans.The courier never reached Lee with this vitalnews. Stuart began moving northward on a newroute that took him 60 miles away from his intended route and out of communication with Lee for eight critical days. The effect of the loss ofcontact between Lee and Stuart, his most trusted reconnaissance officer, on the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg has been debated ever since.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Haymarket, VA  |  Prince William County  |  20169  |  Virginia  |  United States of America

Haymarket During the War
Colonial Roads
Haymarket Post Office
St. Paul's, Episcopal
Second Battle of Manassas
Campaign of Second Manassas
Bull Run Battlefields
Rock Fight
The Macrae School
The Shirley Cemetery

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.