Interpretative Signs at Aldie Mill

 There are a number of signs in Aldie telling about the history of the area and even the technology of the grist mill. Here's an excerpt from one of the Civil War Trails markers that tells us a little about the area:

On June 17-21, 1863, several cavalry battles erupted along the narrow roads, steep-banked streams, and stone-walled fields of the Loudoun Valley from Aldie west to the Blue Ridge. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's infantry was on a stealthy march west to the Shenandoah Valley. Lee ordered Gen. J.E.B. Stuart and his cavalry corps to screen the infantry from Union forces. Stuart established his headquarters in Middleburg and dispatched Col. Thomas T. Munford's 2,000-man cavalry brigade east to Aldie. There, two macadamized turnpikes led west to Ashby's Gap and northwest to Snickers Gap, while the Carolina Road, a strategic north-south transportation route, was located just to the east.

• See all my posts about Aldie. 
• See the Historical Markers Database list of markers in Aldie, VA.

More Pictures of Aldie Mill

If you drive out Route 50 through Aldie, Virginia, stop at the old mill and walk around. The historic mill and related buildings are impressive and the creek is charming. There are signs to help you understand the history and the mill operations.

Check out the Regional Park Authority's website on Aldie Mill.

See my Civil War Field Trip pages on Aldie and the mill.

Aldie Church and Post Office

Inspired Sunday: Aldie is a small but historic town in Loudoun County, Virginia. The Church of the Redeemer stands along the main street through the town, which happens to be US Route 50. This is an Episcopal Church built in 1890. At the present time, the church building is closed due to the pandemic and services are being held online.

Also along Route 50 is the town post office. 

See all my posts about Aldie.

Inside the Aldie Mill

The village of Aldie has a charming old mill complex that's now operated by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. When I took my parents there almost 20 years ago we toured the inside. My mom was very interested in mills and bridges and their technology. I think she would have made a good engineer!

When Frank and I were in Aldie a few weeks ago we stopped at the mill and got to see corn being ground into meal.

Monument to the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry

In Loudoun County, VA

Along the Snickersville Turnpike near the town of Aldie stands a handsome granite memorial to the men of the First Massachusetts Cavalry, 3rd Brigade. The battle that took place here was part of the 1863 Battle of Aldie, when Lee's Army was heading to Pennsylvania. Furious fighting resulted in two thirds of the 1st Massachusetts regiment getting killed, wounded or captured. Their names are inscribed on the sides of the marker. This monument was erected in 1888, the first monument to Union forces erected south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Nearby is a newer sign telling the story of the Battle of Aldie.

Civil War sites along Route 50

Sometimes I get emails from visitors to my Civil War Trips website. Today I heard from a fellow who wants directions to Aldie, Middleburg, and Upperville. Here's what I told him:

"Fortunately, there is an information service that can send you useful information and maps. Just fill out the form at
www.civilwartraveler.com/request-form.html and they will help you. You will also see a link to maps at the top of that page; you can download them in PDF format, and there is even a link to a map of the Route 50 area in interactive web format. It was developed for Mosby-related sites, but the Jeb Stuart-related campaign sites of Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville happen to be interpreted at the same places. You can zoom in on this map using arrows on the left side of the page - very handy! And you can even see a satellite photo although not at the highest zoom levels. (I will add a link to this map on my site.)

You can also order a map from the Mosby Heritage Area Association.
.

A New Marker near Aldie

At Mt. Zion Church

This "Historic Site in Journalism" is now identified by a marker just outside the cemetery at Mount Zion Church in Loudoun County, Virginia. It tells a sad story which begins:

In this graveyard adjoining the church, on June 23, 1863, Harpers Illustrated Weekly's Alfred R. Waud, one of the Civil War's most renowned artists, dug the grave for the burial of his friend, Lynde Walter Buckingham, the chief cavalry correspondent for the New York Herald. Buckingham had spent the day of June 21 covering what would become one of the largest cavalry battles in U.S. history, in and around the villages of Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville. At the front with Union General Judson Kilpatrick throughout the June 21 fight, Buckingham was on his way to Washington with his account of the fighting when Confederate Partisan fighters under Major John Singleton Mosby's command overtook him and caused his horse to dash down a steep hill and throw its rider powerfully to the ground. Buckingham later died of injuries to his skull in a makeshift Union Army hospital within this church.

(Click on the picture to see a larger version.)

