Skirmish at Arlington Mill June 1, 1861

On the night of June 1, 1861, a scouting party of Virginia militia attacked Union troops guarding the Columbia Turnpike and the Alexandria, Loudon, and Hampshire Railroad. Company E of the 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment was on picket duty at Arlington Mill. Company G of the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (1st New York Fire Zouaves), was in a nearby house, preparing to relieve the Michigan company. At around 11:00 pm the Confederates fired at the Union pickets. One Union soldier was killed and another was wounded, while one Virginian soldier was wounded. The Virginia militia was driven off after a brief exchange of fire. The skirmish is considered to be one of the first military engagements of the Civil War. It occurred a week after the vote on May 23, 1861 for the state of Virginia to leave the United States. The following day President Abraham Lincoln ordered the Union Army to cross the Potomac River and occupy Arlington Heights. The skirmish demonstrated that Washington was vulnerable to Confederate attacks and its defenses needed to be strengthened.

Arlington Mill, circa 1863 Courtesy of the Univ. of Maryland What is a Zouave? Arlington Mill Many state militias adopted the (Left) The mill was a colorful uniform of the French familiar landmark for light infantry that fought in Union troops. It was built Northern Africa. The term in 1836 by George Zouave comes from the French Washington Parke Custis, name for the Zwawa Berber adopted son of President soldiers from Algeria. The 1st George Washington, and New York Fire Zouaves were led the father-in-law of by Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth. He Confederate general was a national figure well known Robert E. Lee. to President Lincoln. Col. Fort C.F. Smith Ellsworth was one of the first The Union Army (Right) casualties of the war when he built 22 forts in Arlington was killed trying to remove a County. Remnants of one rebel flag from the roof of the can still be seen by Marshall House Inn of visiting Fort C.F. Smith Alexandria, VA. The Illustrated London News Park. Courtesy of the Library of Congress Courtesy of the Library of Congress Corporal Francis E. Brownell Franklin’s Brigade passing Arlington Mill on the way to Union Heavy Infantry manning the ramparts of Fort C.F. Smith, 1st New York Fire Zouaves occupy Munson’s Hill, October 24, 1861. circa 1865.