Skirmish at Arlington Mill
november 13th, 2017Neighborhood Center: Arlington Mill
Unveiling Sign Ceremony
Last Saturday, November 11 was the unveiling of the Civil War Trails Sign, "Skirmish at Arlington Mill" in the plaza of Arlington Mill. There was a presentation of the colors by members of the Army of the Potomac History Society with remarks by Arlington County Board Member, John Vihstadt and Peter Vaselopulos who was the Keynote Speaker. There was a fair turnout which included Arlington County Board Member Christian Dorsey . John Vihstadt and State Delegate Alfonso Lopez unveiled the Sign. After the ceremony there was a meet and greet and later an Arlington Mills Skirmish video was presented in the community center. click for text from sign
Text from Sign:
Skirmish at Arlington Mill
On the night of June 1, 1861, a scouting party of Virginia militia attacked US troops at Arlington Mill, which stood across the street. Co. E 1st. Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment was on picket duty at the mill guarding the Columbia Turnpike and the Alexandria, Loudoun Hampshire Railroad. In a nearby house Co.
G of the 11th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (1st New York Fire Zouaves prepared to relieve the Michigan company. At about 11:00 pm the Virginians fired at the pickets. Killing one and wounding another,
The "Skirmish at Arlington Mills " as the New York times called it, was among the first military engagements of the Civil War. It occurred a week after the vote on May 23, 1861 ratifing the secession of Virginia from the United States. The next day President Abraham Lincoln ordered the Union forces to cross the Potomac River and occupy Arlington Heights. The fight helped show that Washington was vulnerable to Confederate attacks and its defenses needed to be strengthened