Related Posts:

• Mt. Zion Church and Cemetery
• Historic Mt. Zion Church
• Lecture at Mt. Zion Church

Historic Mt. Zion Church

Near Aldie, Virginia

Mt. Zion has stood near Aldie and Gilbert's Corner since 1851. You might easily miss it because a traffic circle has been built at it's entrance on Route 50.

Above: Markers Commemorate Union Soldiers who were killed here in a Civil War cavalry engagement with Mosby's Rangers.

Below: Text of Historical Marker

"Mt. Zion Old School Baptist Church was founded in 1851. Just west of the church is a graveyard containing many 19th century grave markers. On July 6, 1864 nearby, Mosby's Rangers attacked and routed 150 Union cavalrymen. Over 100 Union soldiers were killed, wounded or captured. Mosby had eight men wounded, one mortally. The church is site of the annual Thomas family reunion founded 1934."

Some Fences Near Aldie

These photos are from April so the trees are not fully leafed out. The road is Snickersville Turnpike, which dates to 1786. The scenes here are in vicinity of the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry Monument.

America's Oldest Agriculture College

"A mile north of here, on Oatlands Road, stands the stone and stucco building, erected in 1854 as Loudoun and Mechanical Institute. Its three founders were prominent County agrarian scientists. Unfortunately, America's first agricultural college, Loudoun A&M, failed to thrive and in 1860 folded.

On June 17, 1863, John Singleton Mosby and his Rangers were resting at the school's site and observed the dust clouds from the ferocious Battle of Aldie taking place here.

 In 1916, the school building and property became the headquarters of the National Beagle Club, where today are held the annual beagle trials. In 1982, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places."

Aldie UMC

This Methodist Church was built in 1882. It faces Route 50 in the small town of Aldie, Virginia.

If you enjoy viewing churches, check out InSpired Sunday.

Lecture at Mt. Zion Church

For the second day of our field trip series last week, we met at Mt. Zion Church near Aldie. Dr. Poland described the battle that took place there when Mosby's Rangers attacked Union troops. Both the church and a nearby farmhouse were used as hospitals to treat the wounded. It was common during the Civil War to use homes, churches, and other buildings as temporary hospitals.

A marker in front of the church tells us that:

On July 6, 1864 nearby, Mosby's Rangers attacked and routed 150 Union cavalrymen. Over 100 Union soldiers were killed, wounded or captured. Mosby had eight men wounded, one mortally."

Read my blog post from May 2010 about this church. 

See my Civil War Field Trips pages about Mosby at Aldie.

A Brief Stop at Mt. Zion Church

Near Aldie, Virginia

I've stopped at this historic church a number of times over the years. Today I'm posting some pictures of the signs and fences there. These are from my files from three years ago, when I was recovering from foot surgery. I took these photos from the car; I apologize for the fence rail blocking part of the signs.

The sign on the left is titled Elders of the Mount Zion Old School Baptist Church. It was built in 1851 after "disagreement over doctrine caused a split in the Baptist faith." You can read details on the Historical Markers Database.

The sign on the right is titled Mt. Zion Historic Park:

Welcome to Mt. Zion Historic Park, a property of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Built in 1851, this Old School Baptist Church was a place of worship, and also a critical site during the Civil War because of its location at the junction of two early roads and on high ground. The church building was used as a barracks, hospital, prison, and rendezvous point at various times from 1861-1865. The Battle of Mt. Zion, on July 6, 1864, brought Union forces up against Confederate partisan fighter John S. Mosby and his men. Graffiti on the interior walls of the church show names and regiments of soldiers that once were here. 

The congregation of the church worshipped here on the fourth Sunday of each month except for the years of the Civil War. The church continued to serve as a place of worship until 1980, when the congregation had dwindled to just a few individuals. Mt. Zion was restored in 2007-2008 and is open to the public for tours and special programs, and is a rental property.

Sharing with Signs 2 and Fences around the World.

"Mt. Zion Old School Baptist Church was founded in 1851. Just west of the church is a graveyard containing many 19th century grave markers. On July 6, 1864 nearby, Mosby's Rangers attacked and routed 150 Union cavalrymen. Over 100 Union soldiers were killed, wounded or captured. Mosby had eight men wounded, one mortally. The church is site of the annual Thomas family reunion founded 1934."

See also my 2013 post, A New Marker in Aldie.

Exploring John Singleton Mosby sites

I got an email from a dad who saw my Mosby's Rangers tour pages and wanted some recommendations on Mosby sites to show his young sons while visiting Northern Virginia. Here's my advice:

The railroad station at Herndon, site of a Mosby raid. Drive slowly through Herndon and watch for the Civil War Trails sign.

