Loudoun County Court Square - Leesburg, Virginia - Civil War Discovery Trail Sites on Waymarking.com

Text of marker:

Loudoun County Court Square
Wartime In Leesburg

Before the war, the courthouse square was the location of slave auctions and militia recruiting activities.  On October 21, 1861, after the Battle of Ball's Bluff, more than 500 Union prisoners, including Col. Milton Cogswell, 42nd New York Infantry, were brought here, taunted and marched off to Richmond.

The Confederates evacuated Leesburg on March 7, 1862.  The next morning, Union Gen. John W. Geary and his men marched in from Waterford as the townspeople glared.  Norther reporter Henry Morhous described Leesburg as "a perfect sneering nest of rebels," adding, "They insulted soldiers in every way they though safe.. The ladies were the most outspoken."  On September 4, two days after Union and Confederate cavalry skirmished at this intersection and then moved north, Leesburg citizens cheered as Gen. Robert E. Lee's army marched in.  On September 17, Lt. Col. Judson Kilpatrick led the 2nd New York Cavalry into town after shelling it.  Mississippi infantrymen fired at the Union gunners from the Valley Bank building behind you.  Loudoun's own 35th Virginia Cavalry under Lt. Col. Elijah V. White drove the New Yorkers off.  On October 13, Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry herded 1,200 captured horses past here en route to the Shenandoah Valley.

On April 29, 1864, a detail of Mosby's Rangers stopped at Pickett's Public House, which stood to the right of the courthouse.  When the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry rode in from behind you, the Rangers skedaddled; only three escaped.  Johnny DeButts tried to shoot his way to his horse but was wounded and captured.