Catlett
Station, Virginia
Warrenton Junction - Cedar Run R/R Bridge - Greenwich
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Catlett's Station on the Orange and
Alexandria Railroad saw much activity during the Civil War and was
mentioned in many dispatches. General J.E.B. Stuart raided a Federal
supply depot here on August 22, 1862 in the opening phases of the Second
Manassas Campaign. In May 1863, Colonel Mosby staged two raids along the
rail lines around Catlett. The first was on May 3 at Warrenton Junction to
the southwest where the Warrenton Spur connects to the main line. Weeks
later on May 29, Mosby returned and destroyed a train to the northeast of
the station, and was pursued to the north by Federal cavalry detachments |
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The following photos/text courtesy of
Richard Edling, PA and Craig Swain, Leesburg, VA For any use of these photos contact Webmaster |
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(December 2007)
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Catlett’s Station marker - Village resident Susan Emiline Caldwell
described in a letter Stuart's cavalry capture of 200 Union prisoners
and $25,000. The Rebels also nabbed Union Gen. John Pope's personal
items, including his dispatch book. Intelligence from the book enables
Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson to develop a strategy that lead to
victory at Second Manassas a week later. (Marker at Catlett Station
Antiques on Old Catlett Road.) |
(December 2007)
Enlarge Tracks
near Catlett Station on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad - Early this
morning (May 30, 1863), Major Mosby marches briskly to Catlett's Station
on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. They cut telegraph wire and
unfasten the track and attach a wire to pull the track out of line when
the engine comes along and therefore throw the train off the track.
Soon, the train comes steaming along, but stops abruptly when reaching
the dangerous rail. The little howitzer Mosby received yesterday is used
to fire a shot into the engine. The Rangers charge the infantry guarding
the train. The Yankees run leaving the train in the Partisans hands. At
9:00am, hearing the guns and seeing the smoke of the burning train,
Colonel Man of the 7th Michigan Cavalry orders the 5th New York Cavalry
to intercept Mosby while he takes the First Vermont Cavalry and his 7th
Michigan Cavalry along the railroad line toward Mosby. Major Mosby soon
sees them coming at his front and has his howitzer spit a shell into the
enemy's ranks to check their advance for a moment. Then Mosby stands up
and fights dispersing the federals twice-first with cannon fire, then
with a dashing charge. The federals large numbers and exhaustion of
ammunition eventually causes Mosby to retreat and abandon the howitzer
after a desperate hand-to-hand combat. The federals, with 4 killed, 15
wounded, do not pursue Mosby. Mosby's loss is shamefully painful--5
killed, 20 wounded, and 10 prisoners |
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(December 2007)
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Tracks near Catlett Station on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad -
Pursued by Union detachments after raiding a train north of Catlett
Station on 30 May 1863, Confederate Col. John S. Mosby and 50 of his
Rangers (43d Battalion Virginia Cavalry) made a stand on a hill just to
the north. The Rangers used howitzer to break a charge by the 5th New
York Cavalry. The New Yorkers regrouped, however, and with troopers of
the 1st Vermont and the 7th Michigan overran Mosby's position. After a
hand-to-hand struggle, Mosby and the Rangers fled, abandoning the cannon
and losing some 20 men wounded and killed. Among the dead was Capt.
Bradford Smith Hoskins, and English professional soldier, who was buried
at nearby Greenwich Presbyterian Church. Union losses were 15 killed and
4 wounded |
(December 2007)
Enlarge Stuart
and Mosby marker near Catlett’s Station - To halt the flow of supplies
to Union forces on the Orange & Alexandria R.R., Maj. John S. Mosby,
C.S.A., destroyed a train near here on 30 May 1863. Removing a rail to
stop the train, Mosby’s Rangers disabled the engine with a recently
acquired howitzer, described as “too big to fit in a holster, but too
small to be a cannon.” Alerted by the firing, nearby Union troops (N.Y.,
Mich., & Vt.), commanded by Col. William D. Mann, attempted to capture
the Confederates. Mosby set fire to the railcars and withdrew, fighting
a delaying action with his single artillery piece |
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(December 2007)
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A view of Catlett's Station from the south side of town. None of the
wartime structures are known to be standing |
(December 2007)
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Looking at the site of Catlett's Station from the north side of the
tracks. It was here, during his August 22, 1862 raid, that Stuart
captured Pope's uniform, and more importantly the Federal commander's
papers. Those documents were Pope's undoing. One can contrast the
effect of Pope's lost papers to Lee's more famous lost order outside
Frederick, MD, a few weeks later, on the Antietam Campaign |
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