Aldie Mill ( http://www.aldiemill.org/ ) is a nice place to visit; you might want to arrive there early to find a good parking space since they are having an art show. The Mosby story that takes place there is a good one.

If you are going to Aldie, you may as well stop at the Mt. Zion Church on the way. It's on Route 50 and according to mosbyheritagearea.org they are offering interpretation on Saturdays. You can contact that organization through their site for audio tour info. A site with directions to the church and other info is www.loudoun.gov/prcs/otherfac/mount.htm.

Looking for Red and Green

As usual, I am slow to find inspiration for the holiday season. For some people, it's their favorite time of year. For me, it's one bright day in the middle of the most dreary time of the year. But I don't know if I could make it through the winter without Christmas. I like the lights and the time spent with family.

If it were up to me, winter would start on December 24 and end on January 2. I don't like the short dark days or the cold weather.

I do like holiday colors, and it helps a little to collect pictures of them. Here we see an arrangement on the door of historic Mt. Zion Church near Aldie, Virginia. I’ve posted pictures of this church several times before, due to its Civil War history and also because it is a convenient place to stop when I drive to Herndon to shop.

Closer to home, I took some pictures yesterday and today in Woodstock and Strasburg. 

Welcome Visitors

My sister and her boyfriend visited us for a few days. Lynn joined us for a few hours on Thursday before leaving to go to a concert in Gainesville.

Yesterday we went to Harrisonburg so Peggy could see the Virginia Quilt Museum. Then we made a stop at the Brethren Mennonite Heritage Center and drove through Dayton before going to dinner.

Our guests always enjoy seeing the geese that visit the lake. 

This afternoon we joined Peggy and Bill at a folk festival near Aldie.

Parking Lot Greeter at the Festival

A Monument to Civil War Horses

Not too long ago someone asked me if there was a memorial for Civil War horses. Yes, I had seen one when we visited the National Sporting Library in Middleburg.

Here it is! Inspired by the book Cavalry Battles of Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville, philanthropist and horse-enthusiast Paul Mellon commissioned the bronze horse in memory of the million-plus horses that fell during the war. The horse was deliberately made to look hungry and exhausted.


Read about the history of this sculpture.

Also on the grounds of the sporting library is a Civil War Trails marker about the Battle of Middleburg, which took place in 1863 as Lee's army marched toward Gettysburg.

Kids Fishing

Near Aldie, Virginia

How Do I Complain to Google?

I've looked at Google's Support pages and I can't figure out how to report a problem. Here's the situation and maybe someone can help me.

I searched for images of Mt. Zion Cemetery in Aldie, VA. Several of my photos came up among dozens of others, which is fine. I'm happy to have people find my pictures. BUT three-quarters of the way down the page of search results I see one of my photos credited to another site. That site turns out to be another search engine of some sort called Explow.com. Why is Google presenting results from another search engine anyway?

Thumbnails of my photos should link to my site (in this case www.CivilWarFieldTrips.com/stuart/), not someone else's. Someone tell me how to fix this!

By the way, our Civil War class returns to Mt. Zion Church tomorrow morning for the start of a field trip. And on Sunday we are going to the Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, MD.

Riding Around Taking Pictures

Like many of you, I enjoy taking pictures. When I run an errand, I think about what photo opportunities might be nearby. 

I stayed a little too long at Rockland Park the other day and found myself in a rain storm, which wasn't too bad, but then when I left the park I found that the railroad crossing was blocked by a stopped train. It's hard to see the train in the photo because the cars are all flat cars with no cargo on them, but the lights were blinking red, the gates were down, and several cars and trucks were stopped there. This actually happens rather often because the "Inland Port" is nearby, where trains are loaded and unloaded with those huge containers that get transported on tractor trailers. 

Black and White Weekend

While I waited there in the rain, I also took pictures in the opposite direction. I was able to catch a double rainbow!

Skywatch Friday

Earlier this week, I went to Front Royal to run a couple of errands. I did not resist the call of the mountains and made a short drive into Shenandoah National Park, which I found shrouded in clouds.

Weekend Reflection: This is a view of the Shenandoah River from Hollingsworth Road.

Sometimes I get out of the car and walk, of course. That's how I got the rest of today's photos.

Floral Friday / Bliss / Garden Affair

Yesterday we did some shopping and took a ride. I had seen a photo of this dam in Aldie and wanted to see it myself.