M.A. Kleen

Following the battles of Aldie, Middleburg, and Upperville in the Loudoun Valley, Confederate cavalry commander Maj. Gen. JEB Stuart received instructions from General Robert E. Lee to “pass around their [the Union] Army without hindrance, doing them all the damage you can, and cross the river east of the mountains.” He left the details up to Stuart’s judgement, and Stuart interpreted them as broadly as possible. He made up his mind to ride around the Union Army, and on June 26, 1863, his troopers moved south and crossed the Occoquan River at Wolf Run Shoals. He then turned north and headed toward Fairfax Courthouse.

On the morning of June 27th, the Union 11th New York Cavalry rode south from the defenses around Washington, DC to investigate rumors of Confederate activity in the area. A detachment ran into Stuart’s advanced units around Fairfax Courthouse and a sharp fight erupted. The surprised Confederates initially retreated, but reformed and counter-attacked, driving the outnumbered Union force away. The Confederates lost 5 killed to the Union’s 4 killed, 14 wounded, and 19 captured.